Atsunori Inaba to Jump to MLB?

There are reports the Phillies are interested in Inaba, though the Phillies are yet to have made an offer. [Link - The Japan Times]

Sorry to get off the Inaba topic, but could I digress to ask a question about Shinjo?

Am I the only person who thinks Shinjo's time in the MLB was not a failure? It was my impression that he left Hanshin and headed for New York not to set the MLB on fire, but to learn - isn't that why he took a major pay cut to go? Now he's back in Japan with the Fightin' Hams after his stint at "school" in the USA.

Maybe I have different standards to others, but it doesn't strike me as failure.

No, torakichi, you're not the only one. I think he's now a bigger star than when he left for the States. He's certainly an integral part of the Fighters' lineup, and his stint in the MLB must have helped him grow as a player.

I credit Shinjo's "success" (to the extent it was) in MLB as the main reason others like Taguchi tried. Ichiro's success wouldn't mean anything to anyone else, he was so far beyond human. But Shinjo going and playing as much as he did was much more inspiring to the "average" NPB player, letting them know that they do have a chance to make it in MLB.

Shinjo had a good first year in the Majors, but went downhill fast. I think he spent more time working on his wardrobe than his swing after year one, with predictable results. Then he came back a celebrity peacock, and I guess he was able to cash in on his new fame.

But I don't think he really improved much as a ball player. It was just a route to fame as far as he was concerned. He has even said that he doesn't want to play baseball for much longer, he wants to be a celebrity instead.

- But I don't think he really improved much as a ball player.

It's pretty apparent Shinjo improved as a ball player after playing in the majors. Shinjo batted .298 with 24 HR and 79 RBI, is a fan favorite in Japan, and correct me if I'm wrong didn't Shinjo make the All Star team in 2004? Shinjo won a Gold Glove and made the Best Nine in '04. Shinjo's major league experience has definetly helped him become a better ball player.

[See also his profile page for an idea of how much he improved before and after.]

I broke down and decided to register. (I am the same former guest Tim).

I hadn't been aware of Shinjo's performance since returning, I was judging by his three-year decline in the majors.

His 2004 numbers certainly look better than anything he did previously in Japan. But I wonder if any of that might also be attributable to his new team? He had played with Hanshin at Koshien, and in the Central League, and now he is with Nippon Ham in Hokkaido and in the Pacific League. Does that make any difference?

He was a star long before he went to the US.

Shinjo was a major failure. After waltzing to the Giants like a celebrity, he choked worse than a rookie porn star. Having watched him stink up the Series attempts he was given, and his attempt at being Hollywood, it was a laugh.

His fall from grace with the Mets and then Tidewater was not in his plan. Do you think the Japanese stars who made it here came to train? I don't think so.

So maybe you are the only person feeling this way. You are entitled to your opinion, and I hope he does well with the Hams. What is he batting now there anyways?

Peace.

Ouch! You're being a little tough on Shinjo-san.

He was an average ballplayer in the MLB. That is saying a lot compared to the hundreds of minor leaguers who don't make it.

Shinjo-san was known in Japan, but with his middling batting average, he was no star. He was and is a defensive specialist. He played good defense in MLB and showed a strong arm. He didn't hit much worse in MLB than he did in NPB.

I'm sure he learned a few things in MLB. Certainly he learned confidence, because he faced some of the top pitchers. He was a character for sure, but he did not embarass himself at the plate or in the field.

I'm glad for him that he is doing well back home.

- Shinjo-san was known in Japan, but with his middling batting average, he was no star.

That's completely incorrect. He was (and still is) a star, certainly in the Kansai region - a marquee player if you will. People came to see him play and his autograph was keenly sought after. Newspapers put huge photos of him on their back pages. Magazines devoted entire articles to him. He was a regular on TV programs - even those that had nothing to do with sports. The Tigers probably promoted him more than any other player on the roster. And young girls used to swoon in his presence. If that's not being a star, what is?

