Yuki Saito Watch

Fall Baseball

2007-09-11T06:19:00.001+09:00

The Fall campaign is underway in the Tokyo Big 6 League, and Yuki Saito became the first freshman in 80 years to start both the Spring and Fall openers. That's quite a feat for a young man, but we've come to expect these things from Saito, haven't we.

The US-Japan University exhibition was a big success for the Japanese team, but in some ways was quite a humbling experience for our man. It was apparent that Saito's fastball wasn't ready for prime time in the United States, and a lot more work both physically and mentally must be done before Saito can be considered a Major League prospect. That said, his tender age and his excellent mental ability have him on the right track, and the opener against lowly Tokyo University would prove to be the right medicine for him as he took the mound on the 8th.

The freshman was as advertised again for Waseda as the club powered to a 9-1 victory behind the power of senior outfielder Yukinaga Tanaka and the arm of Yuki Saito. Tanaka went 3 for 5 with a two run homer and a double for a total of 4 RBIs on the day. Saito was brilliant, working 7 innings on 98 pitches. He struck out 8 against a single walk and dominated the entire contest. Waseda is looking to repeat as Tokyo Big 6 champions, and I see little in the way of the club doing so. More soon.....

Back Soon

2007-08-23T03:02:00.000+09:00

Hello Yuki Saito fans.

I'm in the midst of a transition from Japan to the US now and I've been caught without the time to update here for a while. Once things settle down in the next few days, I'll post an update and a recap of all the pertinent news related to our hero.

Thanks for your patience and come back soon as I resume wall to wall coverage.

Mike Plugh

Hectic Days

2007-07-23T10:07:00.000+09:00

Hello YSW readers (that means you mom)....

I'm in the midst of some big changes these days. I'm setting up life between the US and Japan right now and it's a major undertaking. Those who keep living space on both the East and West Coasts of the United States are generally referred to as "bi-coastal" although I'm not sure what nomenclature would be chosen for my situation.

At any rate, I will be headed back to the friendly confines of New York City in early August, keeping a place in Akita City. During the next 2-3 weeks I'm afraid my blogging will be inconsistent, although I should be able to find enough access to both baseball and the internet to update here often. If I end up AWOL for several days without an update, rest assured that I will be back into the full swing of things by the 2nd week of August as a full time blogging maniac again.

Thanks for your patience and for always supporting what I do here. Keep checking back!!

Mike Plugh

International Man of Mystery

2007-07-07T16:44:00.000+09:00

So it's in the books. Yuki Saito has remained unbeaten in his last 20-something starts dating back to his senior year in high school. The Japanese sensation didn't bring his A-game to Durham, but it was still enough to put the Japanese collegians on the verge of their first series win on US soil in 19 meetings. After the WBC victory, Japan will be on a high if the young fellas can repeat their success in North Carolina.

Before talking about this contest, it's a good idea to look back at what's transpired in the two prior games. The first game saw the US come out strong, winning 7-2 behind Pedro Alvarez' red hot bat. Shota Oba wasn't able to put together a very good start to the game and allowed the US to jump all over him for a big 5 run inning. That was all she wrote. The Japanese club likes to play small ball and it's highly unlikely that they will pull off a comeback from multiple runs. Ahead by five, the US effectively ended the game early, despite some very nice pitching by Tomoyuki Kaida. The next day featured Keio University ace, Mikinori Kato against Brian Matusz. The Japanese pulled off a tight 3-2 victory despite giving away 6 outs on 4 caught stealing and 2 sac bunts. Kato outdueled Matusz before handing it over to the very promising freshman power pitcher Shinya Muramatsu. Muramatsu struck out three in 2.1 innings and looked dominant in doing so.

That brings us to Saito. Game Three was highly anticipated and fans from all parts collected to get a glimpse of the now famous young hurler. The buzz around Daisuke Matsuzaka generates a greater appeal for Yuki Saito and it was evident in the media coverage from both countries. Saito showed poor command of his pitches throughout the contest, frequently falling behind hitters, and also seemed to have lost some velocity on his array of pitches. He frequently had the gun in the high 70s and mid-80s during the game and nothing looked "plus" for the most part. To his credit, Saito has always been businesslike on the mound and never lost his cool. He was noticably bothered when runners were on base, however, and looked a bit out of character on occasion. Nevertheless, the pitching line looks very good considering all the factors in throwing off his regular routine. He earned the 2-1 win thanks to outstanding relief in innings 7-9, capped by another dominating Muramatsu outing. Muramatsu struck out three in an inning and a third. Impressive.

Yuki Saito Watch got a little boost thanks to the good people at NBC17 in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill. Their link has driven many of you here. Please stick around to browse the background of this fine young pitcher. A comprehensive look at his background is found in the right margin, listed under "Biography". Thanks for reading.

Finally, for those of you interested in watching these games, live or otherwise, you can head to the USA Baseball homepage and check out the link to "schedule". The games are available on live webcast, and presumably will be available in recorded for as well. Here's Saito's game. Stay Tuned.

Welcome to America

2007-07-03T09:23:00.000+09:00

July 4th kicks off the 36th edition of the US/Japan Collegiate Baseball Games. The team of talented young Japanese players has arrived in the US and commenced training in South Carolina prior to the official contest, held in Durham, NC. There are 5 games altogether, and we should get a look at a variety of outstanding players from both sides of the world. Of course, the most heralded player among this group is our own Yuki Saito, who figures to be the Game One starter on July 4th.

My latest Baseball Prospectus article gives a complete rundown of the players on the Japanese roster, including a brief scouting report. It's subscription only, so you'll have to invest a little of your hard earned cash to get the full details, but I promise it's worth it if you love to read about baseball. I'll give you the rosters of both teams here, as available via normal means of information gathering and throw in a sprinkle of extra information on several of the key Japanese players. First, Team USA:

