Page 1 of 6

The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:03 pm
by Wind Dancers
Image Image


After an uncertain week, it was officially announced this morning that Dylan Krupilis was appointed to the vacant GM role in Toyama. Krupilis made headlines after a falling out with Hartford ownership and rumors heavily linked him with a move to Japan.
"Taking up the helm in Toyama is a dream come true for me," Krupilis said, "the baseball culture of this city and country is unique and I can't wait to be a part of it."
Krupilis exploded onto the scene last season, leading the Hartford Harpoon to a league championship run 1 year after a sub .500 season. "I will always cherish my time there, but I am ready to begin a new chapter here in Toyama and I intend to stay here quite awhile.
Krupilis has no easy task in the early days of his tenure here. Toyama has been bitten by the injury bug early in the season, though they are slowly working their way back to a healthy roster.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 1:50 pm
by Wind Dancers
New Bench Coach in Toyama

Image

New gm Dylan Krupilis has found his new bench coach with the signing of Kansuke Murata. Murata, a former outfielder for the Edo Battousai, spent 2 years as the bench coach of the Palm Springs Codgers in 2023 and 2024. After leading the Codgers to the playoffs in 2024, Murata's contract was not extended and he has instead running youth camps around his hometown of Aomori, Japan. He now replaces Hideaki Kurota in Toyama after the poor start Toyama has faced early in the season.

Born in Aomori, the capital city of the Aomori Prefecture, was a household name in early days of the LRS. Never really known for his bat, Murata led the LRS in steals 5 out of the 9 seasons he spent there including a 70 SB season in 2009. During that time, he also earned 2 BBG Gurabukin Awards at RF along with a BBG All-Star appearance in 2012.

As a bench coach, Murata holds a 164-140 record with 1 playoff appearance, all of which came with the Codgers. His approach to the game is seen as conventional with quickness on the basepath and solid defensive work. As the first key move in the Krupilis era of Toyama, Murata will have the pressure on while he tries to pull the Wind Dancers up into a wildcard spot.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 5:20 pm
by Sandgnats
Congrats. Kick them to the curb if they don't perform.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:03 pm
by Wind Dancers
Toyama End of August Update
As the final month of the season approaches, Toyama has struggled to push on towards a playoff spot. Sitting at a disappointing 58-66, injuries and glaring weaknesses led to a sale of players at the end of the trade deadline.

Moving Pieces
ImageImageImageImage
1B Roberto Cisneros was the first casualty as he was shipped off to Duluth for a handful of young prospects. Cisneros wasn’t having a bad year, but his 1-dimensional ability and a bottleneck of talent at 1B made him expendable. Cisneros joined us from the Connecticut Nutmeggers in 2020 and was with the team for the past six seasons. In return, Toyama was given three promising prospects with the hope they will develop into quality players. Topping the list is CF Carlos Marino who has already appeared in 3 games in PEBA. Marino can play a swath of positions and is best known for his ability to get on base and his immense speed when ON base. Joining him in Toyama is SS Bernardo Alvarado another speedster, and a 17-year-old 1B Mushanokoji Sakei who is expected to make an impact sometime in the future.

ImageImage
The other major deal was a lot heavier for Toyama fans as they witnessed star CL Raul Cruz leave for West Virginia. Cruz struggled with injuries early in the season, and with an expiring contract, it was clear this was his final season in Toyama regardless. In return, the Wind Dancers received 1B Skip Jordan, a 26-year-old with a quality bat. Pundits tip Jordan to step into the 1B role once Pablo Prado leaves this season or next, though Jordan likely needs another season of AAA ball. In this deal, Toyama also received a 2nd and 6th round draft pick for 2027 as they continue building a decent farm system.

Key Players

Despite the poor record, a handful of Toyama players have had a great season.
ImageImageImage

2B Jose Escobido continues to defy all odds by staying healthy and his .364 average and .424 OBP show just what kind of season he is having. The talent had always been there, but the past 2 seasons have been riddled with injuries. 2026 has been a new start for Jose as he’s on track for a career-high year.

