One of the things that make Carp games so fun to watch is the high level of action and potential for a lot of runs. With such a powerful line-up, it's no surprise the Carp often lead the league in runs scored. However, they also give up runs at an extremely high rate. While part of that has to do with a small park which allows a lot of balls to sail over the outfield fence, the Carp nevertheless have one of the weaker pitching staffs in the league. Still, there are a few good pitchers who call Hiroshima home.

Pitchers:

Yasayuki Yamauchi: A lot of Japanese pitchers have incorporated hitches into their delivery in an attempt to throw off batters' timing. Probably none is more entertaining to watch than Yasayuki Yamauchi. Mid-way through his delivery, the right-handed hurler kicks up his right leg, cocks his right elbow at eye level (pointed toward the Hiroshima scoreboard), while holding the ball deep in his glove. In that position, he momentarily freezes before releasing the ball.

So much attention has his form received that, if he really wants to screw with batters timing, he should practice mixing a few smooth deliveries into his routine.

Yamauchi won the 1995 Rookie of the Year award after posting a 14-10 record over 163 1/3 innings and striking out 123 batters with a 3.03 ERA. Less successful in his sophomore year, Yamauchi won eleven games and lost eight while finishing with a 3.90 ERA.

By 1997, Yamauchi's gimmick delivery had apparently lost its effectiveness as the pitcher finished with a 5.21 ERA while posting a 7-11 record and 120 strikeouts. In his three season career, Yamauchi has compiled a 4.04 ERA with 350 strikeouts and a 32-25 record.

Yutaka Ono: While Hideki Irabu's fastball led him to be called the "Nolan Ryan of Japan," forty-two year old Carp southpaw Yutaka Ono may deserve the title for his longevity. Over twenty seasons, Ono's compiled a 145-98 record with 138 saves and a remarkable 2.90 lifetime ERA. Ono won the Sawamura Award (Japan's Cy Young Award) in 1988 with a 13-7 record, 183 strikeouts, and a 1.70 ERA.

Though used heavily as a reliever between 1991 and 1994, recently Ono has been moved back to a starting role. In 1997, the forty-two year old pitcher led the league with a 2.85 ERA while posting a 9-6 record with 80 strikeouts.

Shinji Sasaoka: Thirty year old Shinji Sasaoka began his pro career with three terrific seasons. In 1990, he earned a 13-11 record with 17 saves and a 3.15 ERA. Winning the Sawamura Award in 1991, he led the Carp to the CL pennant with a 17-9 record, 213 strikeouts and a league-leading 2.44 ERA over an incredible 240 innings pitched, including thirteen complete games and five shutouts. While his 1992 season was on par with his rookie year, things fell apart in 1993 as he posted a 5-17 record and 4.33 ERA.

Since 1994, however, Sasaoka has seen most of his work in the Hiroshima bullpen. With six saves in that year, and seventeen the following, Sasaoka matured into one of the best CL firemen in 1996. Over 69 innings, he earned 23 saves and five wins (against seven losses) and struck out 71 batters while gathering a 1.70 ERA. Since 1990, Sasaoka has compiled a 71-73 record with 84 saves, 965 strikeouts and a career 3.12 ERA.

Though he also had a good season in 1997, Sasaoka was largely forgotten as Dong Yol Sun (Dragons) and Kazuhiro Sasaki (BayStars) far surpassed all others in CL saves. Last year, the Carp fireman earned 26 save points with a 5-5 record, 21 saves and a 2.65 ERA.

Hiroki Kuroda: A rookie who might be someone to watch, Hiroki Kuroda pitched reasonably well early in 1997 (a 3.10 ERA before the all-star break) but fell apart in August and September. Hiroshima's number two 1996 draft pick, Kuroda finished 1997 with a 6-9 record 64 strikeouts and a 4.40 ERA.

Toshikazu Sawazaki: Hiroshima's number one 1996 draft pick, Toshikazu Sawazaki pitched well enough in 1997 to earn the Central League Rookie of the Year award. Compiling a 3.74 ERA in 156 1/3 innings, the twenty-three year old rookie earned a 12-8 record with 106 strikeouts. Though the numbers are good, Yokohama rookie Takeo Kawamura topped Sawazaki in nearly every pitching category. The award probably went to the wrong pitcher.

