Former Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has signed a one-year deal with the Seibu Lions. The 40-year old returned to the old nest last season, the first time since he was posted back in 2006. Last season, Dice-K, how the former Red Sox ace was called by Red Sox nation, didn't play an official game …
Baseball Related Songs: “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
In today's episode of Baseball Related Songs we pay attention to one of the greatest hits of the rock band Bon Jovi: Livin' on a Prayer. The song "Livin' on a Prayer was released on October 31, 1986. It was part of Bon Jovi's album "Slippery When Wet." The album itself was released in August of …
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Reigning Central League MVP tests positive on corona
Since the announcement by the NPB to start the season on June 19, the NPB players have been training again. Since yesterday, June 2nd, the teams are playing practice games again but behind closed doors. But after just one day of practice games, two players have been tested positive on COVID19. Reigning Central League MVP …
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Softbank Hawks advance to Nippon Series to face the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Central League) and the Softbank Hawks (Pacific League) will face each other in the 2018 Nippon Series. The Carp swept the Yomiuri Giants 4-0 to advance and today, the Hawks clinched a Nippon Series spot by beating the Seibu Lions 6-5. As usual, the winner of the regular season in each …
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Van den Hurk highly ineffective today
In today's 12-6 loss, Rick van den Hurk had an enormous off day. The tall Dutch pitcher was responsible for a big chunk of the runs the Seibu Lions scored. After Rick worked his way through the first two innings without giving up a run, things went wrong in the third frame as he gave …
Van den Hurk loses first 2018 start due to lack of run support
In his first start of the 2018 NPB season, Rick van den Hurk pitched a good game. Nevertheless, he took the loss as he did not get enough run support from his teammates as the Softbank Hawks fell 2-1 against the Saitama Seibu Lions. In the first inning, the Dutch righthander already gave up a …
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Softbank Hawks clinch Pacific League title
Today the Softbank Hawks clinched the Pacific League title by beating the Seibu Lions 7-3. By winning the Pacific League, the Hawks will have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. As the Softbank Hawks beat the Seibu Lions, the latter team was eliminated from clinching the Pacific League. The Hawks started the …
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Two-hitter for Rick van den Hurk
Another superb outing for Rick van den Hurk. The tall Dutchman of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks pitched a two-hitter over seven innings. Rick got plenty of run support, so he earned his twelfth win of the season. Today, Rick dominated the Seibu Lions' lineup as he cruised through seven innings as his pitches topped 93 …
Rick van den Hurk clinches 8th win, loses no-hit bid in 6th
Today, the Softbank Hawks beat the Seibu Lions 3-1 and handed their Dutch starter, Rick van den Hurk, his eighth win of the season. Rick took a no-hitter into the sixth inning but a solo home run ended his no-hit bid. Rick was perfect in the first three frames but gave up a walk to …
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NPB, KBO and CPBL meet for new international tournament
According to m.appledaily.com.tw the CPBL, KBO and NPB want to organize a new post season tournament between the winners of each of those leagues. This tournament would replace the defunct Asia Series. The three leagues have planned a new tournament in November 2017 with four participants. Question is who will be the fourth particpant. Will …
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No-decision for Van den Hurk: doesn’t extend his record yet.
Rick van den Hurk started today's game vs the Seibu Lions. In an attempt to clinch his eighth victory of the season. Rick pitched five innings in which he needed 104 pitches to get a total of six strikeouts and three walks. After the fifth Rick handed over a one run lead but eventually got the …
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Sadaharu Oh loses another record
After losing the homerun season record to Curacao native Wladimir Balentien iwho broke the record by five homeruns in 2013, which set the mark on 60, Sadaharu Oh was surpassed by Takeya Nakamura who hit his sixteenth grand slam of his career which put him in sole posession of the list of career grand slams. In …
Promotions and demotion of Rick Van den Hurk from a Dutch point of view
Four weeks ago, the news was spread that Rick van den Hurk would be promoted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, the defending champions of the NPB. You may understand that the Dutch baseball community was very excited. I found the news on Twitter and published it on my blog. It took several days before the …
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Rick van den Hurk gets no-decision in first start after call up
A day after his call up, Rick van den Hurk started vs the Seibu Lions of the Central League. Rick was flat out dominating in the first four innings striking out six and he took a 1-0 lead (solo homerun by Yuki Yanagita) into the fifth inning. But in the fifth the Lions tied the …
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Rick van den Hurk likely to start in July 2 game for Hawks
Several newspapers in Japan are stating that Rick van den Hurk may start the NPB game of July 2nd for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks vs the Seibu Lions. In the last few days, Rick took part in the pitcher practice in Saitozaki training camp. According to sources, Jason Standridge will be pulled from the roster the …
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Japan All-Star Series, game three: Four Japanese pitchers combine for no-hitter
A great performance by the Samurai Japan team. Jeremy Guthrie pitched five innings for the MLB All-Stars. In those five innings he allowed four runs on five hits (two homeruns). Guthrie struck out three and walked two. After a 1-2-3 first inning, he gave up a two run homerun to Hayato Sakamoto of the Yomiuri …
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