NPB Tracker

Seibu Lion’s manager Hisanobu Watanabe has suggested that his plan for Yusei Kikuchi might be to have the highly-touted lefty start his pro career in middle relief. The Lions already has a starting rotation which consists of 2009 Sawamura Award winner Hideaki Wakui, a proven young starter in Takayuki Kishi, and also former major leaguer Kazuhisa Ishii. Unless Kikuchi shows his ability to be part of the rotation during spring training, the plan, barring injuries, may be that he will start his professional career from the bullpen.

Manager Watanabe also reminded Kikuchi through the media of three points in challenging for a spot in the rotation.

1. Don’t practice too much

This comes from the concern that Kikuchi could overwork himself if he pushed to hard to start the season in the rotation. What the manager and the baseball world really want to see at the start of the spring training is a healthy Yusei Kikuchi.

2. Don’t neglect the fundamentals

Watanabe already gave Kikuchi a practice menu written by the training coach and he believes that building the basis of his body will lead to successful pitching.

3. No special treatment

“Ichi-gun on opening day? I have no answer for that. I am not going to put him on the roster because he can just pitch. He needs to show results during spring training.”

A couple of items from the nichibei free agent market…

• According to Sponichi, Takashi Saito has eight teams interested, including the White Sox, Cubs, Braves and Mets. The Braves had some interest in Saito way back in 2002 but he wound up remaining with Yokohama.
• Multiple reports are saying the Yomiuri Giants are going after Masahide Kobayashi. The Giants would use him in a middle relief role.
• 38 year-old second baseman Toshihisa Nishi has compiled a DVD and sent it Stateside, to no immediate effect. Nishi, released by the BayStars, is looking for a camp invite from a major league club.

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-22:
  Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-15:
  Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-.. http://bit.ly/5rGB3V #
• Lotte Marines interested in bringing back their former reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta: http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2009/11/23/24.html #
• Sponichi reports San Francisco Giants are showing mild interest in Hisanori Takahashi: http://bit.ly/7nK8px #
• プロ野球 7年ぶり巨人優勝パレードに34万人: Scenes from the Yomiuri Giants parade; http://bit.ly/762d6p #
• Yasuhiko Yabuta returning to Chiba Lotte, official announcement coming soon: http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/news/20091123-00000045-jij-spo.html #
• Hisanori Takahashi From 30,000 Feet: Despite the fact that we’ve known for some time that Hisanori Takaha.. http://bit.ly/4SG0tD #
• Kyuji Fujikawa still showing interested in the MLB, but will not be posted in this off-season: http://bit.ly/6QcMgI #
• Some of the scouts comment on the pitching of Yuki Saito from the U-26 vs. College Game: http://bit.ly/6gM0RB #
• Yabuta's deal with Lotte: 1 year, 40m yen ($400k). http://bit.ly/8HFVu7 #
• Daisempai: Long before Yusei Kikuchi entertained eight MLB suitors, before Junichi Tazawa rattled the cage by s.. http://bit.ly/4ULbuM #
• NPB Live page updated with Dominican Winter League video feed: http://www.npbtracker.com/games-on-justintv/ #
• Atsushi Fujimoto joining the Swallows via free agency: http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/flash/KFullFlash20091124080.html #
• Lotte announces the addition of Hidetaka Kawagoe: http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/flash/KFullFlash20091124067.html #
• Free Agent Tasuku Hashimoto agrees to term with the Yokohama Baystars: http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/flash/KFullFlash20091125059.html #
• but that works out okay for Seth Greisinger @daigofujiwara Having fun with currency (count)… #
• Former Major Leaguer Masao Kida will be signing with his seventh team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters: http://bit.ly/5iZX9C #
• Nagisa Arakaki feeling good after pitching for the first time in four months: http://bit.ly/6nRUaB #
• Baystars interested in signing Terrmel Sledge and will look further into Shugo Fujii as a possible addition: http://bit.ly/4DZInO #
• Johjima at it Again: Holiday and business activity kept me away from blogging this week, but after a relaxing B.. http://bit.ly/4MP89W #
• SoftBank Moves on from Contreras: A few weeks ago, when the news of Jose Contrera’s prospective move to J.. http://bit.ly/4HMjQu #
• Hiroshima Looking at Alvarado: Hiroshima’s final offseason acquisition target is Giancarlo Alvarado, who .. http://bit.ly/7o2DdA #
• Orix, Rhodes Part Ways (Again): Here’s one I didn’t quite expect: Hochi Sports is reporting that the Orix Buffa… http://bit.ly/5ZtNOP #
• Source: Alvarado Signs in Japan: Ryo posted earlier today that the Hiroshima Carp have been after Dodger’s 3A arm… http://bit.ly/6SQ8bC #