Around the Central League: January 11, 2012

Yokohama marks his third team in the Kanto region.

Chunichi Dragons Free agent LHP Wei-ying Chen signed with Baltimore. It’s a three-year deal that consequently puts a serious dent in Chunichi’s ability to keep opposing teams off the board. Cheers to that! Yomiuri Giants Sounds like the Giants may be about to sign utility INF/OF John Bowker who was recently released by the Phillies. [...]

Off-Day Pissing Contest

I’m starting an irregular tradition, although there are better things, even on this site, I could be doing with my time. I’m giving our loyal and friendly readers, which would be you, something to talk about on a day with no game. I’m going to pathetically brag, in the hope that you will one up [...]

Hideki Matsui: Japanese ambassador extraordinaire

2009 World Series MVP

Robert Whiting wrote about the remarkable equalizing power of athletes such as Matsui, Ichiro, and Matsuzaka in the FCCJ. A choice selection from the article: Then there was also the fact that every year during spring training, Matsui took the Yankees-beat writers out to dinner, perhaps the only Yankee in the history of the franchise [...]

TPR Interview with Baseball Writer Dan Gordon

Last weekend, Messrs. Pellegrini and DeOrio sat down with author Dan Gordon to talk about his book Haunted Baseball (co-authored with Mickey Bradley), his current research in Japan, the internationalization of baseball, and more. Head over to TPR by clicking here to hear the interview.