Negoro-Commissioner Retires

As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Negoro-commissioner was to retire without a replacement yet found. So Negoro-san is retired as of today (February 1, 2007), but will continue to work as the substitute commissioner until someone is found. (So he goes from being a figurehead to the representative of a non-existent figurehead. Does that give him more or less power to do anything?)

Nikkan Sports reports that Negoro-san will continue working on the incomplete revisions to the Baseball Agreement. With a fresh enthusiasm, Negoro commented, "When thinking about the future of baseball, unless the organization is first set, it cannot respond to emergencies. We're in the second and third phases of the draft reformation and dealing with the free agency problem. I would like to complete making this organization."

It does look like Negoro-san has grown a spine now that he's retired. On top of his comment that Pro Yakyu needed to be more transparent at the beginning of January, now he says:

The baseball world has been guided by the strong ownership of the Giants up until now. However, in the current baseball world, "power" cannot pull the organization. It is with "reason" and "footwork" that should help to unite the baseball world.

Going from the proposed restructuring and strike in his first year as commissioner to winning the WBC in his last, Negoro describes his three years as "rainy," "cloudy," and "clear."