Minor Expansion and the Baseball Business
Discussion in the NPB News forum
Comments
Re: Minor Expansion and the Baseball Business
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Jan 25, 2007 5:34 PM
| YBS Fan
]
This week's Shukan Baseball has the results of a poll they took a few weeks ago. The question was:
Do you plan on playing more attention to the Majors than Japanese baseball?
467 readers replied with the overwhelming majority (403) saying No!, compared to 64 saying yes.
It seems to me that there are a number of reporters who seem to focus on MLB more than NPB, and thereby reach the conclusion that the whole country is more focused on MLB. But I have a hard time believing that. Even the chatter at the barber the last time I was there was focused on the BayStars' moves this off season (and this by the barber who usually likes to talk about J-League and Hideki Matsui).
Do you plan on playing more attention to the Majors than Japanese baseball?
467 readers replied with the overwhelming majority (403) saying No!, compared to 64 saying yes.
It seems to me that there are a number of reporters who seem to focus on MLB more than NPB, and thereby reach the conclusion that the whole country is more focused on MLB. But I have a hard time believing that. Even the chatter at the barber the last time I was there was focused on the BayStars' moves this off season (and this by the barber who usually likes to talk about J-League and Hideki Matsui).
Re: Minor Expansion and the Baseball Business
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Jan 25, 2007 9:07 PM
| HAN Fan
]
Interest in MLB, whilst it does exist, is a minor pursuit and you can get a mistaken impression of this from the press. Certainly NHK does show MLB games, but these mainly involve Japanese stars and are shown on the BS satellite channels. Not so many people have BS compatible televisions. Most people who have cable use it to watch soccer (the Premiership, Serie A, and Spanish League are particular favorites).
Re: Minor Expansion and the Baseball Business
[ Author: BigManZam | Posted: Jan 26, 2007 12:07 AM
| CLM Fan
]
From what I can tell, the fans are loyal to NPB and can't stand the fact that so many players are asking to be posted. Norichika Aoki got a ton of backlash on the Yahoo Japan boards for asking to be posted after only two full seasons.
Re: Minor Expansion and the Baseball Business
[ Author: Kiyoshi | Posted: Jan 26, 2007 1:44 AM
| HAN Fan
]
The success of Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese players in MLB and the WBC actually has heightened the awareness level and appreciation of Asians of their leagues. In the past, Americans who played in Japan had difficulty finding a MLB job upon their return to North America. Usually they were given AAA or MLB bench positions.
A new trend is happening with Japanese who are returning to Japan after a stint in MLB. Many of these Japanese players don't have an automatic job waiting for them despite their MLB experience. Possibly, some of this is a result of "backlash" by the NPB establishment for disloyalty. But, the other possibility is that if a player is no longer of use in America, NPB teams may question a player's ability to contribute to a NPB team.
A new trend is happening with Japanese who are returning to Japan after a stint in MLB. Many of these Japanese players don't have an automatic job waiting for them despite their MLB experience. Possibly, some of this is a result of "backlash" by the NPB establishment for disloyalty. But, the other possibility is that if a player is no longer of use in America, NPB teams may question a player's ability to contribute to a NPB team.
Re: Minor Expansion and the Baseball Business
[ Author: Deanna | Posted: Jan 26, 2007 8:56 AM
| NIP Fan
]
Really? I thought the Yakult Swallows welcome all ex-MLB Japanese players back with open arms. 
I think it really depends on the player. The great thing about signing an ex-MLB Japanese player is that you get a player with MLB experience without it counting against the gaijin roster limits. Some of these guys are coming back and could still contribute to an NPB team just fine; some of them might be legitimately washed up. I guess it's also a matter of whether they insist on returning to their former team or don't mind going elsewhere. Shinjo's role in getting the Fighters settled in Sapporo these last few years was pretty tremendous, for example.
Anyway, yeah, I've seen Bobby V's comments on this a bunch. What I think would be interesting is if the NPB teams would somehow get involved with the independent leagues that are springing up - the Shikoku Island League, and the new Hokushinetsu League, and see if they could work on some player development that way. It would give more credibility to the indy leagues and help the players for the top leagues.
I think it really depends on the player. The great thing about signing an ex-MLB Japanese player is that you get a player with MLB experience without it counting against the gaijin roster limits. Some of these guys are coming back and could still contribute to an NPB team just fine; some of them might be legitimately washed up. I guess it's also a matter of whether they insist on returning to their former team or don't mind going elsewhere. Shinjo's role in getting the Fighters settled in Sapporo these last few years was pretty tremendous, for example.
Anyway, yeah, I've seen Bobby V's comments on this a bunch. What I think would be interesting is if the NPB teams would somehow get involved with the independent leagues that are springing up - the Shikoku Island League, and the new Hokushinetsu League, and see if they could work on some player development that way. It would give more credibility to the indy leagues and help the players for the top leagues.
Re: Minor Expansion and the Baseball Business
[ Author: Jbroks86 | Posted: Jan 26, 2007 12:19 PM
| SFT Fan
]
Yeah, NPB needs more minor leagues and needs to get involved with independent leagues all around Japan.
Further, they need to reform the draft and commit to the extra minor league levels before committing to further development. However, the league refuses to understand they need a larger pool for extra talent. With more minor league teams and leagues, that would make it possible for a larger draft. The season they have for ni-gun is way too short for the development for catchers and infielders as Valentine pointed out.
Further, they need to reform the draft and commit to the extra minor league levels before committing to further development. However, the league refuses to understand they need a larger pool for extra talent. With more minor league teams and leagues, that would make it possible for a larger draft. The season they have for ni-gun is way too short for the development for catchers and infielders as Valentine pointed out.
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Pull quote regarding the minor league system:Bobby isn't thinking short term in his draft picks, trying to claim talent for the sole purpose of denying it to the competition (like the Giants often do). He's thinking long term development, and drafting someone who wouldn't get any playing time to develop would be a disservice to everyone involved.
Valentine-kantoku proposed sponsor funded leagues to act as minor leagues, yet the market is actually doing just that with the start of the Shikoku Island League and a new league in the Tohoku region. Small steps, to be sure, but steps in the right direction.
Allen-san also mentioned that the trickle of talent going to the Majors has increased to a torrent. However, I don't see that yet. This may have been a higher year for postings than others, but the levies are still holding.
Regarding the business of baseball, Jim wrote:As you can see, Softbank's marketing executive agrees with our Christopher (and everybody else) that NPB teams could do a great deal more to market themselves, yet they don't.
On the flip side, MLB has greatly increased their profits by working together, a concept that the Japanese teams don't seem to be able to grasp.