NPB Bullet Points: Spring Training Edition
NPB spring training camps broke on February 1, so it’s time to dust off the old bullet points series.
Japanese Articles
- Nippon Ham’s Yu Darvish threw 125 pitches on day one of camp. Here’s a pic of him throwing lefty between workouts to relax. What is it with all these switch-pitchers lately? I guess Darvish will be prepared if his right arm falls off from overwork.
- Hanshin fireballer Kyuji Fujikawa is working on a two-seam fastball for the WBC. That would be a great addition to his arsenal.
- New Chunichi Dragons addition Tony Blanco took 95 swings in batting practice, hitting 15 over the fence. Blanco is taking Tyrone Woods’ spot on the foreign roster, but only earning 1/22nd of his salary.
- Edgardo Alfonzo is starting his spring training audition with the Yomiuri Giants’ “A group”, which contains the teams veterans. My gut feeling is that he’ll make the team.
- The Giants are also working out former Houston and Texas farmhand Levi Romero. He’s never pitched above high-a ball in America, and if he passes the audition he’ll be an instructional player.
- Nippon Ham has former Nationals farmhand Luis Jimenez in camp for a tryout as well.
- Lotte has signed former Cuban National player and US minor leaguer Juan Muiz to an instructional contract.
02/02/2009 at 4:53 pm Permalink
No need to worry about Darvish overworking his right arm. His idiot manager only uses him every 7th or 8th day and he rests him throughout all important playoff games. No, I have not forgotten last year. Fire Nashida!