Offseason Changes: Saitama Seibu Lions
Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be taking a look at player personnel moves made by each NPB this offseason. This series will not cover draftees or impact rookies, only additions and losses of experienced players. The focus will be on foreign players, but notable Japanese players will be included as well.
Coming: John Wasdin, Takayuki Shimizu
Going: Craig Brazell, Matt Kinney
Staying:Â Hiram Bocachica, Alex Graman, Koji Mitsui
Trending: neutral
Synopsis: very little change for the defending Japan Champions. It was a little bit of a surprise to see Brazell go after hitting 27 homers, but he did have a weak OBP. Shimizu arrives from Yomiuri for cash and should provide some bench/DH depth.
01/02/2009 at 5:42 pm Permalink
A full season of Bocachica should be more productive than Brazell. But many hitters in the lineup had great seasons and will regress to the mean, or just peaked at the right time (that’s you, Hirao), so I’m expecting less offensive production, then again in G.G. could produce for the whole season…
01/02/2009 at 10:59 pm Permalink
I just wish to thank you for taking the time to write this blog. It’s pretty much my only daily link to Japanese baseball, a world I’m trying to get more familiar with.
03/04/2009 at 10:55 pm Permalink
Brazell left the Lions and returned to the U.S. while the Lions were preparing for the playoffs last fall. While I’m sure he had a valid medical reasons for doing so, from what I know about traditional Japanese baseball, this action was a kin to deserting your comrades on the battlefield. I was not surprised that the Lions did not ask Brazell to return.