Notched Another Win: Yesterday's Scores That Matter [WMQ]

[caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“450” caption=“They may not be able to get the president to toss the first pitch out in Japan, but I don’t think they mind.”][/caption] 8 April 2010 NPB Hiroshima Carp (4) at Yakult Swallows (0). Another fine start for Kenta Maeda who is proving to be their best pitcher. Also their first shut out of an opposing team. The Carp rise to 3-8-0 and actually have some hope of getting out of last for once if they can take their upcoming series against the Baystars. ...

April 9, 2010 · 2 min · el33tcapitan

No, Not Quite: Yesterday's Scores That Matter [WMQ]

[caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“I guess it gets right to the point…”] [/caption] Despite their motto for the year, visible in the picture above, the Carp have not managed many wins this season. 7 April 2010 NPB Hiroshima Carp (1) at Yakult Swallows (7). The Carp fall to 2-8-0 in last. Go Carp! Rakuten Eagles (6) at Nippon Ham Fighters (3). The Eagles continue to hammer the Fighters. Nice work guys. 5-8-0 in 5th, two wins back from 4th. ...

April 8, 2010 · 2 min · el33tcapitan

The MLB and NPB Are Both In Season! [Wednesday Morning Quarterback]

[caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“160 games in for some teams.”] [/caption] Words cannot describe how great it is to FINALLY have the 2010 season underway for both leagues! Since we had an MLB-only post last week, we’ll start with the NPB. [caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“300” caption=“Sorry Min”] [/caption] What an unfortunate week it’s been for me to root for the Carp and the Eagles. Both teams put together three wins over the last week, which is pretty shameful. ...

April 7, 2010 · 2 min · el33tcapitan

Opening Day!: 6 April Scores That Matter

[caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“There’s always optimism on Opening Day. Look at the huge smile on Teddy!”] [/caption] 3 April NPB Yomiuri Giants (6) at Hiroshima Carp (5). The Carp fall to 1-6-0 and are last in the Central League. Softbank Hawks (10) at Rakuten Golden Eagles (6). The Eagles take a hit to 3-7-0 and are in fifth place in the Pacific League. 4 April NPB Yomiuri Giants (10) at Hiroshima Carp (3). The Carp fall to 1-7-0 and look awful in last in the Central League. Softbank Hawks (3) at Rakuten Golden Eagles (2). The Eagles fall to 3-8-0 and are still in fifth place in the Pacific League. ...

April 6, 2010 · 1 min · el33tcapitan

MLB 2010 Season Projections [Wednesday Morning Quarterback]

Another year, another season! 2010 looks to be another good one. The Marlins don’t look like they’re about to run away with their division, but the Rays have a fighting chance this year. I’m getting ahead of myself, so let’s back up and go through this division by division like we do every year. AL East After a (glorious) season where the Yankees didn’t make it to the playoffs for once, the Bronx Bombers came back with a vengeance and took it all. The Yanks may have lost Damon and Matsui, but they’re still in a strong position in the AL East and look poised to make the playoffs in the division. Players are getting older on that team and the pitching isn’t as strong as they’d like, but, barring some kind of major injury, I stand by that prediction. ...

March 31, 2010 · 9 min · el33tcapitan

Super Ichiban Travel Blog Part VIII: Tokyo Drift [II]

[caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“The famous and super-busy scramble crosswalk at Shibuya.”] [/caption] Here we are on the last (full) day of the Main Tour. It would be the last day that Dave and I were together in Japan, so we decided to hit up all our Tokyo loose ends. That mostly meant wandering around getting the last of our souvenirs and checking out some of the famous districts within Tokyo. ...

October 5, 2009 · 11 min · el33tcapitan

Citi Field vs. Yankee Stadium [WMQ]

It’s time for Wednesday Morning Night Quarterback, your weekly sports round-up. Instead of the usual sports roundup today, it’s going to be a battle of the new stadiums. That’s right, it’s Yankee Stadium vs. Citi Field! [caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“A view of Citi Field from the parking lot”] [/caption] VS. [caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Yankee Stadium from the subway platform”] [/caption] ...

August 6, 2009 · 8 min · el33tcapitan

Mid-Season Predictions [Wednesday Morning Quarterback]

It’s time for Wednesday Morning Quarterback, your weekly sports round-up. Here we are at the middle of the 2009 MLB season and things could not be more different than I expected. Dark horse candidates lead wild cards, division standings are mostly in shambles, it’s just not what most anyone predicted. Let’s take a look at the current standings: AL East Yankees Red Sox 1GB Rays 4.5GB Blue Jays 10.5GB Orioles 15GB ...

July 22, 2009 · 5 min · el33tcapitan

The 2009 MLB All-Star Game [Wednesday Morning Quarterback]

It’s time for Wednesday Morning Quarterback, your weekly sports round-up. It’s that time of year again, the MLB All-Star game is upon us! Last night was the Home Run Derby and, despite being in his team’s stadium, Albert Pujols did not quite manage to make it to the third round. Instead the final competition was between Prince Fielder, of the Milwaukee Brewers, and Nelson Cruz, of the Texas Rangers. In the end, Fielder took it and even bashed in a homer over 500 feet. ...

July 14, 2009 · 19 min · el33tcapitan

Wimbledon and All-Star Starting Rosters [Wednesday Morning Quarterback]

It’s time for Wednesday Morning Quarterback, your weekly sports round-up. I don’t tend to report on tennis news, but I happened to watch various parts of the Federer/Roddick match on Sunday, so I thought I’d say a few words on it. It’s worth nothing that this is probably one of the most lopsided rivalries in tennis. In fact, the 2 wins by Roddick (of 21 matches) is so embarrassing I’m sure that he wishes people would stop calling it a rivalry so he wouldn’t have to hear that stat. ...

July 8, 2009 · 3 min · el33tcapitan