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Birthdays & Schedule: October 2018

Birthdays & Schedule: October 2018

Here’s a look at my Hanshin calendar, which highlights the birthdays of Hanshin players past and present, as well as the game schedule for the this month of baseball. (There are still two games that need to be made up, plus the possibility of more rainouts. What’s on this handwritten calendar is what has been…

The Secret of Yano’s Success

The Secret of Yano’s Success

“Ultra aggressive,” “never giving up,” and “making someone happy”: Yano’s secret to player development on the second squad I sat down with the Hanshin Tigers’ second squad manager Akihiro Yano (49), who in only his first year as manager has led his team to their first Western League victory in 8 years, to look back…

Checking in on Fielder

Checking in on Fielder

Some of you know that the first fielder that the Hanshin Tigers acquired after Randy Bass‘ release in 1988 (other than a half-season by Ruppert Jones) was none other than Cecil Fielder. (Yes, the man who went on to win two home run titles and three RBI titles in the majors with the Detroit Tigers….

Murton Comes to Kansai

Murton Comes to Kansai

Former Hanshin Tigers great Matt Murton has been seen here and there over the past few days, as he’s done a whirlwind tour of Japan. He arrived on September 15th, and will head back to America on the 20th. The purpose of his trip? “I just wanted to encourage people who have gone through  some…

Enatsu: A Lefty’s Pride

Enatsu: A Lefty’s Pride

I will admit that this is probably the longest it’s taken me to read through a book from start to finish. But don’t let that lead you to believe that it was a boring or hard read. Far from it. In fact, as I have said on other occasions, legendary pitcher Yutaka Enatsu is among…

Ohyama’s Fiery Fortnight

Ohyama’s Fiery Fortnight

The season started so well for young Yusuke Ohyama. In fact, as spring training moved along, it looked more and more like this was going to be a break-out year for the second-year third baseman. Manager Tomoaki Kanemoto moved ironman Takashi Toritani over to second base (a position he hadn’t ever played in a league…

H-TEN + Kobe Newspaper Presents…

H-TEN + Kobe Newspaper Presents…

TRY ENGLISH (虎イングリッシュ)! That’s right — Kobe Shimbun Culture Center has opened up an English conversation class just for me – one that allows me to teach English conversation with the Hanshin Tigers as the focal point. If you know of anyone who might be interested in honing their English skills a couple of times…