Midori no Ya! An NPB Expansion Dynasty
 

This takes place in an alternate COVID-free universe.

TOKYO - November 5, 2020

The celebrations taking place in Tokyo, as the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles completed their Japan Series win over the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 5 games, were overshadowed by news from *** headquarters elsewhere in the metropolis - the league is expanding.

A number of factors pushed *** commissioner Atsushi Saito to even consider expansion. The 2020 Olympics and the attention the Japanese national team garnered, the chance of an MLB lockout in 2022 and the resulting viewership from North America, and most importantly, pressure from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Regardless of what the drivers were, the announcement that the league would expand by two teams in 2022, and a further two teams in 2024 (the 90th anniversary of pro ball in Japan), sent the media into a frenzy.

Which cities would be given franchises? Who from the existing 12 would be exposed? And is the talent level sufficient to support a 16-team league?

The first question had a few possible answers:

• Niigata would be an early frontrunner for a franchise, with the Komatsu corporation stepping up quickly to fund a team, and the existing ballpark already major league ready
• Okinawa already tried to launch a pro team with the Ryukyu Blue Oceans, but with that club disbanded, a further bid would be seen as risky. The question is, who would sponsor the team? The ballpark is ready to go with a little expansion.
• A team in Shikoku would make sense, with Matsuyama in Ehime prefecture close to Hiroshima and with a modern ballpark. The existing independent league on the island was making a stink about the threat to their survival, though...
• And then there's the field - places like Nagano, Okayama, Aomori, Kumamoto, Kitakyushu, Shizuoka, and Nagasaki where 30,000-seat ballparks already exist and can be repurposed. Various issues with each of them, especially market size, can cause problems with a bid. Heck, even other cities in the Kansai region like Kyoto and Kobe could work, minus the territorial intrusion to the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes.

As the 2021 season dragged on, you could tell the evolution of the league from the sports dailies' headlines:

• Honda's In - Will Sponsor Team in Ehime Prefecture
• Shikoku Island League Launches Civil Suit to Protect Their Market from ***
• Is Kirin Investing in ***? Rumours Swirl, Company Does Not Comment
• Naha City Readies Bid for *** Expansion
• Kyoto Confirms - No *** Expansion Plans
• Okayama City Opens RFP for Muscat Stadium Expansion
• Okinawa Government Announces Private Sector Support for *** Team in Naha
• Chunichi Dragons Confirm - Shizuoka is Their Territory
• BlueWave Fans Urge *** to Consider Kobe for Expansion

Ultimately, as the 2021 postseason started, four bids were selected as winners:

MATSUYAMA on Shikoku, owned by Honda
NIIGATA, with Komatsu owning the team
NAHA in Okinawa, owned by Kirin
SHIZUOKA...wait, what?

The selection of Shizuoka stunned most observers, as the team lacked a modern ballpark and a primary owner. Should the CL select the franchise, they'd also be intruding on the Chunichi Dragons' market in nearby Nagoya.

The loser of the Japan Series would get the first selection of the four bids to join their league, with the winner getting the next selection. That would turn out to be the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, who were swept by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

The expansion selections are to be made shortly. See below...

TOKYO - October 17, 2021

The owners' groups of the Central and Pacific Leagues have completed their selections for the expansion bids approved by *** earlier this month.

The Central League, picking first, opted for the strongest bid - the Niigata franchise, owned by Komatsu Ltd, will begin play in 2022, and participate in an expansion draft during the offseason. Komatsu CEO Hiroyuki Ogawa was ebullient in his remarks, grateful for the opportunity to join Japan's finest teams and hoping to bring high quality baseball to the Sea of Japan coast.

The Pacific League selected the Naha franchise, owned by Kirin Corporation, next. However, the PL would announce that this franchise would begin play in 2024, the second round of expansion. No explanation was given at the time. Kirin CEO Yoshinori Isozaki declined to comment.

The Central League will be heading to the island of Shikoku in 2024, with the Honda-owned Matsuyama franchise selected third. Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo is confident the civil suit underway instigated by the Shikoku Island League Plus can be amicably resolved in time.

Finally, the Pacific League selected the Shizuoka franchise to start in 2022 alongside Niigata-Komatsu. Present at the announcement were representatives of the team's consortium of owners - Sumitomo Corp, Fuji Dream Airlines, JR Central, and Ito En Ltd (whose president, Yosuke Honjo, will represent the team in the PL owners' group). Although the team is at least funded, a consortium does tend to lead to smaller budgets (such as that of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp), a constraint whichever GM takes the job will be stuck with.

The *** expansion draft will see all players with less than 2 years' professional service time unavailable, with up to 22 players to be selected. Each team can only lose 8 players to the draft, with the draft running 40 rounds deep (to assist in building out the farm team).

Niigata's farm team will be located along the same Shinkansen line in Takasaki, added to the Eastern League. Shizuoka's farm team joins the Western League out of Hamamatsu, just east of Nagoya.

SHIZUOKA - October 29, 2021

The nascent *** franchise in town has announced a number of hirings to their front office.

• The team's General Manager is tehsuigi, who previously was GM of the Shinano Grandserows of the BCL. During his two years there, the team finished fourth, then stunned everyone by winning both halves of the schedule and coming a game away from winning the BCL championship. Given that team's preference for pitching prowess and defense over offense, that should give a hint as to what Shizuoka's squad may be.
• Ryan Sadowski was hired as Assistant GM, who retired from the Lotte Giants of the KBO in 2012. This would be his first GM role.
• Chris Buckley joins the team as Scouting Director, with 16 years of experience, most recently two with the Kagawa Olive Guyners of the SILP.
• Takahiko Kusunoki has joined as the team's lead athletic trainer; he previously served that role for the Chiba Lotta Marines the last two seasons

The coaching staff is to be announced after the expansion draft. GM tehsuigi stated "It would be improper for me to get coaches without considering their harmony and fit to the team. Like the book says, ya gotta have wa."

TOKYO - November 14, 2021

In advance of the *** First Year Draft, the two new franchises finally revealed their names and logos.

First, the team drafting first in the expansion draft - the Shizuoka Arrows. "Arrows" was rumoured to be the team's nickname after the name was leaked on a standard player contract sent to an ex-BCL player.

No PL team has worn green as a primary colour since the Nankai Hawks were sold in 1988. GM tehsuigi indicated that it was in reference to Shizuoka's preeminence as Japan's green tea capital.

Second, the team drafting first in the First Year Draft - the Niigata Komatsu Bears.

An unconventionally muted colour palette of mauve, teal, and grey brings the colder winters to mind, but will definitely stand out in the primary colours and bright orange of the Central League.

Okay, something may have gone kerschmorgled with my expansion draft, so I may have to roll back the draft results below. Fingers crossed.
EDIT: yep, something went sideways and my team's not listed anymore. Rolling back!! Will re-do this tomorrow.
EDIT 2: fun fact - changing the subleague your expansion team is in removes them from the expansion draft order!

Okay, thanks to the restore, we're now drafting second in draft, first in expansion (and I've updated the above news posts).

SHIZUOKA - November 8, 2021

It's not much, but it is a start. The Shizuoka franchise, as yet unnamed, has completed its first signing. Catcher Yuto Egawa, formerly in the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles minor league system, has signed a minor league deal.

GM tehsuigi was grounded about the news. "We're just getting our feet wet and fleshing out the minor leagues. We have to be extremely judicious and opportunistic in our free agent signings in these early years."

I have honestly spammed like 10 MiLCs so far - lots of independent league chaff who can build out the ni-gun.

TOKYO, November 15, 2021

The 2021 *** draft had its fair share of fanfare, with the Niigata Komatsu Bears and Shizuoka Arrows showing off their new uniforms along with their first round selections.

The Bears selected shortstop Natsuki Hashimoto from Waseda University first overall, while the Arrows chose center fielder Shizue Uchino from Heian High School. [...]

Uchino has committed to Waseda University, but a guy with 60 range, 55 error, and 80 arm to start with AND high leadership AND a 50 HR Power current is too good to pass up.

