New Red Uniform is Out

The red "moedra" uniform that had been rumored was released last week and looks exactly how I expected it would.  That isn't a bad thing, I actually like it a lot.  It's just a red version of the home uniform with the navy piping flipped to white.  They probably could have have had a little more fun with the design, but at least they didn't screw up a good thing.  The Chunichi players should be fired up to wear these bad boys!  More info here. 

Tatsuro Iwasaki to join Rakuten

Over the weekend Chunichi's front office made the decision to deal Tatsuro Iwasaki to the Golden Eagles for cash considerations. I haven't seen it reported as to how much money will be headed to Chunichi, but it's unlikely that it will be very much.  Yakyubaka has a post on the move.  Iwasaki has been with the Dragons since 2006 when he was a 5th-round draft pick, selected from ENEOS of the industrial leagues.  Iwasaki is a very skilled middle-infielder, but he's 28 now and hasn't hit much at either NPB level.  I'm guessing that Rakuten is looking at him as either a late-inning defensive player or ni-gun filler.  Hopefully he can be a useful role player for the Eagles, as they look to have a pretty competitive team this year.

2013 WBC Predictions

Just hours away from the WBC kickoff featuring Chinese Taipei and Austrailia in Taiwan.  I've been looking forward to the WBC for a while, and I'm really hoping for a good showing from the USA.  I'm also hoping for another Japan vs. USA matchup with a USA win to restore some of the bragging rights in my household.  Based on how the bracket sets up both the U.S. and Japan would have to make it to the final four to enable them to face off, and I'm not sure either team has what it takes to make it that far.  The field in general seems a little less talented than in 2009 with a lot of stars choosing not to play, but a lot of good players will still be there and because it's early in the year and guys won't be in mid-season form the tournament should be fairly unpredictable as it was in 2009.

In the spirit of the upcoming NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, here's my WBC bracket:

Advancing from Pool A: Japan & Cuba (to Pool 1)
Advancing from Pool B: Korea & Chinese Taipei (to Pool 1)
Advancing from Pool C: D.R. & Venezuela (to Pool 2)
Advancing from Pool D: USA & Mexico (to Pool 2)

Advancing from Pool 1: Cuba & Korea
Advancing from Pool 2: Venezuela & USA

Championship Game: Venezuela vs. Korea
WBC CHAMPION: VENEZUELA

Update: Wow, I could not have done much worse, about the only thing I predicted right is that it would be unpredictable.

Hirokazu Ibata to Represent Japan at the WBC

Hirokazu Ibata was the only Dragon selected for the final Team Japan roster this week.  Dragons Kazuki Yoshimi, Takuya Asao, Daisuke Yamai and Yohei Oshima participated in preliminary workouts but will not be on the team.  Injuries contributed to Yoshimi, Asao and Oshima not being selected (Yoshimi actually withdrew).
Ibata is a good choice for a reserve infielder, he's got a lot of experience and is excellent defensively.  He's spent significant time at shortshop and second base, plus he could play the other infield positions in a pinch.  I don't anticipate him playing a whole lot based on the talent on the roster, but congratulations to him for making the team, it will be his first time playing in a WBC tournament.
Congratulations as well to the Seattle Mariners who will be playing the tournament, Michael Saunders (Canada), Alex Liddi (Italy) and Oliver Perez (Mexico).

Spring Training on USTREAM

The Dragons official USTREAM page (see link on the right) has been showing a ton of video from Chunichi's spring practices in Okinawa.  They are also broadcasting the preseason games!  I watched a portion of yesterday's game against Hanshin.  Chunichi lost 15-11, in a game where none of their regulars played.  Shuhei Takahashi and Ryosuke Hirata were the big names in the lineup and the Dragons' young pitchers were hit hard.  The Dragons fought back late to make what was a 13-4 game 13-11 going into the 9th, but Hanshin was able to get two more in the top of the 9th and closed out the Dragons in the bottom of the inning.  Yakyubaka has some more notes on the game.

Here's a portion of the schedule for preseason games:

2/16 vs. Hanshin (Replay is available on USTREAM)
2/17 13:00 (JST) vs Kia
2/22 13:00 (JST) vs Kia
2/23 13:00 (JST) vs. Lotte
2/24 13:00 (JST) vs. Orix
The rest of the schedule is here on the Dragons website.

They aren't currently listing which games will be broadcasted, but I imagine at least the games at their home stadium will be.

Red Uniform Sketch

I saw on yakyubaka about a week ago that Chunichi is thinking about/planning to have red alternate uniforms this year.  The design of the red uniforms has yet to be released, but I'm behind the idea even though it's probably a little early for them to do alternates, since their new uniform set just came out last year.  I'm also thankful that they settled on red, rather than yellow or green which was apparently discussed.  Of course there is always the chance they will break those out in 2014.

I'm not sure when the new uni's will be released, but in the meantime I've come up with a design of what I'm hoping they will look something like.

Red vest & 3-color cap

Dragons Sign Matt Clark

According to several reports and his own twitter account, Matt Clark, a Padres farmhand will be a Chunichi Dragon in the very near future.  Clark is a first baseman and has played some outfield.  He's 26 years old and has spent the last two years with the AAA Tuscon Padres.  He's never appeared in a major league game, but his minor league numbers are solid.  Had the Padres not had so many other 1B prospects he probably would have gotten a look in the majors, he has attended major league spring training.  It sounds like he's most known for his power and for being somewhat strikeout-prone, but his overall batting average and on-base percentage numbers look plenty good.  Here's a video about him from last year:

It's been reported that former Dragon and current professional hitting coach Alonzo Powell may be involved with the acquisition.  According to yakyubaka Powell has also been invited to be a special instructor at the Dragons' Spring Camp, something that could help with Clark's acclimation to Japan.  Clark is a little younger than most foreign players who come to the NPB and may still have a shot at the majors should he succeed in Japan, so he's got a lot to play for.  As far as how he would fit on the Dragons, if he can do for Chunichi what he's done for the Tuscon Padres the last two years, he will fill the power bat, first base hole that was left by Tony Blanco's move to Yokohama.  From what I've been reading, he sounds like a good guy and ready to go wherever baseball leads him.  I'm excited to see what he can do in 2013.

Here's a link to an interview with Clark from last year here.

Update: The deal is official