THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#76 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Escobido to Return
Wind Dancers Look to Playoffs


Sept 26, 2023 -- News out of the Toyama front office continues to be good.

“We expect Jose Escobido to be available to play in the Kalamazoo series,” said a release from the team’s medical staff. If that happens, “new” team manager Hirotada Suzuki would plan to play him in a couple places “just to get the rust off.” This would be a huge boost to the club, because they are clearly a different team offensively when they can put his .401 OBP at the lead-off slot.

In other news, with the team clinching its wild card slot, they are expected to take some action to protect their starters. “We’ll try to find a start for Francoise Gosselin, we think,” said Suzuki. “Still noodling on that. But otherwise, I suspect well do some other shuffling.” When asked if they would do anything special to see if they could get Akira Watanabe his 21st win, the manager bristled. “Akira will make a start, so we expect he’ll make a win.”

Right now Watanabe is scheduled to start on the 27th against Okinawa, in what would be the last home game of the season. One suspects the club may try to take it easy on Davis Sutherland, who has thrown 87 innings in relief this year—just shy of the 100 the club was advertising they would be shooting for.

“We’re not going to worry about whether we make the #4 or #5 or #6 wildcard,” said GM Ron Collins. “The playoffs are tough no matter where you start from. All we want to do is put our best foot forward, and to be honest, all the pieces are coming together right now. I mean, there’s every chance that if we can avoid getting anybody hurt this week we’ll be entering the playoffs with one of the healthier teams in the league. That would be a pretty big deal.”
Last edited by roncollins on Sun Jun 12, 2016 8:23 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#77 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Diaz Replaces Durango
Concern about development of young hitters


In a quiet announcement, the Toyama Wind Dancers reported that they have replaced their hitting coach at Osakasayama (their Short Season A level). Manny Durango (51), who had been with the club for four years, was removed from the position in favor of Octavio Diaz (45).

During Durango’s four seasons, the team has had difficulty getting young hitting prospects out of the short season level and it appears Durango has been the scapegoat. Of particular focus was the performance of young 19 yearold Trevor Tully, who, while still hitting well, seems to have seen his power numbers regress.

We wanted someone who was a little more aggressive with our young guys,” said the team’s Director of Player Development.

"Have you seen that ballpark?" Durango said. "Tell me that you're going to see numbers in that park, and I'll tell you the ocean is pink with green polka dots."

Diaz has very little experience, but came highly recommended. He’s thought to be deeply focused on swing mechanics and getting the bat on the ball. “I love a good line drive,” he said in a recent tweet. “Hope to see a few next year.” He’s also known to be someone younger players can get along well with. Diaz joined the team in time for their last game, which the Swamp Dragons won 5-1 and in which the team clubbed 10 hits.

“I like Mr. Diaz,” said the team’s top prospect at the level, Pedro “Tiger” Alvarez. “I’m really comfortable with him.” Alvarez, 17 years of age, finished the season hitting .258/.331/.364, with 4 homers and 29 RBI in 80 games.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
Nigel
All-Star
All-Star
Posts: 1497
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:18 pm
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire UK

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#78 Post by Nigel »

Another shinning example of a blog that will earn you those CP's. Not only is it quick and fast to put down your thoughts but also it helps you to get involved with your teams at all levels
Nigel Laverick

GM San Antonio Calzones de Laredo 2035 - . . .

Former Commish, PEBA & LRS GM

nigel3123@gmail.com
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#79 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Cruz Sets New Save Mark
Team Wins While Preparing for Playoffs


September 30, 2023 – Kalamzoo: “I intend to save a lot of games with the Wind Dancers.”

Those were the words of Raúl Cruz at a press conference late in December, a conference that announced his signing of a 4-season, $56M contract. It was a controversial day—fans being pleased, but baseball economists scratching their head. “That’s a lot of yen for a reliever,” they said.

But the regular season is over, and when people look back on it they will see the signing as monumental. It’s not often that a team gets a record-setting performance for their cashola, but that’s what the Wind Dancers got when today Raúl Cruz took to the hill and shut down the Kalamzoo Badgers for his 55th save of 2023. The day before he had saved his 54th game, drawing even with the total that Aurora’ legendary Bryant Burris registered in 2019.

55 saves.

That’s a lot of games.