Here's the rest of the draft picks I made:

1. Shizue Uchino
2. Azumamaro Masuda, rightie starter from Keio Univ - the best starter in the draft class, even if he's already Fragile and only has three pitches (all decent tho)
3. Toyoharu Miyake, leftie shortstop from Tsuruga Kehi HS. Bat is eh, but defense is solid.
4. Tsuna Kitagawa, second baseman from Saibi HS. Got some pop in his bat!
5. Hideyuki Kuga, catcher from Ritsumeikan University. 70 catcher ability to make the most of my plugs.
6. Tadashi Imai, left fielder from Nishogakusha HS. 50 contact potential and leadership skills. Defense is eh, but we're in the DH league.
7. Hiroshi Nakano, defense-first outfielder from Kyoto Univ.
8. Takuhiro Isobe, another Tsuruga Kehi grad, this one left fielder with slightly better defense. If his bat develops, he'll be solid.
9. Kiyoyuki Yamada, defensive 3B from Ritsumeikan Univ.
10. Hyogo Mizuno, leftie reliever from Meiji University. Guy's got a 70 grade changeup already; I just hope the rest of him catches up.

The Bears graphics (and Comets and Spirit, in due time) are all from MUFC1878's thread here, while the Arrows is a colour-shifted version of knuckler and txranger's work here, with a new white-panel home cap by me.

GM NOTEBOOK: 2021-11-17

Okay, first ever expansion draft. Lots of chaff, some decent options, and I've got the first overall pick. I know exactly who to get first, and I just hope I can get to everyone else I want in time...

PITCHERS

SP: Daiki Iwashta (M), Nao Higashihama (L), Shotaro Kasahara (D), Masahiro Inui (F), Chihaya Sasaki (M), Kazuki Yabuta (C), Hiroki Kondo (E), Kosuke Sakaguchi (DB)

RP: Kyohei Nakamura (C), Shunta Nakatsuka (L), Jumpei Takahashi (E), Sachiya Yamasaki (B), Yu Sato (S), Shogo Noda (L), Hikaru Nakao (S)

BATTERS

C: Yoshtaka Isomura (C), Shuto Takajo (DB)

1B: Keita Sano (DB), Takumi Oshiro (G), Takumi Kitamura (G)

2B: Ryo Watanabe (F), Masahiro Nishino (B), Daisuke Nakai (DB), Hayato Mizowaki (D)

3B: Shu Masuda (H), Shumei Miyamoto (DB), Naomasa Yohkawa (T)

SS: Masaki Mimori (H), Kyohei Nagae (L), Tetsuro Nishida (H)

LF: Taiki Sekine (DB), Yuma Mune (B), Issei Endo (D)

CF: Kosuke Ito (D), Kotaro Yamasaki (S), Soichiro Tateoka (G)

RF: Taishi Kusumoto (DB), Masahiro Nakatani (T), Yutaro Itayama (T), Masaki Iwami (E)

I've blown past my budget (which was tiny to begin with tbf), but Ito and Masuda were steals. Sano as team captain is an obvious choice, too.

You'll also note a distinct lack of foreign players; I'll be addressing that through free agency!

GM NOTEBOOK: 2021-11-26

Winter meetings. No one wants to give me the time of day. I should not be surprised, I'm the new guy in town. Still hurts. Have dinner with Jose Miguel Ramirez, the GM of Komatsu. Seems nice.

Heard why we got in instead of Okinawa. Turns out the Ryukyu Blue Oceans, the previous pro team, still had a lease at the main ballpark in Naha. Kirin's just gonna wait them out instead of spending money. Typically confrontation-averse Japanese business.

SHIZUOKA, December 1, 2021

The Shizuoka Arrows held a press conference today to introduce their coaching staff at long last. GM tehsuigi started the introductions by stating that they looked for fit with their team and its contact-first philosophy.

• Kosaburo Akiyama brings 14 years of managing experience in the amateur ranks.
• Eishin Soyogi, former Carp third baseman, will be given his first coaching gig as bench coach.
• Shigeki Nakamoto, pitching coach, again with 15 years with amateur experience
• Tomokatsu Kondo joins as hitting coach from the Kagawa Olive Guyners, his employer for the prior two years
• Basilio Cabrera joins the ni-gun team as manager with 13 years of experience in the Dominican academies
• Kiyohki Nakanishi will be ni-gun pitching coach and ostensible translator for Cabrera and...
• Paco Figueroa, formerly hitting coach for the Phillies, will fill that role for the ni-gun

OFFSEASON TRANSACTION SUMMARY

December
* Just after the winter meetings, added Anderson Reynoso, Anderson Pilar, Andrew Schultz, and Colby White, all on minor league deals. First two are high-40s potential starters, latter are 50s-60s relievers who could be contributors as soon as this season (which says something about my squad)
* Mid-December, made two domestic FA deals, adding Kenya Wakatsuki to a minor-league deal with a major league option from Orix, and Yuta Takano from the BCL (50 contact, 60 DEF at RF, exactly my type of player)
* Sent Soichiro Tateoka to the Swallows for Anthony Guardado - needed to shed some payroll stuck in the minors.
* Sent Kyohei Nagae to the Buffaloes for Chris Rusin - same idea.
* Sent Issei Endo back to the Dragons whom I drafted him from to save further dosh, getting Ryosuke Kishisato back
* Purchased Fidel Mejia, a Dominican shortstop from the Saitama Musashi Heat Bears for 250K. He'll be handling primary duties in the infield because Masaki Mimori's a bit too young.

January
* Signed more minor-league depth, Seiya Dohi (LHP), Hiroyuki Shirasaki (3B), Kiyoharu Sawano (SS).
* Made another major league deal, adding 34-year-old Ryoichi Adachi to be our main shortstop at 1yr/240K. Mejia's still got room to grow, so Adachi's likely just a stopgap, especially since he only was worth 0.6 WAR last year with Orix.

February
* Signed Wander Cabrera as another Dominican starter prospect. I gotta hit on one of these guys, right?
* One final major-league deal, signing Connor Greene to 1yr/350K to likely be our staff ace. Greene left the Royals in 2020, spent a year in the Giants AA/AAA teams, and now has a chance to prove his mettle.

2022 *** SCHEDULE RELEASED

TOKYO - January 20, 2022

*** stunned observers with a noticeably changed schedule for the 2022 season, adding year-round interleague play along with the two expansion teams.

The secretary of ***, Atsushi Ihara, explained that this was a temporary measure for the next two seasons due to the odd number of teams per league. Moving to two leagues of 8 and 8 will permit a set interleague timeframe again.

The Shizuoka Arrows will inaugurate their franchise on the road, visiting the Saitama Seibu Lions at MetLife Dome on Friday March 25 for a three-game set. They will then travel to the hallowed halls of Hanshin Koshien Stadium to take on the Tigers, before hosting them at Kusanagi Stadium on Thursday, March 31 for the first *** game in Shizuoka played by its own team.

The Niigata Komatsu Bears, on the other hand, play Opening Day at Yokohama against the DeNA BayStars, before heading up to HARD OFF Eco Stadium in Niigata to host the Swallows from Saturday March 26 to Tuesday March 28.

Sidebar: my schedule got lumpy, and I don't have the brainpower to fix it right now.

GM Notebook - March 19, 2022

Spring training always brings lessons to be learned. Mine was that I signed too many position players to minor league deals, and had to shed a good number of them to get my organization back down to 70 contracts. Hiroyuki Shirasaki, Tomotaka Sakaguchi, Naomasa Yohkawa, Ryosuke Kishisato, Daisuke Nakai, and Andrew Schultz were all cut. Still need to shed about 4 more before Opening Day.

Traded Masao Nishida, a minor-league catcher, to Hanshin for a closer named Camilo Doval who's got potential. Will give him a spin this last week of ST to see what he's made of.

We're 8-16 in Spring Training, tied with Nippon-Ham for last in the PL and Niigata Komatsu over in the CL. It's expected. Kyohei Nakamura has 6 saves, though, so at least that's working for us. The rest of the team is...suspect. For a contact-first team, not seeing too many batting averages over .200. Our rotation's in pieces, but I kinda expected that.

Update March 21

Those other cuts were Ginjiro Fujiwara, Hiroshi Nakano (draft pick), Kazuaki Oishi, and Anthony Guardado.

Also sent CF Kotaro Yamasaki to the Swallows for Kirby Snead; figured another mid-tier bullpen arm would help. Saved a bit of cash, too.

And FINALLY put Tsuyoshi Sonoda's name in the rotation - he took all offseason to sign my 1yr/480K offer.

LIONS 7, ARROWS 2

TOKOROZAWA - March 25, 2021

Mark these down in your history books, Arrows fans. The first hit in franchise history was recorded by Ryo Watanabe with 2 out in the top of the first inning.

