Thursday, October 26, 2017

Draft 2017 Liveblogging

Hello and welcome to my 12th annual anguish over hoping the Giants don't draft my favorite college players, also known as Marinerds NPB Draft Liveblogging!

This year's draft is on Thursday the 26th in Japan at 5pm; which means Thursday morning at 1am here in California. 

Moving the commentary to below the grid now.  Current state of things is that it's Friday morning and I have the entire draft table translated and the entire ikusei list, except that the Hawks didn't put out much info on their ikusei guys and I haven't had time to research them yet.

Name                   Pos  HS/Univ/Company         T/B   DOB          Ht/Wt  
--------------------   ---  ---------------         ---   ----------   -------
Marines
1 Kotaro Kiyomiya
1 Hisanori Yasuda       IF  Riseisha HS             R/L   04/15/1999   188/95
2 Yudai Fujioka         IF  Toyota                  R/L   08/08/1993   177/78
3 Daiki Yamamoto        P   Mitsubishi Okayama      L/L   11/10/1995   182/73
4 Tsuyoshi Sugano       OF  Hitachi                 R/L   05/06/1993   173/80
5 Keita Watanabe        P   NTT Higashinihon        R/R   09/13/1993   177/70
6 Shoji Nagano          P   Honda                   L/L   03/02/1993   181/82

i1 Koshiro Wada         OF  Toyama Thunderbirds     L/L   01/14/1999   185/72
i2 Ryotaro Mori         P   Miyakonojo Shogyo HS    R/L   04/22/1999   180/80

Swallows
1 Kotaro Kiyomiya
1 Munetaka Murakami     C   Kyushu Gakuin HS        R/L   02/02/2000   186/96
2 Yuma Ohshita          P   Mitsubishi Hiroshima    R/L   07/06/1992   179/84
3 Harutaka Kuramoto     P   Okayama Shogyo Univ     R/R   05/16/1995   186/95
4 Yasutaka Shiomi       OF  JX-ENEOS                R/R   06/12/1993   179/73
5 Yuto Kanakubo         P   Tokai Ichihara Boyo HS  R/L   11/04/1999   183/75
6 Takeshi Miyamoto      IF  Nara Gakuen Univ        R/L   04/03/1995   181/78
7 Naoki Matsumoto       C   Seino Unyu              R/R   10/17/1993   177/85
8 Takumi Numata         P   Ishikawa Million Stars  R/R   03/04/1994   185/85

Fighters
1 Kotaro Kiyomiya       IF  Waseda Jitsugyo HS      R/L   05/25/1999   184/102
2 Takahiro Nishimura    P   NTT Higashinihon        R/R   05/06/1993   177/87
3 Eito Tanaka           P   Yanagigaura HS          R/L   07/13/1999   184/70
4 Yuhei Nanba           IF  Soshi Gakuen HS         R/L   05/06/1999   178/76
5 Ryuji Kitaura         P   Hakuohdai Ashikaga HS   L/L   01/12/2000   184/85
6 Ryotaro Suzuki        P   Tohoku Gakuin Univ      R/R   02/18/1996   183/83
7 Kohei Miyadai         P   Tokyo Univ              L/L   07/01/1995   178/83

Dragons
1 Shosei Nakamura
1 Hiroshi Suzuki        P   Yamaha                  R/R   03/22/1997   181/95
2 Sho Ishikawa          P   Seiran Taito HS         R/L   12/14/1999   179/81
3 Wataru Takamatsu      IF  Takikawa #2 HS          R/L   07/02/1999   176/65
4 Tatsuya Shimizu       P   Hanasaki Tokuharu HS    R/R   11/03/1999   182/83
5 Kosuke Itoh           OF  Chukyodai Chukyo HS     R/R   02/03/2000   173/76
6 Takumi Yamamoto       P   Nishinomiya Shiritsu HS R/R   01/31/2000   167/71

i1 Akito Ohkura         P   Tokushima Indigo Socks  R/R   05/15/1994   191/88
i2 Kento Mark Ishida    P   Ryukoku Univ            R/R   07/18/1995   184/83