3B Ivan Juarez is another name that raises eyebrows for having a great season. In 2024, Juarez had a career year followed by a significant drop in 2025. But 2026 has been a resurgence for the 27yo Cuban who has a .360 OBP and is 23/24 in stolen base attempts. Toyama will be pleased that a younger member of their core has re-established himself in the league.

SP Clayton Lewis, despite sitting out a few weeks, is pitching like his normal self though he may not be getting the end result to show. In 21 starts, Lewis has a career-best 2.21 ERA while holding an 8-4 record. The veteran continues to lead a struggling pitching staff as the one glimmer of hope.

On the Farm

The Toyama farm system has received a boost from the aforementioned trades right before the deadline. There have also been some eye-catching performances in the ranks of players that are expected to become Toyama regulars.
ImageImageImage

Top Prospect LF Ramiro Salinas has made a September call-up a possibility with his play this season. Many worried about the jump from A to AAA but the movement has met success for the 23-year-old. Salinas is hitting .293/.385/.440 with 6 homers, 51 RBIs, and a whopping 37 SBs over 512 plate appearances. Salinas has significantly picked up his game both at the plate and in the field as he looks to fill the gap of quality in Left Field for the Wind Dancers.

Newly drafted Jeffrey Mendoza was selected in the first round and has impressed for the Takaoka Shiko at the A level. Mendoza sports a 7-4 record with a 2.65 ERA and has shown off his stamina often pitching 100+ pitches in each game. His 3-pitch repertoire has progressed well all while keeping a high velocity that tops out around 100mph.

P Dylan McIntosh, Toyama’s #1 pick in 2025, has been dominant in AA for the Beppu City Pandas. Despite a 7-8 record, McIntosh boasts a 2.47 ERA and is throwing only 1.9 walks per 9 innings flashing the control that got him drafted. Beppu City is fighting for a playoff spot and McIntosh has been a key piece in that success after progressing quickly through the Toyama system.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:21 pm
by Wind Dancers
Image
Toyama Signs Tadakuni Hayashi as Bench Coach
Toyama Wind Dancers
October 27, 2026

The Wind Dancers missed playoffs but their offseason is in full swing and the first piece of news comes in the form of a new bench coach. Upon GM Dylan Krupilis’ arrival, Kansuke Murata was brought in as a stop gap until the end of the season with the intention of finding a permanent coach in the offseason. That intention has paid off as former Cliffhanger first baseman Tadakuni Hayashi was announced as the new BC in Toyama.

Image

Hayashi, born just outside Toyama in Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, was a member of the original Lupin Cliffhangers that were formed at the start of the LRS in 2007. Hayashi played his last season that year as the backup first baseman for the team that would become the Toyama Wind Dancers. Since retirement, he has had a successful coaching career across the board as a manager, pitching coach, hitting coach, and bench coach. His last stretch in the PEBA/LRS came from 2020-2021 as a bench coach for Rio Grande and then again in 2022-2024 as the manager of Rio Grande/San Juan. His time as the manager in Rio Grande earned him back to back manager of the year awards in 2022 and 2023 after leading the ocelots to the playoffs. A down season in 2024, after the org moved to San Juan, say Hayashi leave his position and take a season off. But with Spring comes that burning desire as Hayashi took up the vacant manager position at SS-A Wasilla in the London Organization. 2026 was a good year to get back into the groove and immediately upon ending the season, Hayashi announced his interest in returning to the PEBA. In his 16 years coaching, Hayashi has racked up a 679-596 record as well as 4 playoff appearances. His combined 30 years of pro baseball experience and his well-balanced approach to the game will be much appreciated in Toyama.

