The Hanshin Tigers announced on Tuesday that they would not be tendering a contract to infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka in 2019. The 34-year old started his career with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2003, attempted to play in the majors with the Minnesota Twins, after which he was picked up by the Tigers for the 2013…
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…
T-Ray is joined by Jake to talk about the past two weeks of action, catch up on some team news, and discuss their choices for prime candidates to be cut/released at season’s end. They wrap things up with a look at the upcoming schedule. Recorded on September 25, 2018 Opening song – Hajime no…
“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…
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….
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…
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…
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…
T-Ray is joined by Jake to talk about the past two weeks of action, catch up on some team news, listen to an interview with sponsor RockCorps CEO Stephen Greene, and choose the best possible roster from the Tigers who have played under current manager Tomoaki Kanemoto. They wrap things up with a look…
When this book popped up on my radar, I knew I would be among the first to read it and review it, at least among the ex-pat population. I mean, who wouldn’t want to get some insight into the mind of one of Randy Messenger, Hanshin’s most beloved import players ever? My one hesitation was…