“I give congratulations to Raúl,” said manager Hirotada Suzuki, who admitted he was looking for ways to get Cruz his record. Cruz entered the last week with only 51 saves, and the Wind Dancers already set for the playoffs. Some thought Suzuki should save Cruz the wear and tear, but he picked up two saves in Okinawa, waited out two losses, then saved the next two games at Kalamazoo. When the team needed a closer in the final game of the season, Suzuki finally went to Victor Morgan.

“He deserved it,” Suzuki said. “Raúl Cruz pitched his heart out for me and for the team. I wasn’t going to keep him away from his destiny for any reason.”
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#80 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Wind Dancers To Deal With Warriors


December 2, 2023: Toyama: -- So, we get a 96-win Duluth team as our 5-game playoff opponent. They’re a dangerous group. If there’s any real advantage we have it’s that their lefty ace, Julian Thomas, threw 71 pitches in the Warrior’s last game of the season, and 81 pitches four days earlier. This makes him unavailable until the third game of the series when the tilt will move sites from Japan to Minnesota.

The Warriors will be missing outfielders Flint Butler and Bruce McGuire, but will be receiving Juan Rincon and Joe Kinney back from the DL, almost a wash, maybe. The Wind Dancers will be without team captain Shrio Adachi and backup catcher Eitoku Hirano—the later could be a bit of a wildcardish problem for the Wind Dancers, as they have no third catcher on their list of players eligible for the playoffs. If they happen to lose Yeijiro Kojima to any injury whatsoever, the team will be in trouble, probably falling back to using someone like Clifford Green in the role. Yes, it’s disaster in the waiting. Losing Adachi means that young Yujiro Endo will play shortstop full time, and that Taro Kouno will be the utility guy. Not optimum.

The question on everyone’s lips as far as the Wind Dancers are concerned is what the starting rotation will be. Akira Watanabe (20-5, 2.62) will clearly start game 1, and one expects Tadamasa Hashimoto (16-6, 3.18) will start game two. Some insiders are saying that lefty Bill Courtney (5-1, 2.45) should be third instead of Clayton Lewis (11-13, 3.38). Then there’s long-time team favorite Shinobu Takeuchi (12-12, 4.12). Any of the five can start, and manager Hirotada Suzuki has been mum on the decision process.

All that can be said for certain is that playoff baseball is coming to Toyama, and the fans are ready. A total of 3.88 million came to the Castle during the regular season (a new team record). One expects the full 52,000 seats to be filled come Tuesday.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#81 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Wind Dancers Extend Minor League Managers

After what was a disappointing playoff pill to swallow, the Toyama Wind Dancer front office appears to have returned to their post, announcing today the contract extensions of minor league managers Sumitomo Shinohara and Luis Mendoza.

Shinohara, who has occasionally ruffled a few feathers both inside the organization and out, has been at his post with AAA Yamauchi for 13 years and has been remarkably successful, winning the division four straight seasons before posting a 63-77 record this year. His salary is said to have dropped commensurate with the fade, something he was both unhappy and philosophical about. “When my boys drop a fly ball I have them run,” he said. “So when we drop a season, I suppose there should be some pain.”

Shinohara will make only $676,000 the next two seasons. There was some discussion that Shinohara (48) might take the reins if young manager Hirotada Suzuki failed to perform this season. However, that did not happen.

Mendoza took the AA Ranma job back in 2020, and has performed better each season—both in developing players as well as posting wins. This past year was the first time the Pandas have competed in the post season, however. Mendoza’s extension will make him $694,000 for the next two seasons.

The actions leave the team’s staff with only one open question going into the winter sessions, that being SSA Osakasayama’s pitching coach, Kei Maruyama, whose status is currently being reviewed.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#82 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Huge Decisions Await Wind Dancer Front Office


November 7, 2023: Yes, yes, we know Aurora A-schmor-a. Three-peat on repeat. Har. That's all yesterday's news, man. None of it matters now. After a rugged gut-punch of a playoff loss, the fans of the Toyama Wind Dancers want to hear only news about what the ball club is going to do to make things right. The answer here at the Dance Card is this: we’re not sure, but we figure it’s going to happen soon.

Here are some of the more interesting newsie bits floating around the team.