Buffaloes
1 Daiki Tajima          P   JR Higashinihon         L/L   08/03/1996   182/77
2 Kohei Suzuki          P   Hitachi                 R/R   01/21/1994   186/88
3 Shuhei Fukuda         IF  NTT Higashinihon        R/L   08/08/1992   169/69
4 Hitomi Honda          P   Seisa Kokusai HS        R/L   07/27/1999   181/75
5 Ryo Nishimura         C   Subaru                  R/R   02/21/1996   176/75
6 Hayato Nishiura       OF  Meitoku Gijuku HS       R/L   05/21/1999   178/70
7 Shinya Hirosawa       IF  Oita Shogyo HS          R/R   08/11/1999   175/67
8 Tatsuya Yamaashi      IF  Honda Suzuka            R/R   10/26/1993   174/74

i1 Hiroki Inatomi       C   Sanda Shosei HS         R/L   04/27/1999   178/88
i2 Kohei Azuma          P   Kobe Koryo HS           R/R   12/14/1999   178/73
i3 Akihito Hiyane       IF  Hiryu HS                R/R   08/25/1999   182/82
i4 Felipe Kisu Desouza  C   Gotenbani HS            R/R   09/04/1999   176/73

Giants
1 Kotaro Kiyomiya
1 Munetaka Murakami 
1 Takuya Kuwahara       P   Chuo University         R/R   03/26/1996   175/78
2 Yukinori Kishida      C   Osaka Gas               R/R   10/10/1996   175/78
3 Takumi Ohshiro        C   NTT Nishinihon          R/L   02/11/1993   187/86
4 Takumi Kitamura       IF  Asia Univ               R/R   08/29/1995   181/87
5 Shunta Tanaka         IF  Hitachi                 R/L   08/18/1993   180/83
6 Akihiro Wakabayashi   IF  JX-ENEOS                R/S   08/26/1993   180/77
7 Kaito Murakami        OF  Nara Gakuen Univ        R/R   07/07/1995   189/94
8 Dai Yuasa             IF  Takasaki Fukushi HS     R/R   01/24/2000   170/67

i1 Kenshin Higa         IF  Moriokadai HS           R/L   01/12/2000   180/82
i2 Shingo Yamakami      P   Tokiwa HS               R/R   09/21/1999   183/75
i3 Shun Kasai           OF  Tohoku Fukushi Univ     R/R   04/20/1995   180/80
i4 Yudai Tanaka         P   Haguro HS               R/R   09/14/1999   183/75
i5 Rui Hirohata         C   Rissho Univ             R/L   06/17/1995   177/72
i6 Shohei Koyama        C   Kansai Univ             R/R   03/25/1996   170/70
i7 Koki Orishita        IF  Shinno HS               R/R   02/14/2000   177/86
i8 Sota Arai            OF  Sekine Gakuen HS        R/R   09/27/1999   190/98

Eagles
1 Kotaro Kiyomiya
1 Munetaka Murakami 
1 Hiroki Kondoh         P   Okayama Shogyo Univ     R/R   06/27/1995   187/92
2 Masaki Iwami          OF  Keio Univ               R/R   07/10/1994   187/107
3 Tsuyoshi Yamasaki     IF  Kokugakuin Univ         R/L   12/29/1995   172/72
4 Yuki Watanabe         P   Yokohama Shokadai       L/L   11/08/1995   182/82
5 Akito Tanaka          OF  Hyogo Blue Thunders     R/R   03/05/1996   181/98
6 Kenji Nishimaki       IF  Sendai Ikuei            R/R   04/22/1999   168/73
7 Kanji Teraoka         OF  Ishikawa Million Stars  R/R   12/03/1992   180/85

i1 Ryotaro Ide          P   Kyushu Sangyo Univ      R/L   03/20/1996   185/83
i2 Kyoshiro Matsumoto   IF  Konan HS (Fukushima)    R/L   09/21/1999   172/72
i3 Kazuki Nakamura      OF  Tenri Univ              L/L   10/26/1995   173/75

