Sasaki’s last game
Jeff · August 26, 2005 at 1:41 pm · Filed Under Mariners
The Japan Times has an interesting write-up on Kazuhiro Sasaki’s last game in pro baseball, which also includes interesting details about the tradition of the “retirement game” in Japan — and how Kazu’s appearance flouted certain elements on that tradition. It’s a few weeks old, so apologies if you’ve seen it.
An odd end to an odd, if at times outstanding, run.
Comments
22 Responses to “Sasaki’s last game”
See if you can guess my favorite detail. Yes, it involves the heckler awash in liquid ambition.
Very interesting. But why not have him bid adieu at home…even if he was in his home town?
The answer is in the question.
That’s not a good enough answer.
Just because you don’t like the answer doesn’t mean it is the correct one.
Oops should say Isn’t the correct one.
good point.
He did the retirement in Sendai because he wanted his mom to be at the game, and she couldn’t make it down to Yokohama.
There were some fantastic shots of Sasaki and Kiyohara hugging on the mound, after Kiyohara apparently struck out because he was crying too hard to see the ball. Classic stuff.
the lemon squash hi-ball? I was just coming here to find out if they sold these anywhere near the ballyard.
Thanks Deanna. That’s what I was looking for.
What is a lemon squash hi-ball anyway?
Deanna’s too polite to link to her blog entry here, which contains links to photos.
To me, Sasaki was always what I thought a ballplayer should be. A hard drinking man of dubious morals and questionable fitness.
Okay, maybe a ballplayer in 1910.
But still, I couldn’t help but like the guy: sweat pouring off of him, looking like it was a tremendous personal hardship even to be out there.
I still miss Sasaki. Probably the greatest closer in M’s history. I’ll have to raise a toast to him since he retired. I’m sure it will be fitting.
The only thing that surprised me after 10 years in Japanese baseball stadiums between Tokyo and Yokohama is that Kaz struck out his first and only batter on 4 pitches.
Sign him.
I wonder if he carried his own luggage after the game?
Probably the greatest closer in M’s history
If you look up “dam*ing with faint praise” in the dictionary, you will see that quote!
#12- I totally agree. In this age of ARod-esque corporatespeak and endless agent-powered spin, it’s nice to see a jock with the decency to go out and get fallin’ down drunk in public.
My favorite part was “He will be remembered as one of the all-time great closers in baseball history on both sides of the Pacific”.
Right. He ranks 74th in MLB saves, just behind Ron Davis and just ahead of Terry Forster. His #1 comparison by similarity score is Francisco Cordero, or Dave Baldwin by age.
Not to say that I didn’t enjoy his time here, or that he wasn’t awfully good for a couple of years. But he’s a long, long way from “all-time great” on this side of the ocean.
A lemon squash hi-ball is roughly equivalent to vodka and seven-up, in a tall glass. Lemon squash is what furriners call carbonated lemonade.
In this age of ARod-esque corporatespeak and endless agent-powered spin, it’s nice to see a jock with the decency to go out and get fallin’ down drunk in public.
Each sport needs one. That’s why I like Kimi Raikkonen so much.
“Apparently it was not too early to be drunk.”
Wow; just as I was wondering about the squash, it is already explained. Someone needs to give us a post on drinking and Japanese baseball. I, for one, would find amusement.
If the math works out, I’m amazed that Sasaki only took 14 minutes to warm up.