(January 17, 2014 at 9:08 pm)Minimalist Wrote: That was very funny. I recall a scene in an old prisoner of war camp movie where two British officers are watching an American baseball game. One tries to explain it to the other by saying "the man with the ball tries to hit the man standing there who is given a stick to defend himself." This from the nation that invented fucking cricket!
And when Hideki Matsui played for the Yanks I was a big fan. Guy was a class act and a consummate pro. Don't diss Japanese ball players. Many have made the jump to the majors and they are all well schooled and hard workers.
Absolutely. I think Ichiro Suzuki is a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate. He's less than 300 hits shy of 3,000; although his skills are waning with age (he's now 40). 2,700+ hits and he was an MLB rookie at 27; I find this very impressive.
I'm a Reds fan and thoroughly enjoyed Shin-Soo Choo's contribution last year; not just his on-field performance and hustle, but also the way he comported himself off the field. (too bad Cincinnati can't afford him considering his free agency). Choo is Korean, but the professionalsim Eastern ballplayers bring to the game is refreshing.
Masahiro Tanaka hasn't landed with a team yet. Unless somebody breaks the bank only the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers are in the mix, but everybody is waiting. His contract will set the market for this year's free agent pitchers. Things will break fast and furious though, pitchers and catchers have to report to spring training in only a month.