Baystars
1 Katsuki Azuma         P   Ritsumeikan Univ        L/L   11/29/1995   170/70
2 Kazuki Kamizato       OF  Nihon Seimei            R/L   01/17/1994   178/83
3 Kosuke Sakaguchi      P   Hokkai HS               R/L   08/15/1999   186/80
4 Shunsuke Saitoh       P   JX-ENEOS                R/R   01/07/1994   176/81
5 Shuto Sakurai         P   Nichidai Sanko HS       L/L   06/25/1999   178/80
6 Koki Terada           P   Ishikawa Million Stars  R/R   01/05/1992   175/73
7 Shumei Miyamoto       IF  Panasonic               R/L   07/24/1996   176/81
8 Taishi Kusumoto       IF  Tohoku Fukushi Univ     R/L   07/07/1995   180/77
9 Yudai Yamamoto        C   Shiga United            R/R   09/11/1998   178/78

i1 Koh Nakagawa         P   Minoshima HS            R/R   10/02/1999   178/79

Lions
1 Daiki Tajima
1 Hiromasa Saitoh       P   Meiji Univ              L/L   06/03/1995   178/75
2 Manaya Nishikawa      OF  Hanasaki Tokuharu HS    R/L   06/10/1999   180/78
3 Sho Itoh              P   Tokushima Indigo Socks  R/R   02/10/1999   175/70
4 Kaima Taira           P   Yaeyama Shoko HS        R/L   11/15/1999   173/80
5 Kaito Yoza            P   Gifu Keizai Univ        R/R   09/15/1995   173/74
6 Ryusei Tsunashima     IF  Itoigakawa Hakurei HS   R/L   01/21/2000   178/72

i1 Wataru Takagi        OF  Shinsokan HS            R/L   12/06/1999   180/77
i2 Masato Saitoh        C   Hokkaido Kyoiku Univ    R/L   08/07/1995   180/86

Tigers

1 Kotaro Kiyomiya
1 Hisanori Yasuda
1 Kosuke Baba           P   Sendai Univ             R/R   05/18/1995   180/88
2 Haruto Takahashi      P   Asia Univ               L/L   11/07/1995   179/80
3 Takahiro Kumagai      IF  Rikkio Univ             R/R   11/10/1995   175/70
4 Kairi Shimada         P   Jobu Univ               R/L   02/06/1996   175/72
5 Masaki Tanigawa       P   Kyushu Mitsubishi       R/R   10/06/1992   175/76
6 Joichiro Maki         P   Keishin HS              R/L   09/23/1998   181/81

i1 Masaki Ishii         P   Jobu Univ               L/L   07/12/1995   180/82

Hawks
1 Kotaro Kiyomiya
1 Hisanori Yasuda
1 Kosuke Baba
1 Haruto Yoshizumi      P   Tsuruoka Higashi HS     R/R   03/12/2000   185/85
2 Rei Takahashi         P   Senshu Univ             R/R   11/02/1995   187/80
3 Shu Masuda            OF  Yokohama HS             R/R   05/21/1999   185/83
4 Arata Shiino          P   Kokushikan Univ         R/R   10/10/1995   194/88
5 Fumimaru Taura        P   Shugakukan HS           L/L   09/21/1999   170/75

i1 Shuto Ogata          P   Ishikawa Gijuku HS      R/L
i2 Ukyo Shuutoh         IF  Nodai Univ Okhotsk      R/L
i3 Richard Sunakawa     IF  Okinawa Shogaku HS      R/R
i4 Kotaro Ohtake        P   Waseda Univ             L/L
i5 Yamato Higurashi     OF  Tachibana Gakuen HS     L/L
i6 Yuta Watanabe        P   Niigata Albirex         L/L

note: the Hawks provided very little detail on their ikusei and I haven't had time to research yet

