 At
times mentioned as the top player in Japan,
backstop Atsuya Furuta is
indispensable. In
1997 Furuta posted the third highest batting
average in the league while earning the CL MVP
Award, the Japan Series MVP Award and the Shoriki
Award for outstanding contribution to Japanese
baseball.
In
the Professional Baseball News 1998 Year Book,
Furuta was named "Most Variable Player"
(presumably, they meant valuable), best
clutch hitter and was lauded as being the
all-around top catcher in Japan.
When
the two-time MVP is injured, the Swallows sink to
"second division." Every year he's been
healthy since 1992, Yakult has gone to the Japan
Series.
There's
a big drop in quality between Furuta and his
backups. Katsunori Nomura,
probably deserves some attention because he is
Yakult manager Katsuya Nomura's son.
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