Former Major Leaguer Reaches Milestone in Japan

I'm not going to lie to you...I don't remember Alex Ramirez and his Major League career.

But, after a quick trip to Baseball-Reference, I'm reminded that he played 135 games in the bigs between 1998-2000 for both the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Well, the outfielder seems to have made a name for himself over in Japan.

According to The Japan Times, the Yokohama BayStars slugger recently became the 13th player to reach 2000 hits combined between the Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.  And of those 13, only Ramirez (1915 NPB hits and 86 MLB hits), Kazuo Matsui (1613 and 615) and Hideki Matsui (1390 and 1253) accumulated the majority of their hits in Japan.

Some quick facts about Ramirez and his career overseas, in 2007, he set the Central League record with 204 base hits.  In 2010, it would be surpassed by another fellow Major League transplant Matt Murton. 

In 2008, Ramírez became the third Venezuelan-born player to win an MVP award over in Japan.

Sumo Star Works Out with Yomiuri Giants

It must be something in the air.

Less than three weeks after the Detroit Tigers inked Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million contract, the Yomiuri Giants brought in their own big bopper...340-pound sumo star Hakuho Sho.

Sure, he was just hanging out with the club, but isn't seeing a sumo wrestler in uniform far more exciting than the times Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks or even Billy Crystal took their cuts in the cage?

Sadly, there's no word on how the big man did.

***Hooray to Old Time Family Baseball for the link.***

Yu Darvish to Get Ultimate Honor

Alright, this is kinda cool.

Instead of retiring numbers of their stars players like most teams do here in the States...Japanese teams go the other way.

According to NPB Tracker, Japanese clubs traditionally assign a number (usually 18) to their top pitcher.  This is their "ace number".  I did not know this.  Did you?

Here's the skinny.

Apparently, only one Japanese club has assigned the number 18 to a non-pitcher.  You'll remember that when Hideo Nomo, Hiroki Kuraoda and Daisuke Matsuzaka came over from Japan they all wore 18.

That said, future Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish wore the number 11 while with the Nippon Ham Fighters...and this is where it gets cool.  The Fighters are planning on bucking the trend and making his 11 their new “ace number” as a way to honor his short, but legendary career.

The number will remain out of circulation until the team can develop another “absolute, Darvish-caliber ace.”

As for what number Darvish will wear when he hits the Arlington...who knows?  Number 11 is currently on the back of hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh.

Chan Ho Park is Heading Home to Korea

Last year at this time, it was announced that the Majors winningest Asian-born pitcher was heading to Japan.

Monday, word came that Chan Ho Park Park would be introduced as the newest member of the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization.

"I plan to spend the rest of my career helping to develop Korean baseball," the former All-Star said. "I'd like to help young players perform in an even better environment and stay focused on the game."

The Eagles inked the righty to a one-year deal worth 24 million won or $20,547.  Sure, it's a far cry from the $15 million a year he once made for the Texas Rangers, but Park is opting to go with the league minimum.

And dude has his reasons.

Reports were that the Eagles had planned to pay Park 400 million won per season (close to $350,000) with a club option for another 200 million won.  Instead...that money will be donated to charity.

Classy.

In 17 years with seven different clubs, the 38-year-old Park was 124-98 with a 4.36 ERA.  And in four appearances during the 2009 World Series...managed a 0.00 ERA.

Introducing...The Bobby Burger!

Not that long ago, you'd have had a hard time walking through any major city without stumbling across a sports-themed restaurant.

And, chances are, if I vacationed in that city...I visited it.  Unfortunately, I never made it to Chiba, Japan.

Why you ask?

The Bobby Burger!

Oh, it's a real thing and, apparently..."It's a Home Run!"

You see, when the Boston Red Sox new manager Bobby Valentine was the kantoku (look it up) for the Chiba Lotte Marines he designed this "magical burger".

And how you ask?  According to the Lotteria...well, just keep reading.

First, Bobby looked at all the veggies, and chose pineapple to be the leadoff hitter. Extra cheese then moved the "pine" over, and barbecue sauce loaded the bases. Now a taste of that magical Bobby Burger – It’s a Home Run!

Your move, Wahlburgers.

***Props to Old Time Baseball for spreading joy to all the land.*** 

The Wily Mo Show is Heading to Japan

There have been scores of ballplayers who have played in both the Major Leagues and in Japan.

And while some have flourished...many have flopped.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the "Wily Mo Show" is headed to Japan.

That's right, Wily Mo Pena is planning on doing something not even Manny Ramirez could do...land a gig playing overseas for the Softbank Hawks.

This is a good gig for the slugger seeing how he's having a rough time keeping a job here in the States.

So why Japan?  Short answer...money.

According to reports, Softbank is looking to shell out close to 400 million Yen (roughly $5.15 million) plus incentives for two years for the 29-year-old.

Last season, Pena tore up the Minors hitting .358 with 25 home runs in 332 plate appearances with Triple-A Reno and Tacoma.  In limited duty in the bigs (120 plate appearances), dude hit just .204 with seven home runs splitting time between both the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks

Yu Darvish's Debut on Hold

There's been a ton of talk surrounding Japanese wunderkind Yu Darvish and whether or not he'll be making his Major League debut in 2012.

