cwsox

Hemond and Einhorn quote what with Psycho asking yesterday who Einhorn is, I doing some searching and found this great quote that I had never heard before!

they are dancing in the streets out here! 2 in a row

the link got around to finding the link to the story

Tetsu Yofu: No longer a mystery Right-hander could reach the big leagues in 2003 By Scott Merkin / Tetsu Yofu was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A two weeks ago. (Birmingham Barons) CHICAGO -- His name is Tetsu Yofu. He stands six feet tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds, although he’s dropped quite a bit of weight in the past year so that’s not quite official. Yofu is a right-handed pitcher, born and raised in Japan, who was signed by the White Sox as a minor league free agent in January. But, aside from that name, rank and serial number type of information, the White Sox couldn’t provide much more about Yofu while he was working out in Tucson during Spring Training. The team’s media guide, one of the most thorough and complete in Major League Baseball, features at least one or two paragraphs about every minor league player under contract -- except for Yofu. The added statistics to be gleamed from his sparse personal bio are his birth date (June 26, 1973), his place of undergraduate studies (Asia University) and his current residence (Fujisaw City, Japan). Yet, Yofu has become the most significant signing for the White Sox organization from the Far East, a geographic region becoming increasingly well-known for producing top Major Leaguers. The White Sox had an older outfielder named Nobitashi Ito on their Rookie team in Phoenix last year, but he did not remain with the organization. "Everything seems huge over here -- the cities, the people and even baseball. I'm just glad to be playing baseball for the White Sox." -- Tetsu Yofu “It’s important to obtain talent from anywhere you can get it,” said Brian Porter, the White Sox assistant director of player development. “No team is good enough to let talent go by, if he’s a viable option. “We believe in our scouts and trust in their recommendations. When we heard it was possible that we were going to sign Yofu, we tried to do our due diligence in finding out as much about him as possible. But, as far as info through the Internet, we were basically limited to stats.” Approximately one month from the end of Spring Training, Yofu is no longer a Far Eastern mystery. The 29-year-old began the season at Double-A Birmingham, where he pitched in seven games as a reliever. Yofu worked 14 innings, allowed 11 hits and one earned run, while walking five and striking out 15. He picked up one save, to go along with his 0.64 earned run average. When David Sanders was promoted to the White Sox two weeks ago, Yofu was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte the following day. He has since worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs, striking out three. The story of how Yofu came to the United States and eventually to the Major Leagues is the stuff that movies are made of. Actually, it’s a plot line better than your average baseball flick. After graduating from college, Yofu spent five years dominating an Industrial League in Japan, which is the equivalent of the minor leagues in the States. He played pro baseball one year in Taiwan, where he was tops in the league in strikeouts and led the famous Brothers Elephant team to the title with two wins and two saves in the championship series. In 2002, Yofu moved to the Japanese League, where he played for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, managed by legendary slugger Sadaharu Oh. Truth be told, Yofu never pitched for Oh, injuring his back before the season started and spending most of the season on a minor league roster. But, Yofu made friends with Carlos Castillo, the former White Sox hurler with great talent who lost the battle of the bulge in trying to stay in the Major Leagues and became part of the Hawks’ rotation. They were such good friends that Yofu came to live with Castillo in Miami in November, and worked out with him on a daily basis. Other Major League pitchers such as Orlando ‘El Duque’ Hernandez of the Expos and the Indians closer Danys Baez also worked out in the group. Castillo was impressed enough with Yofu’s ability that he recommended him to Jose Ortega, a full-time scout for the White Sox in South Florida. The Indians and Reds were also interested in Yofu, but after one impressive workout, he signed with the White Sox on January 17. If the story weren’t verified as true, it would be very hard to believe. “I’ve played in Taiwan and then Japan, so it makes sense to come here now,” said the affable Yofu through a translator. “It’s my next step. “If I went back to Taiwan, it would have paid a lot more. But I always wanted to play in the United States.” Yofu actually has a pretty good grasp of the English language, having traveled with a high school All-Star team to Iowa, California and Texas. He was one of the more popular players in the Birmingham clubhouse, a “real character,” according to Birmingham manager Wally Backman. He was equally popular with Backman and Birmingham pitching coach Juan Nieves. That’s mainly because of his durability and command of no less than seven pitches. “I throw a fastball in the lower 90s, a curve, slider, two-seam fastball, forkball and a couple of others,” said Yofu with a smile. “I was basically a starting pitcher in Taiwan, but I’ll pitch wherever they want to get to the Major Leagues.” “He’s got them all, including a great split-finger, and is the best athlete and best fielding pitcher we had on the roster,” Backman added. “He might throw too many pitches. Yofu has a really good fastball, but I think he’s lost a little velocity because of all the pitches he does throw. We tried to get him to trust in his fastball a little bit more.” Nieves mentioned that Japanese pitchers are known to be resilient, even throwing in between innings to stay sharp. He also described Yofu as a “high-intensity guy,” who not only has bought into the White Sox conditioning program, but also has his own regimented workouts. Yofu has not gone unnoticed by the White Sox administrators. After throwing three innings on Wednesday, April 23 to pick up his first victory in American baseball, Yofu was notified of his move up to the next level. Before the season is over, he could be the first Japanese player to be part of the team’s Major League roster. “They look for a guy who can throw two or three pitches for strikes, with the velocity and command of those pitches,” said Nieves, who threw the only no-hitter in Milwaukee Brewers history. “He has a good arm and does have Major League stuff.” “We are keeping an eye on him,” added White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn. “Some times it comes in a round-about route, but Yofu has a plus split-finger, good slider and a good fastball.” When Yofu was first assigned to Birmingham out