NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Akinori Otsuka

Akinori Otsuka (大塚晶則 Otsuka Akinori^?, born January 13, 1972, in Chiba, Japan), is a Japanese baseball player. He was formerly the set-up man for the San Diego Padres. Currently, he pitches for the Texas Rangers. He was also the closer for Japan's 2006 World Baseball Classic winning team. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 699 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (1,024 Ã— 878 pixels, file size: 198 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Major League Baseball, a win (denoted W) is generally credited to the pitcher for the winning team who was in the game when they last took the lead. ... To save in a sport means to stop a goal or to maintain the lead. ... In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. ... For the typographical mode indicating deleted text, see Strikethrough. ... The Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes (ja: å¤§é˜ªè¿‘é‰„ãƒãƒ•ã‚¡ãƒãƒ¼ã‚º) was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. ... The following are the events of the year 1997 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ... This year in baseball: 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 8 - Ozzie Smith is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. ... The Chunichi Dragons have won the Central League pennant seven times (including 2006), and won the Japan Series in 1954. ... The following are the events of the year 2003 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ... Major league affiliations National League (1969â€“present) West Division (1969â€“present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 6, 19, 31, 35, 42 Name San Diego Padres (1969â€“present) Other nicknames The Pads, The Friars, The Fathers, The Dads Ballpark PETCO Park (2004â€“present) Qualcomm Stadium (1969-2003) a. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2004 throughout the world. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2005 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1961â€“present) West Division (1972â€“present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 26, 34, 42 Name Texas Rangers (1972â€“present) Washington Senators (1961-1971) Other nicknames None in common use Ballpark Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (1994â€“present) a. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2006 throughout the world. ... is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chiba Prefecture ) is located in the Greater Tokyo Area of Honshu Island, Japan. ... This article is about the sport. ... In baseball, a setup pitcher (or set-up pitcher, sometimes called the setup man) is a relief pitcher who regularly pitches before the closer. ... Major league affiliations National League (1969â€“present) West Division (1969â€“present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 6, 19, 31, 35, 42 Name San Diego Padres (1969â€“present) Other nicknames The Pads, The Friars, The Fathers, The Dads Ballpark PETCO Park (2004â€“present) Qualcomm Stadium (1969-2003) a. ... Major league affiliations American League (1961â€“present) West Division (1972â€“present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 26, 34, 42 Name Texas Rangers (1972â€“present) Washington Senators (1961-1971) Other nicknames None in common use Ballpark Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (1994â€“present) a. ... The 2006 World Baseball Classic was the inaugural tournament between national baseball teams that included players from Major League Baseball. ...

Otsuka throws a low-90's 4-seam fastball ( tops out at about 94 mph ) that is very straight, along with a hard, late-breaking slider. He employs an unorthodox pitching delivery: He lifts his lead leg up very slowly, taps his glove, then fires to home plate, making his pitches look faster coming out of his hand, making them much harder to pick up. For the American band of the same name, see Fastball (band). ... A common grip of a slider a pitcher uses In baseball, a slider is a pitch halfway between a curveball and a fastball. ...

Otsuka came to the United States after several years of pitching in the Japanese League when his former team, the Chunichi Dragons, used the posting system to solicit bids from MLB clubs for the right to negotiate with him. The Padres offered the top bid, and signed him to a three-year contract on December 9, 2003. On January 6, 2006, Otsuka was traded to the Rangers, along with pitcher Adam Eaton and minor league catcher Billy Killian, in exchange for pitcher Chris Young, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, and outfielder Terrmel Sledge. Part of the History of baseball series. ... The Chunichi Dragons have won the Central League pennant seven times (including 2006), and won the Japan Series in 1954. ... The posting system is a transfer system for baseball players moving from a Japanese baseball team to a Major League Baseball team. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Adam Eaton (born November 23, 1977 in Seattle, Washington) is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers. ... Christopher Ryan Young (born May 25, 1979 in Dallas, TX, USA) is a Major League Baseball player. ... Adrian Gonzales (born May 8, 1982 in San Diego) is a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman for the San Diego Padres. ... Terrmel Sledge (born March 18, 1977 in Fayetteville, North Carolina) is a Major League Baseball player for the Texas Rangers. ...

Otsuka took over the role as the closer for the Rangers during the 2006 season, replacing Francisco Cordero, and recorded 32 saves while posting a 2.11 ERA. However, on December 19, 2006 the Rangers announced that newly signed Éric Gagné would take over the closer role in 2007, with Otsuka moving back into a set-up role. On January 13, 2007, T.R. Sullivan reported that, in an interview in Japan, Otsuka said "If there is the team which needs me as a closer, I am going to think about (the trade)". [1]. Due to Gagné starting the season on the DL, Otsuka began the 2007 season as the closer. With the recent trade of Gagne to the Boston Red Sox, Otsuka assumed the closer's role again. However, Otsuka went on the DL after experiencing tighntess in his throwing shoulder. His stand-in was C.J. Wilson. With a healthy Otsuka expected to be ready for the 2008 season, he will more than likely handle the closing duties again. Mariano Rivera is the closing pitcher for the New York Yankees. ... Francisco Cordero (born May 11, 1975 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ã‰ric Serge GagnÃ© (born January 7, 1976 in Montreal, QuÃ©bec, Canada), pronounced GAHN-yay, is a right-handed relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers. ... is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... In baseball, the disabled list (a. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901â€“present) East Division (1969â€“present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 27, 42 Name Boston Red Sox (1908â€“present) Boston Americans (1901-1907) Other nicknames The BoSox, The Olde Towne Team, The Sox Ballpark Fenway Park (1912â€“present) Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds... Christopher John C.J. Wilson (born November 18, 1980 in Newport Beach, California) is a lefthanded pitcher currently playing for the Texas Rangers. ...

