Japanese-American Perspectives

Chiba Lotte Marines

...Hiroyuki Kobayashi is getting bumped to the pen temporarily. Kobayashi was originally set to make a start today, but Yuta Ohmine will get the start instead.

Kobayashi is 2-11 this season with a 4.79 ERA.

...The Marines are thinking about bringing Julio Zuleta back next season for about 20-30M yen (down from the 300M yen from a year ago).

Chunichi Dragons

...The Dragons will likely start Wei-Ying Chen, Yudai Kawai, and Kazuki Yoshimi in the 3-game series against the Yomiuri Giants that starts tonight.

Orix Buffaloes

...Tuffy Rhodes has said that he'd like to play for the Buffaloes next season.

"If they want me back next season, I'd love to return," said Rhodes. "I would't mind finishing out my career here."

The team will most likely offer Rhodes a contract for next season.

Nippon Ham Fighters

...A Yu Darvish update: the Fighters are taking it slowly with Darvish.

Said pitching coach Yoshii, "It's ok if it takes more than 10 days because we want him to be 100% when he returns."

Darvish played catch for the first time today since being taken off the active roster on the 22nd and can make a return to the parent club as early as September 1st.

Rakuten Eagles

...Masahiro Tanaka will likely get the start against the Chunichi Dragons on Thursday. It will mark the first time this season that Tanaka throws on 5 days rest.

Hisashi Iwakuma gets the start tonight against the Lions.

Seibu Lions

...The Lions have 11 more games against the Rakuten Eagles this season and will try to set the rotation so that Hideaki Wakui and Takayuki Kishi start in as many as 7 of them.

...Fumikazu Kimura will likely make a start against the Rakuten Eagles on Thursday when Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound.

...Jonah Bayliss is getting married to his girlfriend of 7 years, Austin Turner.

Softbank Hawks

...The Hawks asked players AND media personnel to avoid Susukino (a popular, ahem, entertainment district in the Sapporo area).

The Susukino area is a highly trafficked area and should probably be considered a somewhat risky place to go if you're trying to avoid the swine flu.

Yakult Swallows

...Shinya Miyamoto is ready to re-join the parent club. He will be activated today in time for the series with the Hiroshima Carp at Mazda Stadium.

Yokohama Bay Stars

...Kimiyasu Kudo would like to return to the team next season. The club appears willing to listen, so long as he still has movement on his pitches.

"I'll start, relieve... If it's to help this team win, I'll do whatever they ask me to do," said Kudo. "Even if it's only for another year, I'd love to keep playing."