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Batters could be fooled by the unique motion of Indians' Kobayashi
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Masa Kobayashi was one of 14 pitchers who threw bullpen sessions Saturday at Chain O'Lakes Park. Talk about major news. An international gathering of media — top heavy with print and electronic reporters from Japan — watched the newest Indians reliever confound observers with a windup that includes a leg kick worthy of the Rockettes.
That doesn't end the quirkiness. Kobayashi lifts his hands but never brings them together at the top of his delivery, keeping his glove almost in front of his right hand as if to hide the ball.
First reaction: Big-league hitters might find it difficult to pick up his pitches.
Victor Martinez, catching Kobayashi, said: ''His windup is kind of funny. When you face a pitcher like him, you get a little anxious, because you have to wait and wait and wait for him to release the ball.''
Pitching coach Carl Willis thinks that Kobayashi's delivery will deceive batters, but for how long?
''It's different,'' he said of the windup. ''It catches your eye. The thing is, when they see him for a while, will they be able to pick the ball up?''
When it was Kobayashi's turn to address the media, the whole question of his unconventional delivery became moot.
''I use that to check the angles for my delivery,'' he said through his interpreter, Toshi Nagahara. ''I pitch from the stretch.''
The misunderstanding highlighted an obvious problem: communication. The Indians signed the veteran closer — one of three relievers in the history of Japanese professional baseball with 200 or more saves — to a two-year contract worth $6.25 million plus an option for 2010.
For that kind of cash, the first thing team officials want to be assured of is that they can understand Kobayashi and that he can understand them. Enter Nagahara, whose official title is assistant athletic trainer and translator.
Nagahara will not be permitted to sit in the dugout or the bullpen. He will stand in the runway behind the dugout, ready to spit out the appropriate
Japanese phrase to Willis or manager Eric Wedge if an emergency arises.
''We've been through this with Kaz Tadano,'' Willis said. ''It works better if I can actually say words in Japanese. I remember one time I wanted to tell him to stay over the rubber and asked (the translator) for the words. When I said it to Tadano, his eyes lit up.''
On the other hand, there is a universal language of baseball.
''The language of baseball is something we all understand,'' Willis said. ''It's surprising how much he understands already.''
Kobayashi recognizes that there are language hurdles to overcome.
''It will take time to get used to communicating with the catcher,'' he said. ''Spring training is a good time to do that. I am hoping we will be OK by the time the season starts.''
Martinez will try to learn key words in Japanese.
''I went to Japan when I was 11, representing Venezuela in the world tournament,'' Martinez said. ''I went again in 2004 for the All-Star tour, but I just speak a couple of words.''
And what is the extent of Martinez's Japanese vocabulary?
''Have a good day and good morning,'' Martinez said, mouthing the words in Japanese before translating. ''By the end of the season, I might learn three or four more,'' he said with a laugh.
Like practically every other newcomer to the majors, nobody is quite sure what kind of impact Kobayashi will have.
It was only Kobayashi's first spring outing, but Martinez gushed: ''The ball jumps out of his hand. He has three good pitches; he can throw them all for strikes. It's going to be fun catching him.''
Kobayashi throws a two- and four-seam fastball, a slider that is said to be his best pitch and a split.
''His fastball is 88-93 (mph) with that slider,'' Willis said. ''He shows the split, which is a good pitch when it's on. But he can have some inconsistency with it.''
Kobayashi's routine in Japan varies from the usual American spring training regimen.
''I want him to do what he's always done, even if it's different from what we do,'' Willis said. ''He is used to throwing three days in a row, then taking a day off. Our pitchers throw every other day. But there probably is going to come a day when I say to him, 'Don't throw today.' ''
Kobayashi threw 50 pitches Saturday, then ran. He seemed to labor doing sprints, and at the end, he raised his hands as if to indicate that he was glad the ordeal was over.
''I am not good at running,'' he said. ''And I probably was a little tired after throwing.''
Finding his groove on the mound is one challenge; navigating his way through a strange culture is another.
''It feels comfortable here,'' he said. ''It's more laid back. In Tokyo, people are in a hurry all the time. It's more stressful.''
Asked what he finds most unusual about his new environment, Kobayashi said: ''I like to go to Wal-Mart. The size of the store surprises me. There are so many things there.''
New bodies
Martinez isn't the only Tribe player who lost weight over the winter.
C.C. Sabathia dropped 10 pounds (''That doesn't make much difference with me,'' he said.), and Ryan Garko came to camp slimmer and in better shape.
''He looks great,'' Wedge said. ''This was something we talked to him about, but he was on it even before we talked to him.
''He's stronger and more agile. Now, he has to maintain it.''
Off duty
Garko is a former catcher and still holds the title of ''Emergency No. 3 Catcher'' with the Indians. But he no longer will warm up pitchers in spring training.
''Garko won't be catching bullpens,'' Wedge said of his everyday first baseman. ''He's been doing it all his life, but we don't want to risk injury by catching bullpens.''
Enough, already
Kobayashi was asked how he felt about dealing with more than a dozen Japanese media members on Saturday.
''I hope that it's just today,'' he said.
What to expect
Shin-Soo Choo and Tony Sipp both are coming off Tommy John elbow surgery and won't be ready to start the season on time.
But Choo should be able to play the outfield sometime in May and will be the designated hitter in spring exhibition games. Sipp, a minor-league reliever, will throw in spring training, but his reconstructed elbow probably will prevent any possible call to the big leagues until July.
Still delayed
Jorge Julio remains trapped in Venezuela waiting for his work visa.
''We're still taking it day by day,'' said Wedge, who has no idea when the reliever will arrive in Winter Haven.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Masa Kobayashi was one of 14 pitchers who threw bullpen sessions Saturday at Chain O'Lakes Park. Talk about major news. An international gathering of media — top heavy with print and electronic reporters from Japan — watched the newest Indians reliever confound observers with a windup that includes a leg kick worthy of the Rockettes.
Get the full article here.
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