Yabu's Message [Translated]

by ConditionOakland on Jun 23, 2005 10:25 PM PDT

Hi everyone.
If you have ever have gone to Yabu's website, k-yabu.net, you've probably noticed it is in all Japanese. So, I thought I would just do my best to translate his latest two messages, if case any of you are wondering what he has been thinking of his experience so far. Also, I just think it's interesting.
I am not yet fluent in Japanese, so bear with me in the translation. My friend, Taku, also helped. Enjoy.

-----

--Entry May 16-- "May Message"

Hello, it's Yabu. The season has started and one month has already passed. I'm getting used to the environment here and Major League Baseball has been enjoyable in various ways.
Although not all teams are not waging war on each other yet, the individual players have been interesting.
Although everyone is calling the results of our team to be unsatisfactory, they have a very bright future still ahead.
I plan to pitch in whatever role left in order for me to contribute to the victory of this team.

[There was also a little note on the bottom, but I couldn't really understand it.]

--Entry June 6-- "June Message"

Although we're now entering June, in Japan it is the rainy season currently. In Oakland, it's about 12 degrees to 25 degrees always, it is not hot and at night games as well [ somewhat chilly in many cases].
Although I have been pitching in relief since the opening of the season, it is not different from the time I was a starter. There is a certain amount of rotation for relief pitchers here, and it is used really carefully in order to lengthen a pitcher's life.
I usually wait in the bullpen, resting my shoulder, my participation is not needed yet, when they call from the bench and I warm up, surely to come in. So, my shoulder is not used vainly or without purpose.
My pitching has stablized without the ability to dig into the ground at the end of my delivery, since the mound was somewhat sticky and hard, so it was hard to perform.
Although Koshien had this, the natural grass is very nice and pleasant to play on.
Since I am in such a good environment, I am taking the best care of my condition and resting during this season.

----

Again I have to say that I am still new at this, but, this is pretty much what Yabu-san wrote. Hope you guys found this interesting.
(Note: Koshien is where Yabu used to pitch for the Tigers in the NPB).

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Comments

Good to see

He ain't badmouthing Macha for using him so little...

by OaktownTribesman on Jun 23, 2005 10:41 PM PDT reply actions

Macha knows some Japanese

So, maybe that's why he hasn't gone off on him

Nature's first green is gold...

by prana160 on Jun 23, 2005 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Koshien

Isnt that where the Highschool Playoffs in Japan take place? Some huge stadium in Tokyo or something...

I think it would be ironic if everyone was made of iron.

by Zonis on Jun 23, 2005 10:55 PM PDT reply actions

Yes

and it's also the "Wrigley Field" of Japan. A brick yard and real grass. Outdoors too. Not a generic Japanese Dome.

I heard Babe Ruth hit a home run there while barnstorming Japan with the MLB All Stars in the 30's

Look at me! I'm blog-pimping too! http://7thinningstretch.blogspot.com

by secret ASian man on Jun 23, 2005 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions

that's the attitude!

"my shoulder is not used vainly or without purpose"

-I like yabu

I'm the guy with the Carney/Jared Lansford jersey

by gojohn10 on Jun 23, 2005 11:00 PM PDT reply actions

i just went to babelfish

and "translated" the whole site, and if you go to the tab labeled "information", you get some very funny stats. things like "four mis-pitched balls" (walk), "three swings" (strikeout), "suffering hit" (opp. hits), "mistake" (runs), and then my personal favorite, the names on the game log. He appeared in a couple games I don't recall, like the May 24th "anti-devil raising game", and the May 9th "anti-lead socks game"

you've gotta love babelfish...

seriously, though, it's an interesting site, and while the babelfish translation won't really give you more than the gist of the site, it will help you navigate around and find some interesting things, like the photo gallery...

--Nebraska--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jun 23, 2005 11:10 PM PDT reply actions

anti-lead socks?

Look at me! I'm blog-pimping too! http://7thinningstretch.blogspot.com

by secret ASian man on Jun 23, 2005 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions

yep

verbatim from the babelfish "translation"

--Nebraska--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jun 23, 2005 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions

i'm anti-lead socks

I hate that team!

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Jun 23, 2005 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions

So which "lead" does that mean?

Lead, as in "lead, and I will follow," or lead, as in the poisonous substance that is not actually found in pencils?

by Melody on Jun 23, 2005 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions

my best guess

is that the japanese word for "red" is the same as "lead", kind of like how the english word for a strong breeze (wind) is also the word for what you do with string (wind)

--Nebraska--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jun 23, 2005 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Hmm..

Looking at the nifty pocket schedule I always have in my wallet. The 5/9 game was against the Red Sox.

So I guess that "lead" equals "red" I though the mixing up the l's and r's was leary un-PC.

Look at me! I'm blog-pimping too! http://7thinningstretch.blogspot.com

by secret ASian man on Jun 23, 2005 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions

In Japanese

There is no "L", though. So the Japanese tend to pronounce "L" as "R".

by OaktownTribesman on Jun 24, 2005 5:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Japanese has two "alphabets"

One for Japanese words, one for foreign words or words which are to be translated literally. The latter was used to write "Red Sox" but since it is well known that Japanese doesn't distinguish between 'L' and 'R', you get "Lead Socks".

If he had written the name of the team instead of Oakland, it would have been something ridiculous like "Asu-re-chic-su". I'm sure they just call them the "Ay-Zu" in Japan!

by almostreggie on Jun 24, 2005 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions

lead

maybe i am wrong - but i am thinking the anti-lead means that the team was behind when yabu came into pitch...hence lead would be lead as in following or coming behind...as in the amount of runs behind.

Baseball is like life. It's a day-to-day existence, full of ups and downs. You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life. - E Harwell

by peoples27 on Jun 24, 2005 5:52 AM PDT up reply actions

lol...

ok, funniest thing about yabu's site...

the wallpapers he has...

here's a good one... "sweaty yabu"

--Nebraska--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jun 23, 2005 11:13 PM PDT reply actions

it's my wallpaper right now...

hahaha
... hot huh?

Ganbatte Akiramenaide Oakland! Good luck and keep trying!

by ConditionOakland on Jun 23, 2005 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions

nice...

looks like someone gave yabu a nice bottle of something along with the ball from his first win (is that right?)

--Nebraska--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jun 23, 2005 11:17 PM PDT reply actions

Why would you write on that?

I'd put it in a case and never touch it. Plus that is like sooooo typical Asian handwriting ;)

by Melody on Jun 23, 2005 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions

The Handwriting

You are so true.

Takes one to know one.

Look at me! I'm blog-pimping too! http://7thinningstretch.blogspot.com

by secret ASian man on Jun 23, 2005 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions

could it have something to do

with the style of writing kanji and so on that japanese grow up with? making letters with strokes?

(i'm just guessing here... if that's not obvious...)

--Nebraska--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jun 23, 2005 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Not really

I'm a functional illiterate in Chinese, an read road signs and menus and infer headlines. Can't write much more than my name and date. I write in all caps too.

Look at me! I'm blog-pimping too! http://7thinningstretch.blogspot.com

by secret ASian man on Jun 23, 2005 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions