Sasaki Announces Retirement
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Sasaki Finishes Against Kiyohara
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Aug 9, 2005 9:03 PM
| YBS Fan
]
In the second inning of this evening's game (August 9) at Fullcast Stadium, Miyagi, the Daimajin was called in to face Kiyohara. With the count two strikes and a ball, the gleam of wetness in Kiyo's eyes, Sasaki threw a fork ball low and away, getting Kiyo to swing and miss for a strike out. The two ball players met in front of home plate, shook hands, then shared a short embrace. Kiyohara looked a great deal more emotional than Sasaki, like one of the kids currently playing at Koshien knowing that his summer is over.
Otsukaresama deshita, Daimajin.
Otsukaresama deshita, Daimajin.
Re: Sasaki Finishes Against Kiyohara
[ Author: himself | Posted: Aug 9, 2005 10:22 PM
| FSH Fan
]
Sasaki was arguably the best closer of his era, and one of a kind. It was a sad day for the Mariners fans when the news of his leaving the team was announced; I'm sure it was the same for all BayStars fans as well.
Daimajin built himself a great legacy in Japanese baseball.
Daimajin built himself a great legacy in Japanese baseball.
Re: Sasaki Finishes Against Kiyohara
[ Author: Guest: John Brooks | Posted: Aug 10, 2005 10:27 AM
]
Congrats again Sasaki, you were one of the best closers and pitchers ever, one of a kind in the game of a baseball.
Sasaki remains the best closer in NPB history, as well as Mariners' history, as he is still a step above the rest in the NPB and Seattle.
Congrats, and best wishes on your life out of baseball Daimajin. Your legacy is one we won't forget in the majors or Japan.
Sasaki remains the best closer in NPB history, as well as Mariners' history, as he is still a step above the rest in the NPB and Seattle.
Congrats, and best wishes on your life out of baseball Daimajin. Your legacy is one we won't forget in the majors or Japan.
Re: Sasaki Finishes Against Kiyohara
[ Author: Guest: John Brooks | Posted: Aug 10, 2005 6:34 PM
]
This is a classic picture of the strikeout of Kiyohara here [Yahoo! Japan Photo News]. It was a classic pitch by Sasaki to Kiyohara.
Re: Sasaki Finishes Against Kiyohara
[ Author: Guest: Skinz | Posted: Aug 10, 2005 10:47 PM
]
I saw a highlight of it and that strikeout was N-A-S-T-Y. What pitch was that? It started in the box and went away and down making Kiyohara look foolish.
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From his second season with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales (now the Yokohama BayStars), with a fork ball that dropped like it rolled off a table, Sasaki became the premiere closer of Japan. When Sasaki was announced in a game, the mood in the opposing dugout dropped.
This season, his second back in NPB after a four year stint with the Seattle Mariners, Sasaki got off to a good start with four saves. Then he blew three saves in a row, including one where he gave up three home runs in a row. He was dropped to ni-gun after that, underwent elbow surgery, and has been rehabilitating since. He decided that perhaps it would be best to retire if he was unable to get back to form by the All Star break, which did not happen.
It has been reported in the press that tomorrow's game (August 9) against the Giants in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, will be Sasaki's sayonara game. A retirement game is usually held at the home park, but seeing as that Sasaki was born in Miyagi prefecture and his mother isn't well enough to travel down to Yokohama, all concerned feel that this would be the appropriate location to pay tribute to the Daimajin, with the Yomiuri network broadcasting the game throughout the country.
More than the Japan save record, to which Sasaki is 8 shy of, Sasaki has stated that he would like to finish his career facing long time friend Kiyohara. If Kiyo weren't currently in the dog house with the Giants, I'm sure that this would be hyped up a great deal more than it is. (For those who don't know, Kiyohara was upset about being dropped to the number seven spot in the order a number of days ago. After hitting a home run in that game, he went directly to the bench, ignoring his team mates in front of the dugout ready for a "high touch." He's only had unflattering photos of him published in the dialy papers since.)
Sasaki shall go down in history on one of Japan's greatest closers. Legends shall remain of his fork ball for generations.