Central League Report

5/31/2004


No Games Today

Team Reports


Chunichi
Aside from setting a new Central League doubles record in May, third baseman Kazuyoshi Tatsunami hit .412 while batting .500 with
runners in scoring position. The Dragons will need at least an 		 approximate performance in June if they want to hold on to first 
place. 
 


Yomiuri
NTV chairman Ichiro Ujiie has told first baseman Kazuhiro Kiyohara that if his next five hits, which would give him 2000 for his career, are all homers, he will get a special bonus. Seven of Kiyohara's 13 hits this season have left the yard. By the burly slugger accomplishing the five homer feat, Ujiie hopes that it will enhance the Giants popularity and help increast tv ratings. NTV is the television arm of the Yomiuri media empire. So far, their ratings for Giants broadcasts are down 2.3 points over last year to about  14%. 

Third baseman Hiroki Kokubo's ankle was given an MRI and he is indeed suffering a minor sprain and an inflammation of a ligament. He will be out a week. 

Second year pitcher Hiroshi Kisanuki is said to be facing demotion to the minors if his next start is a rocky one. Kisanuki's ERA is 5.30.


Yakult
Shortstop Shinya Miyamoto will be available for pinch hit duty only the next coule of days. But they expect that he will be ready to get back into the starting lineup on the fourth. 

According to Sankei Sports, the Swallows were just about to sign

  Boston minor league pitcher Jamie Brown, but Brown was then suddenly called up, which halted the negotiations. So they are now going to make a run at Tamapa Bay hurler Dicky Gonzalez. They are also still mulling perhaps acquiring an arm from the Mets or the Indians. 


Hiroshima
The Carp have a series with Yokohama starting Tuesday. Rightfielder Shigenobu Shima has hit .406 against the Bay Stars  this season. Onetime starter turned reliever Kan Otake may get some chances to close during that series. 


Miscellaneous
New York Mets shortstop Kazuo Matsui went 2-5 with a stolen base, two strikeouts and two runs scored Monday at Philadelphia against the Phillies to end a four game team losing streak. His average is currently at .265. 

In an interesting development, though, the Mets are trying to get
Matsui to wear eyeglasses, says Hochi Sports. He is reportedly having trouble picking up the catcher's signs and thus the specs were recommended. However, the report states that the former Seibu 
star's willingness to follow the advice is "questionable."

According to Sankei Sports, Dodgers righthander Hideo Nomo will start on June 8th against Toronto. He is currently on the disabled list with a bad nail on his index finger. As a tune up, he will make a minor league rehab start on the third. 

Seattle rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki went 3-4 with an HBP Monday at 

 (insurance company) Field against Toronto, all three knocks being singles. He also had a steal of second. Ichiro now has 50 hits for the month, becoming the first player since Pete Rose to rack up two 
50 hit months in his career. 

If Shigeo Nagashima is unable to accompany the Japanese olumpic baseball team to Athens, his head coach, Kiyoshi Nakahata, will probably become the acting skipper. 

So Taguchi was inserted into a game against Pittsburgh Monday as a defensive replacement for St. Louis and did not get to bat. The Cardinals won it 8-3. 

Stat of the day: Hideki Matsui leads all American League players in
batting average on the road with a .392 mark. He hit .351 during March.