By Midorikawa Michiyo, Niihama-shi Chronicle

2/2/2012: Soka, Japan – Takeji Iitsuka is back home at his parents’ house now, trying to stay out of their way, trying to ignore the high school trophies and the aging leather gloves that pack his room.  Trying to figure out how to remake his life.

It was only three months ago that Iitsuka was living an astounding dream.  With the Ghosts‘ major league rotation tattered by injuries, the rookie right-handed pitcher had been promoted early in the season from AAA and performed beyond expectations.  In 18 games started, he posted a 10-2 record with a 3.19 ERA.  He was a contender for SSG Shinjinshou, a prized prospect with a seemingly long career – and millions of dollars – ahead of him, and pitching in the battle for the Neo Tokyo Cup.

Suddenly, in the space of a few weeks, it was all gone.  Iitsuka suffered elbow inflammation in early October and was placed on the disabled list.  When he returned from the two-week DL stint, the Ghosts were about to begin the 2011 Wasei Junkesshou.  Management chose to reactivate him rather than have him simply call it a year.  On October 30^th, pitching in relief, Takeji Iitsuka tore up his shoulder.

Sources in the team’s front office indicate that “serious consideration” had been given to shutting him down for the year given the elbow injury and the number of innings pitched.  But the source indicates that GM Mike Dunn, concerned about the playoff battle, ignored the warning signs and opted to place Iitsuka back on the active roster.  “He’s beside himself now,” said the source of Dunn.  “Obviously it was bad call.  He is sick to his stomach over this.  We’re talking about a young man’s career.”

Back in Soka, Iitsuka’s hometown, the young and now-former pitcher agreed to take questions about his shattered career.

NC: Can we start with the shoulder injury?  You had just gotten over elbow inflammation.  Did one cause the other?
TI: That is the big question, isn’t it?  Medically, the doctors say one had nothing to do with the other, but is it possible I overcompensated in some way to favor the elbow?  Certainly.
NC: Many thought you were on the road to recovery.  Suddenly, the injury was declared a career-ender.  What happened?
TI: The damage to the labrum was simply too great.  The doctors doubted from the start that the muscles could heal sufficiently.  They warned me from day one my career was in jeopardy, but that wasn’t made public.  The team’s official responses simply did not indicate the severity of the situation.
NC: Why?
TI: I’m not sure why.  I’m not sure why that team does a lot of what it does.
NC: You sound bitter.
TI: Who would not be?
NC: Why the announcement now?
TI: Not sure.  The prognosis really didn’t change.  I can barely lift my arm.  Rehabilitation would have been months off, if it was even feasible, and it’s clear that they needed to make room on their 35-man roster.
NC: So you’ve come home…
TI: Yes.  This has been very hard on my parents.  They sacrificed a lot so I could pursue this dream.  My father is very angry at the team.  Very angry.
NC: What does he say?
TI: He says they were greedy, they put the short-term need for the playoff run over my long-term health.
NC: Do you agree?
TI: Of course.  I don’t think even the team disputes that.  Obviously they regret it, but that doesn’t help me.
NC: Have any team officials reached out to you?
TI: Yes.  Dunn drove out to speak to us.
NC: And…
TI: My parents wouldn’t let him in.  My mother was afraid my father would take a swing at him.  So I went out for a beer with him.
NC: What did he say?
TI: That’s between him and me.  Suffice it to say, he is full of remorse.  I appreciate his candor.
NC: Fans are talking about a boycott of the team this coming season in protest.
TI: Fans are great, aren’t they? (laughs) They’ll come back.  They’ll focus on the next phenom.
NC: And for Takeji Iitsuka, now what?
TI: Now?  Now… (He pauses and seems to choke up) Now I become a regular person.  Now I will carry a briefcase to work.  I will be a salaryman.  (Pauses) But…
NC: Yes?
TI: But I will never watch a baseball game again.  Never.  I am done.

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A CAREER ENDS: A TIMELINE

Dec. 2008:     Iitsuka is the Ghosts’ first round draft pick, 9th overall, at age 20
Sept. 2009:    Ends first professional season with a 2.99 ERA and 9 complete games over 144 innings pitched
July 2010:     Selected to the 2010 Minarai Doumei (AAA) All-Star Game
Sept 2010:     Ends second season in AAA with a 3.26 ERA over 171 innings pitched
May 2011:      After injuries to Ghosts starting pitchers, he is promoted to major league team.
Thru 2011:     In 18 games started, he posts a 10-2 record with a 3.19 ERA over 121 innings pitched.
Oct. 1, 2011:  Injured (back tightness), day-to-day for 1 day.
Oct. 7, 2011:  Injured (elbow inflammation), out for 1-2 weeks.
Oct. 19, 2011: With elbow seemingly healed, he is activated for start of the 2011 Wasei Junkesshou.
Oct. 30, 2011: Pitching in relief, he suffers a torn labrum, initially estimated to be out for 3-4 months.
Jan. 24, 2012: Doctors determine that injury is irreparable.
Jan. 31, 2012: Iitsuka retires from baseball.