|
The Quiver - May 1, 2033
Your Shizuoka Arrows News Source!
Well, that was not the start anyone wanted to have to the season. The Arrows are 14-16, and in 6th place in a surprisingly tight Pacific League. The Spirit and Buffaloes are tied with the lead so far, but the Arrows are only 4 games back of those two, and only 1 game back of the Hawks and Eagles tied for 3rd.
Kikuo Aoki's return will help right the ship, as he's expected back from rehab shortly. Lord knows the starting rotation needs the help. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tetsuya Yoshimoto's ERAs both start with 7, so there's a demotion impending if they don't shape up. And then there's Shigejiro Matsumoto, supposed pitcher wunderkind on the way...
Batter-wise, the team's batting average is dead-last for no discernable reason. There may be a hitting coach change imminent if this keeps up. We did already see the season's first trade, as CF Kunimitsu Mizokami was sent to the Orix Buffaloes for 1B Kunihiro Torigoe.
This was also an important month for the future direction of the team, as Arrows management made a trio of extensions to popular players. First, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto gracefully accepted a pay cut to 350K for his next (and final?) year in Shizuoka. Then, catcher Yasutoki Kato inked a 5 year, 12.65M pact that will see him behind the dish in Shizuoka for the foreseeable future. And finally, most importantly...Shizue Uchino will be an Arrow lifer, with a 6 year, 17.19M deal signed to take him to his age-36 season. Can't wait to see #7 hanging from the standards!
|