October 24, 2011

The Fushigi Yugi Celestial Warriors missed returning to the playoffs by one game this year.  It was a season filled with injuries and early mismanagement, but those are still no excuses.  The team didn’t win a game in the key series versus Edo during last weeks of season, and it is what cost them.  If they had won just one, then there would have been a one-game playoff, but as everyone knows, that didn’t happen.

What does this mean?  Lost revenue that the Warriors ownership was counting on, and now GM Gregory Abcarian will have to trim $10 million from the payroll, most likely.  Rumors have it that defensive wiz Teruo Kichida is going to be put on the block to save some money.

“This is not what I was hoping for, that is for sure.  When we started winning, I kept Toyoharu Yamaguchi instead of getting money.  It might bite us in the long run, but too late now.  I have to get creative.  I have some ideas, and we still have to wait to see if Terry Fowler comes back.  If he leaves and Yamaguchi leaves, we will definitely be in the market for a starter, but we just might not have the money for it.  As for the rumors on Kichida, well, they are not true, but I will admit I might have to trade one of my middle infielders to save money,” said GM Abcarian.

One thing is certain: For the Warriors to be successful next season, Toyozo Okamoto needs to be healthy all season long.  Since joining three years ago, Toyozo has missed more games than he has played.  With a bat like his, the team can’t afford to lose him next season, especially with the prospect of not being able to sign a free agent unless salary is cut somewhere.

Funniest injury award: Hirohisa Sato

On September 9, 2011, OF Hiroshia Sato signed a minor league contract to play for the Warriors.  After leaving the office, Hiroshia was so excited about signing the contract that he was jumping up and down, and as he got to the curb, he tripped and hurt himself.  The injury was a strained hip that was suppose to cost him 3 weeks, but a setback put him out until the final days of the season.  He was never put in a game.

Miscellaneous news:

Teika Miura signed a 2-year extension worth a total of $913,000.  He is expected to be part of the backend of the rotation again next year.  While his numbers weren’t that great, he finished 11-1 and the team felt, with the chance of losing two starters, his price was very cheap.  This also leads the way for the team to let Juan Román go due to his likely very high arbitration price.