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2009 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Season
The 2009 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks season featured the Hawks quest to win their first Pacific League title since 2003. For the first time since 1994, the Hawks had a new manager in Koji Akiyama, who replaced the legendary Sadaharu Oh. SoftBank absorbed more injuries from Opening Day starter Tsuyoshi Wada, but saw the continued dominance of Toshiya Sugiuchi, and the emergence of foreign pitchers D.J. Houlton and Justin Germano, who stabilized the starting rotation. More foreign help came in the person of 201 cm-tall reliever Brian Falkenborg. Together with Rookie of the Year Tadashi Settsu and closer Takahiro Mahara, the Hawks had one of the most reliable bullpens in the league. The Hawks had one of the older offenses in the league, still anchored by Nobuhiko Matsunaka and Hiroki Kokubo. Yuya Hasegawa had a breakout season (.312, 7HR, 44RBI) after suffering injuries in the previous two seasons. Hitoshi Tamura came back in mid-May and hit .283 with 17 home runs, which helped t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. They compete in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a member of the Pacific League. The team was formerly known as the Nankai Hawks and was based in Osaka. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were moved to Fukuoka (which had been without NPB baseball since the Saitama Seibu Lions, Lions departed in 1979). The team subsequently became known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks until 2005, when they were purchased by SoftBank. The franchise has won 11 Japan Series championships and 19 Pacific League pennants, with the most recent of both coming in . History Nankai Electric Railway Company ownership (1938–1988) The franchise that eventually became the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks was founded on February 22, 1938 by Nankai Electric Railway president Jinkichi Terada as Nankai Club, based in central Osaka. The organization was said to be created as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Satoshi Komatsu
is a retired Japanese pitcher who played his entire career in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Pacific League. Career He was drafted in the 2006 NPB Draft by the Orix Buffaloes after pitching for Japan in the 2006 Asian Games. In 2007, Komatsu was 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in eight relief appearances, striking out 13 in 10 IP. He had a huge year in 2008, going 15-3 for a team that was otherwise under .500; he had a 2.51 ERA and allowed 134 hits in 172 IP. He finished third in the Pacific League in ERA and wins, behind Hisashi Iwakuma and Yu Darvish , more commonly known as Yu Darvish (ダルビッシュ 有), is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). Darvish has also played in MLB for the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and ... in both categories. His 151 strikeouts placed him 5th and was named Rookie of the Year that season, being a unanimous pick. External links NPB Living p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō, including Hakodate, Asahikawa, Kushiro, and Obihiro. The team's name comes from its parent organization, Nippon Ham, a major Japanese food-processing company. Founded in 1946, the Fighters called Tokyo home for 58 years, as co-tenants of the Tokyo Dome & Korakuen Stadium with the Central League's Yomiuri Giants near the end of their tenure in the capital city. The franchise has won three Japan Series titles, in 1962, 2006, and, most recently, 2016. Team history Senators and Tokyo eras In 1946, Saburo Yokozawa, manager of the Tokyo Senators in 1936–1937 (and later a prominent umpire), looked to revive the franchise and soon founded the new Senators. He assembled a team o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shinichiro Koyama
is a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Pacific League The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series. It currently consis .... External links * 1978 births Chunichi Dragons players Japanese baseball coaches Japanese baseball players Living people Nippon Professional Baseball coaches Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers People from Ise, Mie Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles players {{japan-baseball-pitcher-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenji Otonari
, nicknamed "Tonarin", is a former Japanese baseball pitcher. Professional career Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Otonari was drafted in 2007 and made his first starts late in the year as the Hawks prepared for the playoffs. His first start was an Interleague start against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and he went seven innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out four. He would be credited with the win, but could not duplicate his success as he gave up 3 runs or more in 5 of his next 7 starts. In his first full season in 2008, the young lefty had a successful season. The first two starts he made, Ōtonari notched complete game victories, also only giving up one run in 18 innings while recording 18 strikeouts. Despite losing the next two starts, Ōtonari still threw 8 innings in each start. The rest of the season was a roller-coaster ride, as his success seemed to hinge on how many batters he struck out. Late in the season, he suffered an elbow injury that pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Satoshi Nagai