2007 USA Baseball National Team: Roster

#	Name	Pos.	B/T	Ht.	Wt.	Class	School	Hometown
25	Alvarez, Pedro	IF	L/R	6-2	212	So.	Vanderbilt	New York, NY
28	Berry, Ryan	RHP	R/R	6-1	195	Fr.	Rice	Humble, TX
15	Danks, Jordan	OF	L/R	6-5	205	So.	Texas	Round Rock, TX
8	Espinosa, Danny	IF	S/R	6-0	185	So.	Long Beach State	Santa Ana, CA
5	Flaherty, Ryan	UT	L/R	6-3	200	So.	Vanderbilt	Portland, ME
11	Forsythe, Logan	IF/OF	R/R	6-0	195	So.	Arkansas	Memphis, TN
29	Hamilton, Jeremy	IF	L/L	6-0	180	So.	Wright State	Cincinnati, OH
14	Hunter, Brett	RHP	R/R	6-2	190	So.	Pepperdine	Moorpark, CA
36	Kelly, Joe	RHP	R/R	6-1	165	Fr.	UC Riverside	Corona, CA
6	Kieschnick, Roger	OF	L/R	6-3	200	So.	Texas Tech	Rockwall, TX
40	Lynn, Lance	RHP	R/R	6-5	260	So.	Mississippi	Brownsburg, IN
17	Matusz, Brian	LHP	L/L	6-4	180	So.	San Diego	Cave Creek, AZ
18	Medica, Tommy	C	R/R	6-1	190	Fr.	Santa Clara	San Jose, CA
9	Mercer, Jordy	RHP/IF	R/R	6-3	192	So.	Oklahoma State	Taloga, OK
37	Minor, Mike	LHP	L/L	6-3	175	Fr.	Vanderbilt	Chapel Hill, TN
35	Paramore, Petey	C	S/R	6-2	195	So.	Arizona State	Allen, TX
4	Romanski, Josh	LHP/OF	L/L	6-0	180	So.	San Diego	Corona, CA
44	Ross, Tyson	RHP	R/R	6-5	215	So.	California	Oakland, CA
7	Satterwhite, Cody	RHP	R/R	6-4	205	So.	Mississippi	Jackson, MS
10	Smoak, Justin	IF	S/L	6-3	200	So.	South Carolina	Goose Creek, SC
24	Thompson, Jacob	RHP	R/R	6-6	190	So.	Virginia	Danville, VA
34	Wallace, Brett	IF	L/R	6-1	245	So.	Arizona State	Sonoma, CA

Coaching Staff

#	Name	Pos.	School
26	Mike Weathers	Field Manager	Long Beach State
16	Rob Cooper	Assistant/First Base Coach	Wright State
27	Bill Kinneberg	Assistant/Pitching Coach	Utah
3	Mark Scalf	Assistant/Third Base Coach	UNC-Wilmington

This is a very talented group of ballplayers. Many current Major Leaguers have played in this series of games in the past and you'll be getting a very good look at some of the future stars by checking in on these games. The same can be said of the Japanese group. The NPB will welcome a handful of the graduating seniors on the Japanese roster, and several of the underclassmen sure to be drafted in the near future. Yuki Saito may be one of a very small handful to attempt a jump directly to the Majors, so here's your chance to get a very early look at what he brings to the table. Tell your friends that you saw the next Daisuke Matsuzaka way back when...

2007 Japan Collegiate All-Stars: Roster

#	Name	Pos.	B/T	Ht.	Wt.	Class	School
16	Tomohisa NEMOTO	P	L/L	5-10	173	Senior	YOKOHAMA SHOKA UNIV.
17	Shota OBA	P	R/R	6-0	171	Senior	TOYO UNIVERSITY
28	Mikinori KATO	P	L/L	5-10	167	Senior	KEIO UNIVERISTY
11	Shingo TATSUMI	P	R/R	6-0	156	Junior	KINKI UNIVERSITY
18	Ryo SAKAKIBARA	P	R/R	5-9	151	Junior	KANSAI KOKUSAI UNIVERISTY
21	Tomoyuki KAIDA	P	L/L	5-10	171	Sophomore	KOMAZAWA UNIVERSITY
19	Shinya MURAMATSU	P	R/R	6-2	171	Freshman	KOKUGAKUIN UNIVERSITY
20	Yuki SAITO	P	R/R	5-9	164	Freshman	WASEDA UNIVERSITY
6	Takeshi HOSOYAMADA	C	R/R	5-10	169	Junior	WASEDA UNIVERSITY
25	Shota OHNO	C	R/R	5-10	169	Junior	TOYO UNIVERSITY
1	Tetsuya KOKUBO	IF	R/R	5-9	171	Senior	AOYAMA GAKUIN UNIVERSITY
3	Shiro MORI	IF	R/R	5-9	167	Senior	KINKI UNIVERSITY
7	Takashi OGINO	IF	R/R	5-8	160	Senior	KANSAI GAKUIN UNIVERSITY
2	Noriharu YAMAZAKI	IF	R/R	5-10	169	Junior	YOKOHAMA SHOKA UNIVERSITY
4	Hiroki UEMOTO	IF	R/R	5-8	151	Junior	WASEDA UNIVERSITY
27	Hiroki NAKAZAWA	IF	R/R	6-0	176	Junior	KOKUSAI BUDO UNIVERSITY
5	Ryoji NAKATA	IF	L/R	5-7	256	Sophomore	ASIA UNIVERSITY
26	Shota WAIZUMI	IF	S/R	5-10	167	Sophomore	HOSEI UNIVERSITY
8	Sho ARANAMI	OF	L/R	5-10	160	Senior	TOKAI UNIVERSITY
10	Yukinaga TANAKA	OF	R/R	5-10	182	Senior	WASEDA UNIVERSITY
9	Takahiro IWAMOTO	OF	L/L	6-0	182	Junior	ASIA UNIVERSITY
24	Keijiro MATSUMOTO	OF	L/L	5-11	167	Junior	WASEDA UNIVERSITY

Coaching Staff

#	Name	Pos.
50	Masao KAWARAI	Head Coach
51	Noritsugu MATSUOKA	Assistant Coach
52	Atsuyoshi OHTAKE	Assistant Coach
53	Tetsuo YAMAJI	Assistant Coach

A few of the players to watch, outside Saito, are as follows:
Pitchers
Shota Oba (Toyo University) - Pro Comparison: Kazumi Saito
Shingo Tatsumi (Kinki University) - Tall, lanky righty threw a no-hitter this season
Shinya Muramatsu (Kokugakuin University) - Powerful freshman with huge potential

Batters
Takeshi Hosoyamada (Waseda University) - Saito's catcher has MLB potential
Tetsuya Kokubo (Aoyama Gakuin U.) - Best infielder in 2007 draft, Japanese Pedroia?
Sho Aranami (Tokai University) - speedy CF lost to Saito in University Finals
Takahiro Iwamoto (Asia University) - power hitter, but may not hit for avg.

All of these players have the potential to impact the outcome of the series, but I picked a few I thought you might like to watch. Ultimately, any of the roster guys could be a hero (or a goat). You'll have to watch to see for yourself. One housekeeping note....

The Japanese players had a tune up exhibition against the Columbia Blowfish of Columbia, SC after arriving. A combination of Shota Oba and Mikinori Kato kept the Blowfish hitless through 5 innings, until Yuki Saito arrived on the scene for the 6th. Saito didn't seem right prior to the game, sweating and looking pale, and it showed in the results. He coughed up a 3-0 lead allowing a leadoff walk, a double, and two RBI singles. He pitched two innings and gave up 4 runs. In the end, Saito was saved a loss by his teammates, as they managed to scratch a run to tie it in front of 100 credentialed media, there primarily to watch our boy. It was one of the B-quality starters on the roster that lost the game, as Ryo Sakakibara of Kansai International University allowed a 3-run, walk off homer to Greg Phelps to end the exhibition. Let's hope we see the real Yuki Saito on Independence Day....

