桑田真澄我想曾經花過一些時間看過日本職棒的球迷，
應該都對這位選手有一定的了解...
其中最著名的當然是他和清原和博之間的恩恩怨怨。
1983年的PL學園的『KK連線』，順利成就兩人的盛名，
然而卻在1985年的新人選秀會，出現了永遠的『
KK傳說』，
桑田從此背負了壞人的形象，
而故事的真相永遠埋入人們的記憶中。
這名39歲的老投手，去年雖然在日職引退，
卻毅然的向棒球的最高殿堂MLB挑戰，
就如他所說的："Pitching in America became a dream of mine when I was 20 years old."
(能夠在大聯盟打球，是我20歲以來的夢想。)
從小聯盟出發，歷經艱難，
終於在6月10日對NYY的比賽中，在第5局以背號18號於MLB初登板，
也成為Pirates隊史121年來第一位日本球員。
桑田能在MLB投多久？沒有人知道。
但是，凡走過必留下痕跡。
對於39歲的桑田來說，
他終究成就了自己的夢想。
Kumata 處女秀成績
IP=2.0
Picthes=40-22
H=1
ER=2
HR=1 (A-Rod)
K=0
BB=2
GO/AO=0.5
NEW YORK -- As Pirates reliever Matt Capps walked around the clubhouse before Saturday's game, he noticed a group of six Japanese reporters congregated near his locker.
Capps stopped and smiled.
"You know Kuwata's coming?" he said jokingly.
That number of reporters grew by more than six times within 24 hours.
Masumi Kuwata, whom the Pirates called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday when Salomon Torres was placed on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation, didn't arrive in New York in time to make it to the stadium on Saturday, but all anyone had to do to find him on Sunday was follow the flashbulbs.
It came as no surprise that there wasn't a seat to be had in the press box at Yankee Stadium on Saturday with Roger Clemens making his season debut. It just wasn't expected that there would be so many members of the media in the Pittsburgh clubhouse this weekend.
"They bring back Clemens, we bring back Kuwata," joked Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson on Saturday. "That's our way to counter. We're countering our press vs. their press. We want to make sure we go on the field balanced."
"Their" press still won out on Saturday, but when Kuwata met with the media prior to Pittsburgh's game on Sunday, there were at least 40 members of the Japanese media present to record every word.
"Pitching in America became a dream of mine when I was 20 years old," said Kuwata, speaking amid the cameras flashing behind him. "I'm very happy to pitch in the Major Leagues, and I'm going to go out there and finally realize my dream. I can't believe that."
When Pirates equipment manager Roger Wilson handed Kuwata a Pirates hat before Sunday's game to make sure it fit, it marked the first time in the team's 121-year history that a Japanese player has worn a Pirates uniform.
Kuwata also had a pleasant surprise when he arrived in the Pirates clubhouse to see a No. 18 jersey hanging in front of his locker. He wore the number while playing for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League for 20 years.
"It was a surprise," said Kuwata, who hadn't been able to wear the number during Spring Training or in Indianapolis. "I am very happy to get No. 18."
Kuwata's arrival in the Major Leagues comes after a two-month rehab on his right ankle, which he sprained near the end of Spring Training. Both he and Pirates manager Jim Tracy, though, don't seem concerned about the ankle being an impediment when Kuwata pitches or fields.
"It's [been] a long time to rehab my ankle; it's been a long road back," said the 39-year-old right-hander. "I need to make my ankle more stable and stronger."
While Tracy isn't sure what Kuwata's long-term role in the bullpen may be, he said that Kuwata, who pitched primarily as a starter with the Giants, will likely be used during the sixth and seventh innings for now.
"We're in a situation in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings where we've struggled and we've got to continue to mix it up and continue to see if we can find some guys who can pitch better," said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield. "We're going to give Kuwata the opportunity."
When Kuwata makes his Major League debut, he will be the oldest player to make his debut since pitcher Diomedes Olivo did so at the age of 41 years, 227 days on Sept. 5, 1960. Coincidentally, Olivo was also a member of the Pirates.
Kuwata pitched 4 1/3 strong innings in three relief appearances for Indianapolis over the past week, allowing three hits and striking out three.
"The one thing I can sit here and feel pretty certain about is that he is going to throw strikes," Tracy said.
And there will be plenty of people there to document it when he does.
