Jojima agrees to join Hanshin

Tuesday 27th October, 03:45 PM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

some14some at 04:28 PM JST - 27th October

...unfortunately Hanshin lost 2010 series too, my prediction.
ironchef at 04:44 PM JST - 27th October

Jojima is going to kick a$$ next year in Japan. He's on a mission. I think he's still got a lot in him.
aintgottimetobl at 05:15 PM JST - 27th October

If Hanshin believed Kano had the goods and was a better option they wouldnt have chased Johjima..agree with Ironchef...he's still a class player,great arm and hard hitter
northlondon at 06:22 PM JST - 27th October

Happy with Jojima signing but we still need strength in the pitching rotation. Hanshin have still not spent any of the Yankees money they made from Igawa on a starting pitcher. The relievers/ closers are stretched as well, with Kubota and Williams falling away and now only Fujikawa left. Aitchison wants to return home to the States as well after he finally had a reasonable season for the Tigers.
Ninjazilla at 06:38 PM JST - 27th October

agree need some fresh blood
pathat at 11:45 PM JST - 27th October

The Jojima signing should be a good one. He can catch around 100 games and also do some time at DH during interleague play. Nobody should expect him to be a top-notch player anymore, but he should help the Tigers.

"Even the Giants have stopped their blind spending spress and are building up their young talent these days...."

And they have also spent the past few years poaching foreigners from other teams, the ones who've proven capable of adjusting to life and baseball in Japan, which I have to admit is smart business, especially after such notable flops as Dan Miceli and Gabe Kapler.
seeker1 at 12:04 AM JST - 28th October

Agree with pathat, Jojima is a great signing. He will probably be the main catcher next season, and he will be able to pass on his experience both in Japan and the US to the younger catchers at Hanshin. Go Jojima.
zurcronium at 02:45 AM JST - 28th October

First good news from Hanshin in a long, long time. The biggest problem for Johjima in the US was cultural. Back in Japan he will feel at home and I expect him to rebound. Kanoh will play his share of games but I agree its a shame that he was not rewarded with full time catching. But for the team, this is a great move.
lynny at 09:04 AM JST - 28th October

Looking forward to seeing him in the Tigers pinstripes. Go Johjima!
chuckers at 09:41 AM JST - 28th October

Kano has a LOT of promise but still needs a bit of work just yet. Yano is approaching retirement age and Kano is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Jojima is being brought in to as a transitional cather who, age wise, is right in the middle.

Kano will probably be given the lead for the likes of the younger pitchers like Iwata and Nohmi. Jojima will probably be given over to Shimoyanagi and Andoh if they stay on.

I am actually surprised Jojima didn't go back to the Hawks. But again, he better earn every yen while he is with Hanshin.
sfjp330 at 09:56 AM JST - 28th October

After issuing a brief statement Monday saying he'd never forget the Seattle Mariners, the fans or the friends he'd made here, Kenji Johjima told the team he'd be holding a conference call with the media soon.

Turns out, however, he didn't mean with the American media.

Joh, who was never comfortable enough with the Northwest press to open up about himself, apparently still isn't. Willing to talk to the Japanese media about his reasons for walking away from the final two years of his contract, he didn't even want to talk to the press here long distance.

It's certainly no reflection on his play here, or his effort as a Mariner or even his relationship with the Seattle fans.

Joh never let American writers - and, by extension, his fans - to know him except on the field.

With his departure from the big leagues, that didn't change.
Junnama at 10:13 AM JST - 28th October

After issuing a brief statement Monday saying he'd never forget the Seattle Mariners, the fans or the friends he'd made here, Kenji Johjima told the team he'd be holding a conference call with the media soon.

Mariner's fans would like to thank Johjima for leaving the organization. They will never forget his endless groundouts and strikeouts, especially with runners in scoring position (no matter how much they may want to forget).
Altria at 10:43 AM JST - 28th October

I'm sure Jojima will be an improvement to the team, but they could have bought a heck of a lot more for 20 million over 4 years.

Tony Blanco only costs 1.8 mil a year...even Yu Darvish only makes 2 mil.

The salary system is seriously out of whack. Would you trade Jojima and Kanemoto for 5 Darvishes? You'd be paying the same price.

I'm sure the Tigers will sell a few Jojima shirts, but they're going to sell out Koshien every night with or without him.
northlondon at 12:55 PM JST - 28th October

Even the Giants have stopped their blind spending spress and are building up their young talent these days...

"Kutabare Yomiuri..."
Blue_Tiger at 07:31 PM JST - 30th October

I just ceased being a Hanshimn fan. Crybaby, wash-out Jiojima will be their catcher, and they will rue the day that they signed him. He's a marginal catcher with degrading skillz. Welcome home, Joji....