All Japan University Champions

2007-06-17T19:41:00.000+09:00

Yuki Saito and company have done it!!! After qualifying for the 56th All Japan University Championship Tournament by winning the Tokyo Big 6 League, the boys from Waseda entered a field of big time programs vying for the crown of all university crowns. Here's a rundown of the games.
June 14th vs. Kyushu International University

In a game that was supposed to be a lopsided win for the Waseda boys, Kyushu International made a serious run at eliminating Saito's bunch early. Waseda couldn't mount an effective rally against any of three Kyushu pitchers, managing to only scratch across 2 runs heading into the 9th. Kyushu would bat last, and got starting pitcher Matsushita into some trouble, scoring a run and putting runners on first and second with two outs. The home club sent up a pinch hitter, and manager Ota went to the pen for the final out. He brought in Saito to mop up the last out. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but Saito gave up a ringing line drive that bounced in front of the left field wall. The runner came around to the plate and was promptly gunned down, ending the game. Saito looked stunned, worried, and then delighted. Waseda survived the first day.
June 15th vs. Kansai International University

On this afternoon, Waseda chose to start Sudata against Kansai International. Sudata was often the choice of manager Ota to precede Saito as a more experienced pitcher. The Waseda lineup was fierce, scoring 5 runs in the second and 4 more in the third to stake their starter to a big lead. With one out in the fifth Sudata got into trouble and was removed after allowing 2 runs to Kansai. Another run was surrendered by the pen in that frame, but that was all she wrote as Waseda sealed the 16-3 victory with a 7 run rally in the top of the 9th. No Saito, but then again, no need.
June 16th vs. Soka University

Yuki Saito took the hill in a very big moment for the freshman ace. Soka University stood in the way of a berth in the championship game and the pressure was on. Saito coughed up a run in the 1st, but looked very cool in escaping any further damage. His Waseda boys helped pick him up with 6 huge runs in an extended bottom of the first that virtually locked up the game. Waseda would score 4 more runs in the course of the contest, but it was hardly necessary as Saito went 5 complete on 82 pitches, allowing 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6. Matsushita and Sudata nailed down the remainder of the game and Waseda was in the big final against Tokai University.

June 17th vs. Tokai University

Saito would once again get the starting nod for Waseda, a sure sign that he is the man in charge of the rotation from now on. The pressure would be on, but it couldn't be anything like the highly charged two days in the Koshien Final less than a year ago. Waseda got on the board in the 1st with a single run, before Saito even took the hill. Certainly, that had to be a relief as the young ace worked his magic for 5.2 innings before surrendering a single run to Tokai. Waseda had scratched across two more runs for Saito, so the lead appeared fairly safe at 3-1. At 102 pitches near the end of the 6th, manager Ota came out to relieve Saito and replace him with Matsushita to finish off the title. That he did with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. Saito's final line: 5.2 IP, 7 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts, 1 ER.

The title lives with Waseda, and Saito will next head to the US to pitch in the US/Japan University Games. Workouts will begin very soon, so there's no rest for the weary. It will be interesting to see him pitch against American university athletes. His final line for the 56th All Japan University Games was:

11 IP, 10 hits, 5 walks, 12 Ks, 2 ER, 1.63 ERA, 1.364 WHIP, 9.82 K/9

Update: June 9th

2007-06-09T21:21:00.000+09:00

A little housekeeping to do here, as I haven't kept up my blogging at Yuki Saito Watch very well in about a month. Here's what needs saying about his Tokyo Big 6 League pitching:

1. Waseda's practice of never announcing their starter is a joke. It's the way things are done in Japan, as if the element of secrecy regarding the next day's starter will somehow give them the edge they need to win. First, that is a dusty old myth that has been long since put to bed in the US, and is even a waning practice in the slow to change NPB. It's simply a disservice to fans in an age of information that allows us to enjoy a myriad of events at a level of understanding previously unknown to mankind. 30,000+ fans look to attend games that Yuki Saito is pitching. Many sleep outside on the sidewalk overnight to get to the ticket window. That is good for college baseball, and I'm sure it's very lucrative for Waseda and the Tokyo Big 6 League.

The only reason there is suddenly such interest in the sport at the college level is Yuki Saito. His fans want to see him. Instead of providing the newfound fans with a simple heads up that he will be pitching, the team leaves it shrouded in mystery to sell more tickets and fill the stands every game. There are plenty of people who will sleep out overnight to buy tickets, hoping to see Saito, who never actually see him. They buy tickets to the game only to find out that he will start the next afternoon.....or not at all. Yes, it's their risk. No one told them to sleep on the street. The problem is, popularity is a fleeting thing. Once Saito is gone, so is your exposure. Your ratings and your gate will drop through the floor. If you treat the fans well, and highlight other players along the way, you spend the time and effort to build your brand and generate excitement. If you play games with the fans and force them to guess at when the main attraction is going to come, they will eventually walk away. I can't sit around every weekend waiting to see if Saito is pitching, while the world is passing me by. If you announce the day he's pitching a day or two early, I will set aside my afternoon. People will still sleep out on the street.

The reason Waseda is doing things this way has almost nothing to do with strategy, and everything to do with money. That's a sin in amateur athletics, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

2. Saito's Waseda boys entered the final weekend of the Spring Season undefeated in the Tokyo Big 6. The only thing standing in their way of a Spring Championship was Keio University, who needed to take all three weekend games to topple the mighty Waseda club. The first game of the weekend was thought to be Yuki Saito's start. The major sports and news outlets prepped for a Saturday game featuring the lights out freshman, only to see the dream smashed when Waseda elected to start Saito's senior, Kouta Sudata, in his stead. Sudata failed to continue the unblemished Spring record by coughing up 5 runs over the first three innings. The stage was set for the following day, and a potential Saito outing to nail things down before they got hairy.

Saito did just that, as he pitched a brilliant five innings to hold Keio in check, while his Waseda offense staked him to a 8-0 lead. The game was over before it even began, as 36,000 fans enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in West Tokyo. Saito labored in the 6th and ended up allowing 4 runs to the boys from Keio, but it was too late. He escaped with a 4 run lead, and Matsushita and Sudata mopped up to bring the title to Waseda. A parade was held in Tokyo where people clambered to catch a glimpse of the boy hero. He grinned ear to ear as he celebrated with his teammates, and made a rather entertaining speech. With a beaming crowd on hand the young ace said, "I want to start by saying that I am not as funny as my seniors. (laughter) Next week is my 19th birthday. (cheers) Winning this title was a great way to celebrate my 18th birthday. (laughter as Saito realized his mistake) Waseda will continue to win! (cheers)"

The speech was full of grammatical mistakes, as the spotlight clearly shone too brightly on the young man. He took it in stride and laughed along with the appreciative crowd at the rally. It was a brilliant moment for the teenager with the world at his fingertips. I look forward to seeing what he does for an encore in the next stage of competition, soon to come.