This signing marks the first of what is expected to be a busy first offseason for Krupilis. New staff, players, and budgets are on the horizon as the Wind Dancers of Toyama look to return to winning ways.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 6:02 pm
by Wind Dancers
Toyama Signs New Pitching Coach
Toyama Wind Dancers
October 31, 2026

Following suit with the trend in Toyama, the Wind Dancers announced this morning the signing of Hideyoshi Kokawa as their new pitching coach. Kokawa replaces longtime Yokohama coach Kimi Hoshino after pitching struggles defined the 2026 season. This marks the second key staff change with bench coach Tadakuni Hayashi being announced earlier in the week.

Image

Born in the capital of the Ibaraki Prefecture, Mito, Kokawa has 22 years of experience under his belt but has only briefly dabbled in the PEBA. His first and only stint came in 2025 where he spent half of the season as the pitching coach for the Scottish Claymores. More notably, Kokawa was the pitching coach for the Osaka Toin HS Eijisu Masters, the renowned hitting high school team in Japan. Kokawa held his position there for 6 years and found mixed personal success despite making playoffs 5 times including 1 championship.
While not being at the top of the list for most teams, Kokawa is a perfect fit for the Toyama system where his groundball teaching style meshes with the likes of Clayton Lewis. With a 3-year deal in hand, Kokawa will look to improve a pitching staff that was just short of woeful last season.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 10:47 pm
by Wind Dancers
Farewell Shiro Adachi
Toyama Wind Dancers
November 26, 2026

Image

Longtime middle infielder Shiro Adachi said his goodbyes to the Toyama organization he has been with since entering the league. The 34-year-old second baseman and the Toyama organization mutually decided not to extend his expiring contract as Adachi wants a full-time starting role. With moves likely this offseason, Adachi will certainly be a player the fans will remember.

Adachi, born in Yanai, Yamaguchi, was drafted by the then Lupin Cliffhangers as the 3rd overall pick in the 2014 draft. Adachi flew up the farm system making his debut only 2 years after being drafted. With Lupin’s time in the LRS, Adachi found great success usually sitting around the .280 average mark while manning the starting SS position. He quickly became a leader in the locker room and a fan favorite around town with his laid-back, approachable demeanor. But as the Cliffhangers moved to the more difficult PEBA, Adachi wasn’t able to keep up with the high profile stars that filled the league. Despite offensive struggles, Adachi remained a full-time starter until 2025 when his performance took a nosedive. Facing competition from stand-out Jose Escobido, Adachi became a “locker room guy” and serving mostly as a backup.

Despite the mixed success, Adachi leaves the organization with the following awards:

2019 BBG Gurabukin Award at SS
2024 SL All-Leather Award at 2B
3 BBG All-Star Appearances (2017, 2018, 2020)

While leaving to find playing time, Adachi has expressed interest in returning to Toyama sometime down the road in some capacity. Adachi has made it clear he will keep his home in Toyama with the intention of returning and said to a small gathered crowd of fans, “For the fans of Toyama and myself, nothing has changed. I will continue to visit the markets, I will continue to take part in the Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival, and I will continue to consider each of you, my family.”

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2018 10:28 am
by Wind Dancers
Toyama Announce Minor League Players of the Year
Toyama Wind Dancers
November 11, 2026

Toyama Minor League Hitter of the Year: LF Ramiro Salinas (AAA)
The league’s #10 prospect, Ramiro Salinas was given the Minor League Hitter of the Year award after his season in Yokohama. Salinas hit .273, contributed 10 HRs, 62 RBIs, and an astounding 45 SBs. Entering his 3rd season since joining Toyama, Salinas made the jump from single-A straight to AAA with some uncertainty surrounding whether he was ready. Salinas silenced any doubt early on as went on to become the key piece in the Yokohama lineup. Despite a full load of outfielders currently on the Wind Dancers roster, Salinas has made a case for a call-up next season. At the very least, expect him to battle it out in Spring Training.

