Get to Know Em!!

Since this December 17, 2010 I began studying my Japanese in preparation of welcoming our newest 2nd baseman to Twins Territory! And so when I found this video, my Japanese was put to the test. In order to successfully translate his strong Japanese accent, I decided to use the given English translation that Youtube so generously provided. Thank you Youtube.

To get back to Nishioka... How do you feel about him becoming the newest 2nd baseman for the Twins in a long line of gap fillers since... yes... Chuck Knoblauch? (here is another challenge: name all of the Twins players that have played 2nd base since Chuck Knoblauch was traded to the Yankees after the 1997 season) Is Nishioka a "stop-leak"? Or does the defending batting champ for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan have a future in the Twins middle infield?

My gut feeling is this. Tsuyoshi Nishioka (or like I like to call him, "Nishi") will be an above average 2nd baseman for the Twins in 2011 and for many years to come. I believe the transition for the 2nd baseman will be still be difficult, but will be easier considering a few things:

- The pressure of being a rookie short stop has been taken off. Not to say that 2nd base isn't a vital defensive position (ask Nathan, he is the best defensive -and offensive- 2nd baseman in the Red River Valley Softball Association Church Softball League! And it ain't easy! But enough about our softball team, there is plenty more where that came from), but there is something to be said for not having to come to a team and not have to become the captain (SS) of the defense.

-From all accounts, Nishi handles the bat extremely well. It is never easy when you've never faced the pitcher on a daily basis... for 162 days. (hopefully he sees Phil Humber at least 4 times this year, that should help the transition.) But any guy who can establish himself as batting the champ over the course of the season, no matter what league, can be considered a "great hitting mind".

-Finally, anybody who hits in front of Joe Mauer has at least 3 legs up on everybody. Nishi will get pitches to hit because the last thing anybody wants to do is put a guy with speed on the bases in front of the best contact hitter in baseball. That's right, I said it. Nishi will have the opportunities, and by the law of Japanese averages, you got to like the odds.

But enough about what this rube thinks! What about you?

sidenote: one former 'Sota athlete would like to correct Nishi. It's supposed to be "Anything. Is. Possible!" Not "Impossible is nothing." Rookies...