Sato Option Could Be Declined

As amazing as it is to type those words, they are true. Longtime fan favorite and honored center fielder Sadatake Sato is due a team option for $9M next year, which is quite steep for the version of Sato they got in 2021 and 2022 but would be worth it for the version they got in 2023. The highly-awarded veteran of the Japanese Leagues had a resurgent season, hitting .307 and clubbing 19 homers in what was essentially a heightened 4th out fielders’s role. His 3.1 WAR was the best he’s tagged since the magical season of 2020, and had many coming to the park in his old Lupin jersey. He was healthy all year this time, which clearly makes a difference, and at 31, soon to be 32, it’s certainly possible that he still has some of the old magic left in him

“I love this place,” Sato said quietly as he sat on the locker room bench after the season was over. Every player on the team stopped by to shake his hand or touch him. They understood, you see? They understood that while his performance might just possibly have been good enough to make the front office want to possibly over-pay him that $9M for 2024 … except that … by doing so, that would expose the club to a $10M option that Sato would hold on the club for 2025.

It’s that complex, and that simple, folks. What do you do with an aging superstar who might have something left, or might not? And what do you do when your club is walking a financial tight-rope that’s clearly planned to get them someplace big in two seasons. Do you risk it?

In this dollars and yens world, we’re wondering if the Wind Dancers will let Sadatake Sato walk, and then try to sign him again for a more reasonable price … and we’re wondering if Sato would go for that.


Tenno Being Shopped, Could be Chopped

Word is that GM Ron Collins has put out an All Points Notice to the league that slugging first baseman Hirotsugu Tenno is available and can be had for nearly nothing, whatever that means. All we can say for certain is that, like Sato, the legendary 2020 LRS Triple Crown winner had a very nice rebound season in 2023 as new manager Hirotada Suzuki deployed him primarily against RH pitching. Tenno responded with 21 homers (which led the team) and a .273/.363/.506 slash to go with 53 RBI. “He looked like the kid of old,” one bystander said.

We can also say that Tenno is owed $3.9M next season, which is a tidy little sum to you and me, but which is a pretty decent deal for a baseball team looking for a strong side platoon thumper. At issue seems to be the fact that Toyama wants to commit time to Roberto Cisneros, who lost most of the year to an injury, but who has been a reliable hitter for a couple seasons now.

“It’s actually a bit hard to carry both of these guys around on our roster,” Collins said in an earlier interview. They are just too similar. Cisneros hits from the left side, which is Tenno’s strong suit. With Cisneros out most of last season, Manager Suzuki was often seen writing catcher Yejiro Kojima’s name and outfielder Clifford Green’s name into the 1B slot against LH pitching. Since both are still under team control through arbitration, one would guess that these two would reprise those roles in 2024.

If the team manages to clear Tenno, it helps them by removing that $3.9M from the 2024 budget, and perhaps loosens the purse strings a bit, so we can see the value of moving him. However, some fans are finding it hard to swallow as they replay images of Tenno’s glorious 2020.


Is All Okay at Short Stop and Center Field?


After years of pounding the pavement in search of a short stop and a center fielder, Collins seems to be actually happy with where the team is right now. “Sure, we’re always open for a blockbuster kind of a thing,” Collins said at a luncheon social yesterday. “But to be serious I think we have the shortstop and centerfielder of our foreseeable future in our organization now.

He’s referring to Yujiro Endo and Donald Allen.

Endo came up in the middle of the year, and hit about nothing. But his glove astounded everyone in sight. “We saw him play in the springtime,” said ace pitcher Akira Watanabe, “and we couldn’t believe it. But he came up here again and it was like … wow.” Endo’s +3.3 ZR in 46 games (combined with his+18.1 in 101 AAA games) shows that he’s perhaps the best defensive shortstop in the league even now—and he hasn’t peaked. “I don’t care what he hits,” Watanabe said. “I want him behind me when I’m on the mound.”

The arrival of Endo frees veteran shortstop Shiro Adachi up to be a utility back-up and a platoon partner to Jose Escobido, a role that the team captain seems perfectly geared for and ready to take on. “I like second base,” Adachi said. “And I like watching Yujiro play. He takes your breath away.”