3. Saito pitched in 6 of Waseda's 11 contests in the Spring, starting four and closing two. Saving his worst outing for last, Yuki Saito pitched to a 0.42 ERA before giving up 4 runs in the penultimate win of the season. His final ERA was 1.65 with 25 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched. Click below for Saito's complete game log with ratios:

Yuki Saito Watch: Episode 2

2007-05-01T10:58:00.000+09:00

It was a long wait between starts as Yuki Saito's Waseda University club gave a few turns in the rotation to other pitchers for their April 21st and 22nd series in Tokyo. Saito has played the role of freshman quite easily as his elder teammates have playfully ribbed him at every available opportunity. The learning curve is very high for a player of his talent and being around the caliber players that migrate to a program like Waseda has been very fruitful for the young college man.

This time around, Saito was looking to follow up his nearly perfect 6 innings of work against Tokyo University with a strong outing against Hosei University at the Jingu Stadium grounds in front of 25,000+ wild fans. The teams in the Tokyo Big Six League do not announce the starters until just before game time, so Saito's debut was largely unattended until the middle innings. This time, fans anticipated another Saturday turn in the rotation, only to be disappointed by the news that Saito would not be the man on the hill in that game. That news, however, did virtually guarantee that the young idol would be on the mound the following day and attendance boomed. It was announced during the game that the number of people in the stands to see Saito pitch, was nearly identical to the attendance of the Giants/Swallows game that same afternoon.

Saito came out calm and focused and proceeded to throw strikes from the beginning. It didn't take long for Hosei to get to him, however, and Waseda's young prince was forced to pitch from the stretch after one batter. The defense didn't help very much as the leadoff hit was a humpback liner that dropped just behind the third baseman, a ball that could have been caught with a better timed jump. A sac bunt later, and Yuki Saito was in a little pinch. The first run of the game scored on an infield single up the middle that was knocked down by second baseman Uemoto, but the ball scooted away to the shortstop side and the runner raced for home. Saito was unfazed and got out of the inning otherwise unscathed.

The Waseda boys put together a little rally of their own in the bottom of the second, scratching out a run to knot the game at 1-1. The RBI belonged to none other than Saito himself. That was all he needed to dominate the rest of the contest with a nice fastball clocked around 90-91, his signature slider, and a developing curveball that had a number of Hosei batters fooled. He also managed another RBI hit later in the contest and smiled away the afternoon on the base paths. As a first year player, it was striking to see the level of maturity that Saito possesses on the mound, and the sophistication of his pitches. He has a lot to work on at this point, including some serious weight training, but he is in another league compared to the other pitchers in the university ranks. The Hosei starter, Futagami, worked too quickly and looked hurried on the mound. His pitch repertoire was fine, but he three upwards of 5-6 pitches a minute. He paid the price for his lack of rhythm and his rushed pace, giving up 3 hits, 3 walks, and 3 runs over 3.2 innings of work. He managed to strike out 5 batters, but took 83 pitches to get to the end of the 4th inning.

Saito, on the other hand, looked sharp and in control. He pitched quickly, but at a very level pace. In the end, he went 7 innings on 91 pitches (13/inning), giving up 4 hits, a walk, and an earned run while striking out 7. In his 13 innings of work to date, Saito has given up 5 hits, 1 run, and a walk, against 15 strikeouts. Waseda is 4-0 and off to the races. Next week, Waseda plays against Rikkyo University (0-4) and we hope to have more from the young Waseda ace in about a week's time. Stay tuned!!!!

Coronation

2007-04-14T15:38:00.000+09:00

It's been a little while since I gave you the last update on the training season of our young hero, Yuki Saito. The warm up sessions and practice games are not covered in nearly as much detail by the Japanese press as the real affairs, so I decided to hold off on the remainder of the training news until the big debut of the freshman right-hander on the Waseda mound. Details of those practice games have been generally limited to a very basic recap of the final score, Saito's runs allowed, innings pitched, and strikeouts. A few quotes about how talented and poised he is, have been standard fare in the coverage, and nothing groundbreaking has emerged. In the 7 games and 21 innings that Saito pitched against a combination of second tier universities and corporate teams, he allowed a total of 4 runs for an outstanding 1.71 ERA. Would he be handed the honor of an opening day start? Even Saito didn't know until the last minute.

It was announced on game day that the first game would belong to the young Koshien hero, while the 2nd start would be given to fellow freshman Yuya Fukui. The Yuki Saito era would begin on April 14th, 2007 at Jingu Stadium versus the club from Tokyo University. The "Todai" players had been anxious to get at Saito, looking to welcome him rudely to another level of competition. It is somewhat unseemly in Japan for attention to be lavished upon a person of little experience or accomplishment, based solely on promise, and you often see a kind of bullying or hazing given to such individuals. The Waseda club has been very good to Saito, aside from the typical freshman duties like retrieving foul balls, carrying bags, and cleaning up after his seniors. The Tokyo University students had every reason to be more harsh with the young ace, and settled on welcoming him with a good old fashioned knock around from the plate.

With great anticipation, Saito took the mound in his shining white Waseda home uniform, burgundy #16 on the back, no name. It was apparent that he'd matured in the months since retiring from his high school club, and his physique showed some development, as well as a wiser look in his eyes. I believe the level of coaching he's receiving at Waseda is going to serve him very well over the next few years to turn him from a prodigy to a legitimate world class pitcher. He still appears a bit slim, and a bit young, but there has been an evolution over the last few months.

As it happens, I was watching the NHK broadcast of Kei Igawa's second start for the New York Yankees against the Athletics in Oakland, as the university contest was underway, and it was striking to change between the games and compare the size of the athletes. The professionals in the Major Leagues appeared monstrous when juxtaposed with the slightly built university students in the Tokyo Big Six League. It was immediately apparent that whatever value there is in following Saito's starts closely will have to be tempered with the knowledge that the competition is largely overmatched. Even American university students show far greater size and power than the amateurs of the Japanese university circuit. Nonetheless, you can only face the competition that's in front of you, and there's a lot to observe about the style of pitching that Saito develops and the ability to develop and grow while attempting to dominate another level of talent. If he were to get knocked around by the Tokyo boys, I suppose it would say a lot about how far he has to go, but if he dominates.....more speculation.

1st Inning

Saito opened the game versus Tokyo's Ijiri, throwing a 140kph (87mph) fastball, which was fouled off. With the very next pitch, a 134kph (83mph) change, Saito induced Ijiri to line out. One away. Second batter, Morimoto, struck out looking on a 143kph (89mph) fastball on the outside part of the plate, and the third batter, Iwama, grounded out to short for an easy 1-2-3 inning to start the game. So much for the rude welcome.

2nd Inning

Waseda's offense provided their freshman sensation with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, a kind of welcome present. It would hold up as Saito got 4th batter Yamada to fly out to center and caught both #5 Takahashi and #6 Maeshiro for back-to-back strikeouts to preserve his unblemished debut. (In the bottom of the inning, Saito would also deliver his first hit, an infield single to third, but would be left stranded.)

3rd Inning

7th batter, Otsubo, grounded to short. #8, Hamada, flew out to right #9, Shigenobu, was victimized by a 142kph (88mph) fastball, becoming the first swinging K for Saito from the Jingu mound. Again, 1-2-3.

