SEATTLE -- The good news is that Kazuhiro Sasaki is learning a little English. The bad news is that his teacher is Seattle Mariners teammate Jay Buhner.
"We just kind of do a thing called 'word of the day,' where he teaches us a Japanese word and we try to teach him an American word," explains Buhner, who usually patrols the outfield for the M's when he's not busy acting as Sasaki's sensei. "Usually, it's something that doesn't really need to be repeated. You know, one of those real good words that everyone likes to learn."
When asked to provide a sample of his new language skills, Sasaki just laughs. "You won't be able to write it," he says through his interpreter.
Life is good for the 32-year-old Japanese closer here in Seattle. He's playing in a beautiful new ballpark for a first-place club, his teammates all seem to really enjoy having him around and the fans love him, too. During pregame batting practice prior to the Mariners-Texas Rangers game last Sunday at SAFECO Field, Sasaki was constantly tossing balls into the stands and signing autographs for the fans out in right field. His picture graces the cover of Mariners Magazine, he's been featured in local TV spots, and the Mariners official Web site has even added a section in Japanese.
"I think he's having a lot of fun," says Seattle catcher Dan Wilson. "He's fit in with this club really, really well. He's just fun to have around, he's always smiling and joking. He's a great guy to have in this clubhouse."
"He's fit in great here," Buhner agrees. "I think that's the way he was over there (in Japan), too, a little off-the-wall, kind of crazy Japanese guy. He likes to have a good time, be part of the guys, go out and have a beer or two with us. He's been a nice addition to the ballclub, no doubt. He's a good dude.
"His big thing is karaoke, and he always makes me get up and sing the first song," adds Buhner, who says he'll get a little payback soon during rookie initiation. "We've got a special little thing set up (for Sasaki), and we'll make him dress up in a neat little outfit."
But let's face it, success breeds popularity, and in this respect Sasaki's not just another smiling face. Through Monday's games, Sasaki had recorded 14 straight saves and his 24 saves so far this year already rank sixth on the Mariners' all-time single-season list. What's made Sasaki's accomplishments even more amazing -- other than the fact that it's his first year in a new country and a new league, seeing the world's best hitters for the first time -- is that he's coming off major elbow surgery last summer.
"The arm feels fine, like it's back to 100 percent," says the big right-hander, who's listed in the Mariners media guide at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds. That statement is backed up by his performance on the mound, where he has baffled big-league hitters with his nasty split-fingered fastball.
Sasaki signed with Seattle as a free agent last December after 10 seasons with the Yokohama BayStars. With Yokohama, Sasaki established Japan pro baseball records for career saves (229), saves in a season (45), and consecutive saves (22). He was a six-time All-Star, five-time Fireman of the Year and helped the BayStars win the Japan Series in 1998, when he was named the Central League's Most Valuable Player.
And while Sasaki says that basically "baseball is baseball," he has noticed a few differences between the game played in North America and the Japanese version.
"The main difference is the power of the hitters," Sasaki says through his personal interpreter Allen Turner, referred to as "The Shadow" by the rest of the Mariners. "Maybe in Japan you would try to keep a one-run lead and focus on defense. Offense is bigger here, and you're always thinking about getting way more than one run.
"Another difference is when we lose a game, the locker room is just silent, everybody is very down, whereas in Japan after you lose a game, they say, 'Oh well, let's get them tomorrow,' that type of attitude. That's a big difference."
According to Wilson, communication between pitcher and catcher when Sasaki has been on the mound has not been a problem. Despite Buhner's best efforts in the linguistics field, Wilson says that between the translator and the body language and gestures related to baseball -- what he calls "the international language of just showing things with your hands" -- he and Kazu are able to get the job done, adding, "(Sasaki) knows more English definitely than I know Japanese, so we're able to communicate, but it is somewhat of a barrier."
Buhner, for one, is impressed with Sasaki's performance so far.
"He's picked everything up quick, he really has," says Buhner. "He's stepped in an made an immediate impact and he's done a hell of a job closing out games for us. I mean, that's got to be tough. I could never picture myself immediately coming in right away and being 'the guy,' the go-to guy. He's the real s**t, man, he's got to close the games out, and that's got to be a tough adjustment coming from Japan."
When asked if he might one day return to Japan to wind down his career, Sasaki says that's the farthest thing from his mind right now.
"At first I thought I might go back and play (in Japan), but I don't think about that anymore. I'm definitely having fun here, but I shouldn't have the feeling that I'm going to end my career in Japan. I have to focus everything on what I'm doing now and I have to think in my mind that I will be here until the end of my career in order to do well here.
"I really had a hard time at first (in America). Maybe things are going good now, but I'm really just focusing on doing well each game. There was a time when I did struggle, so I'm just taking it one day at a time."
So, on a Mariners team without future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson, Sasaki has helped pick up some of the slack. Things are going well in Seattle, indeed. Now if only he could find a new English teacher . . .