The first error was committed by Yuta Takano in the bottom half of the same inning, dropping a high fly ball to right to let Hotaka Yamakawa get to second and allow Sosuke Genda to score.

The Saitama Seibu Lions would add three more runs on a Wataru Takagi home run in the bottom of the second and a solo home run from Hotaka Yamakawa in the third, before they finally got their first strikeout victim - Shohei Suzuki swung on a 3-2 offering from Tsuyoshi Sonoda.

It took until the top of the 9th for the first RBI in Arrows history, when Fidel Mejia shot a Sho Miyagiwa pitch into the left-field gap, scoring Masuda and Sano.

The next game, the Arrows pummelled Taiki Ono and the Lions 19-2. Kosuke Ito had a 4-hit game, with Ito, Shu Masuda, Ryo Watanabe, Kenya Wakatsuki, and Seiya Yamazaki (twice!) all hitting dingers. First one in franchise history is Watanabe's, a two-out solo shot in the first. Masahiro Inui went 7 innings allowing 2 runs, earning the team's first win. Yamazaki's 11th inning solo shot would prove the winner in the rubber match, and all of a sudden, the Arrows have their first series win.

ARROWS 7, TIGERS 5

SHIZUOKA - March 31, 2022

The bunting was hung from the rafters as Kusanagi Stadium welcomed the Shizuoka Arrows and Hanshin Tigers for the Arrows' home opener.

Things looked grim for the home side, nursing a 5-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the 8th, until the Arrows' offense burst out with 6 unanswered runs before a single out was recorded, ultimately ending the inning with a 7-5 lead. Designated hitter Yuma Mune's bases-loaded single knotted the score, with Yuta Takano's walk afterwards the go-ahead run. Kyohei Nakamura pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the deal.

Incredibly, we're finishing March 3-3.

GM NOTEBOOK - May 1, 2022

What the hell happened. We were 3-3, and now we're 8-24. 12 game losing streak. April suuuucked.

Our starting pitching got absolutely rim-rocked, our bullpen blew save after save, and our offense, although 2nd in the PL, couldn't keep up.

Going to be making some dramatic moves to try and get back in the winning column for good. Azumamaro Masuda, our second-round pick last year, is up with the big club to start (hey we're 7th in ERA, what could go wrong?). Bullpen has three new faces. Sending a message by sending Shu Masuda and other underperformers to the ni-gun, bringing up some new faces.

This season's a year-long try-out. Let's try some guys out, then!

GM NOTEBOOK - July 1, 2022

Well, it kinda worked? We went 11-13 in May and June, although now our offense has cooled off. The team's not thrilled with where things are, but I have to give them credit for scuffling through like they have.

Connor Greene won Rookie of the Month in June, so I'm glad about that. Also nice to see Tomohiro Abe's done well the last few months, he's earned an extension.

Time to survey the team and see who I can offload for prospects. Shop a few guys around, add more leadership to the room, stuff like that. We're just 2.5 games back of Seibu, and one hot month could be enough to get us there.

tehsuigi gets busy

* Sent Yutaro Itayama and Tora Otsuka, two left fielders, to the Swallows for SP Arata Shiino and RP Hiroki Yamada, the latter of whom has leader ability
* Sent 1B Takumi Oshiro, LHP Wander Cabrera, and RHP Shoichi Ino to the BayStars for 3B Hayate Nishino, 3B Toby Welk, and the prize, LHP Yudai Mori. I really like Mori's makeup, and we're in dire need of major-league ready pitching.
* Sent RHP Yu Sato back home to the Dragons for RHP Takuya Mitsuma.

At the All-Star Break, we sit 34-54, 18 games back of Orix who leads the PL. We're 1.5 back of Seibu and Komatsu for not in dead last, though - that's our goal.
All-Star Nominations: RP Sachiya Yamasaki, CL Kyohei Nakamura, RF Yuta Takano (who leads the team with 2.6 WAR and a .290/.343/.473 slash line)

And one last trade: sending SS Ryoichi Adachi (who requested the move) and 1B Takumi Kitamura (just didn't do anything with his bat) to Niigata Komatsu for 1B Ginji (one of my favourite IRL players) and LF Omar Carrizales.

2022 SEASON REVIEW

This is my first time doing an expansion team...are they also supposed to be this bad? At least we only finished 13th out of 14 teams - the Bears did worse than us by a few games. Heck, we weren't even the only team with a 12-game losing streak, as the Chiba Lotte Marines pulled off the feat to finish the season.

Still, 55-87 is bad. Our supposed strength - contact bats - flopped fantastically. I think I need to refocus on Avoid K's as well. I knew pitching was going to stink, but this is REALLY atrocious. May actually have to spend money this offseason, at least buying guys from independent leagues.

Players who I'm pleased with:
* Ginji (.742 OPS since joining the Arrows)
* Tomohiro Abe (1.6 WAR in 103 GP)
* Omar Carrizales (.972 OPS in 24 GP; he's earned a roster spot next year if the price is right)
* Kosuke Ito (.726 OPS and 2 WAR in 83 GP; he's earned the spot next year)
* Yuta Takano (team MVP, 14 HRs to pace the squad)
* Connor Greene (3.19 FIP and 2.5 WAR to pace the rotation, also stayed healthy all year)
* Jumpei Takahashi (an actual winning record at 8-7, and a 3.14 ERA)
* Takuya Mitsuma (10 saves with a 2.36 ERA since joining the club)
* Sachiya Yamasaki (76 IP and only a 2.25 ERA; solid contributor)

FINALLY! BUFFALOES WIN FIRST JAPAN SERIES

OSAKA - October 16, 2022

From 1949 until their merger in 2004, the Kintetsu Buffaloes name had never won a Japan Series. Pennant pushes in 1979, 1980, 1989, and 2001 were each foiled. The franchise didn't even bother to recognize the four titles the Hankyu Braves and Orix BlueWave, and were the brunt of many a joke as a result.

Joke no more - the Orix Buffaloes are, at long last, Japan Series champions. They won Game 6 of the series with a walk-off RBI single by shortstop Ryo Ota (series MVP, no less) in the 10th inning, sending the Kyocera Dome into a festival atmosphere.

The Buffaloes almost didn't even make it this far, requiring 16 innings and a sayonara home run by star second baseman Tetsuto Yamada to win the PL Climax Series Final Stage in seven games over the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks; had the Hawks won, Orix would have been reverse-swept to add insult to injury.

No need for dwelling on that now - for long-suffering Buffaloes players like Takahiro Okada, Masataka Yoshida, and Taisuke Kondo, not to mention their fans, it's THEIR turn to jump in the Dotonbori river.

Other champions in 2022
* MLB: Tampa Bay Rays (blocking a Dodgers 3-peat)
* KBO: LG Twins
* CPBL: Uni-President Lions
* BCL: Shinano Grandserows, the team that tehsuigi built

2022 Arrows Awards

* Kiyoharu Sawano earned a Mitsui Golden Glove Award at Shortstop.
* Yuta Takano placed second in Rookie of the Year voting behind a unanimous selection of Hawks 1B Richard Sunagawa O'Brien

2022 *** First Year Draft Results

TOKYO - November 15, 2022

Some familiar faces at the front of the draft order this year, as the Niigata Komatsu Bears and Shizuoka Arrows again drafted first and second.

The Bears selected first baseman Tadashi Nakamura from Okinawa Shogaku HS first overall - he could easily be a four-tool player and the key piece the Bears need to succeed in the future.

The Arrows selected Tadahachi Ogawa from Meiji University second overall. Although his fielding profiles as an average right fielder, his bat and speed could play in the majors right now, according to scouts. If his contact skills develop as expected, he could be a .300 hitter in short order.

1. Tadahachi Ogawa, as above
2. Atsunori Nishiyama, Meiji's left fielder. His power and eye are already ***-ready; just need to work on his defense.
3. Hiroshi Morita, a third baseman/right fielder from Rikkyo University. I like his defense and his avoid K's stat.
4. Kintaro Sasaki, a centre-fielder from Nihon Bunri HS. Likely profiles as a defensive type.
5. Satoshi Onishi, second baseman from PL Gakuen. Leadership ability, good hands, pop in his bat.
6. Norio Yoshioka, another high catcher-ability guy.
7. Baiko Murayama, first baseman from Kasukabe Kyoei HS, who won this year's Koshien.
8. HIdenobu Arakaki from Todai. The guy can play every position except the battery.
9. Yoshinori Kanda, righty reliever from Hirosho HS. Big palooka (6'5" at age 18!), and has leadership skills.
10. Shunsuke Abe, a flame-throwing right-hander from Kansai University.