Nate Minchey: A 29-year old Colorado Rockies hurler, Nate Minchey signed a one-year deal with the Carp for an estimated $400,000. In four Major League seasons, the right-hander has compiled a 3-7 record with a 6.75 ERA.

Catchers:

Shuji Nishiyama: An adequate defensive backstop, Shuji Nishiyama has only had two decent seasons with a bat in his nine professional seasons, batting .284 in 1994 and .314 in 1996. A career .257 batter with 31 home runs, Nishiyama clubbed five homers in 1997 while batting .205 with 28 RBIs. Erratic as a hitter, Nishiyama won the 1996 gold glove award.

Infielders:

Kenjiro Nomura: Leading the Hiroshima offensive attack is shortstop Kenjiro Nomura. In his best year, 1995, Nomura batted .315 with 32 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 75 RBIs while leading the league with 173 hits.

Compiling 219 career steals, the right-handed infielder (bats left) has led the Central League in stolen bases three times (1990-91, '94) and hits twice (1994-95). Since 1989, Nomura has batted .293 with 121 career home runs and 489 RBIs.

At thirty-one, Nomura is considered by many the best defensive shortstop in Japan. After batting .280 with thirteen home runs and 26 stolen bases in 1997, Nomura became a free agent. Though expressing his wish to eventually play in the Major Leagues, the all-star shortstop decided to stay with the Hiroshima through the 1998 season. "I began my career with the Carp," Nomura announced, "and it is because of their support that I am where I am today."

Akira Eto: With 193 home runs since 1990, and averaging over thirty a year since 1993, third baseman Akira Eto is the regular Carp clean-up hitter. Earning two home run crowns (1993, '95), the career .282 batter led the Central League with 106 RBIs in 1995.

Despite missing over twenty games after taking a line-drive to the face, Eto still batted .314 with 32 home runs in 1996--some believe, without the injury, he would have won his third CL home run title. In 1997, twenty-seven year old Eto also spent a few weeks on the DL but still clubbed 28 homers while batting .252 with 76 RBIs.

Kozo Shoda: Although he led the CL in batting in 1987 (.333) and 1988 (.340), Kozo Shoda has cooled down considerably in recent years, batting a paltry .241 in 1997. At thirty-five, Shoda apparently has kept his place in the line up because the Carp can't find a better defensive replacement at second base. A career .288 batter, Shoda has belted 34 home runs and collected 374 RBIs since 1985.

Outfielders:

Tomoaki Kanemoto: Maturing in the last few years, Tomoaki Kanemoto has developed into one of the Central League's top sluggers. In his six season career, the left fielder has belted 105 home runs (84 in the last three years), collected 273 RBIs, and compiled a .283 batting average. A top-notch defensive outfielder, Kanemoto batted .301 in 1997 with 33 home runs (third in the league) and 82 RBIs.

Tomonori Maeda: With a career .304 average, twenty-six year old Tomonori Maeda is one of Hiroshima's most popular players. Though slowed by a leg injury which limited him to twenty-five games in 1995, Maeda came back and batted .313 with 19 home runs a year later. While he's stolen 54 bases over his career, he didn't have any in 1996. Because of his declining speed, it's questionable how long he will remain an asset in center field.

Though missing 35 games in 1997 because of injuries, Maeda batted .304 with fifteen home runs and 68 RBIs. Since 1990, the right-handed outfielder (bats left) has compiled a .304 career average with 108 home runs and 399 RBIs.

Koichi Ogata: A platoon outfielder for his first seven seasons, Koichi Ogata earned a starting role in 1995 as he exploded offensively, batting .316 and stealing 47 bases. A year later, he stole 50 bases and hit 23 home runs while his average slipped to .279. The twenty-nine year old right fielder occasionally bats lead-off for the Carp

In 1997, Ogata batted .271 with seventeen homers and five triples while leading the Central League with 49 steals. In his ten season career, the Carp right fielder has earned a .267 lifetime batting average with 70 home runs, 232 RBIs and 205 stolen bases.

Timoniel Perez: Unfortunately for poor Timoniel Perez, there aren't many openings for outfielders with the Carp. Instead the 21-year old Dominican Republic-native must wait for an injury to one of the three main starters (usually Tomonori Maeda). That's a shame because Perez is a really aggressive hustler. In two years, the left-hander has compiled a .254 batting average with four home runs and five stolen bases in 117 games (193 at bats).