An in-depth look at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Jingu Stadium, the Central League, and Japanese Pro Baseball
Tsubamegun got one hell of a shout out from fellow Japanese baseball watcher, NPB Tracker. Thanks, Patrick! Tokyo batting coach, Takao Ise, has been selected as one of the six coaches representing the nation as part of this year’s Samurai Japan team. One coach was selected from each of the top three teams in the Central [...]
Chunichi Dragons Mr. Takagi, the Dragons’ energetic and cuddly new manager, wants fans to touch his butt if they win the Central League Pennant in 2012. Yomiuri Giants In preparation for the upcoming season, Utsumi and several of his teammates went shopping in Guam. According to this report compiled by Yakyu Baka, Yomiuri will likely [...]
As of 2PM on Monday this bit of news still hasn’t been reported by either Tokyo or Tohoku’s websites, but it appears that 32 year old RHP Yoshitaka Hashimoto is being sent to Tohoku in exchange for 27 year old OF Yusuke Kusuki. Hashimoto made 17 appearances for the Swallows in 2011 and had a [...]
30 year old RHP and 2004 Central League Rookie-of-the-Year Ryo Kawashima has been traded to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles for an undisclosed amount according to the team’s Japanese-language website. After an outstanding rookie season in 2004 in which Kawashima tallied an impressive 10-4 record and 3.17 ERA, Kawashima put together another strong year in [...]
June 6th, 2011 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 4 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 5 Streak: Won 3 Last 5: WLWWW (Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium) Poor Rakuten. Poor, poor Rakuten. Tohoku: 1. Teppei (RF) 2. Hijirisawa (CF) 3. Matsui (SS) 4. Yamasaki (1B) 5. Nakamura (LF) 6. Takasu (2B) 7. Kusano (3B) 8. Nakatani (C) 9. [...]
May 21st, 2011 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 3 Streak: Lost 3 Last 5: WWLLL (Kleenex Stadium Miyagi) The Swallows looked to bounce back after two close losses to two of Japan’s premiere pitchers by sending their lefty ace Ishikawa, fresh off his 100th career win, onto the mound. Rakuten [...]
Tokyo Swallows fans witnessed it all in 2010: the resumption of the 2009 slump which ended up consuming the first two months of 2010; a change in manager; the addition of a cleanup bat; veteran pitchers refinding their form; an authoritative return to winning; and a bit of flirtation with the third and final playoff spot. With any luck, 2011 [...]
The Swallows are reporting that they have acquired left-handed pitcher Kouki Watanabe through a trade with the Rakuten Golden Eagles. In return, the Swallows will be sending right-handed pitcher Yuuya Kamada to the Eagles. Watanabe is in his sixth year of pro ball and has been used exclusively as a reliever by the Eagles. In [...]
June 13th, 2010 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 1 Streak: Won 4 Last 5: LWWWW (Kleenex Stadium Miyagi) Hats off to the birds for the current winning streak which ties their season-best of four games. And may I remind you that the last two wins came against Iwakuma and Tanaka, two [...]
June 12th, 2010 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 4 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 1 Streak: Won 3 Last 5: WLWWW (Kleenex Stadium Miyagi) The Swallows now have themselves a three-game winning streak–a feat that first took place back in March after an opening day defeat. That first three-game run was extended to four, but that fourth [...]