is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher and currently development coach for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). On October 14, 2019, Nagai become development coach for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles The , often shortened as the , are a baseball team based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It has played in Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League since the team's formation in November 2004. The team is owned by the Internet shopping c ... of NPB. References External links * 1984 births Baseball people from Gunma Prefecture Living people Japanese baseball coaches Honolulu Sharks players Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States Nippon Professional Baseball coaches Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles players Toyo University alumni {{japan-baseball-pitcher-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hideki Asai
is a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consist .... External links * Living people 1984 births Baseball people from Osaka Honolulu Sharks players Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes players Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles players Yomiuri Giants players Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States Gigantes de Carolina players Japanese expatriate baseball players in Puerto Rico {{japan-baseball-pitcher-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dennis Houlton
Dennis Sean "D. J." Houlton Jr. (born August 12, 1979) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Yomiuri Giants and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers. Career Amateur Houlton attended Servite High School and the University of the Pacific. On May 11, 2001, while at Pacific, Houlton pitched a complete game no hitter with an 8–0 victory over UC Riverside. Houston Astros In the 2001 MLB draft, the Houston Astros drafted Houlton in the 11th round. He signed on June 9, 2001. In 2001–2002, he pitched for the Michigan Battle Cats, the Astros Single-A team, going 14–5 with a 3.15 ERA in 35 games (16 starts). In 2003 and 2004, he pitched primarily for the then Double-A Round Rock Express in the Texas League, where he went 12–5 with a 2.94 ERA in 28 starts with 3 complete games. Los Angeles Dodgers On December 13, 2004, the Los Angeles Dodgers a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kameron Loe
Kameron David Loe (born September 10, 1981) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves. At , Loe was one of the tallest players in the long history of the game. Baseball career Amateur Kameron Loe played high school baseball at Granada Hills High School with Ryan Braun. Loe played college baseball at California State University, Northridge from 1999 to 2002, and was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 20th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. Texas Rangers He made his MLB debut with the Rangers on September 26, 2004, against the Seattle Mariners, working 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. In his next appearance on September 29, he made his first start against the Anaheim Angels. He allowed five runs in 4 innings though did not receive a decision. He recorded his first win in a two inning extra-inning relief appearance against t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masahiro Tanaka
is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). From 2007 through 2013, he played for the Eagles in NPB. Tanaka was posted by the Eagles after the 2013 season to be signed with the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB) and signed a seven-year, $155 million contract, the fifth-largest deal ever given to a pitcher at the time. He made his major league debut in 2014 and played for the Yankees through the 2020 season, before deciding to return to Japan. Tanaka was the Eagles' first-round pick in the NPB amateur player draft. From 2012 to 2013, he won 26 consecutive decisions, which set a new NPB record. In the MLB, Tanaka has earned selections to two Major League Baseball All-Star Games. Early life Tanaka was born in Itami, a city in Hyōgo, Japan. He began playing baseball in the first grade as a catcher for the Koyanosato Tigers (a Little League team) alongside current Yomiuri Giants shorts ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hidetaka Kawagoe
Hidetaka Kawagoe (川越 英隆, born April 8, 1973), nicknamed "Goe", is a former Nippon Professional Baseball or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''. Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ... pitcher. References External links 1973 births Living people Aoyama Gakuin University alumni Chiba Lotte Marines players Japanese baseball coaches Japanese baseball players Nippon Professional Baseball coaches Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Orix BlueWave players Orix Buffaloes players People from Sagamihara {{Japan-baseball-pitcher-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yasushi Kamiuchi
is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan's Central League The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consist .... External links * Living people 1983 births Baseball people from Kyoto Prefecture Japanese baseball players Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Fukuoka Daiei Hawks players Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks players Yokohama DeNA BayStars players {{japan-baseball-pitcher-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