When I brought Shinjo up in the Inaba posting I wasn't intending to slam Shinjo. My point was Shinjo came over here after putting up respectable numbers in Japan. Now it seems like you read everyday that mediocre players from Japan are contemplating coming over. The Major Leagues are no walk in the park. To be perfectly honest, Shinjo was, and still is one of my favorite players in baseball!

- [...] wasn't intending to slam Shinjo. My point was Shinjo came over here after putting up respectable numbers in Japan. Now it seems like you read everyday that mediocre players from Japan are contemplating coming over.

Except that Inaba's numbers are more respectable than Shinjo's. Yes, neither is MLB-regular quality, but I don't see how one can argue that Shinjo was respectable while Inaba mediocre:

Shinjo in NPB .254/.432/.309
Inaba in NPB .284/.457/.339

I guess my point was that these guys didn't "conquer" NPB by any means, so why would they leave? It's not like the Japanese leagues got to be too easy for them! Wouldn't they much rather play everyday in Japan where they know the language and lifestyle than to come over here and more than likely sit the bench?

Just a perspective. If they are up for it, then I think by all means they should go for it.

Of course he is not a Failure! Actually, at the end of 2003 he still got a chance to go back to MLB because a few teams were still interest him. So that is showing that he is still "fine." And I don't think that his going back to Japan is a "credit" for him because what he can show is in Japan!

I was never a Shinjo fan when I saw him play for the Tigers prior to going to the major leagues. He was a career .249 hitter when he went to America. I always thought he was an under-achiever. He showed some ability, but I always thought he cruised a bit at times and seemed more interested in celebrity than performance.

I saw Inaba play for 6 seasons. I think he's an average, maybe above average, Japanese player. He filled a valuable role on the Swallows, but he always seemed to show more potential than results. I don't see him being extremely successful in the majors. I think he'll be a role player at best, like Taguchi has been with the Cardinals.

The Fighters have approached Inaba with a contract offer. [Link - Japan Ball]

According to Kyodo via the Japan Today web site [Link], Inaba has told Yakult that he will not sign with them, leaving Nippon Ham unless some major league team makes an offer.

It's getting pretty close to the start of spring training, and I haven't heard any news about Inaba. Has anyone heard anything?

This week's Shukan Baseball has a two page special on the four Japanese crossing the Pacific this year. They have Iguchi to the White Sox, Denny to the Red Sox, Nakamura to the Dodgers, and Inaba to the ????.

The 33 year old out fielder has been saying that he's only interested in moving to the Majors. That is, until January 18 when he said that if he doesn't get any offeres, he'll consider moving to Hokkaido. He's set February 10 as the approximate deadline for when he'll decide.

February 10 has come, is there any news on where Inaba plans to play this year?

I was thinking the same thing, so I used the Google News search function to search for the latest news on Inaba. I found this article from Jiji on the Mainichi Shimbun site (in Japanese). Dated at 18:51 on the 10th, it says that Inaba is going back to the U.S. on Febuary 14 to "take a test to join a team." He said he could not specify the team or the date and time of the test. He did say that he wants to take the test as soon as possible, because if the test doesn't work out, then he wants to go join Nippon Ham at spring training camp.

I guess it's looking like no MLB team wants him very much, even as an NRI. Considering that he is an outfielder, most MLB teams expect their outfielders to bring a big bat. Considering that Inaba hit .265 with 18 homers, 45 RBI, and had 6 stolen bases last year, even if we give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he could maintain that exact same level in the major leagues, I don't think many teams would have a place for him at the major league level.

The Japan Today web site had an article by Kyodo about Inaba this morning. [Link] Apparantly he still hasn't gotten an offer from an MLB team.

Baseball sources said Monday that Inaba plans to sign with the Nippon Ham Fighters. Inaba and the Fighters agreed to a 1 year deal. [Link - Japan Ball]

Inaba is all the Fighters need to secure at least the third spot for the playoffs. Now all the Fighters needs to do is beat the Hawks and then they will be NPB Champs.