This is a site about Pro Yakyu (Japanese Baseball), not about who the next player to go over to MLB is. It's a community of Pro Yakyu fans who have come together to share their knowledge and opinions with the world. It's a place to follow teams and individuals playing baseball in Japan (and Asia), and to learn about Japanese (and Asian) culture through baseball.
It is my sincere hope that once you learn a bit about what we're about here that you will join the community of contributors.
Michael Westbay
(aka westbaystars)
Founder
However, this is Mayumi land and the logical candidate to step in and take over the catching duties is not to be considered. Mayumi is talking in terms of using Komiyama and Okazaki as replacement catchers. Okazaki was alarmingly industrial league quality as catcher when he played and Komiyama demonstrated that he too is not ready for the first team. Quite frankly this obsession with turning Kanoh into an outfielder needs to be abandoned and he should start the season as catcher. If Tigers really do need another outfielder they should go all out to get Uchikawa (they should do that anyway) as his bat is going to be needed with Johjima sidelined. The Johjima injury need not be a crisis but the way Mayumi seems to be managing it, it already is.