Monday, July 1, 2013

The C-Warriors are at it again with their personnel.  This time, the team fired last year’s hitting coach and this year’s bench coach Carlos Martínez.  The writing was on the wall when Carlos was demoted to bench coach, but the team couldn’t find a replacement for him earlier this year.  When rumors about him hitting the bottle lately become louder, the team decided to start looking for a new bench coach.  During the search, Manny Carrasco became available.  The team could not pass on his ability to coach pitching, so they moved Yasunobu Yamada to bench coach this year, with rumors he may become a minor league manager next year if the team can’t come to an extension with Nichibutsu Crestas manager Manobu Nagumo.

“We are very excited to get a guy with the legendary skills that Mr. Carrasco brings to the table.  While some of our major league pitchers have been struggling a little, we don’t think any of that is Yamada’s fault.  It just happens sometimes.  Going forward, the personnel that we have look solid and I don’t expect many, if any, changes,” said GM Gregory Abcarian.

“When they offered me the contract, I knew it was a good fit right away.  I look forward to helping the C-Warriors pitchers take the next step that they need to success,” said Carrasco.

This season, like last season, has been full of injuries to key players for the C-Warriors.  Unlike last season, when it was the rotation that all got hurt, this year it was the right side of the infield.  Starters Mushanokoji Furukawa and Tokimasa Harada went down for six and 10 weeks, respectively.  The team struggled without them, but not as badly as many would have thought.

With that and the sagging sales of tickets in mind, management decided to go out and try to sign a star OF from America for the rest of the season.  The player they signed was Chris Weaver.  He has been a centerpiece for Aurora the last few years and the team figured he could help out here.  The fans instantly approved and attendance saw a slight increase.  Finally, the buzz around the stadium was not one of despair.

While the first month has not gone as planned for Weaver, the team expects him to improve drastically very soon.  Why?  Well, first, Furukawa just came back to the lineup, and in about a month, Harada will join him.  The team has told Weaver just to get on base, and while he is only batting .215, he has an OBP of .354, so even in his struggles, he is still accomplishing what the team needs.

“I think the first 10 days I was pushing too hard to impress the team and the fans, but now I am starting to get into the swing of things.  It is much different here than it is in Aurora.  I think I have finally found places that I can eat and drink at.  Also, I asked the team not to put me at leadoff for a little while so I can learn the pitchers a little bit more, and they seemed to be open to the idea.  I will say it is great to bat next to “The Gambler”, though.  He just knows how to play the game,” said Weaver.

“I may be the hitting coach, but when you get a guy like Chris Weaver, you don’t mess with his mechanics.  The only thing I have done so far is sit down with him, give him the scouting reports and film on other pitchers.  He is a proven veteran and he knows what to do with the information I give him.  If he thinks I need to help with his mechanics, don’t get me wrong, I will, but not until asked,” said Matsusuke Tanaka.