Carp
1 Shosei Nakamura       C   Koryo HS                R/R   06/06/1999   181/77
2 Sho Yamaguchi         P   Kumamoto Kogyo HS       R/L   07/13/1999   184/70
3 Brad Makoto Kenma     P   Nihon Bunri Univ        R/R   06/05/1995   192/90
4 Atsushi Nagai         OF  Nishogakusha HS         R/R   01/10/2000   178/91
5 Atsushi Endoh         P   Kasumigaura HS          R/R   04/08/1999   186/74
6 Takato Hiraoka        P   Chubu Gakuin Univ       R/R   08/05/1995   185/92

i1 Tsubasa Okabayashi   P   Komono HS (Mie)         R/R   08/09/1999   183/85
i2 Reira Fujii          P   Omagari Kogyo HS        R/R   09/17/1999   181/86
i3 Ken Sasaki           P   Okasa HS                R/R   04/02/1999   189/78


(commentary starts here)

I've got my usual set of draft magazines, a whole ton of industrial league info, various high school stuff, and yet I still have no idea what will happen on draft day.  There are a few players I have particular interest in; obviously Kohei Miyadai from Todai is the big question for me this year, and I wonder if my submarine boys Rei Takahashi (Senshu) and Yuya Hasegawa (Hosei) will get drafted at all.  I also feel like there are more katakana names in the set than usual, such as RHP Brad Makoto Kenma from Nihon Bunri, Deshawn Hiroyuki Satoh (Whitlow?) from Yokohama Shogyodai, Mark Kento Ishida from Ryukoku... the high school set has a Richard Sunagawa who looks like a big kid from Okinawa Shogyo and a Felipe Kisu Desouza who was born in Japan to Brazilian parents.  Also Montell Higuma, Julius's brother.

Anyway, hopefully the TBS stream will actually work this year, who knows.  More hopefully, we'll get to see/hear my favorite college catcher and best smile on TV, Tomohiro Kiire, covering the draft for them.  He's been tapped many times by their station to talk about Miyadai this semester, and I saw him a few times at Jingu when I was there this fall, so I can only hope :)
Otherwise I'll just be watching the picks come in on various news sources such as Nikkan Sports as usual.

1am!  I've got a sketchy but reasonably stable video feed of the draft.  Hopefully it'll work :)

Let's see, the order people walk in is the draft order:

Marines (big deal made about Iguchi coming in as new manager and all)
Swallows
Fighters
Dragons
Buffaloes
Giants (heh the announcers pointed out how they didn't make the playoffs.)
Eagles
Baystars (Rami-chan looking dapper and the whole thing about making the series after 19 years whee)
Lions
Tigers
Hawks
Carp

I would comment how every team is said to want to go after Kiyomiya but seriously I'm so sick of hearing about him I just hope the lottery is quick and painless and then we can get on with our lives :)

1:08am: okay, everyone is in there now.  Let the fun begin!
(by which I really mean there are 6 minutes of commercials and then maybe some fun will begin.  sheesh)

Okay, everyone's put in their first round picks.  And the reveals!

Marines: Kotaro Kiyomiya, IF, Waseda Jitsugyo HS
Swallows: Kiyomiya
Fighters: Kiyomiya (fuuuuuuuuuck)
Dragons: Shosei Nakamura, C, Koryo HS
Buffaloes: Daiki Tajima, LHP, JR Higashinihon
Giants: Kiyomiya
Eagles: Kiyomiya
Baystars: Katsuki Azuma, LHP, Ritsumeikan Univ
Lions: Tajima
Tigers: Kiyomiya
Hawks: Kiyomiya
Carp: Nakamura

So that's 7 teams going for Kiyomiya, 2 for Tajima, 2 for Nakamura, and then Azuma goes to the Baystars uncontested.  Good for them and for him :)

uhhh... I'm sorry for the delay.
the Fighters got Kiyomiya, which is my worst fucking nightmare, so I'm stalled a little while I deal with that fact.  It's now 1:26am and Hiroshima got Nakamura.