of Spring Training, Mike Hobson, the team’s media relations director, helped get him settled. That included finding a Japanese translator from the University of Alabama. While they were driving around one day, Yofu asked Hobson if it was possible to go from Double-A to the big leagues. Hobson remembered that very question as he drove Yofu to the airport following his first promotion. “I told him in the car, ‘You have already moved up one level,’” Hobson said. “He smiled and then asked how likely it is to go from Triple-A to the White Sox.” If and when Yofu does arrive, his story will no longer be along the lines of a baseball urban legend. It can actually be read about currently by going to his very high-tech web site, www.yofutetsu.com. Of course, you need a working knowledge of Japanese to understand what’s being written. There might be more cultural adjustments for Yofu, who already has adapted to American music and food. He’s also done a nice job adapting to American baseball. “They all love baseball over here,” Yofu said. “Little kids are playing day and night, everywhere you go. It’s not like that in Japan. “Everything seems huge over here -- the cities, the people and even baseball,” Yofu added with a smile. “I’m just glad to be playing baseball for the White Sox.” Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I think a lot of our problems can be traced to what this article from the Southtown discusses Paul Ladewski/Commentary Wrong guy is on Sox hot seat Tuesday, May 6, 2003 Wait, wait, wait. Before White Sox manager Jerry Manuel is handed a pink slip and pushed off a cliff, I have a lovely parting gift for him. A piece of the 2003 Manager of the Year award. Well, can you think of anything better? Only weeks ago, the consensus was that the Sox would be a contender on the strength of their offense alone. Jose Valentin, Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez, Paul Konerko, Carlos Lee ... the South Side hadn't seen anything like them since the Hitmen three decades ago. That was before the Sox started to swing Whiffle Ball bats all of a sudden. Have you checked out the numbers lately? Thomas has barely hit his weight. Konerko, Lee and Joe Crede are on the wrong side of .250. Only one regular — D'Angelo Jimenez — has hit higher than .280 at this point. Throw in pitching and fielding that have been above average — no better, no worse — and the Hosers are still within six games of the Central Division lead. Heck, they should be nine games behind the Toledo Mud Hens, if you ask me. No, if general manager Ken Williams wants to save the season while it still can be saved, he can do it in a simpler, more sensible way: 1) Tell the players that Manuel is still his man; 2) announce that the excuse department is closed for the summer, and 3) get to the root of the problem. Will batting coach Gary Ward please pick up the courtesy phone in the clubhouse? Yeah, I know. From Walt Hriniak to Bill Buckner to Von Joshua, the Sox have gone through more batting coaches than Julia Roberts has husbands lately. Just as it takes more than one piece of ice to sink the Titanic, it takes more than one person to sabotage a season. But if there's one person who has had a bigger influence on the biggest problem this season, then I can't name him. When you compare the philosophies of Ward and Manuel, oil and water come to mind. Ward preaches longball, Manuel prefers smallball. The Ward way is fine when home runs come in bunches as they did last season, but what happens when they don't like this one? You have to bunt, hit to the right side or steal a base. Seen any of that lately? All of which leaves the manager with one hand tied behind his back and the other one over his eyes. "I'd like to see us take shots to the opposite field for singles versus trying to do the big things and hit home runs (hint)," Manuel said. "Our speed is such that even when we start a runner, you don't know that he's stealing and the infielders don't move (hint-hint)." Indications are that the players tuned out Ward months ago. Before a game last season, Ward called for one of his infamous meetings. "'This guy throws a curveball, and that guys throw a fastball,'" one veteran player repeated the drill by heart. "We all bleepin' know that." (I would ask Ward about this, but every time an outsider approaches him, Mr. Personality says warmly, "Not now. I'm working.") More recently, Thomas sought out Hriniak for advice. And guess who happened to show up at U.S. Cellular Field the other day? Yep, none other than Harold Baines, a special-assignment instructor. To find a replacement, Williams would have to look no farther than Triple-A Charlotte, where he happened to be last weekend. His name is Greg Walker. As a former first baseman with a sweet stroke himself, Walker was known to take an outside pitch the other way. He also has a working knowledge of Sox hitters, having spent time with them in spring training. Crede and Willie Harris already swear by him. "What I like about Greg is his approach," Harris said. "He'll pat you on the back or get on your butt, but either way you know that he's on your side." What's more, Sox fans can identify with Walker, a fan favorite for nine seasons here. What better time to promote him than on the 20th anniversary of the Winnin' Uglies for whom he played? One problem, though. Ward is a Williams guy. And you know what three words are the most difficult for a GM to say, don't you? "I screwed up." If I'm Williams, though, I give serious thought to the move. After all, it's not like his guys have made K-Will look like a genius the last three seasons. David Wells? Supersized disaster. Todd Ritchie. Ouch. Bartolo Colon? We'll see. Billy Koch. Don't ask. True, Manuel has his warts. He doesn't always communicate well, especially with his star players. He isn't vocal enough. He won't spray in the face of an umpire. He doesn't smoke Camel straights, doesn't talk like Martin Lawrence. In other words, Manuel is a Mr. Nice Guy, and you know what Leo Durocher said about them. But fire Manuel and then what? Lure Bobby Valentine out of a television studio in Bristol, Conn.? What would he bring to the party? Enough f-bombs to get kicked out of every other game? The nerve to sneak up behind Thomas, Konerko and Lee and yell, "Boo!" A fake nose and mustache to lighten the mood in the dugout? By the way, in 13 seasons split between Texas and the New York Mets, Bobby V made a total of two postseason appearances. Board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf likes to go on the cheap for his managers, which makes Wally Backman the obvious choice. A stickler for fundamentals, the Charlotte skipper also is a bit on the feisty side. But to expect a manager with no previous major league experience to perform a minor miracle in a matter of months is to expect a lot. I mean, why tell Sox fans to wait 'til next year when Next Year is still here? Paul Ladewski can be reached at [email protected] or (708) 633-5950.