4th Inning

3 more Waseda runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the 3rd, allowing the new prince of Waseda to cruise with a lot less pressure. 5-0 is a very nice lead for a player as gifted as Saito, and he'd already made his first pass through the order without a single baserunner. The 4th inning would see the top of the order back for another try at his effective array of fastballs, slider, curves, and change ups. Everything seemed to be working so far, and the combination of locations and speeds had the overmatched Tokyo hitters dizzy. Ijiri put the ball in play again, flying out to center. Morimoto struck out looking for the second time on the day. Iwama became strikeout casualty number six, swinging through a Saito offering, and the perfect game through four began to buzz around the stadium.

5th Inning

Yamada popped out to short. Takahashi went down looking at an 88mph fastball. Maeshiro grounded out to second. 15 up, 15 down. Perfect through 5!

6th Inning

Waseda all but wrapped up the game with 3 more runs in the bottom of the 5th, giving an 8-0 lead to their dominating first year man. He was perfect and looked to extend the string of outs against the bottom of the Tokyo order. #7 batter, Otsubo, had grounded to short in his previous at bat in the 3rd inning, but drove a pitch up in the zone deep to right field and off the wall for a stand up double. The perfect game and no hitter were over, but the point had been made. Tokyo's lust to knock Saito down a peg or two had been reduced to the simple satisfaction of avoiding the humiliation of being blanked by the young star. Would Saito manage to hold the shutout? Hamada grounded out to short, holding the man at second base. Pinch hitter, Oshima, flew out to shallow center, unable to advance the runner to third. Ijiri had his third crack at Saito, having made solid contact the first two times at the plate. It was not to be on this day, as Saito reared back and struck out the leadoff man, swinging.

That would be all for the freshman, as the 8-0 lead allowed the Waseda relief core to mop up what was left of the Tokyo University roster. The score remained 8-0 until the last pitch, and Saito won his debut, a historic event indeed. The final line for Saito was:

6 IP
1 hit
no walks
no runs
8 K
0.00 ERA
0.167 WHIP
8.00 K/BB
12.00 K/9

Not a bad debut. It occurs to me that Saito would have been the top pick of the amateur draft in all likelihood, #2 at worst behind Masahiro Tanaka. He would be pitching against Seibu, SoftBank, Yomiuri, and Chunichi at this point had he entered the draft. Tokyo University and the other members of the Tokyo Big Six League are going to be facing a player capable of being a lights out professional starter right now, so many of the games he starts may look very similar. It's not to say that he won't have a poor outing, and that he won't be beaten, but the chances of knocking off Waseda when the newly crowned prince is on the mound seem to be waning with each bullpen session and each successful test against live game competition. Come back for more, as our subject continues his march through the amateur ranks....

Debut, at last.

2007-03-21T21:03:00.000+09:00

Since my last entry we've seen a few new wrinkles in the Yuki Saito story emerge. Camp in Okinawa wrapped with the young ace completing his mandatory 1000 pitches in 6 days. By the end of training camp, manager Atsuyoshi Otake was finally satisfied that Saito had regained his balance and form and everyone was looking forward to the practice games at Waseda's West Tokyo grounds. Our hero was confirmed as the Opening Day starter against Tokyo University. The game will be telecast in part for broadcast viewers of Nippon Television, and in its entirety for those with the appropriate cable packages. Fortunately, I'm one of those people.

Being the opening day starter, as I have mentioned in the past, is a tremendous honor for a freshman. Only those with "no doubt" talent are afforded such a place on a Japanese roster. Generally speaking, even the most highly touted players are required to take their place in line and sit the bench for a year in deference to their seniors on the club. In every generation there are a few exceptions and we are privileged to be watching one of those rare talents in Saito.

On the 14th of March, Waseda played an intrasquad game pitting the famous first year man against many of the more experienced players on the roster. Saito did not disappoint as he went 3 full innings giving up a single hit, no walks, no runs, and 2 strikeouts. The pitcher later commented that he was about 60-70% of where he wanted to be, and he felt good that he was able to keep the ball down during the exhibition. There was more than a practice game in the air in West Tokyo during this period of time, however, and a lot of people were preoccupied with a brewing scandal around the ballclub.

In Japan, the amateur draft is not on the up and up, so to speak. For many years, professional owners and administrations have been paying amateur players under the table in a manner not all that different than the typical NCAA rules violations that see universities facing major suspensions and penalties every year. This recruiting is a problem because the structure of the draft allows amateur players some leeway in their final destination. By paying promising young players in junior high school, high school, university, and the industrial leagues, professional teams insider deals can be cut to secure top talent before the time comes for the player to be eligible to sign. Many current American GMs and managers in Japan have fought hard to change the system to resemble the US draft. Only by doing so can Japanese baseball avoid the seedy and corrupt payments like the ones I just mentioned. This relates to Waseda directly, as an outfielder on the club was found to have taken money from the Seibu Lions in order for preferential considerations come draft day. An industrial league player for Tokyo Gas was also caught in the act. In the end, Waseda was cleared of any wrongdoing and the player was dismissed from school. You might imagine that the great excitement, not to mention the financial windfall, of Yuki Saito's appearance in the Tokyo Big 6 League was in danger and a lot of people were up in arms about this.

The effect of this scandal may not be immediately realized, but it certainly influenced the March 21st game between Waseda and Chuo University. Security was everywhere as young Yuki Saito took the mound for the first time in his Waseda uniform. Media was banned from the grounds, as were fans. The only outsiders allowed to enter the grounds to observe the ballgame were scouts. The long arm of scandal is enough of a concern that people around the team are going to be extra cautious to avoid jeopardizing the season, and subjecting their players (read: Saito) from having to answer questions about the controversy.

As for the game action, Saito was impressive. He was on a 5 inning or 100 pitch limit, and managed to go the full 5, allowing 4 hits, no walks, and no runs, fanning 5. All that was accomplished on 75 pitches. In the 2nd inning, with one out in the books, Takeshi Mima touched the right hander for a double, putting him in a jam. Observers note the cool that the young pitcher displayed in approaching a very tough hitter named Tanaka, who had deposited a ball deep into the stands of last season's West Tokyo Tournament. It is reported that Saito absolutely blew him away on some serious heat. The next batter was also a strikeout victim, and the brief threat was erased just like that. The very next inning saw a lead off double against the 18 year old pitcher, once again putting him in a tough spot. Before long the threat was again nullified as Waseda catcher Izumi fielded a bunt attempt and fired to third nailing the baserunner for the 1st out. Saito induced a ground ball in the next at bat that ended the inning on a slick double play by the Waseda middle infield. Waseda had managed a 3-0 lead against Chuo behind Saito's strong pitching and some timely hitting in the 2nd and the 5th. As soon as the 5 inning outing was complete, Waseda's relief core gave up the game allowing a run in the 6th and 5 more in the 8th. The final score was 6-5 Chuo.