Post-script: Tadahachi Ogawa failed to sign a deal with the Arrows, and thus Shizuoka will receive the #3 pick in next year's draft as compensation. (guy wanted a major league deal!!)

2022 Offseason Update: Arrows Reloading

SHIZUOKA - November 27, 2022

GM tehsuigi was quick at work as soon as the free agency period opened, pouncing on multiple opportunities to add pitching and leadership to the team.

New Arrows 1B Sho Nakata and 2B Shuhei Takahashi were named alternate captains, joining 1B Keita Sano in instilling a winning culture in Shizuoka.

On the pitching side, leftie starters Yuki Takahashi and Hiroki Tokoda were signed to one-year deals after putting up 1.6 and 1.1 WAR with Yomiuri and Hiroshima last season, respectively. This is in addition to Naoyuki Uwusawa, who joined the team with a trade-and-sign deal with the Fighters during arbitration last month, and is expected to lead the rotation this year.

The Arrows have also been active during the winter meetings on the trade front, adding right-hander Shunta Wakamatsu from Niigata Komatsu in exchange for CF Takayuki Yamazaki, and earlier today taking prospect CF Goro Suzuki from SoftBank with CF Takashi Nakayama and RF Masaki Iwami going back the other way.

Reached for comment, GM tehsuigi simply had this to say: "we have addressed our primary issue from last season in pitching, and I'm eager to see what our new additions can do in the locker room and on the field."

YU DID WHAT?

SHIZUOKA - December 2, 2022

In a move that came as a pleasant surprise to fans and industry observers, Yu Darvish has signed a one-year deal with the Shizuoka Arrows worth 290K USD. Darvish, who started his career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2005, won his second Japan Series as a bullpen arm with the Orix Buffaloes, signing a deal with them back in September. At the conclusion of that postseason, he weighed his options and decided one more attempt with the Arrows made sense.

New acquisition Goro Suzuki was swayed to yield Darvish's traditional #11 jersey with the promise of a Rolex watch.

2023 Opening Day Roster Set

Your Shizuoka Arrows are reloaded and ready for the season to come!
Asterisks denote new faces.

Pitchers
Rotation: RHP Connor Greene, LHP Hiroki Tokoda*, RHP Naoyuki Uwusawa*, RHP Daichi Ishii, LHP Yudai Mori, RHP Tsuyoshi Sonoda
Bullpen: LHP Kyohei Nakamura, RHP Takuya Mitsuma, RHP Shunta Wakamatsu*, LHP Sachiya Yamasaki, RHP Makoto Aduwa*, LHP Shogo Noda
Closer: RHP Colby White

Fielders
Catcher: Xavier Valentin, Kenya Wakatsuki,
First Base: Sho Nakata*, Keita Sano
Second Base: Shuhei Takahashi*, Ryo Watanabe
Shortstop: Kiyoharu Sawano, Tomohiro Abe
Third Base: Shu Masuda, Ginji
Left Field: Omar Carrizales, Seiya Yamazaki
Center Field: Goro Suzuki*, Kosuke Ito
Right Field: Yuta Takano, Yuma Mune

RHP Azumamaro Masuda will be starting the season on the injured list due to a torn rotator cuff.

GM Notebook - May 1, 2023

Well, wouldja look at that. A 14-10 April means we're 16-14 on the season. A winning record so far. First winning month in franchise history. It also means we're in 3rd place, 4.5 back of the Buffaloes for the PL pennant, and one game ahead of the Golden Eagles. Too early to be thinking playoffs, but a guy can dream, right?

At the moment, dreams are all I'll have unless I fix our pop-gun offense. I've only got 6 guys above 100+ OPS, and one is Keita Sano with only 27 PAs.

Xavier Valentin and Sawano are headed back to the minors for fixing their swings; coming up to replace them are Hideyuki Kuga and Fidel Mejia (time to see if he's gotten better with the bat). Kosuke Ito is two weeks away from losing his starting job again to Goro Suzuki (fractured foot) once Goro's rehab is done.

EDIT: oh, and Colby White took home Rookie of the Month! 15 Ks in 10 IP, no hits or runs allowed in the month, and 8 saves. So glad to see he's come back strong after his cup of coffee last season.

GM Notebook - June 1, 2023

Back to back winning months! A step back to 13-12, but still better than last year. And Shunta Wakamatsu picked up Pitcher of the Month for his 2.12 ERA, 4-1 record, and over 17 innings, 13 Ks and only a 1.24 WHIP.

With Sho Nakata injured, Keita sano has had to step up at first base, and dang if he hasn't done a stellar job. Goro Suzuki and Fidel Mejia have done decent-ish, enough to keep them around, but Omar Carrizales is eating up a foreign player slot I could use to bring Xavier Valentin back. Offense is still last in the league, but the issue isn't our offense, thankfully.

I just wish Shuhei Takahashi wasn't such a pylon - how'd he get -0.6 WAR over 52 games?

Down: Hiroki Tokoda (5+ ERA worst among our starters), Taiki Sekine, Omar Carrizales (Yamazaki's earned that spot; may trade him), Hideyuki Kuda
Up: Yuki Takahashi (done the best on the farm so far), Kosuke Ito, Xavier Valentin, Yusuke Masago (might as well test his captaincy)

I need to figure out what to do with Toby Welk; he's batting .361 with 13 HRs and 69 RBI, but he's also a foreign player. Shizue Uchino needs one more season down at the farm, and he's ready to join the big club at last.

29-26 and 7.5 back of the Hawks for the PL pennant...and 2.5 ahead of the Golden Eagles for 3rd place. Hope springs green in Shizuoka.

GM Notebook - July 1, 2023

I knew it was too good to last. An 8-17 June has knocked us out of 3rd place, as we sit 2.5 games back of Saitama Seibu. Our offense remains meek outside of the outfield - Takano, Yamazaki, and Kusumoto are doing their best out there. Tried calling up our #1 prospect, Shizue Uchino, but he's gone .056/.190/.111 in his first 6 games. If his defense wasn't so good, he'd be back down in Hamamatsu already.

The rotation is at least holding together, but we're dead last across the board at most stats. I need to start making moves to fix this offense...starting with benching Shu Masuda again.

TRADED: LF Omar Carrizales to Chunichi for LF Sota Kato. Not a major leaguer, but at least he's a local player.

EXTENDED: 1B Sho Nakata 1y/450K, C Kenya Wakatsuki 2yr+TO/1.275M.

Down: Yuki Takahashi, Yusuke Masago, Kosuke Ito
Up: Hiroki Tokoda (so disappointing, these two), Ryo Watanabe (and starting at 2B instead of Shuhei), Kohsuke Sakata (another handsy SS, and right-handed too)

Arrows All-Stars

RHP Naoyuki Uwusawa has been dynamite this season, with a 2.32 ERP over 93 IP and a 1.15 WHIP, good for 1.6 WAR. Worth every penny.
LF Seiya Yamazaki has been tearing it up lately, pushing his slash like to .303/.359/.542, with 13 HRs to boot for 2.2 WAR. He's why Carrizales was expendable.
RF Yuta Takano isn't too far behind, adding 2.6 WAR thanks to his .267/.344/.484 slash line and +2.7 zone rating in RF.

Post-script: Yu Darvish decided to retire, having failed to pitch with the major-league club this year. Ah well.

Arrows and Tigers Complete Lone Deadline Deal

NISHINOMIYA - July 31, 2023

The Shizuoka Arrows must have seen something they liked when the Hanshin Tigers visited them last week, as they completed a substantial deal at the deadline. Joining the Arrows are infielder Fumiya Hojoh and third baseman Joh Endoh; Hojoh is sporting a 90 OPS+ but has a positive zone rating at every infield spot except 1B. Endoh batted .302 the prior two seasons for Hanshin's minor league team, but fell back a bit this year.

Heading to the Tigers are IF Fidel Mejia, formerly a top-50 prospect who slashed .238/.302/.330 with Shizuoka, CF Kosuke Ito, the second pick in the expansion draft for the Arrows (-0.7 WAR this season), and RHP Katsuo Yasuda, who appeared in 24 games with a 6.03 ERA for the Arrows' minor league team.

The Tigers will retain 55% of Hojoh's salary this season.

