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Irabu Retires

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Irabu Retires
SanSpo reports today that Hideki Irabu has decided to retire. After being released by Hanshin in the off season, Irabu told the club in early March that he intended to call it quits, and asked that they, as the team he was last with, put on a press conference in the MLB style. Hanshin agreed but they couldn't agree on a schedule, so the retirement was "announced" in a throw-away comment by Hanshin manager Akinobu Okada.

According to SanSpo, Irabu headed to the U.S. on April 4 to begin a "second life." "Fat toad" or not, the guy played an important part in Hanshin becoming 2003 Ce-League champions. Good luck to him.
Comments
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Apr 7, 2005 4:52 PM | HAN Fan ]

Irabu's career with the Tigers was really finished last year and he knew then that he wasn't going to be with the club this year. Club officials made that perfectly clear to the press around June last year. His inability to keep in shape coupled with his fading abilities (and in his prime he was an awesome pitcher) really sealed his fate.
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Guest: John Brooks | Posted: Apr 8, 2005 1:55 AM ]

- According to SanSpo, Irabu headed to the U.S. on April 4 to begin a "second life."

What does it mean by Irabu headed to the U.S. to begin a second life?
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Apr 8, 2005 9:31 AM ]

Let's not take everything so literally. I'm assuming it just means life after baseball.
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Guest: John Brooks | Posted: Apr 8, 2005 10:47 AM ]

- Let's not take everything so literally. I'm assuming it just means life after baseball.

I'm not taking it literally. I'm just wondering what it meant by he headed to the U.S. to begin a "second life." I was wondering if it meant he did move to LA or whatever the article stated.
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Guest: garceman | Posted: Apr 20, 2005 4:39 AM ]

I was wondering if Mr. Irabu would be interested in playing for the Japan Samurai Bears of the Golden Baseball League. They need pitching.
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Guest: Gary Garland | Posted: Apr 20, 2005 7:15 PM ]

Irabu's knees are shot. I don't think he'll be able to pitch at any level even if he wanted to. He has permanent residency status in the U.S. and has a house in L.A., where he lives with his wife and daughter. He also co-owns the Elmira Pioneers.
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Sumo fan | Posted: Apr 15, 2005 2:35 PM ]

You're right. Sumo wrestlers like Irabu make more money in Japan than in the United States. Moreover, I can't imagine what in the U.S. makes that country more appealing to him as a place to live than his native Japan. Juicy table dancers? Breast implants? G-strings? Juicy, plate-sized, inexpensive steaks? Chilled cases of beer at the local beer distributor? The Entenmann's rack at Piggy Wiggly's? McDonald's open 24 hours? "May I supersize that for you, Mr. Irabu?"
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Sara B | Posted: Apr 16, 2005 9:49 PM | HT Fan ]

Pretty harsh statement, above. When I lived in New York I saw some of Irabu's worst outings and felt badly for him. So I was happy to see him make a fine contribution to the Tigers after returning to Japan. Let's give him a round of applause for that and spare the cheap fat jokes - easy enough to do. He's retired, let it go.
Re: Irabu Retires
[ Author: Guest: solebrown | Posted: Apr 22, 2005 12:47 AM ]

It's good that he finally retired, has nothing prove, and was able to assist in winning a championship in both MLB/NPB.
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