In response to my July 31 column regarding the speculation the Nippon Ham Fighters may be thinking about hiring an American manager, I received the following comment from Warren Cromarite, one of five potential candidates I listed as excellent choices to manage the Fighters or any Japanese team.

"Wayne, I read your article on Sapporo and their (apparent) quest for a new manager, even the possibility of a gaikokujin manager. During my playing days with the Giants, my fondest and most enjoyable, anticipated time was playing in Sapporo. The Sapporo fans welcomed me for seven years with the Tokyo Giants each and every time we would play there.

"If the Sapporo management is seriously thinking of hiring a foreign manager, I would love the opportunity. Even though I have no managerial experience, my knowledge and reputation speak for themselves. Cro."

The Chunichi Dragons made headlines in late June by signing Cuban slugger Omar Linares to a three-month contract covering the remainder of the current season. About the same time, the Dragons signed a much lesser known player, Dominican pitcher Martin Vargas.

Linares has, so far at least, not lived up the big billing, having hit only one home run and posting a batting average of just .205 since joining the Chunichi lineup on July 19. He appeared somewhat out of shape and is currently on the disabled list with an injured hamstring.

Vargas, meanwhile, is not your typical Dominican ballplayer. Sure, he came from San Pedro de Macoris, a hotbed of talent where many future professionals and major leaguers were born. But his name does not have a Hispanic ring to it and, although his wife's name is Ramona, his sons are Martin Jr. (age 3) and Jeffrey (59 days old).

Martin Sr. speaks fluent English and, while his preference in music is Latin, he also digs country and western.

His Americanization has no doubt come from the fact he spent the last five and a half seasons in the U.S. minors, playing at every level from Rookie through Triple-A in towns such as Columbus (Ga.), Burlington and Kinston in North Carolina (no wonder he was bitten by the C&W bug), Akron (Ohio) and Buffalo.

He has not won an Olympic medal as Linares has, and never played a day in the majors but had spent his entire career in the Cleveland organization after having been signed by the Indians in 1995 as an undrafted free agent.

Vargas throws more pitches than a catcher has fingers to put down the signs. He's got a straight fastball, a two-seamer, a four-seamer, a cut fastball, slider and a split-finger (forkball) delivery he uses for his change-up. Then there's the "Black Snake" pitch, so-called because it supposedly "slithers" up to the plate every which way, causing fits for opposing batters.

In fact, Vargas nickname is "The Black Snake" -- given to him by former Cleveland general manager John Hart after he saw the mysterious pitch.

Vargas says he likes the image and has the words and a likeness of black snake tattooed on his body.

The 24-year-old right-hander was originally signed as a catcher but converted to the other end of the battery in his second pro season for two reasons: He hit only .233 in Rookie ball, and he broke his ankle, making it difficult for him to squat behind the plate even after the injury healed.

His minor league pitching record is not all that great either, showing stats that include a 4.67 ERA, 30 wins and 36 losses. But he also saved 22 games and likes working equally as either a starter or reliever.

"I love to be in close games," he says. "If the score is 1-0 or 2-1, that's when I'm at my best, whether I started the game or came out of the bullpen."

He made a spectacular debut in Japan on July 24, going 7 1/3 innings and giving up only one hit in defeating the Hiroshima Carp 1-0 at Nagoya Dome. Since then, he's lost a couple of games on unearned runs, so he's 1-2 but with a fine ERA of 2.66 in 20 innings of work.

The Dragons apparently think he's got some promise; Vargas says he's signed with Chunichi for the remainder of the 2002 season, plus 2003 and 2004.

Oh for Cooperstown? The following is from Craig Tomarkin, and I fully endorse his efforts to try to get Sadaharu Oh elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

"Wayne, I'd like to know if you will participate in the Nama-Go-Roku Matsuri (756 Festival). Sept. 3 is the 25th anniversary of the date the legendary Sadaharu Oh hit his 756th home run and indelibly stamped his name into the historical book of world records.

"We are pushing to get Oh elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. I have compiled an incredible case for him, and I and others involved believe he will get elected. I'd like the day to be a genuine media buzz.

"Would you mention it in the days leading up to the event and then post an article about Oh and your endorsement for his inclusion? Please help us spread the word. Craig Tomarkin, BaseballGuru.com"