Toyama Minor League Pitcher of the Year: SP Felipe Morán (AAA)
Pitcher Felipe Morán earned the Minor League Pitcher of the Year award after a solid 2026. The groundballer went 14-8 this season boasting a 2.48 ERA and an impressive 0.4 HR/9. Moran was the workhorse in an impressive Yokohama rotation that led to a playoff run. A 5th round pick in 2022, the 25-year-old has maintained a sub 3.00 ERA in each of the 5 seasons he’s spent in Toyama. Morán is another player on the edge of a call-up, but his long-term potential still has a handful of question marks.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 4:44 pm
by Wind Dancers
Rosa Signs 2-Year Extension
Toyama Wind Dancers
November 11, 2026

With the departures of Pablo Prado, Lorenzo Amador, and Shiro Adachi, the fans of Toyama have had plenty of reasons to be a bit worried. A massive coaching change throughout the organization did not help to quell the concerns of losing key players. But, the first good news of the offseason rolled in this morning as RF Ivan Rosa signed a 2-year deal with the Wind Dancers. Met with much positivity throughout Toyama, Rosa decided to continue his stay within the Wind Dancers organization he joined before the 2023 season. Having developed into an anchor in right field, Rosa will maintain his role at least through the 2028 season.

Traded to the Lupin Cliffhangers from New Jersey at the tail end of 2022, Rosa has become a mina-stay in the Wind Dancers lineup. Hitting at least .280 in all but one of the past 4 seasons, Rosa has been a consistent force. After a rocky 2025, Rosa bounced back in 2026 when new GM Dylan Krupilis took over. Despite a handful of minor nagging injuries, Rosa hit .286 with a .336 OBP across 113 games. 15 HRs, 43 RBIs, and 18 SBs round out a full stats sheet while Rosa additionally finished 2nd in the SL for right fielders in zone rating and defensive efficiency. Rosa’s return will certainly be a positive for the new Wind Dancers in 2027.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 6:54 pm
by Wind Dancers
Toyama Voids Arbitration with 5, Trades for Ueda
Toyama Wind Dancers
November 25, 2026

The Wind Dancers organization announced this morning, the extensions of 5 players that were previously pending arbitration. Ivan Juarez, Bill Courtney, Francois Gosselin, Donald Allen, and Edison Terry all reached 1-year deals keeping them settled in Toyama for the 2027 season. The only remaining players pending arbitration are Reynaldo Garcia and Noriyuki Matsui. Despite a significant decrease in budget for the upcoming season, the Wind Dancer’s remain adamant about keeping young core talent around in the long term and these signings cement that approach. The contracts are as follows:

3B Ivan Juarez (.277, 7 HR, 66 RBI, 27 SB) - $8,400,000 (ARB 2)

SP Bill Courtney (4-7, 4.83 ERA, 94 K) - $1,680,000 (ARB 2)

SP Francois Gosselin (9-10, 3.62 ERA, 162 K) - $1,350,000 (ARB 2)

CF Donald Allen (.286, 9 HR, 53 RBI, 17 SB) - $4,100,000 (ARB 1)

SS Edison Terry (.266, 5 HR, 37 RBI, 12 SB) - $820,000 (ARB 1)

Additional news coming in this morning as a deal was struck with division rivals Neo-Tokyo Akira. The deal sees Toyama trading away reliever Tsuginori Yamamoto for catcher Michinaga Ueda. With Lorenzo Amador off of the roster and Reynaldo Garcia returning as the starting catcher, a backup was needed and acquired in the form of Ueda. The 28 year old has just 8 plate appearances in the PEBA but flashed his ability for AAA Niigata last season. in 341 plate appearances for the Gigans, Ueda hit a comfortable .270 along with a promising 23 HR’s. Last season, Toyama lacked power hitters, but the right-handed pull hitter Ueda could find success at the Castle of Cagliostro.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 10:33 am
by Wind Dancers
The Season of Giving... and Taking?
January 4, 2027
Toyama Wind Dancers Fan Blog

Happy New Year Wind Dancers fans, and what a crazy year it has been. But even though the season is long over, 2026 ended busy for the Toyama Wind Dancers. With 2026 officially wrapped up, let’s take a look at what went down in December.

