_*_*_ THE DANCE CARD _*_*_
A Blog of the Toyama Wind Dancers
Wind Dancers Sizzling in Mid-August
Escobido Hot in Return
49 At Bats, 23 hits, .456 OBP. Those are the base numbers Jose Escobido has posted in August since his return from the knee issue that side-tracked him for a month.
“He’s awesome,” said teammate and captain Shiro Adachi. “You watch him approach the game and just boggle at what he can do.”
Toyama fans couldn’t agree more.
Nishi Coming Out of Funk-Town?
Perhaps the best news the team could receive is the quiet resurgence of veteran hurler Tsuyoshi Nishiyama. The numbers don’t look good for the 34-year-old longtime Lupin pitcher. He’s 4-10 with a 4.22 ERA. But his last five outings have resulted in two wins and only 9 earned runs in 36.1 innings (2.23 ERA). If Nishi is actually a weapon, this staff becomes very, very good.
Dancers Lose Another Outfielder
Fans can be forgiven a bit of trepidation at the news that center fielder John Martin’s injury (sustained in Reno) has been diagnosed as a strained groin, and that the problem will sideline him for up to four weeks. With right fielder Ivan Rosa out for five more weeks, that means the Dancers will be without two thirds of their starting outfield for a considerable amount of time.
“We knew he was a bit prone when we signed him. That’s why we wanted it to be a one-season deal,” said the team’s assistant Takanibu Takahashi, speaking perhaps more bluntly than the club would like.
The club is said to be pondering options now, which include recalling every pitcher’s friend Noriyuki Matsui (whose glove work is stellar) or taking a look at 22-year-old Donald Allen, who everyone says is the franchise’s center fielder of the future, and who has been having a solid, if not spectacular season at AAA. They also could turn to veteran Ben Ray, who was designated for assignment earlier, but is possibly out of gas.
In the short term, however, one has to expect that fan favorite Sadatake Sato will be patrolling center field.
Edmonds Shines in Rosa’s Stead
26 year-old outfielder Willie Edmonds arrived from Yamaguchi this week to fill the shoes of injured teammate Ivan Rosa, and wasted no time getting acquainted with life in the PEBA, collecting six hits in his 17 at bats (.375), and hitting a homer. “It’s been a long and winding road to get here,” Edmonds said. “I’m not here to really win friends or whatever, and given the realities of baseball I have no idea how long I’ll be here. So I’m just trying to help the team and enjoy myself while I can.”
Edmonds was originally drafted by the Palm Springs organization in 2018, then was claimed by Bakersfield in 2020 before being subsequently released and signing with the Acapulco franchise of the Mexican League. Scouts raved about the power stored away in his bat, but whispered about the fact that it rarely seemed to actually make contact with anything. After signing with Toyama (Lupin) last season, Edmonds’ numbers were all over the board—hitting well in AAA, but struggling against PEBA pitching.
“I was tired,” Edmonds said as he sat in the dugout waiting for his BP turn. “It’s hard, you know? The travel, the games in Mexico, the uncertainty of where you might be playing next year, or even if you’ll be playing. It’s just hard.”
The club is playing coy on what his future might be at present. They have journeyman pro Clifford Green on a 1-season deal that they might be willing to cut lose it Edmonds can hold water.
So, yeah, it’s hard.
Wind Dancers Sign Kei Tenno
Looking for extra left-handed help in the bullpen, the Wind Dancers announced the signing of 26-year-old Kei Tenno to a 1-season contract of $1,000,000 prorated to the remaining games of the season.
“Kei is a guy who has been in the middle of things in the PEBA before, and we think he can help us in key spots,” said Wind Dancer GM Ron Collins. Tenno throws hard, and has generally kept the ball in the park. Team insiders also note that the club has struggled at times with Hyeon-cheong Yong as the only lefty in the pen since the injury to Bill Courtney (who is apparently two weeks away).
Yong was recently provided a two-season contract extension, but the club has suggested that if Courtney’s eventual spot might be in the starting rotation. This means Tenno has the opportunity to find a permanent home in Toyama.
The Dancers are expected to option right hander Burt Johnson to Yamauchi to make room for Tenno, who arrives just in time to face the dastardly Shin Seiki Evas.
“What a great time to become a Wind Dancer,” Tenno said. “I can’t wait.”
Home Stand Begins
The club has now just finished its critical road trip, going 8-5 in the 13 games and gaining a game and a half in the standings to arch rival Shin Seiki. Fans are beginning to get excited. Now Toyama returns to the Castle for 14 games, a stint that kicks off with a critical 3-game set with the Evas, then sees Rising Sun foes Neo-Tokyo and Okinawa come in for three games apiece before finishing with a rare 5-game set with Canton.
What happens in these two weeks will obviously set the table.
“We’re looking forward to being in front of our rowdy home fans,” said new manager Hirotada Suzuki. “It should be much fun.”