Concurrently, the Arrows have sent IF Tomohiro Abe to the farm team, calling up 1B Toby Welk (Welk slashed .375/.476/.603 in 87 games, and will be given a shot at the major league level).

GM Notebook - September 1, 2023

This is when I realize we're probably not going to make the postseason. A six-game losing streak to end the month (10-15 August) has erased out hard work in July (13-6) and put us back below .500. We're in 5th place, 2.5 back of the Golden Eagles with the Lions in between us. Hojoh has been a bit of a disappointment, to where I've tabbed Sawano for starting duties again.

To his credit, Shu Masuda has gotten his batting average back up over .200 - having Edoh and Hojoh pushing him a bit probably helped. Ryo Watanabe also picked up his game, to the point where Shuhei Takahashi (whom I probably should not have extended) is stuck as a bench bat.

Xavier Valentin hit our team's first cycle in an extra-innings game at ZOZO Marine Stadium (the hits were all in the first nine innings, don't worry), so that's nice. Uwasawa (I've been typoing his name all this name, no wonder he was mad) became our first ever 10-game winner.

But with Jumpei Takahashi injured for the rest of the year, I'm kinda up a creek.

Still, let's see what this squad does down the stretch. We managed to get into 6th in runs scored, and the barn's still packed night after night.

2023 SEASON REVIEW

68-74, nine wins better than last year. Fighting for a playoff spot most of the way, settling for 5th place. And with expansion looming, doing what I can to make my young squad better.

Kiyoharu Sawano's developing a bit of a bad personality, so he's likely gone at the Winter Meetings since I have Sakata and Hojoh for the shortstop role.
Colby White dominated this season, with 31 saves in 34 opportunities, good for 2nd in ***. That may get him a Reliever of the Year award.

Yamazaki and Takano are keepers, and just wait until Uchino finishes growing into his role in center field. All I need are good infielders and the rest, they say, is history.

BREAKING - *** TO ACQUIRE BCL AND SILP FOR NEW MINOR LEAGUE TIER

TOKYO - September 29, 2023

As the teams in the PL and CL Climax Series Final Stages finish their preparations, a bombshell of an announcement from *** headquarters in Tokyo - the league will be purchasing, in whole, the Baseball Challenge League and Shikoku Island League Plus, converting them from independent leagues to an "major-minor" system above the existing "ni-gun" farm teams.

*** commissioner Atsushi Saito commented that this was necessary to ensure players in Japan had sufficient opportunities to grow and contribute, both at the minor league and major league level. This also recognizes the substantial financial boon to be had with teams that can draw players to substantial ballparks instead of the smaller 500-5,000 seaters the ni-gun league uses. No word yet if the name of the lower league will change.

An insider with *** indicated that this also resolves the pending lawsuit with the SILP regarding the intrusion into their territory; it's effectively a moot point now.

The two Kansai area teams, Hiroshima, and the future Matsuyama franchise will be matched with the SILP, with the remainder matched with the BCL based on geography. This will pose some travel issues for any "shuttle squad" desired for teams like Fukuoka SoftBank, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, and the future Naha franchise, but *** has indicated a cost-sharing regime could be instituted if absolutely required.

Shikoku Island League Plus

• Matsuyama TBD = Ehime Mandarin Pirates
• Hanshin Tigers = Kagawa Olive Guyners
• Hiroshima Toyo Carp = Kochi Fighting Dogs
• Orix Buffaloes = Tokushima Indigo Socks

Baseball Challenge League

• Chiba Lotte Marines = Ibaraki Astro Planets
• Chunichi Dragons = Ocean Shiga Blacks
• Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks = Ishikawa Million Stars
• Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters = Toyama GRN Thunderbirds
• Naha TBD = Fukui Wild Raptors
• Niigata Komatsu Bears = Niigata Albirex
• Saitama Seibu Lions = Saitama Musashi Heat Bears
• Shizuoka Arrows = Shinano Grandserows
• Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles = Fukushima RedHopes
• Tokyo Yakult Swallows = Tochigi Golden Braves
• Yokohama DeNA BayStars = Kanagawa Future Dreams
• Yomiuri Giants = Gunma Diamond Pegasus

The acquisition is scheduled to be completed before the winter meetings in November 2023. By that time, the 2023 Expansion Draft will have been completed, with similar rules for the Matsuyama and Naha franchises as the Niigata Komatsu Bears and Shizuoka Arrows.

Sources indicate the Baseball Federation of Japan, the last remaining independent league in Japan, may expand to adjust for the loss of independent opportunities.

*note - run below only in Shizuoka editions*
Reached for comment on the development, Arrows GM tehsuigi was pleasantly surprised. "I'm chuffed to get the chance to work with my old ballclub again! I started my career with the Grandserows in Nagano, and I heard they won their second straight BCL title a few days ago."

UPDATE: issues with closing the transaction will delay its completion until late February, just a day before spring training commences.

STAMPEDE! BUFFALOES MAKE IT BACK TO BACK

HIROSHIMA - October 15, 2023

This will be a Japan Series for the ages, both teams pitching and hitting their hearts out. From Buffaloes LF Masataka Yoshida's 2 HR, 7 RBI day in Game 4, to the ninth-inning surges the Carp eked out in Games 3 and 5, there was never a dull moment.

Game 7 today was a tense one, with Kohei Suzuki throwing 8 shutout innings, allowing only 5 base runners, and Taisuke Kondo with a shutdown 9th. The Buffaloes banged out 11 hits to score 5 runs, and the Carp just couldn't keep up.

This ended a Cinderella season for Hiroshima, as they up-ended the Hanshin Tigers in the CL Climax Series First Stage in 3, and then the CL champion Yomiuri Giants in 6, and had two chances at home to win their first Japan Series since 1984. They came up empty-handed again.

The Buffaloes dispatched the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 6 themselves prior to the Japan Series, as the Eagles picked off the much-stronger Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 3 in their first-round match.

Yoshida would earn Japan Series MVP honours with a .519/.567/.852 slash line, complete with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs.

Other Champions in 2023
* MLB: Minnesota Twins
* KBO: Kia Tigers (they're 12-0 in Korean Series!)
* CPBL: Rakuten Monkeys

2023 Offseason Updates

The Shizuoka Arrows announced the following personnel changes:
* Basilio Cabrera has been promoted from farm team manager to bench coach, replacing Eishin Soyogi, whose 2-year contract elapsed.
* Minor-league pitching coach Kiyohki Nakanishi has retired. Takehiro Hashimoto, with 3 years' experience in the amateur system, has been signed to replace him.
* Hitting coach Tomokatsu Kondo has resigned his post after the abysmal performance of the team's offense this season (we allowed 109 fewer runs, but still scored 2 fewer!). Paco Figueroa will be promoted from the farm team to take his place, and Troy Afenir (who spent the last 3 years with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars) has joined the farm team. GM tehsuigi has indicated these two may change places if Figueroa doesn't right the ship.
* Brian Schneider has been signed to manage the farm team.

October 23, 2023
The Arrows have announced that they have avoided arbitration with all players except one - LHP Yuki Takahashi will be non-tendered. IF Tomohiro Abe will also not be offered arbitration.

2023 Award Winners
* Kiyoharu Sawano wins his second consecutive Golden Glove at Shortshop
* Yuta Takano wins his first Golden Glove at Right Field
* Connor Greene finished 4th in Eiji Sawamura voting, with Eagles SP Yuki Matsui winning the honour.

October 30, 2023 - Trade Call!
The Shizuoka Arrows have acquired minor-league short-stop Satoru Matushta for LHP Hikaru Nakao and RHP Kaname Yamaoka, avoiding arbitration with both.

Expansion Team Identities Revealed

TOKYO - November 3, 2023

As expansion lists are submitted from teams across the ***, the two newest franchises revealed their names and uniforms.

The Naha franchise has been named the Okinawa Kirin Spirit, with vibrant red, black, and gold as their primary colours. They will play in a slightly expanded Okinawa Cellular Stadium (note: similar to Rakuten, Seibu, and Nippon-Ham, home fans will be in the left-field bleachers).

The Matsuyama franchise will be the Ehime Honda Comets, with yellow and red their primary colours, and their team flag a most striking design. Botchan Stadium has had additional seating added to their right-field stands to bring more home fans in for games.