Trades: Norris In, Mendoza Out

Probably the biggest move this offseason, Toyama traded a top prospect and 2026 1st round draft pick Jeffrey Mendoza to Duluth for Paul Norris. Norris spent most of his time in AAA due to an overcrowded rotation in Duluth. Most of his appearances in PEBA were from the pen, where he struggled. But if history is to be trusted, Norris could be a solid #2 in Toyama, a role which was not firmly held in 2026. His career PEBA ERA is 3.65 but his last full season in 2025 he finished with an impressive 2.75. Norris is described as an all-around groundballer who sports a 3-pitch repertoire lead by his Fastball and Sinker. Norris is known for his work ethic, and with his team friendly contract, he should become a fan favorite in Toyama.

Mendoza was a significant piece to lose as the 21-year-old has a future in the league and was showing good improvement in his first season of pro ball. But Toyama needed an immediate fix for their pitching woes and Norris was that guy.

Then towards the end of December, another deal with Duluth was struck. International complex pitcher Yub Issa was sent to the warriors for 2 draft picks and some cash to help fuel the rebuild of the Toyama system. With the departure of Mendoza and rest of the top prospects almost ready in AAA, Toyama needs quality prospects in the farm. These additional picks should help during the 2027 Draft.

Enter Dan Ross

If he is known for anything, GM Dylan Krupilis has a reputation of finding unproven relievers and finding value in them. When he was in Hartford it was Hi Ling, who has become a dominant force out of the pen for the Harpoon. Krupilis seems to have found a similar player in Dan Ross, a bayou native who just recently joined the league from one of the many US independent leagues. Despite facing competition from the likes of Crystal Lake, Toyama was able to snag the 25-year-old on a sub $1 million contract. 5 or 6 years of team control for the 25-year-old will give him room to improve over the next few seasons and hopefully become the pitcher Toyama needs. Not much is known about Ross in terms of statistics, but here’s what we heard from Toyama insiders.

- The kid has a cannon. Ross sports 2 pitches. A fastball that can touch 101mph but usually sits around 99mph, and a nasty slider.
- Ross is a strikeout pitcher and should rack up K’s regularly, but his control and movement on his pitches are just league average.
- He is a locker room player. Ross is very dedicated to the team and is all about the team atmosphere in Toyama. He is also a “First on, last off” type of player and his work ethic is a big plus.

Relief pitching was a big problem in 2026, but Ross is a good sign moving forward for the Wind Dancers.


Rule V Casualties

The Rule 5 Draft has come and gone, and Toyama lost 2 in the process. SP Marty Snijders and 3B Antonio Santos were both selected in and have moved to Canton and Amsterdam respectively.
- Snijders was dominant in AA last season and had planned on moving up to AAA Yokohama before being selected by Canton.
- Santos is a high OBP hitter who is still working on his contact ability who also played in AA last season but will now move to Amsterdam.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Tue May 29, 2018 10:56 am
by Wind Dancers
2027 Regular Season Begins
April 5, 2027
Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

It’s that time of year Toyama, the 2027 regular season officially begins today! The offseason and spring have been up and down with no lack of difficulties coming into today. Let’s review what has happened over the past few months and what to look forward to.

Small Tweaks

Toyama was one of the least busiest teams during the offseason with current contracts restricting any significant moves. That being said, the Wind Dancers were able to upgrade the roster a bit with some much needed pitching talent. RP Dan Ross was the lone free agent to sign for Toyama, coming over from one of the US Independent leagues. Ross will take up a role in the pen straight away and should be an instant impact strikeout machine. A significant trade saw Toyama also snag SP Paul Norris from Duluth who had been on the bubble for the Warriors. Norris will slot in as a #2-3 starter behind Clayton Lewis and will provide consistency in terms of play and health. Finally, early in the pre-season, Toyama brought in Michinaga Ueda from Neo-Tokyo to fight for the backup catcher role.