Orix gets Tajima! Well, that's gonna be a JR East party for sure.

Okay, well, second round of the first round about to begin...

Marines: Hisanori Yasuda, IF, Riseisha HS
Swallows: Munetaka Murakami, C Kyushu Gakuin HS
Dragons: Hiroshi Suzuki, RHP, Yamaha
Giants: Murakami
Eagles: Murakami
Lions: Hiromasa Saitoh, LHP, Meiji Univ
Tigers: Yasuda
Hawks: Yasuda

The announcers make a really big deal about which hand Kanemoto puts into the box each time for some reason but... looks like Yasuda is going to Chiba Lotte (it's now 1:37am)

Giants: Takuya Kuwahara, RHP, Chuo University
Eagles: Hiroki Kondoh, RHP, Okayama Shogyo University
Tigers: Kosuke Baba, RHP, Sendai University
Hawks: Baba (wow, another runoff)

(...and the Tigers get Baba, okay)

Hawks: Haruto Yoshizumi, RHP, Tsuruoka East HS

So the first round is "done" at 1:45am.  Fun times.  Okay, time for me to start filling out the grid.  Wake me up when Miyadai gets drafted, okay?

Long interview with Kiyomiya, he mentioned how he wants to go to the majors someday, the announcers were like "we hear you're studying English for it, wanna speak some?" and he was like "lol no that would be too embarrassing".

sigh

2:18am hey, Rakuten just took Masaki Iwami in the second round, I guess that's kind of a good thing, I would rather him be on the Fighters but well you know what happened so...

(also while entering data I noticed our second round pick Nishimura is exactly one year older than Kazunari Ishii because I just do that)

churning on...

2:21am: well my favorite college submariner Rei Takahashi got drafted!
...unfortunately, it was by the Hawks.

Also uh someone has to tell Rakuten that it is really not fair that they got Keio's Iwami AND Tsuyoshi Yamasaki from Kokugakuin, seriously.

So I went headsdown on the grid a whole lot and then at 3:20am the Fighters finally took Kohei Miyadai with their final and 7th pick and the entire evening has been worth it even if I'm still kind of bummed about where some people went.  It was kind of funny because basically, I was translating, translating, then saw suddenly (24) Twitter and knew exactly what had to have happened (I follow a lot of Todai fans/players, and a lot of Fighters fans, and so there was quite a bit of confluence).  Very happy to see it.  Now the only question is: will he come to Arizona, and will I get a uniform made before then somehow?  (I do feel like there's no real rush; I would be really surprised if he didn't spend a while in Kamagaya next year.)


A few stray thoughts as I wrap up for the evening:

On the foreign-ish players: Brad Kemna got drafted by the Carp, should be interesting to see how he fits in there, with Allen Kuri and all.  That Felipe Kisu Desouza kid I mentioned got taken by the Buffaloes in the ikusei draft, and Ishida Mark Kento went to the Dragons, and Richard Sunagawa to the Hawks.

So many Big 6 alumni got drafted from industrial teams that I almost entered their college several times (Fukuda from Meiji->NTT, Shunsuke Saitoh from Rikkio->ENEOS, also Naoki Matsumoto Rikkio->Seino).  Super glad to see Akihiro Wakabayashi (Hosei->ENEOS) got drafted even if it's by the Giants so he is now dead to me.  Someone pointed out on Twitter that his college, industrial, and pro teams are all orange-colored, kinda funny.

It felt very weird to enter draftees who were born in 2000 for some reason.

Several indie/industrial teams had a whole bunch of people taken, like the Ishikawa Million Stars in the BCL, and the NTT corporate teams, and Hitachi and ENEOS and all (well ENEOS always has a bunch, but still).