Shinjo at Koshien

The Japan Times had a picture today, but I'm not sure where to get any video footage.

Here's a picture from Yahoo! Sports (Mainichi Shinbun).

Entertaining, as always. But as a pro athlete, he might've gone overboard. Then again, this the age of free agency.

- ... he might've gone overboard.

Yes, that was the view of his club [Mainichi Daily News - in English].

Actually, the Central League. Shinjo got permission from the Tigers front office and possibly his own club for the stunt. It was certainly a popular stunt.

- ...got permission from the Tigers front office and possibly his own club

Are you sure about that? John Gibson of the Daily Yomiuri seems to think he received a warning from his team.

Maybe he did receive a warning from his own team as a result of the Central League's warning. I seem to recall earlier articles stating that both teams didn't mind and it was the officials who were annoyed. This is why I qualified my comments with a "possibly."

This article from the Kyodo News [via Japan Ball] also says that Nippon Ham Fighters' GM Shigeru Takada says he doesn't think fans are upset with what Shinjo is doing.

Now, the same official is complaining about Shinjo's collared undershirts. I mean, how much can one official complain about such cyncial things? I understand if maybe they worth even complaining about, but these reasons are just plain absurd. Shinjo, well, as we all know is Shinjo, and will always act like this. There was no harm in wearing a Hanshin jersey, and even less in wearing collared undershirts.

Good job to Shinjo to ingoring Maekawa so far about the collared undershirts, as it's just plain absurd. What next?

I wouldn't have been pleased if I was a fan of the Fighters.

I was just imagining what would happen if a Swallows player pulled the same trick. Say, if (ex-Giants pitcher) Kida, in his last year before retirement decided to warm up in a Giants uniform in his last game at Tokyo Dome. He'd probably be killed in a hail of megaphones and green umbrellas!

In my eyes it shows a gross lack of respect for his current team.

I am a fan of the Fighters, but I accepted long ago that Shinjo is a complete nutcase, so stuff like this doesn't bug me. I kind of expect him to keep pushing the limits of what he can get away with in his "retirement" year, sort of like high school kids with "senioritis" who try to bend the rules.

It's funny, but in some ways I appreciate that he's their designated court jester for the media circus, which lets the rest of the team keep their mind on the game!

- but in some ways I appreciate that he's their designated court jester for the media circus, which lets the rest of the team keep their mind on the game!

Well if that is the case, then he's doing a good job at the moment with you guys flying high!

I guess you're just a lot more understanding than myself.