Sidebar - Shizuoka's protection list was submitted:
C Xavier Valentin
C Kenya Wakatsuki
1B Sho Nakata
1B Toby Welk
2B Katsuya Seno
2B Ryo Watanabe
3B Jo Endo
3B Shu Masuda
SS Fumiya Hojo
SS Kiyoharu Sawano
LF Seiya Yamazaki
RF Yuta Takano
DH Taishi Kusumoto
SP Connor Greene
SP Daichi Ishii
SP Jumpei Takahashi
SP Hiroki Tokoda
SP Naoyuki Uwasawa
RP Shunta Wakamatsu
RP Takuya Mitsuma
RP Kyohei Nakamura
CL Colby White

2023 First Year Draft

TOKYO - November 15, 2023

It was time to launch another two new franchises, with all the pomp and circumstances appropriate. The Okinawa Kirin Spirit, the first *** team to play in Naha, selected high school right-hander Mincho Nozawa with the first overall pick; although not the consensus #1 pick, he was without a doubt the best pitcher in the draft.

Drafting second, the Ehime Honda Comets took Kansai University's left-handed starter, Kohsuke Ozaki. Ozaki stumbled a bit in his junior year, but went 6-2 with 2.4+ WAR each of the prior two seasons.

With their compensation pick from the 2022 draft, the Shizuoka Arrows took the 3rd of the big four arms off the board, selecting left-hander Tetsuya Yoshimoto from Doshishsa University. Yoshimoto's change-up is one of the best in the Big 6 leagues, and if his other pitches develop, he'll fit in nicely with the Arrows rotation.

As it happens, the Niigata Komatsu Bears finished last in *** last season again, so they selected fourth, taking shortstop Tsuneto Yamanaka from Kindai University, who was expected to go first overall. He was previously drafted 10th by Yomiuri in 2020, but failed to sign.

[...] With their normal selection in 10th, the Arrows selected right-hander Michito Nakayama from Kindai University. Nakayama unexpectedly slid to Shizuoka at 10th, as other teams weren't sure about his ability to start with only 3 quality pitches.

1. Tetsuya Yoshimoto and Michito Nakayama, as above
2. Ryuuichi Kono, a leftie reliever/CF from Keio University. Can't believe he fell to me, but he's got two-way potential!
3. Maro Nakamura, a hulking 6' 6" RF/1B from Joso Gakuin HS.
4. Kensaku Fujimoto, a small right fielder from Ritsumeikan University with pop in his bat.
5. Shusui Iwata, a 1B/DH from PL Gakuen HS. Leadership and a decent bat.
6. Yo Maeda, best high-catcher ability guy available.
7. Shinji Nakamura, slick-fielding shortstop leader from Kasukabe Kyoei HS.
8. Hiromitsu Yoshimoto, a potential starter from the same school. Two bad years, two good years, but I like his makeup.
9. Chujiro Eguchi, first baseman from Kindai Univ again. He may fare better in the outfield.
10. Masahiro Okada, a switch-hitting 3B from Tsuruga Kehi HS.

GM Notebook - 2023 Expansion Draft

Okay...Ehime Honda's got the first pick, and I've got two of my team leaders dangling in the open by accident. I've held off any FA signings to get to this point. Fingers crossed I don't lose anyone...

Round 3: Koji Chikamoto to the Spirit! Sad to see him leave the Tigers, but I'm surprised Kirin would pay that much.
Round 7: Kodai Umetsu from Chunichi to the Spirit? Damn, Kirin is opening the pocket books here!
Round 9: Yuma Mune, our back-up right fielder, taken by Ehime Honda. Hope he does well.
Round 9: Hiroki Yamada, a leftie pitcher who's a fan favourite in Hamamatsu, taken by Okinawa Kirin.
Round 11: Daiki Iwashta, who was one of our expansion picks, taken by Okinawa Kirin. Was hoping he'd have a bounceback season.
Round 14: Makoto Aduwa, a pitcher who I just traded for last season. Agh.
At this point, I can only lose 4 more players. Keita and Shuhei might just make it...
Round 16: I jinxed it. Shuhei Takahashi heads to Okinawa Kirin.
Round 18: Double-jinxed it. Keita Sano joins Takahashi in Okinawa.
Only two more players can be taken from me.
Round 20: Nigel Calmes, a catcher who I just signed to a minor-league deal. Ah well, only a foreign player. Kirin can have him.
Round 30: Tsuyoshi Sonoda is the final player taken from Shizuoka and heading for Ehime Honda.

Here's the final rosters. Honda's really counting on a lot of those injuries to clear up in time, aren't they.

2023 Winter Meetings Summary

NAHA - November 25, 2023

The Shizuoka Arrows were furiously busy today. They bolstered their rotation and bullpen in one fell swoop early on, adding left-handed closer Hiroto Fuku and right-handed starter Shota Suzuki from the Chunichi Dragons, with 100% and 15% retained respectively by Chunichi. Fuku has been worth 6.5 WAR over 4 seasons, racking up 32 saves each of the last two seasons. Suzuki made 18 starts last year, winning 8 of them, with a 1.05 WHIP and 2.84 ERA.

The Dragons in turn acquired right-handed starter Anderson Reynoso, a former top-50 prospect, and right-handed starter Arata Shiino.

Although this adds money to the Arrows' slim payroll, it does mean their bullpen now has three top arms in Kyohei Nakamura, Colby White, and Fuku.

Later in the day, the Arrows completed a deal with PL rivals, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Heading to Sendai was Gold Glove shortshop Kiyoharu Sawano (who was originally drafted by Rakuten) and left-handed specialist Shogo Noda. Coming back were IF Maaki Yamazaki and right-handed starter Masaya Kyoyama.

People were talking to me today, I assure you.

November 26: The Shizuoka Arrows made a buy-low deal with right-hander Kota Futaki, formerly of Chiba Lotte. He started 26 games with the Marines and lost 15 of them, but the previous four seasons he averaged 2.35 WAR.

Arrows Introduce New Captain - Sosuke Genda

SHIZUOKA - December 10, 2023

There was a reason the Shizuoka Arrows didn't name a new captain after Keita Sano and Shuhei Takahashi were selected by the Okinawa Kirin Spirit in the expansion draft. There was also a reason that Sho Nakata didn't change his jersey number back to 60 after Tomohiro Abe left the team.

The Shizuoka Arrows introduced their new captain, shortstop Sosuke Genda, newly minted to a 5 year (plus team option), 12.3M USD contract, at a press conference today.

"We reached out to Genda as soon as the regular season ended, inviting him to join our team and to lead it into the playoffs. He readily accepted, and we're over the moon to have him here."

Genda becomes the first major free agent deal issued by the Arrows, who now sit 13th in team payroll. Genda had a down year last season, with only a 62 OPS+ and 0.3 WAR, but he's been good for an average of 3 WAR per 162 games over his career.

2024 Opening Day Roster Set

Our third season of operation, with maybe the best team we've put together yet. A lot of these guys are here because they played well in spring training. Eager to see if that translates; if not, we now have the Shinano Grandserows as our AAA team (where Fumiya Hojoh, Daichi Ishii, and Taiki Sekine have been exiled to.

Pitchers
Rotation: RHP Connor Greene, RHP Kota Futaki*, RHP Naoyuki Uwasawa*, RHP Masaya Kyoyama*, RHP Shota Suzuki*, RHP Jumpei Takahashi
Bullpen: LHP Kyohei Nakamura, LHP Hiroto Fuku*, RHP Takuya Mitsuma, RHP Shunta Wakamatsu, LHP Sachiya Yamasaki, RHP Katsumi Ikeda
Closer: RHP Colby White

Fielders
Catcher: Xavier Valentin, Kenya Wakatsuki
First Base: Toby Welk*, Sho Nakata
Second Base: Ryo Watanabe, Maaki Yamazaki*
Shortstop: Sosuke Genda*, Kohsuke Sakata
Third Base: Shu Masuda, Joh Endoh
Left Field: Seiya Yamazaki, Atsunori Nishiyama* (DH)
Center Field: Shizue Uchino, Goro Suzuki
Right Field: Yuta Takano, Taishi Kusumoto

RP Azumamaro Masuda remains on the DL to start the season (second surgery on his shoulder funnn)

The Quiver - Your Shizuoka Arrows News Source

April 2024 Update

Nothing like the optimism of a new season, and so far your Arrows have it in spades. 15-12 to start the year, with a few important figures kicking butt.

