In a continuation of the globalization of sport, Yu Darvish, a star of Japanese Baseball has signed with the Rangers for the 2012 season. The Rangers had been reeling with the losses of Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson. Many were wondering if the Rangers could maintain pace and win another pennant and maybe make it over the hump and win the series. If Darvish turns out to be able to justify his $60 million dollar contract the Rangers could push again for the pinnacle of baseball.
Darvish has a good fastball and is a lot more animated than most Japanese players. He is more Lexus than Toyota. His flash and panache should translate well in the MLB. THe Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters received over $50 million in compensation just for the privilege of talking from the Rangers. While that is a good chunk of change, we doubt if they can persuade someone from American to come to Japan to play with that amount of money. C.J. Wilson won't be joining their ranks any time soon.
Hokkaido has a partnership with MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks, who were not in the running for Darvish. The Diamondbacks will have to deal with the retirement of Craig Counsell this year and will look to replace his odd batting stance this year. We here at the Leibnizian Ramblings suggest looking at retired players to come in and make a splash. Here are our top five batting stance replacement recommendations:
1. Mickey Tettleton - laissez faire stance
2. Alvaro Espinoza - hands too far apart stance
3. Dwight Evans - knees a'knockin' stance
4. Phil Plantier - lazy sitting down stance
5. Julio Franco - crazy bat forward, can still play in his eighties stance
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