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Categories: 1972 births | Living people | Major league pitchers | Japanese baseball players | Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes players | Chunichi Dragons players | San Diego Padres players | Texas Rangers players | 2006 World Baseball Classic players of Japan | MLB players from Japan | People from Chiba Prefecture This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The 2006 World Baseball Classic was the inaugural tournament between national baseball teams that included players from Major League Baseball. ... â€¹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... Michihiro Ogasawara ) (born October 25, 1973 in Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a professional baseball player for the Yomiuri Giants and formerly of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters from 1997 to 2006. ... Nobuhiko Matsunaka was born on December 26, 1973 in Kumamato, Japan. ... Kazuhiro Wada (Ben) (June 19, 1972, Gifu, Gifu Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball player. ... Hitoshi Tamura (born March 28, 1977 in Kanagawa) is a professional baseball player for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Tsuyoshi Nishioka(è¥¿å²¡ å‰› / ã«ã—ãŠã‹ ã¤ã‚ˆã—) is a professional baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Toshiaki Imae (born August 26, 1983 in Kyoto) is a professional baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Tatsuhiko Kinjoh (é‡‘åŸŽ é¾å½¦, born July 27, 1976) is a professional baseball player from Osaka, Japan. ... Shinya Miyamoto (å®®æœ¬ æ…Žä¹Ÿ, born November 5, 1970) is a professional baseball player from Osaka, Japan. ... Naoyuki Shimizu (æ¸…æ°´ ç›´è¡Œ, born November 24, 1975) is a professional baseball player from Kyoto, Japan. ... Soichi Fujita (è—¤ç”° å®—ä¸€, born, October 17, 1972 in Kyoto, Japan) is a left-handed reliever for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Tomoyuki Kubota (born January 30, 1981 in Saitama) is a pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Kosuke Fukudome (ç¦ç•™åä»‹, Fukudome KÅsuke, born April 26, 1977 in Kagoshima, Japan) is a Japanese baseball player for the Chunichi Dragons. ... Daisuke Matsuzaka , born September 13, 1980) is a Japanese starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. ... Koji Uehara (born April 3rd, 1975 in Neyagawa, Osaka) is a right handed pitcher for the Yomiuri Tokyo Giants. ... Yasuhiko Yabuta (born June 19, 1973 in Kishiwada, Osaka) is a pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Tsuyoshi Wada (Japanse:å’Œç”°æ¯…, February 21, 1981 - , in Konan, Aichi) is a Japanese baseball player. ... Tomoya Satozaki (born May 20, 1976 in Tokushima) is a professional baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Norichika Aoki is a Japanese outfielder who plays for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. ... Kyuji Fujikawa (kanji: è—¤å· çƒå…, born July 21, 1980 in Kochi, Japan) is an Japanese baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers. ... Takahiro Arai (born January 30, 1977 in Hiroshima) is a professional baseball player for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Motonobu Tanishige (born December 21, 1970 in Hiroshima) is a professional baseball player for the Chunichi Dragons in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Shunsuke Watanabe (æ¸¡è¾ºä¿Šä»‹) (August 27, 1976â€“) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher of Chiba Lotte Marines. ... Hiroyuki Kobayashi (born June 4, 1978 in Saitama, Japan) is a right-handed pitcher in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Toshiya Sugiuchi (æ‰å†… ä¿Šå“‰ , born October 10, 1980 in Kasuga, Fukuoka) is a left-handed pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Ichiro Suzuki ), often known simply as Ichiro ), is a Japanese outfielder for the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball team. ... Munenori Kawasaki (å·ï¨‘ å®—å‰‡, born June 3, 1981 in Kagoshima) is a professional baseball player for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Ryoji Aikawa , born July 11, 1976) is a Japanese baseball player. ... Hirotoshi Ishii (çŸ³äº• å¼˜å¯¿, September 14, 1977) from Chiba, Japan. ... Takahiro Mahara (é¦¬åŽŸ åæµ©, born December 8, 1981 in Kumamoto) is a right handed pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Sadaharu Oh or officially Wang Chenchih (Chinese: ; Pinyin: , Hepburn: ÅŒ Sadaharu, born May 20, 1940), is a former baseball player and manager of the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball and is the current manager of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. ... Kazuhiro Takeda (æ¦ç”° ä¸€æµ©, born June 22, 1965 in Tokyo) was a Japanese baseball player, most notably for the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japans Nippon Professional Baseball. ... Hatsuhiko Tsuji (born October 24, 1958 in Saga, Japan) was a professional baseball player for the Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball. ...

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