* Toby Welk won PL Rookie of the month, with a .287/.360/.402 slash line. We knew he was ready for the big time!
* Cap'n Genda won a Player of the Week earlier this month, and has a .319/.382/.451 slash line through 24 games with 4 stolen bases. I know it can't last, but he's already outpaced last year's WAR figure by a factor of 6.
* Connor Greene went 4-0 to start the season, and his ERA of 1.40 is best in our rotation
* Yuta Takano (still our team's heartbeat) with a .316/.381/.487 slash line. What a guy.
* Colby White had a 22-save streak end (sadly), but he's been nails.

The biggest worry for the Ya right now is what to do with Shu Masuda. He's once again having a slow start, batting only .127 with 1 HR and 8 RBI. Joh Endoh's handled himself much better so far; is it time to replace him? Sho Time's also a bit concerning without a home run this year, but with Atsunori Nishiyama hitting 4 so far, not that much of one.

I heard Daichi Ishii worked his way out of Nagano, and will be in the rotation soon. Let's keep going at this through May!

Injuries
* Kota Futaki is on the IL for another week or two, ditto for Maaki Yamazaki

GM Notebook - June 1, 2020

Well, that was slightly disappointing. A 13-13 May ended with a 2-11 stretch after coming within half a game of the PL lead. The important thing is that we're still competitive, and only 1.5 back of SoftBank for the third playoff spot.

* Toby Welk won PL Rookie of the Month again! .305 BA with 2 HRs and 12 RBIs.
* Joh Endoh took over the starting 3B role and had a great May, with a .753 OPS even including a rough streak
* On the downside, neither of Fumiya Hojoh or Ryo Watanabe ran away with second base, so Satoru Matushta had to get the nod.
* Pitching's been a bit of a revolving door, as Hiroto Fuku continues to not pitch too good. Then again, as long as our rotation holds together...

June is going to be important - we've got interleague play (and a surprisingly early All-Star Break; I need to fix that next season). Time to see if our pitchers can be batters too!

As long as our minor league stays 2nd ranked, I can clear that goal and THEN get to work trading away chaff. Sitting on my hands is so irksome.

Assorted Updates

* Connor Greene pitched a 13-strikeout no-hitter at HARD OFF Eco Stadium Niigata at the start of interleague play; it's the first in Arrows history. He also earned a 3-year+team option/4.5M extension to buy out a few arbitration years.
* 3B Shu Masuda was traded to the Ehime Honda Comets for 1B/3B Keita Nakagawa and LF Taishi Ota. I just had to cut bait on him - Endoh's got the job now.
* We limp into the All-Star Break 34-33. Just above .500.

All-Stars
* SP Connor Greene, 1.51 ERA and 0.85 WHIP over 77 2/3 IP
* CL Colby White, 17 saves with a 2.63 ERA and 17.1 K/9 over 27 1/3 IP
* 1B Toby Welk, slashing .293/.365/.414 for a 133 wRC+

Future Stars
* SP Darling Grullon, 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA for ni-gun Arrows
* SP Tetsuya Yoshimoto, 3-1 with a 4.02 ERA for ni-gun Arrows
* RP Hamilton Andujar, not that good for Shinano Grandserows
* RP Ryuuichi Kono, 12.6 K/9 over 5 IP for ni-gun Arrows
* CL Roy Garcia, 11 saves with 2.60 ERA and 10.7 K/9 for ni-gun Arrows
* 2B Toyoharu Miyake, .292/.417/.381 for Shinano Grandserows

GM Notebook - July 1, 2024

Sweeping the Ehime Honda Comets at their place (hi Shu!) has given us a 9-8 June. We're 1.5 back of SoftBank for that oh-so-tantalizing playoff spot. The trade with Honda was perfect timing, considering we lost Yuta Takano for two months with a hamstring strain. Hopefully he'll be back soon.

Lemme review this press release...Connor Greene celebrated his PL Pitcher of the Month Award (27 Ks in 20 innings, 0.90 ERA, 1 no-hitter) with a 3 year + team option / 4.5M USD deal that will see him in green (har har) for the foreseeable future. Only one year of arb eligibility remains, and that could be bought out too. May have to look into the same thing with Shota Suzuki if he keeps this up too.

We've got a very good shot at the playoffs if things break our way. Our offense is middle-of-the-road instead of dead last, our pitching is 2nd in the league, and our defense is 1st.

(Taishi Kusumoto was demoted shortly after this picture was taken and replaced by Motohide Kinoshta)

The Quiver - Your Shizuoka Arrows News Source

August 1, 2024

Have you noticed that Shizuoka is buzzing lately? The Arrows are in the hunt for a playoff spot, coming off a 15-11 July. We're 1.5 back of Rakuten, and 2.5 back of SoftBank! That's soooo close!

We have to tip our caps to the new guys on the squad who we got for Shu Masuda - Taishi Ota has a 1.003 OPS over 20 games, and Keita Nakagawa's at .771 OPS through 19 starts, giving poor Joh Endoh a break.

And speaking of new guys, can we tip our caps to Satoru Matsushta? He won the PL Rookie of the Month Award in July, with 4 HRs and 18 RBI over the month. I bet Hiroshima regrets losing him now!

Although our team didn't make any deals at the deadline, we did see two trades in July, one bidding farewell to an original Arrow.

* 2B Ryo Watanabe and LHP Hiroto Fuku were sent to the Yomiuri Giants for 3B Youhei Nihei and RHP Masahiro Yokoyama
* RHP Sam Bragg headed to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for expiring free agent RHP Taisho Tamai

We also heard that Yuta Takano may be back from injury soon! Fingers crossed everyone.

It's going to be a sprint to the finish; kattobase Arozu!

GM Notebook - September 1, 2024

Going 13-13 in August probably put the kibosh on our playoff hopes. BNN has us at a 5.6% chance to make the postseason, and we're 5 games or more behind SoftBank, Rakuten, and Orix.

Part of the problem is that we're 6-9 against each of them this season. We can't be a good team until we start to beat good teams.

At least we're not the Spirit who were eliminated from contention last month.

Keita Nakagawa chewed me out a few days ago about not starting him - he's responded with a great August. May keep him at third and let Endoh continue to mature or be a defensive replacement.

As long as we stay competitive next month, anything can happen.

2024 Season Review

We finish September 11-10, well out of the postseason after all. We were within 4 games of Orix with 6 to play, but went 1-5 to finish the year. Ah well.

76-67 overall, an eight-win improvement and our first .500 season. If the Climax Series included 4 teams, we'd be heading into it. But alas, no more baseball for us this season.

I gave Taishi Ota a 1yr/1.405M extension for his dynamite work in the DH spot.

I do have to think we need to dig into our minor league system soon. The Shinano Grandserows won their third straight BCL title using our players, and the ni-gun Arrows won the Western League, losing the ni-gun championship to the Swallows.

We've got 5 players heading to free agency this year - Nakamura (who was lights out again), Taisho Tamai, Fumiya Hojoh, Naoyuki Uwasawa (who had a bit of a regression this year), and Kota Futaki (-0.9 WAR even though his other peripherals got better).

Going to be interesting to see who else hits the FA market. If we've got the money, we can really make some noise!

SAIGO NI!! CARP WIN FIRST TITLE IN 40 YEARS!

FUKUOKA - October 19, 2024

It was almost the same story as last year, a disappointing loss in Game 7 of the Japan Series. Through eight innings, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp didn't get a runner home against Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks righthanders Saul Gonzalez and Yuhei Takanashi.

Then, opportunity struck. First baseman Yuya Nirasawa clubbed a triple to center field outsight of the reach of Hawks center fielder Yuki Yanagita. Right fielder Seiya Suzuki was walked on a full count. DH Kunizo Maruyama struck out swinging, and Hawks catcher Ben Breazeale tried for a strike-out-throw-out double play on Suzuki...and that's where the fulcrum swung. The throw sailed into center field, Nirasawa scored, and Suzuki scrambled to third. Center fielder Kohki Ugusa walked on another full count, and left fielder Ryoma Nishikawa hit a screaming liner into the center field wall to score both baserunners. The Carp had the lead.

Carp closer Shohei Tomioka needed only nine pitches to record a clean bottom of the ninth, and as Ugusa closed his glove around Hikaru Kawase's fly ball...it was finally over. Hiroshima had its title.

This series was another classic, from the 6-run eighth inning that gave the Hawks a Game 3 win to the gutsy 1-run 7-inning start of Daichi Ohsera in Game 6 to force tonight's chaotic conclusion.

