The Latest on Nishioka
The idea that the Chiba Lotte Marines would post Tsuyoshi Nishioka has been a bit of a head scratcher for me. I get why Nishioka would want to be posted, but it makes little sense for the Marines, as he’s coming off a big year, has three years left before free agency, and doesn’t project to command a huge posting bounty. And just as a general observation, postings are talked about a lot more often than they actually happen.
Then I read yesterday in Sanspo that Lotte made a conditional agreement last offseason to allow Nishioka to move to MLB. Sanspo didn’t offer any hints as to what those conditions might be, but it’s pretty likely that they were met, as Lotte won the Japan Series, and Nishioka had the best year of his career by nearly every measure. If Sanspo’s report is accurate, it would explain why the first news reports of the Nishioka posting were seemingly sourced from Lotte’s front office. It would also make a Nishioka posting a lot more likely. Another interesting point is that Nishioka was apparently moved to tears by the fans chanting his name in the 9th inning of Saturday’s Japan-Korea Club Championship.
The Sanspo report says that Lotte and Nishioka plan on coming to a resolution by the 17th (JST), so it won’t be long before we know one way or another.
14/11/2010 at 1:34 pm Permalink
Hi!
I’m absolutely with you here, I don’t understand what good this move would do for japanese baseball!!!
I can’t believe the league allows such move if it intends on pleasing it’s fans!
I say this as a Canadian fan (completely out off market).
The majors are just using NPB and the fans in the U.S don’t think very highly of the japanese players…
The Marines will get a small amount and lose one of the best they have…
Then what Yoshinori Sato will ask about being post next year? Ridiculous!
14/11/2010 at 4:26 pm Permalink
I also understand that the team made some promises and they probably did not see the results coming…
15/11/2010 at 6:51 am Permalink
Nishioka’s 2009 season, capped off with his war of words against the oendan really made him look like a lowly weasel. Him being named team captain made it look even more like he was an on-the-field spy for the front office in their battle against Bobby. At the end of 2009, Nishioka was not a very well liked man in Chiba.
But sitting with some Lotte fans on Saturday in the game against SK, and watching all the flashes going off in Nishioka’s last at bat, it was clear that the fans fully forgave him for his 2009 indiscretions on the field. And looking at the career year he had this past season, it isn’t hard to see why they were willing to forgive his inability to hit the year(s) before. He finally lived up to his self-hyped (self-serving?) potential.
I don’t know what was responsible for his turn around in 2010. It may well have been the incentive of getting to go to the Majors while he was still young enough to prove himself. Whether or not he has the self discipline to adapt will be played out next season. (I have my own doubts, but would love to be proven wrong.)
15/11/2010 at 10:36 am Permalink
Thanks for the details! All new to me…
My comments may seem harsh but they are not so much about Nishioka (if he’s not liked then too bad for him) but the young talent out of Japan. I was and still am a MLB fan, I usually go for a couple of games in the U.S every summer and of course a player has dreams of playing the best level…
For about two years I really follow NPB (mostly the standings, scouting and video games) and it’s becoming a real passion for me. What got me interested was the way people think in Japan, small ball, pitching, defense, TEAM FIRST, discipline and all…
Now all I hear is players wanting to come to America and every time I feel it’s not right for NPB!
If Nishioka had a crazy year he’ll have a hard time in the U.S next year if not maybe i’ll appreciate his play next summer.
15/11/2010 at 11:10 am Permalink
The only way for this to make sense for the Marines would be due to the “unexpected” Championship they got this year. Everyone’s salary will go up. Call them the Marlins of the NPB if it really happens.