Hanshin Notes: GG Sato, Brazell

» 09 June 2009 » In npb »

Here’s an interesting rumor: Sanspo is reporting that Hanshin wants to acquire Seibu’s GG Sato. I would be pretty surprised if this happened, not only because I don’t know if Sato is expendable for the Lions or if Hanshin is willing to give up what it would take to him, but also because only Sanspo is reporting this. Sanspo is probably the most gossipy of the sports papers I pay the most attention to, so I’ve learned to take this type of news from them with a grain or two of salt.

Still, I’m putting it up here because it begs a question of my more knowledgable readers: has a “blockbuster” trade ever happened in-season in NPB? Of the very few recent in-season trades I can recall off the top of my head, none have involved regular players. Can anyone think of one?

Meanwhile, Craig Brazell has gone 6/14 in his first four games with Hanshin, three of which the Tigers have won. I got to see a couple of his at bats over the weekend, and looked remarkably comforable at the plate considering he was just off the plane and had been in the Northern League. Even been for Hanshin is that the Brazell replica jersey is flying off the shelves at the Koshien Tigers Shop. Of the 22 player jerseys available, only Brazell’s is selling out.

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  1. Patrick
    bloodsmurf
    09/06/2009 at 11:20 am Permalink

    Told you i had a good feeling about this!

    Now i just wish i’ll still be saying that in a few weeks

    No wonder the jerseys are selling off. Hanshin fans have been looking for the next Bass forever and got excited from game one. I must say he made quite an entry and in-game comments from japanese viewers on justin are almost as full of superlatives as when Mench was around… just not the same ones

  2. Patrick
    Matt
    09/06/2009 at 3:24 pm Permalink

    Meanwhile, the Kevin Mench jerseys have been moved to make more shelf space for Brazell ones and have been discounted to 500 yen but still the Tigers Shop can not get rid of them much less give them away… I’m thinking of getting one seriously.

    But seriously, as a Lions fan, I think that GG Sato is expendable. If Hanshin offers the right package of pitching (and pitching only cause that’s what Seibu wants), then yes it is possible. It all hinges on how desperate Hanshin is for another bat.