One final note on this start. Saito took the mound wearing the number 16. Some high profile alumni of the program have worn 16 over the years including former Nippon Ham player Nobuaki Arai, current Yakult Swallows starter Shugo Fujii, current Fuji Television announcer Kenichiro Sakurai, and current Yomiuri Giants rookie pitcher Daisuke Ochi, the #4 pick in the 2006 draft.

Wish they all could be Okinawa girls.

2007-03-09T21:36:00.000+09:00

The much anticipated career of Yuki Saito has begun at Waseda University, with a series of events opening the month of March. Now that you're caught up on the background of his pitching legend, it's time for the here and now. My quick rundown of what has transpired, with an assist from Nikkan Sports.

Saito met his new teammates and began to work on some light pitching exercises with the coaches at Waseda. It was clear that he wasn't in game shape as his control was way off. During his bullpen session, facing live hitters, he managed to walk five on the 25th of February and generally missed the strikezone. His coaches stressed the need to regain control by repeating form and recapturing his good balance. His second session went a bit better, although far from perfect, and it's said that he hit 143 kph(89 mph) on the radar gun during the workout. He allowed three hits and walked one facing 7 batters. Following that warm up, it was time to get ready for two weeks of running and hellacious throwing at training camp in sunny and beautiful Okinawa.

Saito arrived at Urazoe Airport in Okinawa to a throng of 300 cheering fans anxious to get cell phone photographs of the Koshien star. The Handkerchief Prince was more than happy to oblige, although he looked as shocked at the attention then as he did when the frenzy began all those months ago. Perhaps it was the nerves that got to him, considering the heavy workload and harsh training that freshman must endure at Japanese training camp, sometimes called "survival camp". At any rate, he took it all in stride and prepared to enjoy a day at the Yakult Swallows camp with his teammates. A kind of gesture that many pro clubs make to their younger counterparts. A courtesy if you will.

On March 4th, Saito and the Waseda baseball club made their appearance at Yakult camp. The previous day saw a normal 22 Japanese reporters covering the goings on, but "Koshien's Heaven Sent Child" drew a total of 65 reporters and 600+ fans, who gathered by the side of the field where he was located. Security had to cordon off the scene with rope to make sure the enthusiastic gatherers were not a danger to themselves or others. Yakult star Norichika Aoki is an alumn of Waseda University and the current players were thrilled to see their senior in action. Many of the players remarked at the size and strength of the professional athletes and understood the work that lie ahead to achieve their full potential. For the pitchers, it means 1000 pitches over the course of 6 days. Yes, that's for everyone. In preparation for that grueling task, the Waseda players took to a local "peace park" and picked flowers while giving thanks for the chance to play baseball as a young man. It is a ritual of renewal that has some roots in old tradition, I believe.

Then, later that day, it was time for pain.

Saito hit his first bullpen session of "survival camp" in the morning and managed to get in a little light work. 295 pitches of light work. Actually, the 295 pitches were thrown over the course of a little more than one hour, at 100% strength. It was reported that Saito gave a good effort, face reddening by the last 100 pitches, and managed to show his great power and endurance, wiping the pouring sweat from his brow every so often. On the very next day, Saito hit the pen again for a 256 pitch outing. His form was breaking down as he pitched and his coach stood behind him to observe more carefully after about 180 pitches. It was decided that he needed to work on his arm angle and the position of his bent knee as he threw, and later Saito admitted that he has been extremely tense since entering university. That he could see that more clearly after working with his coach on the 5th, was a very good thing, he said.

On the 6th, it was a day of rest for those pitchers who had thrown heavily during the opening days of camp. Saito was instructed to do image training, concentrating on his form and delivery. His coach discussed the player he saw at Koshien and in the National High School Athletic Competition and hoped to help Saito find the focus and the flow that he had during the intensity of those games. The day off and the reflection seemed to have a good effect on the young pitcher as he worked 277 pitched on the 7th, with a lot more confidence and a much better form. The follow up session of 153 pitches on Thursday brought the grand total to 981 pitches in just 5 days. His balance and timing were off a bit again, and both coach and player hope to have things ironed out more before the Tokyo Big 6 season begins. We'll keep you posted....

The Little Prince

2007-03-06T20:39:00.000+09:00

Koshien is the place where stars are born. You don't have to play there to become a legend, but it sure helps. Ask Hideki Matsui, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Yu Darvish, and most recently Yuki Saito. The games at Koshien are Shakespearean. The stage is antiquated and full of ghosts. Koshien Stadium hearkens back to generations past, when there was no television. No internet. It hardly mattered if you were a hero on the grounds of dark brown soil. Ask Sadaharu Oh.

Oh pitched at Koshien, long before anyone dreamed he would be the world's home run king. (Good luck catching him Barry Bonds!) In the Spring Tournament of 1957, Oh led the Waseda Jitsugyo High School team to the finals. Spring is not as prestigious as the big Summer event, but try telling that to a 16, 17, or 18 year old. He had pitched in 4 successive days to reach the big game, but all the while he had been enduring severe blisters on his pitching hand that had cracked and bled throughout the games. The night before the championship game, the young ace lay awake on the tatami at the traditional inn housing the baseball club. His hands were a wreck and he feared he would not be able to take the mound. How would he tell his teammates who had dreamed of this chance since they first picked up a ball?

Just as despair had set in, Oh's father arrived at the inn with a package. Surprised, young Sadaharu greeted him and listened carefully as the Chinese storekeeper who had raised his boy in war torn Tokyo reached into his old cultural heritage and applied Chinese medicine to the blisters. As soon as he had finished he bade his son well and stole off into the night. The next day, Oh endured and led the Waseda boys to the title. That's Koshien.

Many Koshien heroes came and went in the years that followed. All of the modern stars that I mentioned earlier won and lost within the fabric of the historical drama of the setting. None was able to bring Waseda Jitsugyo back to the pinnacle despite the school's long and storied history. None was able to repeat Oh's heroism despite the school's affiliation with Waseda University of the fabled "Tokyo 6 League". None, that is, until Yuki Saito. That's where our story begins.

Yuki Saito, born on June 6th, 1988 in Gunma Prefecture stands a shade over 5'9" and weighs in at 154 pounds. His baseball career began in the first grade of elementary school when he followed his older brother onto the field. His skill grew and it was soon clear that he was a special player in the making. By the time he had reached his final year in junior high school, Yuki Saito was named to the Kanto Regional Tournament's Best 8. Waseda Jitsugyo is a Tokyo school, not in the neighborhood of Gunma, but it hardly mattered. The chance to play in the white and burgundy of Waseda was a dream come true and what better place for a young man than Tokyo? As a freshman, Saito did his duty. He was a newbie on the Jitsugyo club, and performed all manner of chores for his seniors. Talent is one thing. Experience is another.

