FromJapan

On October 9th (JST) (YouTube) This Was Almost Bad News For Playoffs... ---------- On October 6th (Japan Standard Time), Bauer threw Live Batting Practice at Yokohama Stadium and joined the team practice for the playoff. The camera on the left rear in the first X(tweet) below was set up by himself for YouTube. He threw a total of 86 pitches to 6 players, and the fastest pitch was 93.8mph.

Cecil Fielder was the first MLB player to become the home run leader after playing NPB. He moved to the Hanshin Tigers (NPB) from the Blue Jays after the 1988 season, and then transferred to the Detroit Tigers after the 1989 season. He was the home run leader for two consecutive years in 1990 and 1991. On April 28, 1998, Hideo Nomo (Dodgers) hit a solo home run off José Mercedes against the Brewers, which was the first home run by a Japanese player in MLB.

Don't worry! I'm wearing pants.

English translation of Ohtani's comment on becoming the first MLB home run leader as a Japanese player: "I am humbled and honored to be mentioned in the same breath as the great Japanese players who have excelled in MLB. I would like to thank my teammates, coaching staff, and fans for their support in helping me achieve this goal." Reference in Japanese: Sponichi Annex (the website of Sports Nippon Newspapers) on October 2nd, 2023

(Link) The New York Times Magazine on September 30, 2023 Shohei Ohtani's Impossible, Unrivaled, Bittersweet Season

Ohtani joins the team for the first time in 13 days. He appeared on a cart with Ippei. His right elbow is fixed with a thick bandage.

(YouTube) First Day Back Training... Had To Be Supervised Bauer is currently undergoing rehabilitation at "DOCK OF BAYSTARS YOKOSUKA", the training facility for the minor league's team (farm) of BayStars in Yokosuka city. The "DOCK" includes a player's dormitory, indoor practice area, outdoor practice area, and is next to Yokosuka Stadium. Yokosuka City is adjacent to the south of Yokohama City, the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture.

(MLB.com on September 22) The best Japanese players who may soon join MLB Seven NPB players are featured in this article. Not all of the players are necessarily the "best". Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Stats in NPB) https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/53355134.html Already posted on this Topic and others. Kazuma Okamoto (Stats in NPB) https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/11515130.html The Giants rarely allow their players to transfer via posting. Shota Imanaga (Stats in NPB) https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/01305132.html Already posted on this Topic. Yuki Matsui (Stats in NPB) https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/81285139.html Naoyuki Uwasawa (Stats in NPB) https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/51355135.html Already posted on this Topic. Kona Takahashi (Stats in NPB) https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/71075130.html Masahiro Tanaka (Stats in NPB) https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/11215114.html On September 20th (Japan standard time), Orix Buffaloes, to which pitcher Yamamoto belongs, won the Pacific League* title for the third consecutive year. In addition to Yamamoto, the Buffaloes have several excellent starter pitchers and closers. Some of them may express a desire to move to MLB in the near future. *, NPB consists of 2 leagues with 6 teams each. Among them, Soichiro Yamazaki actually hopes to play in the MLB. He is 25 years old, playing his seventh season in NPB, and is eligible for posting to MLB. He underwent TJ surgery in 2019. Although he did not have a chance to pitch, he was added to this year's WBC Japanese team. Soichiro Yamazaki (Stats in NPB) https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/33335134.html When he was in high school, he was called "Darvish at Hokuriku*". *, Hokuriku is the regional name where his high school is located.

His expressions "back on the diamond" and "グラウンドに戻れるように" (meaning "return to the ground" in Japanese) have become a topic in the Japanese media. He doesn't say "back on the team." They may be overthinking the meaning of his expressions.

(English translation of Ohtani's Japanese passages) I underwent surgery this early morning and it was a success. Unwillingly, I had to leave the team in the middle of the season. I will pray for the team's victory in the remaining games, and I will do my best to return to the ground as soon as possible.

