Answering Google’s Questions
Some of the search engine queries that wind up on this site are phrased as questions. Not all of the questions are answered directly by the content on the site, so I thought I’d answer a few of the more interesting ones here.
– Who is the shortest person in the npb?
This one has shown up multiple times. My best guess is Rakuten infielder Kensuke Uchimura, who is 163 cm or 5’4.
– Where does Hayato Doue play?
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
– Who is the best hitter in Japan today?
Today, I would say it’s Kazuhiro Wada, who is tearing up the Central League to the tune of .356/.454/.662 with 17 hr and 44 rbi.
– What pitches does Ryota Igarashi throw?
Mostly a fastball and a splitter. I wrote a profile of him last year, haven’t seen enough of him with the Mets to know if it’s still accurate.
– What is a 4 shake ball?
A knuckleball thrown with a forkball grip. See here for more.
Who does Tadahito Iguchi play baseball for in 2010?
Chiba Lotte Marines.
Who did the SoftBank Hawks trade for Roberto Petagine?
No one, Petagine was signed as a free agent.
Who is Dioni Soriano?
The latest graduate of the Hiroshima Carp’s Dominican Academy to reach NPB. I wrote a little bit about him over at FanGraphs.