By the time his second year rolled around, it was inevitable. Yuki Saito's time had come. He was an ace from the start and there was finally promise for Koshien again. The team was well rounded and with a star pitcher on the mound anything was possible. It just never materialized for Waseda in 2005. They did not represent Tokyo in the field of 49 and watched from home as a powerful Komadai Tomakomai club raced to the title behind the pitching of Masahiro Tanaka. It was their 3rd consecutive title after having claimed the championship of the 2004 Summer Tournament and the Spring edition only months earlier.

Saito would have to wait for another chance in the Spring of 2006. He would also have to address some criticism that he was not a team player or a leader. For some time Saito had been building a reputation for being sullen or spiteful when his teammates committed errors behind him. He had become something of a prima donna in the eyes of some, and there was a certain lack of maturity that had to be overcome to fill the leadership qualities worthy of an ace. The 78th edition of the Spring Koshien event was without the 3 time defending champions as the oversight body of the sport ruled that misconduct by a former Komadai player, involved in drinking and smoking, disqualified them from taking the field at the revered Stadium. The door was open for Waseda and a newly humble and mature Yuki Saito.

The tournament went well for the boys from West Tokyo as Saito led the charge to the quarterfinal game by defeating Kansai High School of Okayama Prefecture in a two day marathon that ended at 7-7 on the first day. Jitsugyo managed to squeak past Kansai 4-3 on the eighth day of play, setting up a meeting with the powerful Yokohama club, which once featured ace pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. Yokohama would trounce Waseda by a score of 13-3. Saito gave his best effort, but grew weary after starting in his third consecutive day. The Yokohama club would go on to win it all by defeating Seiho by a whopping 21-0.

The Summer looked bright. Waseda had made an impressive run in the Spring and with the newfound confidence they had built months earlier the sky was the limit. Saito was focused and determined to reach the final in his last chance at Koshien, and it almost seemed inevitable that Tanaka and Komadai Tomakomai would be there waiting after their disappointment prior to the Spring games. The 88th edition of the Summer Koshien would begin with Waseda Jitsugyo lined up against Tsurusaki Kogyo on Day One. Waseda pounded out a stunning 18 hits on the day to thump the Oiwake Prefecture champs 13-1, giving Jitsugyo the most runs in their history against an opponent at Koshien. Saito was dazzling, pitching 9 innings on 126 pitches with 3 hits, 3walks, and 7 strikeouts. Superpower Osaka Toin waited in the wings.

Despite the presence of otherworldly outfielder/pitcher Sho Nakata, young Saito dominated Osaka going all 9 again with only 1 walk and 12 Ks. The final score of 11-2 sent a message to the rest of the field that Waseda might be the team to beat.

It is also important to note that the Waseda ace was drawing a lot of attention for his mound presence. The pitcher had taken to wiping the sweat from his brow with a small blue handkerchief kept in his back pocket. This gentlemanly act, combined with his boyish good looks and golden arm had both young girls and their middle aged mothers swooning at the sight of him. A star player was being born on the field, and in the legend-making annals of Koshien. This kind of story was exactly what would be remembered in 100 years if he had the stuff to win it all.

In Game 3 against Fukui Shogyo, a four run 6th inning fueled by back to back home runs from outfielder Funabashi and Saito himself did the job. Waseda would go on to win 7-1 behind Saito's 136 pitch complete game. He struck out 7 against 3 walks and set up a meeting with Nichidai High School of Yamagata Prefecture. Despite scoring early in the quarterfinal game, Waseda was not able to extend their 1-0 lead. Nichidai pounced in the 6 inning by scoring two against Saito and looked to be exposing a crack in the young ace's armor. The 2-1 lead held for Nichidai until the bottom of the 8th inning when 5 hits and a hit batsman led to 4 decisive runs. The cool "Handkerchief Prince", as he was now called, did the rest by sitting the club from Yamagata down in the 9th for a dramatic 5-2 victory and the school's first appearance in the semi-final game in 26 years.

The coming out of Yuki Saito began in the 1st inning of the semi-final game against Kagoshima Kogyo and continued until the final out. With all eyes on Masahiro Tanaka to start the tournament, people had quickly shifted their attention to the new face of Koshien. Where Tanaka's superior size, polish, and track record had earned him all the accolades coming in, Yuki Saito had turned heads with his poise, leadership, and razor sharp arsenal. He had shown the Japanese audience that his time had come. He had built on his past failures and learned from them. He had become a master of himself, and in turn his opponents. Even in stretches that his control was occasionally not sharp, he showed the knowhow and the cool to pitch out of trouble and really think on the mound. Where others his age were throwing, Saito was pitching. Kagoshima had no chance, and bowed out meekly, managing only 3 hits and no walks against Waseda, and striking out 13 times. It was the Handkerchief Prince's 5th complete game victory in 14 days. Komadai Tomakomai would face them in the final everyone had been anticipating. Tanaka vs. Saito at last.

Pitching on his 3rd consecutive day, Yuki Saito was about to meet destiny. His failure to come through in the Spring in just such a situation must have been on his mind and his arm must have been exhausted. Still, he had come this far. The ghosts of Koshien fuel these teenagers when the title is on the line. Fatigue is not a factor. The contest felt much like a boxing match between two great heavyweights. Both teams seemed to be playing it conservative to start things off, and no one looked close to breaking through. Tanaka had replaced an ineffective Kikuchi, used to start the game in hopes of giving the ace some rest. Called into duty in the 3rd with runners on, the star pitcher struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Komadai scored first in the top of the 8th inning as the pressure had mounted to a fever pitch and the cheering section from Hokkaido seemed ready to take home it's unprecedented third consecutive Summer title. Waseda was despondent. Only two chances remained to scratch across the tying run against the 3rd year man on the mound. Tanaka was fearsome.

The 2, 3, and 4 hitters were due for Jitsugyo in the bottom of the 8th, and tears were already beginning to well up in the youthful eyes of the underdogs. Had they come this far only to fail, or would their best hitters have enough in them to pull it out? A lead off ground out put further pressure on the Waseda team, and more agony mounted for the helpless young men on the bench. A double by the first baseman kept hope alive and the cheering section from West Tokyo erupted. A hit. All they needed was a hit to stay alive!

A battle ensued between cleanup hitter Goto and Tanaka. Goto put the ball in the air to center and all eyes watched as it fell into the centerfielder's glove. The runner tagged and headed for third, prompting a throw. Had the ball travelled far enough for the tag? How close would the throw be? This could be the last opportunity for Waseda. If he fails....

The throw went over the cutoff man's head and into no man's land on the third base side. The tag turned from a move to third with 2 outs, to a game tying jaunt home. 1-1. The agony that must have shot through Tanaka's body at that moment. The humiliation for the centerfielder. This was a world class ballclub that didn't beat itself on throwing errors in unnecessary situations. What came next was an extra inning marathon that ended at 1-1 after 15 innings. Saito had tossed all 15 on 178 pitches. He'd been sloppy with 7 hits and 6 walks, but had such good action on his slider that 16 strikeouts had kept him out of any real danger. This was the first suspended game in a generation, and both weary clubs would be forced to return the next day to decide the championship. While the fans delighted at this extra baseball, the players must have collapsed in the locker room.

