Adam Jones signs 2-year deal with Orix Buffaloes

[DrungoHazewood]

1 minute ago, Aglets said:

According to baseball-ref each team is allowed up to 4.   But only 3 can be position players or pitchers.

The other one is... a goalie?  Place kicker?  

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, DrungoHazewood said:

The other one is... a goalie?  Place kicker?  

Managers and coaches used to count against the limit, maybe they still do.

I suddenly want a youtube channel of Wayne Kirby in Japan.

[Aglets]

I took it to mean you just couldn't have all 4 be the same.  If you have 3 of one you have to have the 4th player be the other.   

[bpilktree]

He didn't want to move family to Philly at the deadline because of changing up their routine  now going move them to Japan with a different language and culture.  ok

[MurphDogg]

4 minutes ago, bpilktree said:

He didn't want to move family to Philly at the deadline because of changing up their routine  now going move them to Japan with a different language and culture.  ok

Easier to change routines and plan for a couple years than for two months. This is a multi-year contract, stability is a selling point.

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, MurphDogg said:

Easier to change routines and plan for a couple years than for two months. This is a multi-year contract, stability is a selling point.

I'd rather go to Japan than Philly.

[wildbillhiccup]

1 hour ago, Aristotelian said:

I went in June. Caught a Yakult Swallows game in Tokyo (actually vs Oryx). Nori Aoki was celebrating some milestone before the game but I could not tell what they were saying. My wife was the one who wanted to go to Japan. Catching a game there was literally my only request for the itinerary but she was delighted to oblige.

That sounds like a great time. I've been eyeing that Hiroshima tee on this website for awhile. https://www.ebbets.com/collections/shirts/league_japanese-baseball

[spiritof66]

Orix finished sixth and last in the Pacific League last year, but did lead all of NPB with 7 ties. (Makes me think there may be a few rule differences.)

http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2019/standings/

It would be interesting for the Orioles and Buffs to swap teams for this season. 

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, spiritof66 said:

Orix finished sixth and last in the Pacific League last year, but did lead all of NPB with 7 ties. (Makes me think there may be a few rule differences.)

http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2019/standings/

It would be interesting for the Orioles and Buffs to swap teams for this season. 

I'm sure the Brothers Angelos would love to.  Looks like the payroll for 2019 was ~20M.

[weams]

1 hour ago, Moose Milligan said:

Looks like the Orix Buffaloes could pick up a lot of fans in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

MASN would do well to acquire their US broadcast rights. 

[Frobby]

2 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

And it's only right across the bay from San Diego!

A mere 5600 miles.

[sammyt]

So glad to see that Jones chose the Buffalos and not a soulless team like the Giants!   They are a classy and fun team with a tradition of interesting foreign players.     They split their games between the Osaka dome and the outdoor park in Kobe (maybe 30 miles away).    The park in Kobe is an ideal spot to watch a game for those of you who are ever a threat to visit and Kobe is one of the nicest cities in Japan.    Used to watch Ichiro there when he was with the Oryx Blue Wave.   

Back in 1990, Oriole Jim Traber (anyone remember him?) went to the Buffalos after his last game in the MLB in 1989 with the Birds.   I lived near the stadium where the Buffalos played at the time and caught a lot of games.   Traber was very predictable in going to certain bars after the games, so I would frequently go to the same bars with some friends.   Traber loved to talk and tell stories.   He's teammates clearly loved him even though they didn't have the foggiest idea what he was saying or doing half the time.  I think he's actually a radio talk show host nowadays in his native Oklahoma.

After a few beers, Traber was also predictable, he would want to go eat Korean barbecue, so on more than one occasion, I tagged along.    I was 22, so all of this made a big impression on me.    I'm pretty sure he was above 250 pounds at the time.    The ladies at the restaurant would tease him about his size.    The other famous heavy American baseball player from that era was Randy Bass, who helped the next-door team (the Hanshin Tigers) win their first championship in 50 years.    The waitresses would tease Traber and call him Randy, though I think the meaning was lost on him.     When the Tigers won that championship, the fans in Osaka had a mini riot and threw a giant statue of Colonel Sanders from KFC into the dotonburi river off Osaka's most famous bridge.  Why?    Not sure, but it was some kind of an homage to Bass.

Ok, I've rambled a bit. 

Good luck Adam!!!   Katobase Jones!!  

 

Edited December 9, 2019 by sammyt

[Babypowder]

1 hour ago, bpilktree said:

He didn't want to move family to Philly at the deadline because of changing up their routine  now going move them to Japan with a different language and culture.  ok

He didn’t want to go to Philly and be a bench player heading into free agency. 

[Chavez Ravine]

Apparently Randy Bass got paid $350K in 1986 to shave off his beard for a Gillette commercial. Think of the bubble gum endorsements Adam could rake in!

[Aristotelian]

6 hours ago, wildbillhiccup said:

That sounds like a great time. I've been eyeing that Hiroshima tee on this website for awhile. https://www.ebbets.com/collections/shirts/league_japanese-baseball

Those look dope! Christmas can't come soon enough.