Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
The Field of Dreams may not happen in a corn field. This dream could happen in a rice paddy. Yes, this is a better first sentence than the Time Magazine article about baseball taking root in China. No knock on the article, it’s pointing out how baseball is so much smaller, and actually was erased from society by Mao although basketball stayed and thrived. Many of the players are just starting out and stepping onto a baseball field sponsored by the MLB, is the first time they’re picking up “the Rock”. From Time: “The Changzhou development center, which opened in September, is MLB’s second training school in China aiming to produce players who might one day have a shot at the Majors, or more realistically, China’s national baseball league.” (Time – Baseball)
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Yu Darvish posting fee tops 51 Million which is just the right to talk to the pitcher. It serves as a deposit that’s refundable if a deal can’t be made in a month. The money goes to his former team, the Nippon Ham Fighters. What’s in store for the Texas Rangers? Paying him for a contract that’ll be risky. Darvish will probably be the best pitcher to ever come out of Japan and for some reason, we hear that with just about every big name pitcher, like Nomo, Irabu, and Dice-K. This one is the real. Legendary ex-pitcher and CEO, president and owner of the Rangers, Nolan Ryan might see something a lot of others can’t in Darvish and perhaps that a great sign. Ryan pitched competitively through his mid 40s and had a fastball and once had the fastest pitch at 101mph. Will Darvish make it? It’s not the best market for a Japanese pitcher, but it might be the right team. Meanwhile, here’s a Nolan Ryan clip you must see. At 46… [youtube]HddrB7F66iM[/youtube]
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More Yu Darvish news continues. This time in the Atlantic. It’s serious if it gets in here. I do recall him saying that Japan is losing it’s heroes and he doesn’t want to ever leave Japan, but things are changing. In 2011 a 1.44 ERA is quite amazing. He’s a giant out there and this is a lengthy article. (Atlantic – Yu Darvish)
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When we last posted a photo of Yu Darvish, the comments weren’t about baseball, they were by females enjoying his looks. Yet, the reasons behind Yu Darvish news these days isn’t just about looks or baseball. It’s about his quandary. To get Japanese players to America requires high fees. Just to talk to player there’s a cash deposit to the Japanese team, about 25 million, then there’s the salary negotiation, especially for a blue chip player like Yu Darvish. It’ll be high. The problem for him isn’t his ability, but it’s his predecessors, who in recent years haven’t fared so well. Daisuke Matsuzaka is one. Darvish’s record is quite stellar in Japanese baseball. The WSJ writes, “In 232 innings for the Nippon Ham Fighters, Darvish struck out 276 batters, posted a 1.44 ERA and won 18 games to only six losses.” The site also explains how MLB teams are evaluating players. It’s not just speed of pitch, record, and so forth. It’s how they can translate lifestyles in the clubhouse, how they can handle the US baseball itself which is a bit different, the strike zone, and the field conditions. (WSJ – Yu Darvish)
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Barely making a dent in the history of Major League Baseball, Dae-Sung Koo is now pitching at 42 years of age in the Australian Baseball League which is now in it’s second season. The most remarkable thing that you might want to remember about the guy? He was a righty as a kid, but then switched to being a lefty. Who does that? Other than that, this once star of Korean Baseball, Japanese Baseball and MBLer is now in yet another continent throwing and he’s good at 42. (smh – Dae-Sung Koo)
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