he should bunt - at a home game though, as that would really make it worth the price of admission! Whatever works - it is not how long the hit, it is getting on base and getting the hitting going -

I will be watching to see what Cotts does - with great interest and hope.

I like your post and your philosophy, a lot.

When I go to work and see all the damn messages on my desk, I think that I too could use a message therapist! By sheer coincidence, I am going to my first appointment with a massage therapist tomorrow - my shoulder/arm need something and I thought I may as well try that!

Thanks for posting this. A great man has left our midst - the world is a better place for Walter Sisulu having been here.

cyanide - aresenic - we can argue which death is worse but it all's the same really

He built a good farm system - and he might have been the GM we hoped for if he hadn't of turned into an anal retentive control freak - maybe he was too young for the job, hasn't grown up yet - if he goes back to working the minors, fine by me -

J Bullard 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 Nice to see!

I enjoyed this thread - the baseball draft is something that still mystifies me - so I enjoy reading about it by people who understand it -

I opened my window tonight and thought I head KW yelling "MOTHERF*CKING B*TCHASS DIPs***..." think he was looking in a mirror? or was that our players I heard talking about KW?

I would love that idea, if nothing else as one of two batting coaches and let him work with the players who want to work with him

Does anyone have a link to this? by the way, who is Lance Berkman anyway? and is there a link??????

be better for Stewart's development at this point, I think - the consistent work - he had 9 days between his last starts and the results were not pretty

better to have one really bad day and get it out of the way for everyone -

two reasons to celebrate cinco de mayo from now on - mexico and the sox both being free from the oppressor!

taking out the GM far enough up the ladder? I think so!

just because I felt like saying that tonight....

maybe he was looking for a job - or a store that sold cell phone batteries!

I got 50¢ - which is all KW needs -

recent Trib article, Frank was talking about bunting again - I am anxious to see him do it!