For Saito, the rematch would be his 4th consecutive day pitching. In the 3 prior days, he had thrown 435 pitches over 33 innings. Those innings were spectacular as he had worked a fastball slider combination in the low 90s to the tune of 39 Ks against 11 walks and 15 hits. 33 innings of 3 run baseball were behind the hero of the moment. It would only take one more day to put him in the long line of great stars called "Koshien no Moshigo", or the "Heaven Sent Children of Koshien". Tanaka had the same thing on his mind, having thrown 496 pitches over 3 of the last 4 days. He had struck out 31 batters over 29.2 innings, but was again not the choice to start the penultimate contest. Kikuchi again was asked to start things off, in hopes of saving the marquee man's arm.

In the top of the first, Saito went 1-2-3. Kikuchi's turn. Walk, double, walk, ground ball double play to 3B, run scoring single to center. Enter Tanaka. At Koshien, and perhaps in any major championship, you must always go with your best. If Tanaka couldn't go from the start, why bring him in after 2/3 of an inning. It was costly. Waseda would go on to score again three more times and held a 4-1 lead entering the top of the 9th. Saito was masterful, while the Komadai ace was weary. Three outs to go until the title. A leadoff single to the #2 hitter. Sweat appeared on the brow of Saito. Stay cool. Everyone at Koshien, and everyone sitting at home was on the edge of their seat as the first baseman, Nakasawa, strolled into the batters box. He sent a deep shot to straightaway centerfield that could still be flying, and just like that the score was 4-3. Strikeout. One out. Pop up to second. Two outs. As if the baseball Gods had planned this in advance, up to the plate came Masahiro Tanaka. Komadai's last chance.

Saito was intense, yet displayed a kind of calm beyond his years. Tanaka seemed to be gripping the bat tightly and you could see the nerves on his face. The at bat was never competitive and Saito managed to strike out the three time champion of Koshien, raising his arms high in the air, and crying just a bit. Who could blame him. This storybook run to the title is something that no one will ever forget. He is forever in the same conversation as Daisuke Matsuzaka. He was still popping his fastball at 92-93 at the end of 4 consecutive days of pitching and 553 pitches. Despite the 9th inning 2-run homer, Yuki Saito had mastered the best team in the sport for 3 years running by going 9 innings on 118 pitches, 6 hits, no walks, and 13 strikeouts. Sadaharu Oh, recovering from serious stomach surgery, was beaming as he watched the contest. Waseda Jitsugyo was on top again. Gary Garland of Japanese Baseball Daily noted: Saito's 78 strikeouts is second most all time in summer Koshien annals and his 104 whiffs is also second all time for same year, of both spring and summer, Koshien meetings. The latter figure surpassed Daisuke Matsuzaka and Yutaka Enatsu, which is incredible company. It is indeed.

The story doesn't end there. The media was in a frenzy trying to gather information about the two aces' plans after graduation. Would they turn pro? There was some talk of Saito going to Waseda University. Would they look at the Majors? All those questions would be decided later. There was a trip to the US on the schedule first. The Japanese High School All Stars would be playing a series of exhibitions in the United States against American counterparts as a bit of goodwill between nations. Both Saito and Tanaka would be fronting the team, along with several of their teammates and other Koshien standouts. That trip started on the East Coast where Japan's new prince started Game One against the American East All Stars. He pitched 4 innings on 53 pitches, giving up 4 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 8 in a 5-1 victory.

Although the young players were disappointed in missing the Yankee game that was on the schedule, thanks to rainy weather, they were treated to a tour of Yankee Stadium where they had the chance to meet Hideki Matsui in the home dugout. Each of the young men was in awe, but none moreso than Saito. He had written in his elementary school graduation message that his dream was to one day play for the Yankees, and he now stared that dream in the face. Matsui was kind enough to answer questions, and Saito asked him about the Major League lifestyle. Matsui answered with a number of pointers about training and diet, and talked some about the challenges of living in a different culture everyday. Travel was also a big topic, as the US is much larger and spread out than Japan. Saito was beside himself. He also enjoyed visiting Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame before departing for California, and he took in the WBC display featuring Matsuzaka's MVP jersey and memorabilia.

The trip continued on the West Coast, where the young men manages to take in an Angels game successfully, and Saito pitched twice against West All Stars. In the first game, he went 3+ on 52 pitches, but was victimized by 5 hits and 2 walks, including a home run. The game ended in a 6-6 tie, but the outing was a bomb for Waseda's hero. Two days later, in his final appearance in the US, Saito got his revenge by going 5 strong with only 3 hits and no walks. His 8 strikeouts brought his 3 game total to 20 in only 12 innings pitched. Saying farewell to North America, Saito is said to have found a newfound perspective on his future. Many believe he made up his mind to test the Major League waters after his time in the States, and learned that he had a lot of work to do to increase his size and power, and refine his arsenal. That decision would not be made public for some time.

In Japan, Saito returned a hero. His idol status had grown beyond all previous expectations, and there was a gaggle of cameras following him everywhere he went. Ceremonies were held in Tokyo to commemorate the team's success in America, and Waseda Jitsugyo continued to be feted as national heroes. Masahiro Tanaka announced his intention to enter the professional draft, while Saito made it clear that Waseda University was his next destination. The Tokyo Giants, among others, had coveted him and a mad scramble was on to secure the rights to draft Tanaka in his stead. Some scouts still felt that the Hokkaido hero was the better pitcher, with the brighter future, but there was no denying the kind of excitement that was now surrounding Yuki Saito.

The final high school competition of both players' careers was the National Athletic Competition in Hyogo Prefecture. As fate would have it, the two teams fought through a tough field of rivals to meet once again in the championship game. Waseda again was crowned champion at the expense of Tanaka and Komadai Tomakomai, 1-0. Saito gave up 9 hits to Tanaka's 4, but drove in the game's only run himself in the 4th. From that point forward the fates of these two players would diverge. Tanaka was drafted by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Saito was off to the Tokyo Big 6 League and Waseda University. At this date, Tanaka looks to be the #2 starter for Rakuten come opening day and is being marketed as the face of the fledgling franchise.

Saito is going to be the opening day starter for Waseda as a freshman. In a society which places so much importance on seniority, this is almost unprecedented. He was recently sighted throwing a 295 pitch bullpen session in Okinawa while training for the upcoming university season. The Tokyo 6 games will be televised for the first time ever on NTV thanks to the popularity of Yuki Saito. Where he goes from here is a mystery, but with a little better size and some maturation and refinement, the Majors is not a difficult stretch of the imagination upon his graduation in 2011. At 23 he could put himself in a position to be the first ever Japanese player to enter the Majors at such a young age, and could begin a new era for others like him with big dreams. Yuki Saito Watch is here to bring you the blow by blow coverage of this exciting young pitcher's career. With any luck you will be able to say you saw him here first. Come back again soon. Waseda U. begins their season on March 17th and I'll have coverage of every pitch.