On September 18th (Japan standard time), Ohtani was featured on NHK's 9pm news show. The reporter was Shuta Yamamoto (Correspondent, NHK General Bureau for America), who has been primarily in charge of the MLB since August 2020 and has been focusing on covering Ohtani. He has published and updated Ohtani's words from before the WBC opening to most recent, titled "The collection of Ohtani's sayings 2023 (in Japanese)". Here are his thoughts on the key points regarding Ohtani's transfer. "What is certain is that he wants to be on a winning team. Since he will be 30 years old next year, I think his top priority is to reach the playoffs, considering the rest of his playing career." (Link) Yamamoto Shuta | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News Meanwhile, a Japanese commentator has even suggested that the Angels may be the only team where Ohtani can return to pitching, as they have supported him as a two-way player to the best of their ability. Reference in Japanese: Yahoo! Japan news on September 18 ---- (My personal prediction) The Angels' current situation is difficult to improve in a short period of time, so Ohtani is likely to choose another team if he decides that his wish will not come true unless he leaves. His destination team may change, depending on the severity of his elbow injury, the type of surgery, and whether he can return to pitching after successful surgery. So I can't predict his destination team right now. ---- (The sentiment in Japan) The following MLB teams are popular among Japanese fans. Long-established teams in major metropolitan areas (e.g., the Yankees and the Dodgers) Teams with which Japanese players are or have been affiliated West Coast teams (which are relatively close to Japan) For example, a Yankees cap is a popular fashion accessory among Japanese girls. From the perspective of people living in Japan, MLB teams are not supported by Japanese fans as their local teams. For this reason, even though the possibility of Ohtani's transfer has been reported in Japan, there have been no detailed reports on the specific candidate teams he might transfer to. If Ohtani were to leave the Angels, unless they are rare die-hard fans of a specific team, many Japanese people would be rooting for him and his new team without any particular preference, even if they are not familiar with.

Angels games will continue to be available for streaming also in Japan, but the number of Japanese viewers is likely to drop significantly. If Ohtani moves to another team, NHK will likely focus on broadcasting his new team.

At the beginning of the NHK broadcast, the following caption in Japanese was displayed on the screen: "Ohtani placed on IL, out for rest of season." Many people probably stop watching.

Many teams are interested in acquiring Yamamoto, so the competition is expected to be fierce. I don't know where he will go. The Mets are rebuilding, so they have traded away Scherzer and Verlander in an effort to rejuvenate their pitching staff. As such, they are one of the leading candidates.

Yamamoto (Orix Buffaloes, NPB) is scheduled to appear on the mound today, September 16th (Japan standard time). The Yankees vice president of baseball operations Tim Naehring and Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer are scheduled to scout, and it seems that another unidentified GM will be sounting as well. The Yankees will also inspect Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines, NPB), who is scheduled to pitch tomorrow. eference in Japanese: Full-Count on September 15 (Japanese sports media)

Small cracks may not be visible on x-rays alone, so he may have had an additional CT or MRI scan. I'm only qualified to use research X-ray equipments, so I don't know much more than that.

Update on September 14 (JST) Reference: MLB.com on September 7th, 2023 Japanese ace Imanaga to be posted this offseason Pitcher Shota Imanaga (age 30, Yokohama DeNA BayStars) made his 20th start of the season in the game against the Chunichi Dragons on September 13 (JST). In the first inning, he recorded a total of 1,000 strikeouts since his NPB debut. Scouts from 10 MLB teams, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rangers, Phillies, Cubs, Reds, Diamondbacks, Giants, and Padres, were scouting him in the house. In June, the Mets and Cardinals also visited Yokohama to inspect him. It has not been reported whether any Angels staff members were present. He is already signed to the agency "Octagon" in preparation for his move to MLB. (Link) his stats in NPB

NHK (a Japanese public broadcaster) published the upcoming MLB broadcast schedule, and will continue to broadcast Angels games from September 11 (against the Mariners) onwards.

NHK (a Japanese public broadcaster) published the upcoming MLB broadcast schedule, and will continue to broadcast Angels games from September 11 (against the Mariners) onwards.

(YouTube) My Season Is...Over?

On September 10 (JST), Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines, NPB) took the mound for the first time in about a month and a half since injuring his left internal oblique muscle. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman watched him at the same stadium as yesterday. After Sasaki left the mound, Cashman also left the stadium. As the Yankees have signed massive long-term contracts with Judge and Cole, it is financially difficult for them to sign multiple talented players from Japan through posting over the next few years. They will have to choose between immediately pursuing the services of the established star Yamamoto or targeting the potential of Sasaki in a few years, but there is also the option of not acquiring either.

Tonight's NHK "hero" interviewee was Grichuk.

On September 9th (JST), Yamamoto achieved his second no-hitter in two consecutive seasons. He became the third NPB pitcher in 82 years to achieve a no-hitter in consecutive seasons. 9.0 IP, 102 NP, 0 H, 8 K, 1 BB He has not allowed a run in six consecutive games from August and has maintained a streak of zero earned runs in 42 consecutive innings. Cashman, the Yankees' general manager, have been watching this game at the stadium. The staffs from the Angels, Phillies, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, and Pirates also scouted from behind the backstop.