Jason Johnson Baseball - Day 3

So many Japanese players have blogs these days, so it's nice to see an American player doing the same. Johnson gained some points in my book for that. Besides, if you don't keep a journal of some kind on a journey like that, I think you'll regret it a little later in life.

I've commented on the same thing many times, but Johnson's hardly the first American player to keep a blog. (I've been keeping a page of baseball player blogs for a while.) To be fair, I've enjoyed reading CJ Nitkowski's NPB adventure more so far - it's a lot better-written.

And of course the big deal blog this year over in the MLB is Curt Schilling's.

- To be fair, I've enjoyed reading CJ Nitkowski's NPB adventure more so far - it's a lot better-written

I've enjoyed Nitkowski's blog, but have had problems accessing it for two days now. It seems it's been down for the last few days, or at least for me it has.

- They seem to have the opinion that anything done differently than in the U.S. must be inferior.

I think right now some of these players are in such a big culture shock. It's very hard for some to get used to a different environment after being in one environment for such a long time. Though I agree 100%, different doesn't always mean wrong.

As for the cows representing dairy products, I think what Johnson's getting at it's a big difference from how it is in the States and hard to get used to, but I think it could been worded much better.

Switching back to Johnson, I don't think there was any harm meant in the blog entry.

I believe as time goes on, and they get more assilimated to the surroundings around them, that their attitudes will change.

Wow. I forgot all about CJ's blog. 1,000 times better.

I don't know what to think about him or CJ from what I've read in their respective blogs. It appears to me that neither are even making an effort to understand what's going on around them. Complaining about a picture of a cow on a dairy product (yogurt)? I don't see what's wrong with cows representing milk, yogurt, cheeze, whipped cream, or any other dairy product. If he wants milk, does he want whole milk, low fat milk, or no fat milk? He's got some kanji to learn before he's going to enjoy his Cookie Crips.

Which brings me to another point. 25 years ago it was very difficult to get a lot of foreign foods (especially Mexican food). While I confess that I haven't ever noticed Cookie Crips, there are numerous places that have American serials, Mexican foods, German sausages, and other foods from around the globe. It may take an effort to find some things, but the list of what can't be found is dwindling. (The world is flat!) The Foreign Buyers Club (FBC) has been around for close to 10 years. If you don't have time to get out (as most ball players probably don't), that'll stave off homesickness.

I think that it's great that they're writing down their experiences. It will be a great reference for others who wish to make this same journey. But I get the impression from both of them that they aren't accepting what they see and experience. They seem to have the opinion that anything done differently than in the U.S. must be inferior. (Yes, I get a condescending tone from their writings.) "Different" doesn't mean "wrong" (although they are homophones in Japanese).

It will be interesting to see if their attitudes change over the course of the season.

Gotta remember that they're suketto, and they're being treated as such. It's kind of difficult to be an equal in MLB and then get put in the suketto situation if you're not familiar with it. Frustration will turn into acceptance sooner or later, unless they want a Dan Miceli legacy.

Being bilingual and very familiar with Japan, I can see how one can get frustrated. Also, it's important to keep in mind that the blogs could sometimes be emotional outlets. Just because someone writes something in a blog, it doesn't mean that's indicative of their everyday personality.

Anyway, if someone has a terrible attitude coming over to NPB, it's usually reflected in their stats.

Reading CJ's blog, I have to ask, can they give the religion thing a rest? CJ talking about how it'll be torture not to have his good Christian friend on the roster. He's implying it'll be hell to deal with all the heretic Japanese. There seem to be a lot of gaijin in NPB who use their free time in Japan to try and convert people like Portuguese missionaries.

Can someone tell these people that they're being paid to either hit a ball with a stick or throw a ball past a guy with a stick? Honestly, if being Christian is such a huge part of your life, get a job with a church. You're wasting your time playing baseball.

Amen to that (boom boom).

I thought the same thing. Sorry don't want to offend anyone.

I must admit my first year in Japan I was forever comparing working conditions to things back home! Soon after I learned, I can forever bang my head up against a wall or accept the differences.

These blogs are an interesting insight nonetheless. Ones we rarely get to see.

-- He's got some kanji to learn before he's going to enjoy his Cookie Crips.
- Being bilingual and very familiar with Japan, I can see how one can get frustrated.

