Trade: Nishi (YG) - Odajima (YBS)

Hara must've been ticked off by Nishi trying to go to the majors or something. Someone who put up those numbers shouldn't have been treated like some rookie trying to break into the batting order. Makoto Kosaka is one of my favorite players, but his bat is not going to be better than Nishi's. He was also a newcomer to the Giants and his defensive abilities are pretty much wasted at second base. Hopefully, he can put up some decent numbers for Yokohama.

Odajima is definitely someone they need. If he can do an average job catching, he'll be an upgrade. Giants catchers, other than Abe, don't really have decent bats.

With the news of Tani being traded to the Giants and Ogasawara possibly going over, this will be a very different Giants team. They need to make some moves for pitching, though. That's where they are hurting.

- Hara must've been ticked off by Nishi trying to go to the majors or something. Someone who put up those numbers shouldn't have been treated like some rookie trying to break into the batting order.

Nishi's 2005 numbers weren't all that great considering his 2004 career year. Neither Kosaka nor Nishi produced when given an opportunity to do so.

Nishi went on the decline after his big 2004 year in 2005, only batting .268 with 14 HRs. The reality is that neither Nishi nor Kosaka are the answer. Yomiuri isn't the best place for Kosaka. Kosaka's speed has been declining, and they gave him the second base position for the grabbing, but he didn't produced.

Yomiuri would be better off developing a second baseman and lead off hitter via their farm, but haven't done that. One reason is the pressure is here now to win and not to develop, though we are clearly seeing the fault in that, hence the disappointing 2006 year for Yomiuri.

Also, Yomiuri hasn't made any moves for pitching yet, though pitching is as bad as it looks. Their offense is in shackles. Yomiuri has the young Chiang (who was great in his stint at the end of the year), Powell (who was very consistent once again), Utsumi (who came into his own this year), and course there is Uehara (as always). Yomiuri batted just .252 as a team, had little team speed, numerous injuries, and are just way too old. Yomiuri needs to start developing their farm system, and that is when Yomiuri will win and not beforehand.

- Also, Yomiuri hasn't made any moves for pitching yet, though pitching is as bad as it looks.

I meant it isn't as bad as it looks.

We have to remember that 2004 was the year of the rabbit balls in NPB. Abe almost broke the record for homers in a month. Power numbers were up for everybody. I think Nishi should be expected to hit .280 with 8-16 homers in a single season.

As for developing a second baseman, Ryota Wakiya is being groomed to take that position. He's probably why they let go of Nagata, who was supposed to take over Nishi's role, but never brought his power up. Wakiya is 25 years old and was supposed to be a phenomenal contact hitter in the industrial leagues. I think he hit around .350 or so.