Orioles: Wigginton close
Free agent infielder Ty Wigginton was back in Baltimore for a second round of medical tests yesterday and his two-year deal could be announced later today or tomorrow. Apparently, the Orioles wanted him back for a recheck after finding an irregularity in one of his lab tests, not because of anything structural that would affect his on-field performance.
If you read the sports digest item by Jeff Zrebiec in today's Sun, you already know the Orioles are close to signing another Japanese pitcher, though former Chiba Lotte Marines reliever Ryohei Tanaka will not be at major league spring training. Several Japanese baseball Web sites are reporting that Tanaka already has signed and quote him being very excited to be joining the Orioles.
"I was surprised,'' Tanaka is quoted as saying. "When I heard, tears came out."
Hold the jokes. I believe he meant that in the best possible way.
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Comments
i got a good laugh from today's blog. i meant that in the best possible way.
Posted by: pop fisher | February 10, 2009 10:18 AM
Peter: Like your blog...not bad for a guy from CA who has a Hawaiian shirt fetish. Hey, now that Adam Kennedy has been let go by the Cards,might we swing BRob their way for a pitcher?
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Pete's reply: I think the Roberts situation will be on hold at least for a couple of weeks so that Andy and Roberts' agent can talk in person at spring training.
Posted by: Brian | February 10, 2009 10:21 AM
incidentally, i googled Ryohei Tanaka and was very impressed by his artwork. good pickup by o's.
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Pete's reply: Yes, when that guy asks a woman back to his place to see his etchings, he's not kidding. For anyone who doesn't know what we're talking about, there is a master etcher in Japan by the same name as the pitcher the O's signed. Don't know if there is any relation. The artist is 75 years old.
Posted by: pop fisher | February 10, 2009 10:22 AM
Are you sure the artist and the pitcher are not one in the same? They do have a few open spots in the rotation...
Posted by: Chris | February 10, 2009 10:32 AM
Tenaka was the name of the OF in Major League II..."You have no marbles!". Maybe that can be his nickname...Marbles.
Posted by: jj | February 10, 2009 10:57 AM
Someone needs to tell Tanaka There is no crying in baseball!
Posted by: rick | February 10, 2009 11:08 AM
Peter,
Really enjoy reading your blog every day. We moved to Wisconsin after 60 years in the Baltimore area and you help me keep in touch with what's happenin' in B'more, not that I always agree 100% with you. We're the only ones in this area that wear purple and black and orange and black. Everyone else is wearing green and gold. I have, however, adopted the Brewers as my 2nd favorite team. Thanks and keep up the good work.
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Pete's reply: Thanks very much for the kind words. My family is originally from Wisconsin (Antigo), so I understand where you're coming from.
Posted by: NamVet | February 10, 2009 11:10 AM
Peter: i like the wigginton deal. he's another solid bat. with wigginton's positional versatility, do you see him playing every day in one capacity or another? it seems like we may be a little backed up at his positions, namely 3B, 2B, OF and DH.
Posted by: stan | February 10, 2009 11:18 AM
JJ-
It is Mawwbaws.. you have no mawbaws.
That was one of the best lines of the movie.
Posted by: terps19 | February 10, 2009 11:31 AM
i would cry too if the orioles signed me.
Posted by: rv | February 10, 2009 11:40 AM
I hope those weren't tears in his labrum.
Posted by: Barry | February 10, 2009 11:57 AM
Lab tests ??????????????????????? Here we go !!!!!
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | February 10, 2009 1:34 PM
Pete , I don't know how late I am on this , but I just saw where Miquel Tejeda has formerly been charged with lying to congress re: you know what .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | February 10, 2009 1:45 PM
hey namvet. i like the underdog brewers too but i'm still haunted by the end of the '82 season? always will be.
Posted by: pop fisher | February 10, 2009 1:47 PM
Pete , hint , (Tejeda) it was lying about his age .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | February 10, 2009 1:47 PM