Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes Thread

[Gastric ReFlux]

For the Ungulate Devoted, this is the Japanaese baseball team of choice.

http://www.japanesebaseball.com/team...jsp?TeamID=OKB

[Skipaway]

I've not followed the team since Hideo Nomo left.

[Gastric ReFlux]

I'm having trouble finding stuff in English about them

[Skipaway]

You should have selected the Giants or the Tigers.

Lots of interesting stories about the Tigers last year. There was even one article about them in the Economist. Something about how a Tiger championship might save the Japan economy.

[Gastric ReFlux]

Sorry, but I'm a true fan and must remain a fan of my Buffaloes, despite the adversity.

[Gastric ReFlux]

Posted on Mon, Oct. 27, 2003

Osaka Buffaloes to train at Dodgertown

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - The Osaka Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League will return to Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla., to train for three weeks starting Saturday.

The training camp is part of a working agreement the teams signed in the spring of 2001.

"We are happy to welcome the Buffaloes back to Dodgertown," Dodgers senior vice president Tom Lasorda said Monday. "Over the years, we have hosted many international teams and we are very excited to work with the Buffaloes once again."

The Dodgers have held three fall training camps for the Buffaloes - two at Dodgertown and one in Osaka. Lasorda, a former Dodgers manager and Hall of Famer, has traveled to Japan more than 15 times in the past 2 1/2 years.

Under the agreement, the Dodgers have helped the Buffaloes in on-field instruction, scouting, marketing, personnel decisions and business operations.

[Gastric ReFlux]

The Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes


After years of low attendance, the Kintetsu Buffaloes got a big boost moving into Osaka Dome in 1997. But the fans hoping to see the Buffaloes win often go home disappointed because the team has finished near the bottom of the league the past two seasons.
The problem isn't hitting. Led by outfielder Tuffy Rhodes and designated hitter Phil Clark, the Buffaloes feature a fast and powerful offense that can hit home runs and steal bases. But Kintetsu's pitchers have had a lot of trouble adjusting to the hitter-friendly park.
The last Kintetsu pitcher to have much success was Hideo Nomo, who was named the 1990 Pacific League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year when he led the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA. In 1995, Nomo joined the Los Angeles Dodgers where he was named the National League Rookie of the Year.
Other past Kintetsu stars include outfielder Ralph Bryant (248 home runs, 1988-95) and Keishi Suzuki (317-238, career 3.11 ERA, 3061 strikeouts, 1966-85). Ironically, Suzuki was the manager who overworked Nomo and prompted him to flee Japan.
Founded in 1950 by Kintetsu Railways and known as the Pearls until 1958, the Buffaloes have won fewer games than any other PL franchise. Until the mid-1960s, the team nearly always placed last and in 1961 they lost a record 103 games. Kintetsu has won three PL pennants but they are the only team that hasn't won a Japan Series championships.
Typical of all Japan's indoor ballparks, the facility is a donut-shaped mall surrounding a few acres of green carpet. But the visibility is good and the seats behind home plate feature personal air conditioning vents and miniature television monitors.
And if the Buffaloes can figure out how to win games in their new homes, fans may start paying attention to what happens on the field.

http://ww1.baywell.ne.jp/fpweb/drlatham/teams/buff.htm

[asamford]

the Buffaloes are a hated rival of my Chiba Lotte Marines in the JBL (see signature for link).

[Skipaway]

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=6&page=1


Haha! The team is going to be merged with the Orix Blue Wave due to poor attendence. Apparently the support from Gastric ReFlux is not enough.

[sixto]

The Japanese League is merging teams? It's a sad day for baseball.

[Gastric ReFlux]

This sucks like a shop vac.

[Skipaway]

Originally posted by Gastric ReFlux
This sucks like a shop vac.

Would you still support the merged team?

This planned merge is kind of odd since it would make the Japanese leagues unbalanced, with 6 teams in one league, and 5 teams in another.

[Gastric ReFlux]

If they retain the ungulate based name, I'll remain a devoted fan.

[statfreak]

are we just taking skip's word for this "merge"?!?

Personally, I think this rumor was started by Scott Vibert....

[Skipaway]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/...20040615a1.htm

It seems pretty much a done deal.