The Carp needed six games to defeat the Yomiuri Giants in the Final Stage, while the Hawks disposed of the third-place Orix Buffaloes in a 2-game sweep, and the PL pennant-winning Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 5.

Carp catcher Tsubasa Aizawa won MVP honours for his 2 home runs, 7 RBI, and .320/.393/.600 slash line in the series. He almost hit one out of right field after Nishikawa's double, but Seiji Uebayashi was able to leap and make the play.

Other Champions:
* MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers
* KBO: LG Twins
* CPBL: Uni-President Lions

2024 Offseason Updates

Personnel
* A number of personnel have left or are retiring: AA hitting coach Troy Afenir, pitching coach Shigeki Nakamoto, hitting coach Paco Figueroa, and AAA manager Harry Weber.
* Jack Wilson was promoted from AAA to *** hitting coach
* Brian Schneider has been promoted from AA manager to AAA; Steve Gibralter was hired for AA
* Yuya Ando is hired for AA hitting coach; he was previously the pitching coach for the Fukushima RedHopes
* Luis Miguel Navas has been hired as the *** pitching coach; this is his first coaching job
* Iwao Omura was hired as hitting coach for AAA Shinano; he comes with 8 years of experience in the amateur ranks

Awards
* Naoyuki Uwasawa (P) and Shizue Uchino (CF) were awarded the Mitsui Golden Glove Award
* Toby Welk finished 2nd in the PL Rookie of the Year voting, behind CF Masaru Nakamura for Chiba Lotte (unaninmous)
* Conner Greene finished 6th in PL Eiji Sawamura Award voting; Yuki Matsui of Rakuten won unanimously

Players
* RP Shunta Wakamatsu has requested to be posted - he is available for $500,000
* The following players have been non-tendered and will become free agents: RP Kimitaka Asakura, RP Kazuyuki Sakata, C Kanta Anzawa, LF Taiki Sekine, RF Taishi Kusumoto

Other teams
* the Hiroshima Toyo Carp have been sold by the Matsuda family to Haruki Uchida, a technology investor. He has said he will rename the team to simply "Hiroshima Carp," dropping the "Toyo" that has been a staple of the team under the Matsuda clan.
* the Chiba Lotte Marines have fired manager Onil Joseph.
* after the conclusion of the 2024 First Year Draft, a group of investors announced that the Kansai Independent Baseball League (KANDOK) would resume as a five-team circuit in the 2025 season

2024 First Year Draft

TOKYO - November 15, 2024

Continuing the tradition, newer expansion teams failed to make much headway, and will be drafting first and second.

The Okinawa Kirin Spirit took top right-handed pitcher Kyoichi Hirai with the first overall pick; although there are questions about his health, as he only pitched in 5 games with Rikkyo University last season due to a torn flexor tendon, his raw pitching skills are worth watching.

The Ehime Honda Comets took Waseda University's left-hander Yozo Hashimoto second. His stuff profiles as major-league ready already, especially his plus-plus changeup. There are concerns about his ability to control his stuff, but it's a solid choice.

Other expansion teams are finally improving and thus were forced to draft later. Niigata Komatsu went 6th, taking left-handed starter Jiro Miyake from Rikkyo University. With a 5-pitch arsenal and balanced skill set, he's expected to lead a rotation in the near future.

Shizuoka opted for third baseman Takahiko Arakawa from Keio University. Projected to go sixth, Arakawa had a down year last season (his batting average was cut in half), but still has the tools to succeed.

Arrows Results
1. Takahiko Arakawa, as above
2. Hirotaka Hayashi, high-contact switch hitter 2B from Maebashi Ikuei HS
3. Motosugu Fujiwara, catcher from Chiben Wakayama HS with a gimpy bat but great pitch framing and personality
4. Koichi Shimoda, speedy right fielder with a good work ethic. May be better suited to DH duties.
5. Rikiya Nishino, who put up 3 WAR in high school, failed to sign with the Lions, and struggled a bit at Waseda University. (I've seen him kick butt in other sims, so not letting him get away)
6. Suezo Muraoka, right-handed pitcher from Hotoku Gakuen HS. Probably just org filler, I've got plenty of good starters.
7. Masao Ogawa, defensive shortstop from Meiji University
8. Aichi Yoshimoto, leftie reliever with plus fastball and curveball
9. Yoshiro Ishida, rightie reliever from Kyoto University
10. Kuemon Kamimura, another speedy right fielder from Chiben Wakayama HS

2024 Winter Meetings Review

Shizuoka GM tehsuigi did say he wanted an ace, and to find a foreign player slot for reliever Hamilton Andujar. Two birds with one stone here.

The Arrows have acquired right-handed starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the Orix Buffaloes for catcher Xavier Valentin and minor-league RHP Naoto Nishiguchi. Orix will retain 40% of Yamamoto's contract for this season.

The 26-year-old Yamamoto already has two Japan Series titles and two Eiji Sawamura Awards to his name. With one year of arbitration left, that opens a window for the Arrows to compete. One can imagine Conner Greene might appreciate having a fellow ace alongside him in the rotation.

Catcher Valentin posted a .688 OPS and 2.2 WAR over 112 games, so the Buffaloes are getting someone who can lock down the catcher role for years to come. Nishiguchi should do well in the SILP until he matures.

Also shipped out a bunch of foreign players for locals to fill gaps - backup catcher, prospects, reliever depth.

Also!

The Shizuoka Arrows announced the signing of left-handed relief pitcher Kakeru Narita to a 1 year, 350K USD contract. Narita has earned 1.8 WAR over the last three seasons combined with the Niigata Komatsu Bears.

He's a bit of a jerk, but if he pitches well, I've got my potent leftie guy.

2025 Opening Day Roster Set
The Shizuoka Arrows are opening the season at home against the PL Climax Series Champion Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Hawks RHP Shota Takeda gets the call vs new acquisition RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Asterisks denote new faces.

Pitchers
Rotation: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto*, RHP Connor Greene RHP Daichi Ishii, RHP Masaya Kyoyama, LHP Yudai Mori, RHP Takahide Ikeda*
Bullpen: RHP Hamilton Andujar*, LHP Kakeru Narita*, RHP Takuya Mitsuma, LHP Hiroki Tokoda, RHP Katsumi Ikeda, RHP Shunta Wakamatsu, RHP Jumpei Takahashi
Closer: RHP Colby White

Fielders
Catcher: Kenya Wakatsuki, Hideyuki Kuga
First Base: Toby Welk
Second Base: Katsuya Seno, Maaki Yamazaki
Shortstop: Sosuke Genda, Kohsuke Sakata
Third Base: Keita Nakagawa, Jo Endo
Left Field: Seiya Yamazaki, Motohide Kinoshta
Center Field: Shizue Uchino
Right Field: Goro Suzuki, Yuta Takano
DH: Atsunori Nishiyama

1B Sho Nakata will be starting the season on the IL due to a hamstring strain.

UPDATE: Now that's how you make an entrance! Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched 8 innings of two-run ball, taking a no-hitter into the 6th. His only blemish was a 7th-inning home run to Richard Sunagawa O'Brien, the SoftBank first baseman. Arrows left fielder Seiya Yamazaki had two home runs and three RBI, with new second baseman Katsuya Seno earning the other, and Shizuoka wins Opening Day 4-2.

GM Notebook - May 1, 2025

What the heck is going on in Osaka. The Orix Buffaloes have won twenty-two in a row, covering all but 3 games in May. They sit 7.5 games ahead of SoftBank after one stinkin' month!!

Us? We're 12-15 in sixth place, 3 back of Rakuten for 3rd place. Kyoyama's injured, three of our six starters are doing atrociously, and all the growth of our offense has disappeared.

For supposedly starting the competitive window, we've kinda gone backwards.

I did send Yamamoto a contract extension offer. Time to see if he bites...

Update

It wouldn't have been worth it without this, and now it's official - Yoshinobu Yamamoto is staying in Shizuoka long-term. The Arrows right-hander has pitched to a 4-3 record with a 3.17 ERA, and has been newly minted to an 8-year/38.32M contract, buying out the final year of arbitration for Yamamoto.

GM Notebook - June 1, 2025

We're still sixth, 24-30, 15 games back of Orix for the pennant and 8 back of Chiba Lotte for third. Toby Welk is done for the season with a torn labrum.

Not having fun, diary!!

I think I need to rebuild this roster soon if things don't turn around.

EDIT: 8-17 in June, most of that during interleague. I just don't get it...