Lost in Translation
Kapler - H AB 1b 2b 3b HR RBI BB K SB Avg
????? 38 111 17 1 1 3 6 2 9 0 .153
This is the line on ole Gabe in Japan. I’m very surprised. As a big NPB (Nippon Pro Baseball) fan and having watch 3 full seasons personally, I would have figured him to be a superstar over there. It looks like he may be splitting time in Tokyo. Some gaikusen (foreigners) fare well, some don’t. Roberto Petagine was a HR machine and a perennial all-star for the Yakult Swallows. He didn’t make the Red Sox roster this spring but on another note just hit his 7th HR in 69 AB with a .290 average for the Paw Sox. Cecil Fielder played a season for the Hanshin Tigers and hit 38 HRs. He then came back to the states and hit 51 and 44 homers in consecutive seasons. Tuffy Rhodes hit .224 with 13 HR and 44 RBI in 225 MLB games. He also is in a three way tie with Sadaharu Oh and Alex Cabrera with 55 HR in a season for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. And my favorite team, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, released Alfonso Soriano because he wasn’t good enough to play for a last place team.
Agbayani - H AB 1b 2b 3b HR RBI BB K SB Avg
?? ? 49 181 54 14 0 8 46 0 17 1 .298
Does anyone remember that guy???
So as the NPB year grinds on, I hope Kapler will catch fire and tears up the league. As the Red Sox 4th outfielder he could have probably started for most teams in the MLB. Maybe he’ll come back and put up Cecil like numbers. Anyway, good luck Gabe.
Shawn