Aki Otsuka

Ohtsuka was a closer for years with the Buffaloes and Swallows.

Ohtsuka's been consitent with the Padres and could be next in the line for the closer role after Hoffman. And he's only 33 years old.

It'll either be him or Scott Linebrink who would be second in line after Hoffman, but Aki has much more experience as a closer in the past compared to Linebrink. Only the presence of Hoffman is keeping him from being tested as a closer in the MLB.

Mr. Brooks, Otsuka never played for the Swallows. I think you meant to say that he closed for the Buffaloes and the Dragons.

What a find Otsuka has been for the Padres. There has to be more Otsukas out there - a good (but not great) reliever in Japan who can flat out mow down MLB batters if given a chance.

I know I wish there were more Akis. He's always hyped up and shows so much emotion when he strikes out a batter, I love that about him. And today he lowerd his ERA to 2.40.

Well, Otsuka will not be having dinner with Cliff Floyd after he nailed him on the knee today with a pitch. Floyd thought it was intentional since first base was open. This was in the same game in which the two other Mets' outfielders had to leave the game after the most vicious collision I have ever seen in baseball.

The story went that he hit Floyds on a 3-0 count so David Wright would not think Floyd was getting intentionally walked to get to Wright. They did that the night before and Wright punished them. I don't buy the causality because Wright is a pretty intense and professional ballplayer for a young guy. He always looks to punish.

Floyd was peeved and upset already about the collision. After the game, Otsuka, through a translator said it wasn't intentional. Then in English, he said he would never do that. Bruce Bochy, the manager, went on record denying an intentional HBP and saying why. Floyd responded later that he trusts Bochy and so that is the end of that.

- I think you meant to say that he closed for the Buffaloes and the Dragons.

My mistake, I meant to say Ohtuska played with the Dragons. He was traded to the Dragons after he blamed the Buffaloes of tampering with the posting process the first time.

Aki has been struggling with 2 losses in 2 days. What's wrong with him? He also boosted his ERA to like 3.60.