The news that the club is finally happy with 22 year-old Donald Allen in center field is good news, too. Allen was the club’s #1 pick a couple years back, and had been touted as being major league ready at the time. That was clearly not the case, though. A season and half in the minors seems to have done the trick, though. Allen is an outstanding, rangy defender in center field, and is envisioned as being a leadoff kind of hitter. “I can’t wait to put Jose (Escobido) and Allen in the same lineup,” Suzuki said.

Some are suggesting that Allen might platoon up with another young outfielder in 25-year-old Noriyuki Matsui. Matsui was a second round draft pick in 2020, and has also made the team’s pitchers drool with his glove work. “Donald’s glove is All-Leather,” said Watanabe. “But Nori’s is better.” Matsui has struggle to hit, but he might work out as the right-hand complement to Allen’s left-handed bat, and we can envision him as a defensive replacement, too.

Paring those gloves in center with the All-Leather glove of young Ivan Rosa (+12 ZR) in right, and the solid (+5.1 ZR) of 26-year-old Okakura Ishikawa in left would make for a defensive outfield that might be among the best ever fielded.

The question that has to be asked, though, is whether the Wind Dancers feel like they are ready to chase a pennant with a pair of rookies manning the two most important defensive roles on the field.


Have We Seen The Last of Nishi?

34-year-old Tsuyoshi Nishiyama (very soon to be 35) has been with the Wind Dancer organization his entire career. He took a 1-season deal at a 25% pay cut to stay with the team last year, and rumors are that he might be asked to do the same thing this coming season. Or not.

Nishi (7-11, 4.26) is still a solid pitcher who can bring five pitches to the mound, but he’s getting a little long in the tooth and the truth is that his fastball doesn’t really threaten a pane of glass anymore. All he does is get people out, though. And he’s versatile, having thrown both as a starter and out of the bullpen.

But the team’s farm system has now pretty much overwhelmed him. Ex-Rule 5 pick Francois Gosselin (23) is now actually ready after a season in AAA. He’ll compete for the fifth starter role, or a bullpen assignment. Canadian Eric Huot (also 23) appears to be ready to take a spot in the pen. Carlos Gomez (25), signed from the Mexican League a season ago is also ready. Then will come the second wave led by Ken Thompson and John Gillard and Tsuginori Yamamoto.

So, yeah … Nishiyama’s days are numbered here. But the fans are on the edge of their seats waiting to see if the old guy still has a trick or two up his sleeve.


That’s Not All, Folks!!!

There are more questions, of course. Questions like, “is Shinobu Takeuchi better off in the pen?” and “Can the team handle Clifford Green’s total lack of defense again?” and “what do we do with the no-name bullpen of Makino, Miller, and Morgan?” as they all wind their way to their pricey arbitration seasons.

But these are the questions that might have strange answers, and they are questions that won’t necessarily be answered right away. So we’ll leave them sit for now.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
Simon
Triple-A
Triple-A
Posts: 464
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:56 am
Location: Poland

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#83 Post by Simon »

Sato's tough choice indeed with that performance last year.
I know i wouldnt take his option (probably !+) ), but we have less money here in San Antonio than you.

Btw Martin doesnt want to extend for reasonable price? He looks pretty good out there.


About Endo: his glove looks mighty good indeed, but .250 obp is really terrible. I guess you can handle one guy like this in the lineup, but if you'll decide to go with Allen/Matsui at CF, you can possibly end up with two of those, and thats one too many.
Depends on the Allen's performance of course, OSA likes him much more than my scout.
Simon Kuliszewski
Proud General Manager of San Antonio Calzones de Laredo
Since mid 2020 (268-293 .477)
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#84 Post by roncollins »

Unless I get too big of a heartache, Sato will roll through the FA market and hopefully return to Toyama. I don't think I can afford to give him $10M two years from now if he crashes. We'll see what happens.

I like Martin a lot, but I'm pretty comfortable with Allen fitting into his role. And Allen will be a better defender. Martin wants to play for us, but he wants a lot more years that I'm willing to give him--and he's fragile. I loved him as a 1-season stop-gap, though.

