Comments on: Nakamura, Nioka Traded

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:10:52 +0000

Looks like it's official. I can understand Nippon Ham trading from a strength I still think they could have gotten more in return.

By: simon

simon — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:37:04 +0000

I understand the Giants wanting to dump Nioka, but this seems like yet another lopsided trade for Yomiuri, though not quite in the same league as how the Giants acquired Kokubo and Kosaka. The Giants bullpen was one of the farthest things from a weakness on that team. As for Kosaka, father time is definitely not on his side, so I’m not sure how useful he is at this point in his career, but off to the Nomura revival factory he goes.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:05:23 +0000

The Sanspo article said that the two teams had agreed to the trade. It’s probably pending physicals and stuff. I’m also wondering how this affects Nioka’s free agency status.

By: Deanna

Deanna — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:27:08 +0000

WHAT THE HELL

Is this for real? Like a done deal? Or more rumors? I can’t believe this. This would be one of the stupidest things EVER if the Fighters front office actually goes ahead with it. I don’t think Hisashi Takeda can really be the closer next year.

Unless, of course, there IS something wrong with Micheal, but I don’t think so. It bugs me because the Giants get another foreign player who doesn’t count as a foreign player, anyway… and I lose another guy who I’ve actually chatted with on the Fighters. And I even made a cheer board for Kudoh. Sigh. We don’t honestly really need Kudoh that much as we’re kind of overloaded on skinny fast outfielders with little power, but I like him and don’t want him to go, just like how I felt towards Keizo Kawashima.

I guess it just makes the Fighters even moreso the normal “happy hunting ground for players that other teams don’t want due to… umm… issues”.

By: John Brooks

John Brooks — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:37:46 +0000

It begins, its unbelievable really how idiotic some teams are. Nioka for Nakamura? There bullpen is going to be sick with Nakamura setting up Kroon. Nioka’s a great second baseman when healthy, with good pop. Maybe its better than what it is on second thought, but its a high risk giving Nioka’s injuries.

Now I can’t say about Hayashi and Kudoh as I’ve lost track of NPB this year. Hopefully, I get back in the knowings next year with the help of this site and many others. Ever since Japan Baseball Daily stopped news and many others things in my life I’ve lost track of the game in Japan after February.

As for Kosaka, he just never was the same after being traded to Yomiuri. His heart never looked like it was in it. If he can even gain half of what he used to be maybe he can be a useful backup infielder or a pinch runner with good speed.