Orix Blue WaveManager: Ishige Out - Leon Lee In

I saw the story on NewsStation last night. Is Lee a permanent or interim replacement?

The Wave didn't hit last year, but is that Ishige's fault? This is a team that has recently lost Ichiro, So Taguchi, George Arias, and Joe Vitiello. Add in (now retired) Fujii's decline, and you have five batters the team lost.

Hopefully Lee, with experience as a scout, will be able to sign a few good hitters. Here's wishing him the best.

I didn't think Ishige would finish the season as manager, but I didn't expect him to get the ax after just 20 games. And those of you who think it's ironic that this is announced after Orix wins two games in a row, Nikkan Sports had more information on that.

According to the April 4th Nikkan Sports, Miyauchi-owner was ready to send Ishige packing at the end of last season. But Ishige convinced him that bringing in Ortiz and Brown, and getting former Japanese Major Leaguers Mac Suzuki and Yoshii, as well as Dragon slugger Yamasaki, the teams fortunes would turn. "If it didn't work out, ..."

Well, Ortiz is batting .230 (.067 with runners in scoring position), and Yamasaki has been warming the bench for the most part.

After their 6-8 sayonara loss at Chiba Marine Stadium on the 20th, Ishige was notified that after the Hokkaido series against Seibu (April 21-23), Leon would be taking over as manager.

The Lee brothers have been mentioned a number of times here by long time fans. As has Leon himself in reference to one of the best suketto ever. For those of you new to Pro Yakyu, Leon played for the Lotte Orions from 1978 to 1982, then the Yokohama Taiyo Whales from 1983 to 1985, and finally Yakult in 1986. Over 10 years of play he played in 1,255 games, hit .308 with 884 RBIs and 268 home runs. His best season was 1980 when he batted .340 with 41 home runs and 116 RBIs. On August 10, 1985 against Hiroshima, Leon drove in 10 runs in a single game. (Source: Nikkan Sports.)

Bass, Cromartie, and other suketto have been in the public eye a great deal after retiring. But not so much Leon or his brother Leron. Nikkan states that Leon was the Cubs' AAA batting coach last season, which several frequent contributors here have stated that he's been the Cubs' head of scouting in Asia -- both positions kind of behind the scenes. It will be interesting to see how well he adjusts to being in the spotlight of the kantoku position. Gambatte, Lee-kantoku!

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P.S. You've got to feel sorry for Takatsu, who broke Sasaki's career save record yesterday, being pushed back to page 3 while Ishige got the cover.

The May 4, 2003 Japan Times [Link] has a great article about Leon Lee in Wayne Graczyk's "Baseball Bullet-In" column.

Graczyk outlines Leon Lee's history, anecdotes, and impact on the BlueWave.

When the Orix BlueWave meet the Nippon Ham Fighters, it will be the first game in 28 years that will pit two American managers against each other. Leon Lee will face Trey Hillman on May 17th at Tokyo Dome. Lee is the first African-American manager Japanese pro baseball history.

American Managers in NPB History:

Yoshio "Kaiser" Tanaka (Hanshin Tigers: 1958-59)
Wally Yonamine (Chunichi Dragons: 1972-77)
Joe Lutz (Hiroshima Carp: 1975)
Don Blasingame (Hanshin Tigers: 1979-80, Nankai Hawks: 1981-82)
Bobby Valentine (Chiba Lotte Marines: 1995)
Trey Hillman (Nippon Ham Fighters: 2003)
Leon Lee (Orix BlueWave: 2003)

Wayne also announced that the 2003 edition of Japan Pro Baseball Fan Handbook & Media Guide is now available. It is the complete English-language guide to Japanese baseball, 136 pages containing team rosters, schedules, statistics, stadium diagrams, ticket prices, foreign player data and much more.

To order by mail, please send your name and address and 1,000 yen in cash, Japanese postage stamps, or postal check "kawase" directly to: Wayne Graczyk, 1-12-18 Kichijoji Higashi-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo-to 180-0002.

Also, Baseball America is taking orders for this book.