amag
02-05-2002, 11:40 AM
By Patrick Mulrenin
Stlcardinals.com
ST. LOUIS -- The dawning of a new horizon for the Cardinals occurred Monday in St. Louis as the team introduced Japanese outfielder So Taguchi to the fans at the sixth annual Cardinals Winter Warm-Up.
Taguchi, 32, is the first Japanese League player to ever play for the Cardinals.
"It's a new day for our organization to have a Japanese player and we're definitely excited about it," Cardinals Chairman William DeWitt Jr. said to a throng of American and Japanese media.
The Cardinals announced the signing of Taguchi on January 9. At the Winter Warm-Up inside the Millenium Hotel in downtown St. Louis, Taguchi had the chance to interact with St. Louis fans for the first time by signing autographs and posing for pictures.
Even though he has not mastered English, Taguchi read a statement to the media that he had written Saturday night:
"Thank you for coming. I'm So Taguchi. I'm very happy to join the great history of the Cardinals. First of all, I want to thank the fans who have been so kind to me. Even though I have played 10 years in Japan, I'm beginning a new career in America. I'm very excited about this new challenge, but I am a bit nervous. The St. Louis fans have been of great help in making me comfortable.
"Everyone asks why I chose the Cardinals. Recently in Japan, Major League Baseball has become more popular. Therefore, everyone assumed I would try to join an East coast or West coast team. However, my past interest is baseball. I wanted to join a team that played at a high level. When I looked at the Cardinals, I saw a team that has a deep history, a great manager, quality players and knowledgeable fans. Any baseball player would want to be a part of this and that is why I am here.
"I have only been here for a few days, but I already love this city. I hope through my play, Japanese people will get to know St. Louis better. Today, I want to thank you for listening to my poor English. Hopefully, by this time next year, I will be able to talk to you without this paper. I can't wait to hear (announcer Jack Buck say), 'That's a winner!' and, 'Go crazy folks!'"
Taguchi, who won five Gold Gloves in 10 years with the Orix Blue Wave, is expected to compete for the position as starting left fielder. His main competition heading into Spring Training will be Placido Polanco, Kerry Robinson and possibly Eli Marrero.
The right-handed hitting Taguchi batted .280 with 42 RBIs in 134 games last season.
"I'm very moved by the level of expectations that I've heard and all I can do is come over here and play my best and make sure I am prepared, physically and mentally, for the challenge," Taguchi said through an interpreter.
He captained the Japanese Olympic team in Sydney and the Blue Wave where he was teammates with AL Rookie of the Year and MVP Ichiro Suzuki. Last season Suzuki and San Francisco's Tsuyoshi Shinjo, who batted .268 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs for the Mets, became the first Japanese position players to play Major League Baseball.
Alan Nero, Taguchi's agent, said that Taguchi has been planning to make the jump over to America for the last two years, but he was waiting to become a free agent first.
"I don't think my desire to come over here had anything to do with Ichiro's success and Shinjo's success over here," Taguchi said. "That was something that I wanted to do personally. Their success was great and great for them, but it did not have any baring or desire on my wanting to come over here."
In 1,107 games played in Japan, Taguchi hit .277 with 67 home runs, 404 RBIs and 83 stolen bases. His best season came in 1997 when he batted .294 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs in a career-high 135 games.
He said that he still feels he can improve and be an effective player at this stage in his career. Despite his age and 10 years of professional experience, Taguchi will be considered a rookie this season.
"I don't have a problem with being referred to as a rookie over here at all," Taguchi said. "I don't want to come over here with any unusual lofty expectations because I had a long career in Japan. I like the idea of the freshness of the start and that new challenge and I am very up to that challenge."
One challenge that Taguchi may have to brush up on is his knowledge of team history. On his first trip to Busch Stadium, Taguchi discovered that the Cardinals are steeped in history as he tried to decide on a number for his uniform.
"In Japan I was number 6," Taguchi said. "Obviously, when I came over here at first I thought it would be great to be number 6 and then I found out that was a retired number (Hall of Famer Stan Musial). Then I thought, well, when I played on the Olympic team, I was number 1, so I decided to pursue that one and it was also retired (Hall of Fame-inductee Ozzie Smith). I thought a little harder and I decided since I was going to a new country, a new culture and it's kind of like a new start, maybe I can take my former number from Japan and turn it upside-down and that would represent a new start. Turning the six upside-down would nine, we checked into that and it was also a retired number (Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter). We had to think again and then it just made sense to go with 99, turning six upside-down twice."
Taguchi said that he knows he will have adjustments to make on the field and off of it. He plans to return to Arizona in preparation for Spring Training, which begins in less than one month.
The Warm-Up allowed him the opportunity to experience American culture and more specifically, Cardinals fans. The line for a chance to meet Taguchi snaked around the large conference room and out the door.
"I've really been overwhelmed," Taguchi said. "The thing that has impressed me is the manner of the fans. They seem to be very rabid fans and very loyal fans and a very different atmosphere than what I experienced in Japan. I am just impressed with the manner, politeness and knowledge of the fans."
Although he has not set any numerical goals for himself, Taguchi said that he plans to work hard and is excited at the opportunity "start all over again." He is thrilled at the thought of playing in Busch Stadium as a member of the Cardinals.
"I can't wait to play my first game in St. Louis," Taguchi said.
Patrick Mulrenin is the Site Manager for Stlcardinals.com. He can be reached at patrickmulrenin@website.mlb.co m.