Spring Training - Fight for the Spot

Entering spring this season, the roster was full of young players looking to make an impression and even claim a spot on the new 26 man roster.

On the hitting side of things, the spring brought some surprising results. The biggest was newly acquired Michinaga Ueda who hit a solid .347 across 49 at-bats along with 3 HR’s and 10 RBI’s.
Top prospect Ramiro Salinas made his case hitting .282 and finishing spring tied for 3rd in SB’s with 8. It wasn’t all good though as top players Ivan Juarez and Donald Allen both struggled. Hopefully, they shook the rust off and are ready to go tonight.

The Toyama pitchers also sorted things out this spring with the extra roster spot going to their hitting counterparts. Of all starting pitchers in spring, it was rookie Dylan McIntosh fresh out of Winter Ball who impressed most. McIntosh went 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA and a .204 batting average against. Long reliever Carlos Gomez was hot all spring, allowing only 2 runs over 15.2 innings. Shihei Matsubara who was the closer in AAA last season also threw well, finishing with a 0.96 ERA over 9.1 innings.

Injuries

Injuries are part of the game, but Toyama has been hit by the bug quite often recently. Unfortunately, a few players known to have chronic issues will not be with the team to start 2027.

SP Tadamasa Hashimoto - 3 Months, Partially Torn Labrum
SP Shinobu Takeuchi - 12 Months, Torn UCL
RP Ken Thompson - 6 Days, Strained Back
OF Javier Cruz - 2 Weeks, Strained Hamstring
OF Hugh Howell - 3 Weeks, Chronic Back Soreness

Opening Day Roster

The moments you have all been waiting for, the 26-man opening day roster:

RF Ivan Rosa
CF Donald Allen
CF Noriyuki Matsui
LF/RF Willie Edmonds
LF Okakura Ishikawa
LF Ramiro Salinas
SS Edison Terry
3B Ivan Juarez
3B Katai Nomura
2B Jose Escobido
1B Skip Jordan
1B Hirostugu Tenno
C Reynaldo Garcia
C Michinaga Ueda
CL Vincente Medina
RP Irwin Delaney
RP Carlos Gomez
RP Shihei Matsubara
RP Takaaki Matsui
RP Yuji Nakano
RP Dan Ross
SP John Gillard
SP Francois Gosselin
SP Clayton Lewis
SP Dylan McIntosh
SP Paul Norris

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2018 11:10 am
by Wind Dancers
April Recap
May 3, 2027
Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

The first month of the season is done and Toyama sits at a respectable .500. Despite early injuries, a few early season signing have helped push Toyama into a competitive position. Toyama sits in 4th in the competitive Rising Sun division that has every team with at least a .500 record. Despite a large lack of power, Toyama has been successful with getting on base as they lead the SL in OBP. Toyama, if anything, has been consistent with their wins switching back and forth between positive and negative weeks:

Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 5-1
Week 3: 2-5
Week 4: 4-1

Key Players:

3B Ivan Juarez
Juarez has bounced back from a poor spring in the best way possible, hitting .327 and leading the team with 15 RBI’s. Across 26 games, Juarez also has a perfect SB% (4/0) and a 151 OPS+. Traditionally a strong performer, Juarez has stepped up in the absence of star Jose Escobido and is now a real driving force behind the Toyama batters.

CF Donald Allen
Allen has been red-hot in the month of April, hitting a ridiculous .418/.500 over 79 plate appearances. Another result of the Escobido injury, Allen has slot in at #2 in the line-up and has been key in the 3-step punch of Salinas/Allen/Juarez. With 4 SB’s, 10 RBI’s, and a 184 OPS+, Allen is definitely one to watch in the coming weeks.

