Ohayou
Feb 18th, 2007 by Rob Bradford
Besides the Japanese word that sounds like the Buckeye State and means “Good morning,” I picked up a couple key Japanese phrases thanks to catcher Alberto Castillo (who carried a list of 15 key phrases on a card and has played with pitchers Hideo Nomo, Keiichi Yabu, and Masato Yoshii).
“Gambate” - Good morning
“Nondai Naiyo” - No problem
Of course I learned these about 15 minutes after Daisuke Matsuzaka came through the locker room (at 8:35). He said “good morning” to us in English, along with “excuse me.” Matsuzaka appears like a very personable guy who is clearly going above and beyond to integrate himself. It’s funny because by all accounts competitive his on-field demeanor is 180 degrees from the mild-mannered image he has portrayed thus far.
A couple of more position players made an appearance: Eric Hinske and Joe McEwing. Hinske, a diehard Green Bay Packers fans, was still stinging from his team’s trouncing at the hands of the Patriots but was optimistic for next season. He is noticeably lighter, having dropped from 245 pounds to 235 thanks to his work with a trainer in Arizona.
McEwing is a long-shot to make the team, but seems he could be of value at some point during the season. “Super Joe” has played every position on the field (except pitcher) over the course of his nine-year career, having played for the Royals last season. He is a life-long Philadelphia 76ers fan and had no hesitation breaking down the merits of whom to draft: Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. He said that he knows Sox manager Terry Francona from having lived 10 minutes away from the skipper’s offseason home. They would often meet up for coffee at the local WaWa and workout at Newtown Athletic Club.
Players just hit the field … will be back later with updates of Francona’s get-together with media, how pitchers threw, ect. Keep the questions coming and I’ll get to them at the end of the day.
4 reader comments to “Ohayou”
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1Dover said:
Congrats on the blog, and a fantastic start to what should become baseball’s Reiss’s Pieces.
My question is concerning Delcarmen. His save/behind splits are extremely favorable to the save situations (I remember’s Mazz’s Baseball by Numbers having it at somewhere between 3.5-4 earned run difference), so why wouldn’t the Sox be grooming him to be the next Timlin, or even as closer? Sticking him in middle mop-up is only going to hurt a kid who has a game plan to get it done when it’s on the line.
It’s just very curious to me why I haven’t heard more from the organization on him. Kid had as good a stretch in June and July as anyone, and just when you though the 12-6 curve was here to stay he went down with the thumb growth.
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2Anonymous said:
Reading about Matsuzaka noticed a comment that Japanese pro league never plays on Monday If true it would mean Dice-K actually pitched every 7th day not 6 days from J-Man
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3Anonymous said:
That’s etc. as in et cetera, Mr. Bradford.
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4Anonymous said:
“Gambate” - Good morning
Gambate means more or less good luck. It does not mean good morning by any means.
“Nondai Naiyo” - No problem
It’s actually “Mondai Naiyo” with a M. The translation is however correct.
I am japanese so just making sure everyone learns the correct words