And, yeah, Endo's bat is unnerving. I can mitigate Matsui's by giving him a platoon/defensive specialist role, but to go with Endo means taking it all. Obviously, if a better solution arrives we'll go with that, but I can at least put my hat on having a guy who is elite at something. Which is better than we've had since we merged with PEBA.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#85 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Dancers Execute Adachi’s Option

November 13, 2023: This reporter has learned that the Toyama Wind Dancers have executed the option of veteran short stop and team captain Shiro Adachi. The 31-year-old will receive $1.5M for his services this coming season, which will most likely be in the role of the RHB of a second base platoon with Jose Escobido, and as an emergency backup for snazzy young shortstop Yujiro Endo.

“I’m excited beyond belief to return to the Wind Dancers,” Adachi said. “This is the place I’ve always been. It’s the place I want to end my career in, if that’s not being too bold.”

Rumors are that the team would like to make that happen, and may well be pursuing an even longer relationship in the near future.

“Shiro is the heart of the team,” GM Ron Collins said. “No one is more attuned to the team than he is. People respect him because he’s kept his head up in the good times and when things haven’t been so good. I’m terribly happy to have him back in the clubhouse. He just knows how to win.”

Adachi came to the team as a first round selection in 2014, and quickly established himself as a premium defensive shortstop who could contribute offensively. He was embroiled in some controversy and politicking around the Japanese Gurabukin Award selections (which were the LRS versions of All-Leather Awards), failing to be recognized for several seasons before finally awarded in 2019. The story of his taking #6 to honor his father only after winning the award is oft-told among fans.

His struggles since the LRS/PEBA merger have been well-documented, but his value is still undiminished, as some insiders are blaming Adachi’s turned ankle and inability to play in the post season for the club’s dramatic collapse against Duluth.

“I’m going to get to work,” Adachi said when he was asked what he would do next. “I’ve got to get ready for next season.”
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#86 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Christmas in November Comes to Toyama?

With news that the budgets of PEBA teams across the globe have been uniformly bumped by $28M a piece, one can expect cash to start flowing from owners to players—especially in the case of teams with a lot of cash. (Exhibit A: Borealis, Aurora). The Toyama Wind Dancers are in that category of teams, having reaped $48M in profit (after revenue sharing) last season. While owner Paul Walker also skimmed $13M in cash off the top, that leaves a good bucket of the green stuff for GM Ron Collins to play with, and the addition of $28M to the budget nearly doubles that amount.

So perhaps it’s like a little Christmas in November, eh?

Given this, it’s no surprise that club insiders are now suggesting that it’s possible that the option of longtime team stalwart Sadatake Sato will be picked up. Sato had a resurgent season last year, and some fans are suggesting that he be retained at $9M this season.

“Every club needs to shoot for about 50 WAR,” one semi-educated fan said. “Given the new budget, that means we can spend about $3.6 mill per WAR, and that Sadatake’s 3.1 WAR season in 2023 was worth over $11 mill. Seems like a no-brainer.” We should note that the fan was also a little tipsy on ginger beer and schnapps at the time.

It is also rumored that the club has loosened the purse strings a bit with regard to some of the guys they have going to arbitration. “We would like to get some of these guys into longer term deals, GM Ron Collins said earlier. “But I think the players are waiting around right now, trying to settle out on where the money is going to level off at.” Specifically, it appears that the Win-D front office is focusing on 23-year-old Ivan Rosa and All-Star second baseman Jose Escobido, but insiders say that the club may also be close to terms with relief pitcher Isei Makino, who had a break-through season in 2023 (4-1, 3 saves, 2.51 ERA).

Rosa is a particularly interesting case. The young outfielder had a solid, but not spectacular season in 2023. One expects the club would like to ink him to a similar deal that Shin Seiki gave Benton Hawkins, but our sleuthing has revealed that Rosa’s agent is clearly more on the ball than Hawkins’ was. “There’s zero chance that Rosa will give away the goodies like Hawkins did,” said our mole.

Escobido is probably a more cut and dried case. He’s 32 years old, and shown signs of being injury prone. The club can afford to go to arbitration, but would probably like to settle out of court. The second baseman, however, has made it known that he wants to see long-term money on the table. Even with the cash spigot turned to "on," it is unlikely the club will want to pay Escobido until he’s 40 years old.

Toyama also faces arbitration cases with catcher Yejiro Kojima, relief pitcher Kei Tenno, and switch hitting outfielder Clifford Green.