Stlcardinals.com
ST. LOUIS -- The dawning of a new horizon for the Cardinals occurred Monday in St. Louis as the team introduced Japanese outfielder So Taguchi to the fans at the sixth annual Cardinals Winter Warm-Up.
Taguchi, 32, is the first Japanese League player to ever play for the Cardinals.
"It's a new day for our organization to have a Japanese player and we're definitely excited about it," Cardinals Chairman William DeWitt Jr. said to a throng of American and Japanese media.
The Cardinals announced the signing of Taguchi on January 9. At the Winter Warm-Up inside the Millenium Hotel in downtown St. Louis, Taguchi had the chance to interact with St. Louis fans for the first time by signing autographs and posing for pictures.
Even though he has not mastered English, Taguchi read a statement to the media that he had written Saturday night:
"Thank you for coming. I'm So Taguchi. I'm very happy to join the great history of the Cardinals. First of all, I want to thank the fans who have been so kind to me. Even though I have played 10 years in Japan, I'm beginning a new career in America. I'm very excited about this new challenge, but I am a bit nervous. The St. Louis fans have been of great help in making me comfortable.
"Everyone asks why I chose the Cardinals. Recently in Japan, Major League Baseball has become more popular. Therefore, everyone assumed I would try to join an East coast or West coast team. However, my past interest is baseball. I wanted to join a team that played at a high level. When I looked at the Cardinals, I saw a team that has a deep history, a great manager, quality players and knowledgeable fans. Any baseball player would want to be a part of this and that is why I am here.
"I have only been here for a few days, but I already love this city. I hope through my play, Japanese people will get to know St. Louis better. Today, I want to thank you for listening to my poor English. Hopefully, by this time next year, I will be able to talk to you without this paper. I can't wait to hear (announcer Jack Buck say), 'That's a winner!' and, 'Go crazy folks!'"
Taguchi, who won five Gold Gloves in 10 years with the Orix Blue Wave, is expected to compete for the position as starting left fielder. His main competition heading into Spring Training will be Placido Polanco, Kerry Robinson and possibly Eli Marrero.
The right-handed hitting Taguchi batted .280 with 42 RBIs in 134 games last season.
"I'm very moved by the level of expectations that I've heard and all I can do is come over here and play my best and make sure I am prepared, physically and mentally, for the challenge," Taguchi said through an interpreter.
He captained the Japanese Olympic team in Sydney and the Blue Wave where he was teammates with AL Rookie of the Year and MVP Ichiro Suzuki. Last season Suzuki and San Francisco's Tsuyoshi Shinjo, who batted .268 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs for the Mets, became the first Japanese position players to play Major League Baseball.
Alan Nero, Taguchi's agent, said that Taguchi has been planning to make the jump over to America for the last two years, but he was waiting to become a free agent first.
"I don't think my desire to come over here had anything to do with Ichiro's success and Shinjo's success over here," Taguchi said. "That was something that I wanted to do personally. Their success was great and great for them, but it did not have any baring or desire on my wanting to come over here."
In 1,107 games played in Japan, Taguchi hit .277 with 67 home runs, 404 RBIs and 83 stolen bases. His best season came in 1997 when he batted .294 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs in a career-high 135 games.
He said that he still feels he can improve and be an effective player at this stage in his career. Despite his age and 10 years of professional experience, Taguchi will be considered a rookie this season.
"I don't have a problem with being referred to as a rookie over here at all," Taguchi said. "I don't want to come over here with any unusual lofty expectations because I had a long career in Japan. I like the idea of the freshness of the start and that new challenge and I am very up to that challenge."
One challenge that Taguchi may have to brush up on is his knowledge of team history. On his first trip to Busch Stadium, Taguchi discovered that the Cardinals are steeped in history as he tried to decide on a number for his uniform.
"In Japan I was number 6," Taguchi said. "Obviously, when I came over here at first I thought it would be great to be number 6 and then I found out that was a retired number (Hall of Famer Stan Musial). Then I thought, well, when I played on the Olympic team, I was number 1, so I decided to pursue that one and it was also retired (Hall of Fame-inductee Ozzie Smith). I thought a little harder and I decided since I was going to a new country, a new culture and it's kind of like a new start, maybe I can take my former number from Japan and turn it upside-down and that would represent a new start. Turning the six upside-down would nine, we checked into that and it was also a retired number (Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter). We had to think again and then it just made sense to go with 99, turning six upside-down twice."
Taguchi said that he knows he will have adjustments to make on the field and off of it. He plans to return to Arizona in preparation for Spring Training, which begins in less than one month.
The Warm-Up allowed him the opportunity to experience American culture and more specifically, Cardinals fans. The line for a chance to meet Taguchi snaked around the large conference room and out the door.
"I've really been overwhelmed," Taguchi said. "The thing that has impressed me is the manner of the fans. They seem to be very rabid fans and very loyal fans and a very different atmosphere than what I experienced in Japan. I am just impressed with the manner, politeness and knowledge of the fans."
Although he has not set any numerical goals for himself, Taguchi said that he plans to work hard and is excited at the opportunity "start all over again." He is thrilled at the thought of playing in Busch Stadium as a member of the Cardinals.
"I can't wait to play my first game in St. Louis," Taguchi said.
Patrick Mulrenin is the Site Manager for Stlcardinals.com. He can be reached at patrickmulrenin@website.mlb.co m.