Despite having hit more than 400 career HR’s prior to the age of 30 — joining Sadaharu Oh and A-Rod as the only two players to have accomplished said feat, a slight dip in 2007 production for the Yomuri Giants’ Lee Seung-yeop has bought him a one-way ticket to scapegoat city.
From Donga.com (link swiped from Repoz and Baseball Think Factory)
Lee Seung-yeop (31) of Yomiuri has been declining in value as the centerpiece of his team.
On October 23, Sankei Sports and other major Japanese sports papers and magazines reported that Yomiuri is seeking to scout Kosuke Fukudome of Chunichi, who will be opting for free agency. This is the second such scouting rumor following Yomiuri’s plans to scout Alex Ramirez of Yakult.
Tsuneo Watanabe, owner of the Yomiuri Giants, plans to reinforce the team by scouting more raw talent after a disappointing season by Lee. During the Central League Championships against Chunichi, Lee had no home runs and was held scoreless. As a result, Yomiuri lost the series three games to none.
Naturally, Lee’s role as the team’s cleanup hitter is in jeopardy.
Watanabe openly criticized the foreign players of his team in front of the press.
“With the exception of Warren Cromartie, Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes, and Roberto Petagine, all our foreign players were total failures.” He added, “I plan to sign on new players that can guarantee us victories.
Might Patrick Ewing be available?