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11/25/2002 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News"

Twins, Padres Interested in Tadano

Rikkyo University ace Kazuhito Tadano, who was once thought to be going to Yokohama but then got passed over in the draft due to injuries to his elbow and shoulder, has reportedly been contacted by both the Twins and the Padres. The righthander with a 90-92mph fastball and a slider won four games with a 1.23 ERA in the spring leg of the Tokyo Big Six University schedule then returned for four more victories in the fall segment. He racked up 334 strikeouts during his collegiate career, which is fifth all time in that department in the history of the circuit. Overall, he was 20-14. He stands 5'11" and 165 pounds and is a native of Tokyo. He was named to a Best Nine team in the spring of 2001 after posting a 4-3 record with an 0.91 ERA in ten games (69.1 innings). Also, this past fall, he tossed a one hit shutout against Keio University. Too, He had a Koshien appearance as a member of the Yachiyo Shoin High School team out of Chiba Prefecture.

The scouting report on him reads like this: his motion is slightly unconventional in that he raises both arms over his head ala Hideo Nomo, but his weight transfer has recently improved and it's given his fastball more life so that he's able to bore it more inside on the hitters and his excellent slider has a sharper break. His release is kinda funky (see pic). He works the corners quite well, keeps the ball down and fields his position well. He has a good changeup with nice sink. Fielders like playing behind him because he works quickly. Before he got injured, Yokohama scouts evaluated him as a guy who will make hitters get themselves out and perhaps win a Rookie of the Year award. If he can sort out his present injury problem and then stays healthy, someone could have a steal on their hands. You can see some video of his motion at:
Tadano MPG Footage

Also: Release Point Photo

And: Frame by Frame Photos of His Motion

Hot Shots....

Hideki Matsui had to beg off a youth baseball clinic yesterday because he wasn't feeling well....Some people don't know when to quit department: Masao Kida is going to once again try to catch on with an MLB club next season....The Seibu Lions are going to send catcher Satoshi Nakajima, 33, who had been complaining of not getting enough playing time, and pitcher Hisataka Tomioka, 29, to Yokohama in exchange for infielder
Yoshihito Ishii, 24, and reliever Kazushi Hosomi, 29, according to Hochi Sports....Norihiro Nakamura says that he would like an eight year deal with Hanshin that would enable him to leave to go to MLB after four years. That would largely be academic, since he would be 33 by then, which will diminish any interest in him. He is also comtemplating not meeting anymore with Yomiuri after Tsuneo Watanabe's statements yesterday.... The members of the Kintetsu Buffaloes who participated in a fall camp with the Dodgers organization at Vero Beach headed home yesterday....Number four draft choice Tomoyuki Kubota, a pitcher, has tentatively agreed to a contract that will pay him $110,000 plus a $550,000 signing bonus. He will wear number 30....The recently traded Tadaharu Sakai's number, 4, will now be given to new signing Bobby Rose at Lotte....Where in God's name does Peter Gammons get his info? He had Yakult retaining Roberto Petagine for $11 million a year (where did he hear THAT?) even after the Venezuelan had agreed to go to Yomiuri for $8 million per. Sheesh ....Yokohama Bay Stars outfielder Takanori Suzuki has agreed to a four year deal with the Stars that, including his signing bonus, will pay him around $9 million over that span....Hanshin backup catcher Katsunori Nomura had his pay reduced by $16,000 for next season.... Yokohama ace Daisuke Miura will have elbow surgery December 3rd....The Kintetsu Buffaloes announced that hey have concluded a new sponsorship deal worth about $1.5 million with a consumer finance outfit called Acom. The Acom logo will adorn the team's batting helmets and uniforms and is the first time a finance company has linked up with a pro ballclub. The Buffs had a similar deal with AM/PM convenience stores that ran out this year. For whatever reason, Yomiuri owner Tsuneo Watanabe expressed strong objection to that even though the Tokyo Dome his company owns was revealed to have had Yakuza problems. Go figure....Yomiuri Giants number one choice Hiroshi Kisanuki wants the club to take it easy on him in workouts since he has had elbow problems in the past and experienced some pain during the recently concluded Meiji Jingu college baseball tournament....Hideki Matsui is expected to announce who his agent will be this week, according to Sankei Sports. Scott Boras is still rumored to be most likely to get the job....Kazuo Matsui has refused a multi-year offer from the Lions, maintaining his desire for a one year pact. Seibu has also reportedly considered promising him the manager's job after he retires. The slick fielding shortstop has said in the past that he would like to coach once his playing days are over. His team says that at least two MLB teams have approached them and attempted to convince Seibu of the benefits of posting him, according to Hochi Sports....Orix is said to be tendering a three year offer for a total of $3.3 million to Makoto Suzuki. That proposal was evidently well received by Suzuki's agent, Dan Nomura....Hayato Terahara played his first round of golf ever earlier today and, of course, didn't do too well, hacking a 138 over 18 holes. But he also said that he will work hard this offseason so that he isn't shown up by new Daiei additions Tsuyoshi Wada and Nagisa Arakaki.

Torii Hunter Talks About Japan Experience

See story at:Minneapolis Star-Tribune Article

MLB Fires Japan Consultant

And more raves for Kazuo Matsui. See story at:Sporting News Article

LG Twins Fire Manager in Power Dispute

See story at: Korea Times Article

Korea-Cuba Intercontinental Cup Story

Sorry this one is so late: Korea Times Article


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