Last week we examined the situations of pitchers Masahide Kobayashi (recently released by the Cleveland Indians) and Yasuhiko Yabuta (still treading water on the Kansas City Royals farm team at Omaha) and suggested they give up the major league dream, return home and pitch for a Central or Pacific League club.
Then there is the case of ex-Hanshin Tigers ace Kei Igawa, who has wallowed mostly in Triple-A during the three seasons since he left Osaka after being posted and signing a lucrative five-year contract said to be worth $20 million with the New York Yankees.
This year, Igawa is 8-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 18 starts for Scranton-Wilkes Barre, the Yanks' top farm team. Moreover, he beat Columbus on July 21 for his 27th win in the Scranton-Wilkes Barre uniform which set a franchise record for most career victories by a pitcher. In that July 21 contest, he gave up no runs and only four hits in seven innings.