Since retiring, Hideo Nomo has been working as a “technical advisor” with the Orix Buffaloes, the current incarnation of his former NPB team. Nomo just went on his first road trip with the Buffaloes, accompanying the team on their three-game trip to Hokkaido to face the Fighters. He won’t be in uniform, but he’ll be watching the games and working with team’s pitchers.
That’s pretty thin news, but it’s an excuse to say that I always thought it was lame the way Nomo went out — released by the Royals after a vagabond trek through the minors, disabled lists and South American winter leagues. I was hoping Orix would sign him to a one-day contract and give him a proper sendoff, but judging by the shape he’s in I don’t think it’ll happen.
Young fireballer Masahiro Tanaka and submariner Shunsuke Watanabe faced off on April 14 in a great pitcher’s duel. Tanaka got the best of Watanabe, but Shunsuke held Rakuten at bay despite allowing 12 baserunners in seven innings of work. And they couldn’t have been more different in their approaches. Tanaka was routinely in the mid-90’s with his fastball, and only threw three pitches below 80mph, while the submarining Watanabe didn’t touch 80 the whole game. Have a look at the velocity charts to see the difference between the two.
