[新聞] Kuwata injured on freak play
囧爆了...剛好裁判少一人，結果踩到到三壘補位的裁判.....
Kuwata injured on freak play
BRADENTON
- After two decades of professional baseball in Japan, it's second nature for
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Masumi Kuwata to back up third base on a hit to
the outfield with a runner on first.
With only three umpires at McKechnie Field on Monday, home plate umpire Wally
Bell's job was to rotate for a possible close play at third on Toronto Blue
Jays infielder John McDonald's line-drive single in the top of the eighth
inning.
Two men doing their jobs the right way - with disastrous results for Kuwata
and the Pirates.
The 5-foot-10, 187-pound right-hander never saw the 6-3, 255-pound Bell, and
the two collided in foul territory between home plate and third base.
Bell kept his footing, making the "out" call on Jeff Duncan on a perfect
throw from center fielder Luis Matos. Kuwata landed face-first on the turf,
laying there for what seemed an eternity before assistance arrived.
The diagnosis wasn't good: a Grade-3 right ankle sprain for Kuwata, who turns
39 on Sunday and was bidding for a job in the Pirates' bullpen. It happened
in front of Kuwata's wife and two teenage sons who were seated behind home
plate in the crowd of 5,397. He was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital, then
released.
Kuwata, who was laid up earlier this spring with a sprained left ankle, will
be re-evaluated today by Pirates medical director Dr. Patrick DeMeo. He
finishes spring training 0-0 with a 4.05 ERA.
Monday's 2-2, 10-inning tie was overshadowed by the injury to Kuwata.
"It's a shame. His influence on some of our younger players this spring has
been unbelievable," said Pirates manager Jim Tracy. "I was watching the throw
by Matos, and the next thing I knew, I looked up, and (Kuwata) was laying on
the ground.
"I've been saying all spring, this guy flat-out knows how to pitch. When you
can paint with a fastball as he does, and you have total confidence you can
throw your breaking ball for a strike any time you want, you can be very
effective that way."
Although he came away unscathed from his collision with Kuwata, Bell suffered
a possible broken right finger an inning later on a foul tip.
"I saw (Kuwata) before he saw me, and I tried to put my hand out," said Bell,
whose last-second attempt to avoid contact may have prevented a worse injury.
"He stepped on my ankle, and I believe at that point he twisted his own ankle
and fell."
Kuwata and the Pirates hope the injury is not as bad as it looks, but its
freak nature cast a gloomy mood over McKechnie as seagulls took over the
field late Monday afternoon.
Mike Henry, Herald Staff
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/sports/16977967.htm
Pirates' Kuwata sprains ankle in collision with umpire
Posted: Monday Mar 26, 2007 6:51 PM
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BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Masumi Kuwata, one of the
best-known pitchers in Japanese baseball history, badly sprained his right
ankle while colliding with plate umpire Wally Bell during a game against
Toronto on Monday.
Kuwata, a non-roster pitcher not expected to make the opening-day roster, was
sprinting to back up third base on center fielder Luis Matos' throw in the
eighth inning when he smacked into Bell.
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Bell, part of a three-man crew, was going down the line to make a possible
call when Kuwata ran across Bell's left ankle. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound
Kuwata probably wasn't expecting an umpire to be near because he is
accustomed to pitching in games with four umpires.
"I saw him before he saw me, and I tried to put my left hand out,'' said
Bell, who is 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds. "His (right) spike went into my left
foot.''
Kuwata was taken off the field on a golf cart before going to a nearby
hospital for X-rays. He was diagnosed with a grade three sprain, the most
severe, and was to be re-examined Tuesday. The Pirates did not rule out a
possible fracture that may be masked by the swelling.
"He's done great. It's a shame,'' Pirates manager Jim Tracy said.
The 38-year-old Kuwata had made a strong presence during spring training,
Tracy said, with a professionalism and strong work ethic that have impressed
the Pirates' younger pitchers.
"Our intent had been to pitch the guy (until the end of spring training) and
see what it is we have,'' Tracy said.
Kuwata signed a minor league contract with the Pirates for an opportunity to
possibly pitch in the majors before his career ends. The right-hander won 173
games for the Yomiuri Giants from 1986-2006 and is a former league MVP and
pitcher of the year winner. But, troubled by injuries, he has only nine
victories the last four seasons.
Kuwata injured his left ankle earlier in camp, causing him to sit out for
nine days. He has pitched 6 2-3 innings in five games, giving up seven hits
and three runs, striking out four and walking two. He has a 4.05 ERA.
While Kuwata was expected to start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, it
was anticipated he could be called up by the Pirates during the season. His
fastball is no longer in the 90-mph range, but he has excellent control and
is confident throwing a breaking ball with any count.
This spring, Kuwata also has rediscovered the sharp-breaking sinker he once
threw effectively in Japan but, because of his arm problems, has been unable
to throw the last 10 years.
"His command is impeccable,'' Tracy said. "He is showing it is not really
necessary to throw 93-94 miles per hour to be successful. He can paint (the
corners) with his fastball and he's not afraid of any count.''
Kuwata, shadowed this spring by 25-30 Japanese writers and photographers on a
daily basis, did not talk to reporters are getting hurt.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/wires/03/26/2010.ap.bbn.pirates.kuwata.hurt.1st.ld.writethru.0534/
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