And according to Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest...odds are that the stud  hurler might not even be posted.

I’m hearing Yu Darvish likely won’t be posted because of his ongoing divorce proceedings.

Apparently, his soon to be ex-wife’s lawyer wants to make sure his MLB salary is counted towards her settlement, and has already filed two depositions delaying their court appearance. Obviously, Darvish and his agent don’t want to post until the divorce is final.

Baseball, apple pie...divorce?  See, who needs to be playing in America to have a future ex-wife cloud their future?

But just how good is the long locked, six-foot-five Darvish?

Damn good apparently.

Dude is the only pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball history to post a sub-2.00 ERA for five consecutive seasons and that includes his 1.44 mark this year. He owns a career 93-38 record and is a two-time league MVP.

Oh...and he's just 24.

Japan to Manny: "No Thanks"

With nothing else going on in sports, I, for one, am glad we still have Manny Ramirez to count on to make news.

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark...the 2004 World Series MVP had a workout in Florida a couple weeks ago for Japan's Fukuoka Softbank Hawks...but the workout "didn't go well."

And they consider Matt Murton good.

This, from Rotoworld.com:

"The Japanese don't like 'baggage' in a player," the source told Stark, "no matter how talented he might be." We're not sure why the Hawks didn't know about Manny's baggage before the workout, but, regardless, it appears that heading overseas might not be an option for the 39-year-old. Ramirez wants to return to baseball next season, but if it's with a major league team, he'll have to serve a 100-game suspension for a second positive PED test.

Back in April when Ramirez disappeared from the baseball world, I hoped that that wouldn't be the last we heard of the slugger.

Something tells me...dude's story is not over yet.

Hideki Matsui Hits 500th Home Run

It's one of those "blink and you missed it" sort of achievements...but with a sixth inning home run Wednesday night against the Detroit Tigers, Hideki Matsui did something that no one else has ever done.

You see, the Oakland A's designated hitter became the first slugger to hit a combined 500 home runs in both Japan and here in the States.

25 Major Leaguers and eight Japanese ballplayers have reached the 500 mark. But for some reason...Matsui wasn't all that impressed with what he pulled off.

"It isn't like I've been aiming for this, because I don't really combine numbers from Japan and herem" the slugger told reporters after the game. "To me, they are two separate leagues."

Whatever. It's still wicked cool.

Oh...if you're keeping track, Matsui's blast (his seventh of this season) was number 168 of his Major League career. He hit 332 for the Yomiuri Giants.

Hideki Matsui Celebrates Japanese Heritage Day

In his first at bat Sunday, new Oakland Athletics designated hitter Hideki Matsui did something he couldn't do in his first seven.

He got a hit.

Why is that a big deal? 

That second-inning double was the 2500th hit of "Godzilla" professional career...and it just so happened to come on Japanese Heritage Day.

"I feel relief just getting my first hit as a member of the A's and getting our first win," Matsui told reporters after the game. "I'm not really focused on my hits between Japan and the big leagues."

Thankfully...The Hall is.

If you break down Matsui's hit totals...the 36-year-old now has 1111 to add to the 1390 he got as a member of the Yomiuri Giants.

But I'll be more impressed when dude gets his seventh home run this year.

Going into this season, Matsui has 161 career home runs over his eight-year Major League career. Combine that with the 332 he hit in Japan...and you're looking at 493 career bombs.  You see the numbers I'm dropping?

Matsui is on the verge of 500 career home runs...and ain't nobody talking about it.

And yeah...I just dropped an "and ain't nobody"!

Ichiro Donates 100 Million (Yen) to Japan

Here in the United States, we pretty much know Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki for two things...being one of the best multi-tooled ballplayers out there and delivering profanity-laced speeches prior to All-Star games.

But, as it turns out, dude is quite the humanitarian as well.

According to the website NIKKEI.com...the Toyoyama native just donated a nice chunk of change to help out with the relief efforts in Japan.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has donated 100 million yen to the Japanese Red Cross Society for earthquake relief efforts in the country, his management company BowPlanning told Kyodo News on Friday.  While Suzuki declined to comment on his act, BowPlanning President Yoshiki Okada explained the major leaguer made the decision after gathering information on the situation in Japan and careful consideration.

And this isn't the first time, the big leaguer has opened up his pocketbook to help out his homeland.  Check this out.

Last month, Suzuki contributed 10 million yen for Miyazaki Prefecture, which was struck by repeated eruptions of volcano Shinmoe Peak.  He donated 10 million yen to Kobe, the home of his former Japanese club the Orix BlueWave for disaster relief following the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.  In 2000, he sent 1,500 clothes items worth about 13 million yen to Aichi Prefecture, which was hit by disruptive downpours.

Oh, and in case you're wondering just how much 100 million yen is...it comes to close to $1.23 million here in the States.

Perhaps inspired by the generosity of their star...the Mariners announced Friday morning that they'll match all of the team's front office employees and fan donations to the Red Cross. They've also stated that they'll make a guaranteed donation of $100,000 to meet the match requirements.

Nintendo of America Inc., the majority owner of the M's, is also making a contribution, as is their parent company Nintendo Co, Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan.  So far, they've shelled out the equivalent of roughly $3.7 million.

Well played, Ichiro.  Well.  Played.