6/21/2013: Kawaguchi, Japan – New Kawaguchi Transmitters GM Ron Collins has made an early splash, taking less than 24 hours to announce a whirlwind of housecleaning actions throughout the organization.  “The fans of the team deserve to know what we’re up to,” Collins said through newly hired spokes-model Misuki Yi, “so we’ll have these brief conversations on a routine basis.”

It is uncertain if Ms. Yi’s hiring is a long-term arrangement.  “Mr. Collins and his staff are all very busy right now in preparation for the all-important amateur draft,” Yi said, “so it is my honor to provide the team’s commentary.

Yi then started by announcing the Transmitters have placed Keita Miyata on the 60-day disabled list with a muscle strain in his back and called up Jun Watanabe in his place.  “Mr. Watanabe has been very effective in AAA-Taito for the last three seasons, and we’re happy to have him back with the parent club,” Yi said.  “Dr. Miura is working closely with Mr. Keita, and we hope to have him back on the active roster before the season ends.”  No further comment was made regarding the exact nature of Miyata’s injury.

“We are excited to report that Mr. Watanabe has exhibited great control at Taito and that this was considered a prime reason for his calling.  Transmitters pitchers have committed the greatest number of walks in the LRS, and Mr. Collins is exploring ways to improve that performance.”  The spokes-model did not mention that the team’s pitchers also leads the league in home runs allowed at 45 – tied with Seoul.  Watanabe allowed only nine home runs in 115 innings at Taito last year, and the team obviously hopes this tendency will translate to the parent club.

“The new management team has also been very active looking at the minor leagues,” Yi said.  “The Transmitters promoted infielders Jung-ha Mun (23), Sumitomo Yamasaki (25) and outfielder Brian Norton (27) from A-level Yamato to AAA-Taito. To make room for these call-ups, the organization is releasing outfielders Tadamichi Yamasaki (32) and Shunsuke Sato (30) from their minor league contracts.”

Yamasaki had been with Taito since 2007.  His best season was a .250/.299/.377, nine-homer effort in 2008.  He played in 10 games with the parent club, hitting a big league homer and striking out four times.  Sato had spent parts of six seasons in Taito, compiling a .208 career batting average and hitting three homers.  He never played in Kawaguchi.

“The Invaders have been very heavily stocked with outfielders,” Yi said, “and poor Mr. Hasegawa has been playing to exhaustion without the aid of some compatriots in the infield.  Jung-ha had an outstanding season two years prior and is clearly ready for this long-overdue opportunity.  We are expecting outstanding effort from Mr. Yamasaki, as he has been a fan favorite in Yamato for several seasons.

“And, in the last transaction entailing a player, the Transmitters will demote outfielder Ryunosuke Maeda (20) to A-Yamato.  We are very excited to finally give Mr. Maeda an opportunity to play full-time against competition of his own age bracket.  He was drafted out of high school and assigned directly to AAA-Taito, so his statistical struggles in the past are clearly not to be held against him.”

The team also announced a move in the on-field management of A-Yamato, as they fired pitching coach Hiroya Sugiyama.  “We all understand Mr. Sugiyama was hired just last November, but Mr. Collins met with the entire staff and left that session with a different direction in mind.  He is directing the team to invest heavily in the holistic system, and felt it was important the whole organization be on the same parchment.  Mr. Sugiyama is a fine man, and the Kawaguchi Transmitters organization wishes him no ill, but it was clear that this match wasn’t in the best interest of the club, and so Mr. Collins chose to go a different direction.”

The team had no comment on a replacement, but noted they had a short list of targets and that negotiations were in work.

Finally, the team reported a slight ticket price increase from $9 US to $10 US.  Yi smiled brilliantly as she responded to questions pertaining to this increase.  “Our games are still the best value for the price.  Any extra proceeds from this increase will be funneled back into the club in ways that have yet to be determined.  You can determine to help the team by appearing at the game, purchasing a ball cap and cheering for your favorite Transmitter.”