SP Francois Gosselin
Toyama’s pitching has been rough, but Gosselin has been a bright blip in the rotation. 3-2, 2.25 ERA, Gosselin has been the top performer and has continued to improve after last season. The 27-year old is in his second season as a full-time starter and has so far made up for the early season struggles of star Clayton Lewis.

RP Eijiro Nakagawa
Nakagawa joined the Wind Dancers in early April and has already made a major impact. Formerly a starter, Nakagawa he’s pitched 12 innings allowing only 3 runs while striking out 15 and walking 8. In those 12 innings, Nakagawa has yet to give up a home run and sports a .200 BABIP. Strength in the pen is something Toyama has struggled to find but hopefully, Nakagawa can be a catalyst for change.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:51 pm
by Wind Dancers
July Shake-up
August 1, 2027
Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Recap
July was a disappointing month for Toyama up until the final day of the month. Against the hopes of the Toyama faithful, Injuries and poor play continue to plague their beloved team. In July, Toyama went 10-13 as they tread water in the tough Rising Sun. The first two series of the month gave some hope to the Wind Dancers, downing dow Canton and Yuma both 2-1. This was followed by the PEBA All-Star game in which 3B Ivan Juarez went 1 for 2 run-scoring single in the bottom of the 8th. Unfortunately, the SL couldn’t hold of the IL as they would fall 3-2.

But post-all star break, the walls came crumbling down losing 11 out of 17. The Wind Dancers managed 2 series wins against Palm Springs and Kalamazoo but were outright beaten down by powerhouses Shin Seiki and Aurora.

Key Players
1B Mike Harris, .333/.419/.520, 3 HRs, 9 RBIs
Harris had a hot July after struggling in June and brought some much need run production.

CF Donald Allen, .330/.362/.364, 6 SBs
Allen continued his incredible year and is now hitting .319 this season. He also provided a team high 6 SB’s in July, not getting caught once.

LF Ramiro Salinas, .250/.365/.458, 3 HRs,14 RBIs
Rookie Ramiro Salinas found his groove leading the team in RBIs in July and wiping 2 bases while he’s at it.

Out
2B Jose Escobido, Hamstring Strain, 5-6 Weeks
Escobido can’t stay healthy and goes down again this year. A potential free agent next year, Jose is giving Toyama a lot to think about.

2B/1B Skip Jordan, Elective Eye Surgery, 7 Weeks
Jordan elected to repair his dangerously failing eyesight while he is still only 27. Jordan hopes this will help improve his life on and off the field.

Trade Deadline Day
Two significant trades went down on the final day of league trading as Toyama began implementation their rebuild plan.

TOY - SS
Toyama sent CL Vincente Medina and minor leaguer RF Hugh Howell to Shin Seiki for 2B John Dickson, RP Juro Sumita, RP Hideyori Tanaka, and SP Richard Higgins.
Higgins is a decent pitching prospects while the other three can slot in the the active roster immediately.

TOY - CL
Toyama sent reliever Eijiro Nakagawa to Crystal Lake for two 18-year-olds, C Dominic Culpepper and SS Yoritomo Maeda.
Both are quality prospects with Maeda expected to become on of the top in the organization.

Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 12:38 pm
by Wind Dancers
August Collapse
September 1, 2027
Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Recap
Last month, it became clear that the Toyama Wind Dancers would be focusing on the future of the club instead of the present circumstance. And while fans saw the writing on the walls, few expected the drop to come so suddenly or for it to be so sharp. After slowly watching the storm build up, Toyama jumped straight into a cyclone that they couldn’t dance their way out of. A 5-24 record in August sent Toyama spiraling towards the bottom of the league. It was certainly harsh month in Toyama, but there were a few bright points throughout the organization that gives hope to the future.