Hey, not being able to read kanji can be hilarious, as Bobby V. describes below.
(Source: Bobby's Way - March 13, 2007)

Today I decided to go and touch up on my driving as I have a navigation system in my car. Together with our Mr. Information, Paul Pupo, our bench coach, Frank Ramppen, and Lyle Yates, our conditioning coach, we went on a drive which turned out to be longer than we had planned. Three hours later, we still had not found our destination and in fact we ended up back in Chiba. So we decided to take a train to get to the destination. It took another 2 hours for us to get to our destination and we finally arrived there around 1 pm. It was a very embarrassing situation and was a crazy experience. I had a navigation system which switched the destination about a half way through our trip and we returned back to Chiba as the result. And as I can’t read any of the Kanji or the map in Japanese, I was listening to the Japanese navigator. The navigator kept us on track; however, as we hit the navigation system a couple of times it reversed our route and it took some time before we realized that we were going wrong way! This is one of those things that happen when we are talking and having as much fun as possible at the same time. I’m trying to have fun as much as I can and I hope that everyone is doing the same!

I have been reading both American player blogs and I believe that CJ will adjust better and will fit in more easily. I will explain why I think this after some brief background.

Back when CJ was a young pitcher with Detroit, I used to correspond with him (via e-mail) and he was a pretty cool guy. Signed stuff for anyone who asked (including me), answered any reasonable question online, and really took time to care for his fans. He used to put videos of road stadiums and clubhouses online too, which was a really cool feature at the time. (Remember, this was late '90s and Net video was not at all prevalent like today.)

As you may know, somewhere his career got derailed and he bounced all over the majors as a left-handed specialist. (I suggest that if he was a RHP he would have been gone from baseball a long time ago. But I digress.)

Suddenly one day his life took a turn when he relayed a story about how his young son nearly drowned in the family pool, CJ saved his life, and he (CJ) decided to turn his life toward Christianity. Now, I am not at all religious (or Christian) and suddenly one of my favorite websites became filled with all of this stuff that completely disinterested me. Cool articles - gone. Pictures - gone. Videos - gone.

Well, I too was gone. Disinterested in his career or life. So I basically lost track of him. He even pitched for both area teams and I didn't care.

Fast forward to this year and I see he signs with Softbank and is writing a blog. Since I follow them, I suppose I can say I'm interested again, at least in his performance and what he has to say about the experience.

That said, I think he'll do well for a few reasons, if, as someone suggested, the public religion stuff doesn't hamstring him.

First off, he seemed like a pretty intelligent guy when I used to "talk" with him. Not a bookworm, just a guy who was aware of the world and knew what to say (and not to say) to people. Had a lot of friends in the US clubhouses.

Secondly, for most of his career he has bounced around (majors and minors) and has needed to adjust to new people, cities, and situations constantly. I think he said he's been with 11 teams so far. So change has been constant in his life. So Fukuoka must not feel that different, because he has barely had time to put down roots anywhere.

Finally, and most importantly, he seems willing to really want to learn the Japanese language and culture. He is bringing his family over, shopping, driving, and taking language lessons. In today's entry he admits that he is not completely used to all foods but is getting there. I think he'll do all right.

Good luck to him. For his sake I hope it works out. Maybe we can even get him to read this site so he can familiarize himself with some of the players he'll be facing this season. One can hope.

Very impressed with CJ's blog. He seems more educated and respectful than JJ in what he writes about his experiences in Japan. JJ writes like he's a kid in Disneyland and why is he having so many "off" days? Maybe he just hasn't got what it takes anymore!

- JJ writes like he's a kid in Disneyland and why is he having so many "off" days? Maybe he just hasn't got what it takes anymore!


That's because Johnson is out with elbow inflammation and had to return to the States for surgery.

Does this mean he will not be back to play in Japan?

I understand Johnson had tendinitis in his elbow and was sent to the States for a MRI. The Lions sent him there to be checked out and to rehab in Tampa. I hear he could be back in Japan late next week.

I just saw an article in a Tampa newspaper about MLB ballplayers rehabbing at a complex there. Jason Johnson was mentioned as a member of the Lions in Japan. He said he was feeling much better and is throwing off the mound and should be back to full strength in 7 to 10 days and expects to be back in Japan soon after that.

Any more news on Jason Johnson? I saw someone say he has a blog out. Can anyone give me the address for his blog? I was his high school coach and I am trying to stay up to date on him. Thanks.

Here's his blog. He hasn't not updated it since he went on the DL. I understand he is headed back to Japan on May 23rd. I read he is ready and will start soon after he gets there.

Looks like Johnson's back in Japan, I just read his updated Blog. I guess he will make a couple rehab starts in the minors before joining the Lions.

Sorry, I keep updating his progress in this other thread.

I normally believe in coincidence, though it is strange that the Lion have not lost since Johnson's return.

He didn't even win the game he pitched, although he only gave up one run over 7 innings. I do hope this trend continues. They are now in 4th place after being in last and moved up 4 1/2 games.