Well, I guess the floodgate has been opened...

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-060424soxearly,1,3804869.story?coll=cs-whitesox-headlines

 

Sox's bridge to Japan open

World Series title extends what Iguchi, Takatsu started

By Mark Gonzales

Tribune staff reporter

 

April 24, 2006

 

SEATTLE -- Shingo Takatsu made inroads for the White Sox in Japan, and Tadahito Iguchi helped the franchise gain worldwide notice in the World Series.

 

If the Sox's sudden popularity in Japan is any indication, more Japanese players might follow the footsteps of Takatsu and Iguchi to Chicago.

 

"I think whereas before the Japanese people, as players, may not have heard of the White Sox or be as familiar with the White Sox, now there's an awareness that we're an open-minded organization in a great city and a good club to play for," general manager Ken Williams said before Monday night's game against the Mariners.

 

"I don't care if the guy we need is from the rain forest on a back field. If he can help us, then we're going to try to find him."

 

Nearly two dozen cameras followed Iguchi on Monday with fellow Japanese players Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima of the Mariners.

 

The significance wasn't lost on Iguchi, who followed Suzuki to play major-league baseball and was followed the next year by Johjima, his teammate for eight seasons with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League.

 

"The White Sox became more known when we won the World Series, and now they're playing more games on television," Iguchi said through interpreter Ryan McGuire.

 

Iguchi flied out to Suzuki in right field and struck out in his first two at-bats in Monday night's game, televised back to Japan.

 

"It depends on Japanese players like me playing for the Sox, getting more recognition and more games on television," Iguchi said.

 

Iguchi, who entered Monday's game with a .344 batting average, is well aware that his progress is monitored closely as the second infielder to make the jump from Japan to the major leagues, following the New York Mets' Kaz Matsui.

 

"At the same time Johjima came here, and how well a Japanese catcher is going to fare in the major leagues is something people are talking about in Japan," Iguchi said.

 

Interest in the Sox rose dramatically last season when Iguchi batted .278 and was called the team's most valuable player by manager Ozzie Guillen. It reached a zenith in the off-season when Iguchi attended a wedding in Japan that was attended by several former Fukuoka teammates.

 

"It's something they're interested in," Iguchi said. "It's a world they know nothing of, and I got a lot of questions."

 

Iguchi said nearly all of his 40 ex-teammates and coaches asked about his first season with the Sox.

 

The Sox's popularity in Japan started to climb when Takatsu, who returned to the Yakult Swallows this year, earned 19 saves in 2004 and was runner-up for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

 

They also made inroads in the spring of 2005 when they hired longtime international talent evaluator Ray Pointevint, the son-in-law of Japanese royalty, as a consultant.

 

And after Iguchi's sterling first season, the Sox's popularity reached another level this spring when Japanese pitching pioneer Hideo Nomo was signed to a Triple-A contract.

 

Those developments should enhance their chances of signing more free agents from Japan.

 

Among the potential free agents who could help the Sox in the future are pitcher Koji Uehara and second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka.

 

mgonzales@tribune.com

Is there a stud Japanese relief pitcher we can sign... not named Takatsu? We'd really be set then!

Is there a stud Japanese relief pitcher we can sign... not named Takatsu? We'd really be set then!

Daisuke Matsuzaka? Not exactly a reliever...and may be a Boras guy already..

Edited April 26, 200619 yr by Balta1701

The good words of Iguchi and Takatsu back to their peers in Japan will do more for the Sox in Japan than any scout will.

Daisuke Matsuzaka?  Not exactly a reliever...and may be a Boras guy already..

He'll have the Mariners and Yankees falling all over themselves to sign him.

 

Think of the Jose Contreras situation when he 1st signed for the Yankees a few seasons back.

 

He has pitched a lot of innings at a fairly young age though, so it will be interesting to see if his arm can hold up over the next decade.

If Matsuzaka is healthy when he's posted he's going to make a killing.