Kamd50
02-16-2008, 07:06 PM
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) _ Right-hander Masahide Kobayashi, signed by the Cleveland Indians in the offseason to shore up the bullpen, took the mound Saturday with 14 Japanese writers, cameramen and photographers watching every move.
Amid the hoopla on the first day of spring workouts for pitchers and catchers, Indians' management also got their first look Kobayashi, who signed a $6.25 million, two-year contract in November.
Until Saturday, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge had only seen Kobayashi on tape.
"I was very impressed with how he handled himself and I was very impressed with what I saw," pitching coach Carl Willis said.
Kobayashi throws a fastball in the low 90s with a slider and a split-finger fastball, Willis said.
Kobayashi, 33, spent nine seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League, averaging more than 30 saves in each of the last seven seasons, with a career total of 227. He's one of three pitchers in the history of Japanese professional baseball to record over 200 saves.
With Cleveland, he'll be used as a setup man for closer Joe Borowski, whose 45 saves last season led the league. He'll be a nice complement for right-hander Rafael Betancourt, one of the league's top setup men last season.
"We need multiple guys to help us get to the ninth inning," manager Eric Wedge said. "We need as much depth there as possible."
Wedge said if there's a time when Borowski needs a day off, Kobayashi could be used to save a game.
Kobayashi displayed a deliberate and somewhat unusual pitching motion. He took the ball in his right hand at the beginning of his windup and brought it to the back of his head. He then raised his glove to hide the ball, followed with a high leg kick and delivered the pitch to the plate.
"The motion I use in games isn't as dramatic," he said through interpreter Toshi Nagahara, who will serve as an assistant athletic trainer with the Indians all season.
Kobayashi also fielded ground balls back to the mound and worked on his pickoff move.
"I had a good practice session," Kobayashi said. "I thought I did pretty good."
Kobayashi struggled a bit running sprints at the end of the workout, consistently finishing behind three other pitchers in his group. Showing a sense of humor, he threw his arms in the air when he finished the last sprint and fell to the ground.
"To be honest, I am no good at that kind of running," he said. "I was trying to catch my breath. I didn't have much time after I finished throwing and I was tired."
The Indians will have their pitchers throw every other day in camp. But Kobayashi will throw three days in a row, then take the next day off, a routine he's used his entire career.
Kobayashi joked with catch Victor Martinez after the throwing session and thanked third baseman Andy Marte for giving up his No. 30 so the pitcher could wear it. He shook Marte's hand and pointed to the number on the back of his jersey.
After lunch, Kobayashi and Nagahara returned to the field for another session of running and stretching, which was still going long after other players left the facility.
The Indians don't anticipate any communication problems. Kobayashi knows a few English words and Willis said he'll learn some basic Japanese phrases. Martinez said he has learned the Japanese words for "good morning" and "how are you doing?"
"By the end of the season, I may learn three or four more," he joked.
Amid the hoopla on the first day of spring workouts for pitchers and catchers, Indians' management also got their first look Kobayashi, who signed a $6.25 million, two-year contract in November.
Until Saturday, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge had only seen Kobayashi on tape.
"I was very impressed with how he handled himself and I was very impressed with what I saw," pitching coach Carl Willis said.
Kobayashi throws a fastball in the low 90s with a slider and a split-finger fastball, Willis said.
Kobayashi, 33, spent nine seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League, averaging more than 30 saves in each of the last seven seasons, with a career total of 227. He's one of three pitchers in the history of Japanese professional baseball to record over 200 saves.
With Cleveland, he'll be used as a setup man for closer Joe Borowski, whose 45 saves last season led the league. He'll be a nice complement for right-hander Rafael Betancourt, one of the league's top setup men last season.
"We need multiple guys to help us get to the ninth inning," manager Eric Wedge said. "We need as much depth there as possible."
Wedge said if there's a time when Borowski needs a day off, Kobayashi could be used to save a game.
Kobayashi displayed a deliberate and somewhat unusual pitching motion. He took the ball in his right hand at the beginning of his windup and brought it to the back of his head. He then raised his glove to hide the ball, followed with a high leg kick and delivered the pitch to the plate.
"The motion I use in games isn't as dramatic," he said through interpreter Toshi Nagahara, who will serve as an assistant athletic trainer with the Indians all season.
Kobayashi also fielded ground balls back to the mound and worked on his pickoff move.
"I had a good practice session," Kobayashi said. "I thought I did pretty good."
Kobayashi struggled a bit running sprints at the end of the workout, consistently finishing behind three other pitchers in his group. Showing a sense of humor, he threw his arms in the air when he finished the last sprint and fell to the ground.
"To be honest, I am no good at that kind of running," he said. "I was trying to catch my breath. I didn't have much time after I finished throwing and I was tired."
The Indians will have their pitchers throw every other day in camp. But Kobayashi will throw three days in a row, then take the next day off, a routine he's used his entire career.
Kobayashi joked with catch Victor Martinez after the throwing session and thanked third baseman Andy Marte for giving up his No. 30 so the pitcher could wear it. He shook Marte's hand and pointed to the number on the back of his jersey.
After lunch, Kobayashi and Nagahara returned to the field for another session of running and stretching, which was still going long after other players left the facility.
The Indians don't anticipate any communication problems. Kobayashi knows a few English words and Willis said he'll learn some basic Japanese phrases. Martinez said he has learned the Japanese words for "good morning" and "how are you doing?"
"By the end of the season, I may learn three or four more," he joked.