Struggles at the Plate
A roster full of some well-known names has struggled, but it’s some of the other, lesser known guys that have been emerging. Big names like Ivan Juarez (.250) and Donald Allen (.220) have had rare off-months but Okakura Ishikawa (.316) and Ramiro Salinas (10sb) have been the bright spots at the plate. Getting on base is usually Toyama’s strong point while they tend to struggle driving those runners in. But this season has been a failure on all fronts and the constant injuries to star Jose Escobido has not helped alleviate those concerns.

The Good:
- LF Okakura Ishikawa; .316/.372/.468, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 37 TBs
- LF/DH Ramiro Salinas; .250/.327/.359, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs, 10 SBs

The Bad:
- OF Willie Edmonds; .148/.220/.315, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs, 31 Ks
- 1B Mike Harris; .160/.227/.230, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs

Waning Pitching
Pitching has been a roller-coaster ride all season and August was no different. Star pitcher Clayton Lewis has generally pitched well but has leaked runs consistently throughout the month. Rookie Dylan McIntosh has been the top starter despite having a +4 ERA during the month. Some of the months top performers come from inside the bullpen, a place where Toyama has struggled over the past few seasons. Not to mention the Wind Dancers trading away their two best relievers at the trade deadline.

The Good:
- RP Jorge Martinez; 11 IP, 1.64 ERA, 16 Ks, .262 OAVG
- RP Irwin Delaney; 17 IP, 1.06 ERA, 1 BB, 0.58 WHIP

The Bad:
- SP Francois Gosselin; 0-5, 7.14 ERA, 1.52 WHIP
- SP Charles Kennedy; 1-4, 5.47 ERA, 1.48 WHIP

Up and Coming Talent
The minor league teams spent their last full month of baseball well, with ¾ teams in the running for playoffs. Yokohama, Beppu City, and Osakasayama all have a +.600 win percentage with Osakasayama being the lone division leader.

AAA Yokohama sits in the hyper-competitive RML Pacific division where all 4 teams sit above the .500 mark. The Plumbers risk missing playoffs despite their dominating record in the league.

AA Beppu City sits in second in the division after an 18-13 August which had them inch closer to locking in a playoff spot. The elite pitching of the Panda’s has led this powerhouse team this season and could see them comfortably into the playoffs after missing out last season.

A Takaoka has sat around .500 all season and look destined to miss playoffs for the second year in a row. Despite a strong bullpen and consistent defense, the Shiko batters were average at best and haven’t been enough to consistently win games against tougher opponents.

SA Osakasayama was on the receiving end of the influx of youth players that came in as Toyama began their rebuild. That boost in talent led to a 21-8 record in August as well as sporting one of the best group of hitters in the league. The Swamp Dragons will need to hold off rivals Shirakawa Halberds in hopes of clinching the division and playoffs.

Key Prospects:
- CF Pedro Alvarez (AA), It seems like the 21-year-old has been around forever after signing for the Lupin Cliffhangers back in 2022. ‘Tiger’ has been up and down most of the year but rebounded after a poor July hitting .291 in August including 7 HRs and 20 RBIs. The youngster spent 4 seasons in Single-A before getting called up this season and is already giving staff a reason to move up again, despite his age.
- SS Rodrigo Vasquez (SA), Vasquez has emerged as one of the top prospects in the Toyama system. Another international signing back in 2024, Vasquez has lit-up Osakasayama this season and was called up at the very end of August. He peaked in August hitting a wild .383/.462/.574 with 4 HRs and 26 RBIs. He also chipped in 6 SBs and holds a +6.7 ZR at shortstop.
- SP Daichi Chishu (A), A third-round pick in last season’s draft, Chishu has surprised many in single A after struggling last season in short-A. In August, Chishu went 2-2 and had a 1.89 ERA while maintaining a walk rate of 1.7 per 9 innings. In a time where Toyama is looking talent of the future, Chishu has been a refreshing surprise.