“The budget relief couldn’t have come at a better time for us,” Collins said about the news. “We were facing some pretty tough decisions on our scouting and development budget or spending on the draft, and sure we’ll be careful anyway, but now we can kind of kick those down the road a bit.”

One of those decisions was probably the fate of 1B Hirotsugu Tenno, who was clearly being shopped at a cut-rate (to no takers, interestingly). One expects the club to hold onto his 1-season deal now, even if they stash him in AAA as injury insurance. Another could be Tsuyoshi Nishiyama, who league rules allow to be signed to a cut-rate deal at $3.4M (assuming he would take it, which many say he would be wise to do seeing that the offer may not be wise to begin with).

Whatever happens, the accounting news is good in Toyama. Let’s hope Collins doesn’t screw it up too bad.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#87 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Escobido, Makino Sign Extensions, Sato Retained

November 23, 2023 – Toyama fans were over the moon today when the team’s second baseman Jose Escobido tweeted that “Looks like I’m a Dancer for life!” A short while later, the team released news that they had come to an agreement with the 32-year-old second baseman on a five year deal that includes three guaranteed years and two team options. The deal pays Escobido $4.8M this coming season, $6M in 2025, and $6.5M in 2026. The two team options are for upward of $9M each.

Escobido has been the fireplug of the Toyama offense for the past two seasons, hitting in the leadoff spot and posting OBP of .425 and .398 since being acquired from San Antonio. He has, however, been quite injury prone, and has yet to see 400 plate appearances in a season. The deal was probably necessary, however, as the club doesn’t seem to have an obvious prospect in the wings at the position.

“We wanted to avoid the ugliness of an arbitration case,” said GM Ron Collins. “No one likes those things—they’re ugly at their core, with us cutting on the player and the player trying to show us up as money gougers. The bottom line is that Jose is an important player, and we wanted to pay him like that. But he also understood that he’s getting a little long in the tooth and that a set of options were the best options to protect us. Win-win all around.”

The team also came to an agreement with reliever Iesi Makino on a deal that essentially bought out his arbitration years at a rate higher than his projection. “We gave a little more now,” Collins said,” but we gain in the fact that we’re locked in through those arbitration years. So there shouldn’t be any surprises.

At 27, Makino should be a safe bet, and his performance last year (4-1, 2.51 ERA) made his raise well deserved.

Sato Decision Made

The Sadatake Sato story will also apparently continue in Toyama for at least one more chapter. The man some know as “The Natural” has had his $9M option picked up, and will look to reprise his 19 homer, 64 RBI, .307/.333/.523 season in 2024.

The risk in this decision wasn’t so much the cash he’ll be owed in 2024, but that it exposed the team to his player option in 2025,which provides the aging center fielder the opportunity to re-up for another season at $10M.

That said, Sato is a stalwart figure in the team’s history and has deep connections to the Toyama fan base. It would, admittedly, have been a controversial decision to void the deal, and team officials were already under high pressure.

Other Rumors

As arbitration cases come near, we at the Dance Card are given to understand that the team is working on deals that would keep young right fielder Ivan Rosa in the fold for some time, as well as veteran OF/DH Clifford Green. Both had fine seasons last year, and rumor is that such a deal could be imminent. The club has also has dome discussions with catcher Yejiro Kojima, but outlook is more bleak in his case. As one insider told us “It doesn’t seem like Kojima understands that he’s in arbitration, so he can’t just walk away.”

Sounds like Kojima’s situation will actually go to the arbitrator. Stay tuned.

This would leave only reliever Kei Tenno as uncertain. Our expectation is that this means the club has decided not to tender arbitration. Despite a spotty background, Tenno was fantastic after coming to the team in a mid-season free agent deal, and he’s left-handed. However, it may not be in the team’s best interest to throw a lot of money at him, given they have kid pitchers in the background ready to go.
Last edited by roncollins on Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#88 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Rojas, Green Ink Contracts

November 27, 2023 – Rumors sometimes turn out to be true, and these were a pair of those cases. Two Toyama Wind Dancer outfielders signed contract extensions that essentially bought out the rest of their arbitration years and will keep them in Japan for multiple seasons.

