In less than 12 hours, the 12th NPB team will be starting its spring camp, and we will be completely underway! As reported to you last time, 7 of the 12 teams are in Okinawa, and they all started working out in front of fans and media on February 1. Three teams started up in Miyazaki prefecture on the same date, and the Orix Buffaloes got going one day later. Tomorrow, the Saitama Seibu Lions get their camp going… there will be baseball game action to report about soon!
Many of you are aware that every team begins its season with the unveiling of a slogan that is meant to inspire the players, get the fans excited, and (let’s face it, this is the biggest reason) add to the merchandise sales totals. Fans buy t-shirts, towels, patches, caps, and a whole lot more, that are emblazoned with the team’s “war cry”. Here they all are, following the order of last year’s standings, starting with the Central League.
Hanshin Tigers: A.R.E. Goes On (A = Aim, R = Respect, E = Empower)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp: しゃ！(Sha!) = Yesssss!
Yokohama DeNA Baystars: 横浜進化 (Yokohama Shinka) = Yokohama Evolution
Yomiuri Giants: 新風～GIANTS CHALLENGE～ (Shinpu-) = New Wind
Tokyo Yakult Swallows: ヤり返せ！(Yarikaese!) = Get even!
Chunichi Dragons: 勇龍突進 Always be a challenger! (Yuryutosshin) = Brave Dragons Charge
Orix Buffaloes: おりふぉーWW (Orifo) = short for Orix Four (straight pennants)
Chiba Lotte Marines: 自分たちを超えてゆく。 (Jibuntachi wo koete yuku) Exceed ourselves.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks: VIVA（ビバ）
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles: いただき！ (Itadaki) = The Top!
Saitama Seibu Lions: やる獅かない (Yaru shikanai) = Only the Lions Can Do It
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters: 大航海 (Daikokai) = Unchartered Waters
One more important bit of player news needs to be mentioned. Nearly every returning Japanese player had his contract renewed for the 2024 season during the month of December. There was one exception. Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki had requested that his team post him to Major League Baseball, despite his age (22) and having had just one season with over 100 innings pitched. The team refused his request, which resulted in a lengthy period of silence (or perhaps negotiation). At long last, the two sides reached an agreement at the end of January. He is at camp now in Ishigaki, Okinawa, and has more motivation than ever to post career-high numbers and lead his team to its first PL pennant since 2005. The team did not make clear specifications about what it will take for them to post him this coming off-season, but if he can give his team a championship, they might be more inclined to let him go earlier than they’d like to.
We did it! Another baseball-less winter survived. Nippon Professional Baseball is back at long last!
