On December 5th, the social media of former Seibu Lions closer Tomoki Takahashi became a hot topic. He posted pictures of a dinner party at the “88th Professional Baseball Reunion.” “The gathering was for people born in 1988, and the people on the show were an incredibly impressive bunch, including Giants infielder Hayato Sakamoto, Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda, Lotte Marines pitcher Takuichi Sawamura, and former Giants player Takayuki Kajitani, who retired at the end of this season. This generation was close with Sakamoto at the center, and in 2015, four players the same age, including Sakamoto and Maeda, were photographed by local media drinking heavily in the streets of Taiwan at night during the Premier 12.” (Sports newspaper reporter)
Yuuki Saito is now Livedoor’s “Director and Chief Information Officer” In the uploaded photo, there is also a surprising figure. The person in question is Yuki Saito (36), also known as the “Handkerchief Prince,” who retired in 2021. Saito, who has been a news anchor for “news every.” (NTV) since this spring, has recently been expanding his business. On December 1, Saito Yuuki Co., Ltd., which Saito represents, announced that it had signed a management contract with sports trainer Seiichiro Nakagaki, who served as the traveling head coach for the Orix Buffaloes until this season. During his time with Nippon-Ham, Nakagaki supported Yu Darvish (Padres) and Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers). Saito was one of the people who received his guidance.” (Sports Newspaper Desk) Furthermore, Saito was appointed as a director and chief information officer (CIO) of Livedoor Co., Ltd. in October this year. Tanaka, who is the same age as him, said, “I couldn’t find anyone to take him in…” When I think of Saito, I think of the 2006 Summer Koshien. As the ace pitcher of Waseda Jitsugyo High School, his fierce battle in the final rematch against pitcher Masahiro Tanaka of Komazawa Tomakomai High School is still talked about today. However, Tanaka, who is supposed to be the same age as him… “He wasn’t at the dinner party for the ’88 class. Although Tanaka suddenly announced his departure from Rakuten, no one could be found to take him, and Yakult, who had been rumored to be interested in signing him, was later reported to have no interest in doing so, with each team making negative comments about acquiring him. “We’re on the brink of collapse.” (ibid.) On December 8, at a baseball training session held in Tokyo, he reported that there had been “no progress.” Regarding re-signing with Rakuten, he emphasized that he has completely broken off the relationship, saying, “If that (re-signing) were possible, this wouldn’t have happened.” The only team with a slight chance of success is the Chunichi Dragons, where Shinichiro Koyama, who was his teammate at Rakuten and has been watching his condition as a second-string pitching coach this season, has been transferred. However, the new head coach, Kazuki Inoue, is reluctant to sign him, so the hurdles seem high.” (Desk, above) When Saito was still playing, he once compared Tanaka, who was a pro player, and himself, who was suffering from right shoulder pain, to the fairy tale “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Is it time for the tortoise to overtake the hare?
A player’s career is short, and their life after retirement is longer, so while some players have trouble finding work after retirement, Saito Yuki’s life is ideal.
>>6 Right after he joined the team, he was more focused on making connections for after he retired than on practicing. His attitude towards baseball has angered both Darvish and Ichiro, making him something of a talented player.
His current performance is incomparable, so it’s impossible for him to make a comeback in terms of money from here, but his evaluations and reputation have become like a seesaw.
What’s so turtle-like about a handkerchief? If this guy had the same results, he’d have been fired long ago. In this guy’s case, it’s like he was warped to the finish line by someone else’s hand.
Comments