Clifford Green agree to a two-season pact worth $4.19M. The switch hitter had what amounted to a career season last year, posting a .315/.359/.478 slash line in 387 plate appearances. He added 13 homers and 45 RBI. “I loved my year in Japan and an happy to be joining the team for two more seasons. That fan base there is rabid and harsh and loveable and just a whole lot of fun to be part of. With this news, I think Julie and I will probably buy a house there.”

The team also avoided arbitration with 23-year-old Ivan Rosa on a three season deal that crested $18M. The young Puerto Rican was hurt for part of the season, but managed to post 16 homers in his 467 plate appearances, and his glove was recently awarded the prestigious All-Leather award.

Dancers Get Kojima for $1.1M

November 28, 2023 – In news that will come as a shock to only Yejiro Kojima and his agent, the Toyama Wind Dancers were awarded a victory in their case against the soon-to-be 32 year-old catcher. After a surprisingly strong 2022 campaign, Kojima limped to a .235/.272/.431 season in 2023, though he did hit 20 homers and drive in 63 runs—most of that “extra” performance came at the benefit of 110 additional plate appearances. He has served as an occasional 1B whenever Hirotsugu Tenno’s bat got too ugly for manager Hirotada Suzuki to stomach.

Today his request for $1.35M was turned down by an arbitration court, who awarded the club his services for a ”mere” $1.1M.

“We love having Yejiro on our squad,” the team said through another one of their spokesmodels. “Earlier this month we asked him to join us for an additional season, but he wanted to go this way. So we’ll let the bones lay where they fell for a little while, and see what happens next.”
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#89 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Dancers Name Minor League Hitter of the Year
Image
Morales Honored
December 1, 2023: As the cold wind blows over the ashes of the Toyama season, the club has released news that third baseman Héctor Morales was named their Minor League Hitter of the Year. Morales, who recently turned 24, started the season with AA Ranma and performed well enough (19 HR, 54 RBI, .296/.368/.585 in 310 plate appearances) that he was promoted to AAA Yamauchi, where he received 254 plate appearances, hitting 7 homers and driving in 25 more runs.

Late in the year, the Cuban slugger was brought up to fill a right handed platoon at first base with the big club, but he was clearly overmatched in his 35 plate appearances, managing only a pair of hits.

“It’s a different game up there,” Morales said afterward. “I’m glad for the experience. My mama always said that you got to fail sometimes to get ahead. I’ll be ready next year.”

Morales began his professional career in Mexico, and was considered the #1 prospect in that league last June when he signed a minor league deal with Toyama that included a $350,000 bonus. “I loved playing in Mexico,” Morales said. “But I love playing in Japan more. It’s an amazing environment, and I strongly suggest any free agent who doesn’t play third base would love it here.”
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
User avatar
roncollins
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer
Posts: 2777
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 pm

Re: THE DANCE CARD - Community Blog of the Toyama Wind Dance

#90 Post by roncollins »

_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Dancers Name Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Image
Thompson Takes Award in Stride
December 2, 2023: A day after announcing their Minor League Hitter of the Year, and amid a plethora of candidate, the Toyama Wind Dancer took the action of naming left-handed starter Ken Thompson as their Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Thompson, the club’s first round pick in 2021, stepped up to AA this season and twirled a stellar 11-5 record in tandem with a 2.88 ERA. He struck out 158 hitters in 178 innings, and more impressive, walked only 27. Following a similar season in A-ball (9-6, 3.00, 146K/28 BB) , the club is certainly breathing a sigh of relief after Thompson’s performance in 2021 made people wonder what the front office had been smoking.

“I guess it’s always great to win an award,” Thompson said. “But I’ve got a movie date to get to, and she’s really hot, you know … so, um, can we schedule this interview for later?”

The award was not without its controversy, as many pointed to AAA starter François Gosselin (10-7, 3.29), single A pitchers Tsuginori Yamamoto (2-1, 36 saves, 0.61) and Mike Miller (13-6, 2.29), as well as Thompson’s AA teammate John Gillard (7-2, 2.97 in A-ball, 5-3, 3.39 in AA) as at least equally award worthy. Yamamoto, in particular, had his proponents, but some insiders suggest that the team wanted to save face regarding their use of their first pick in 2021, and that this swayed to decision Thompson’s way.
Ron Collins
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
2020 Neo-Tokyo Cup Champions
_______________________________________________________________
Post Reply

Return to “Toyama Wind Dancers”