What in the world are they thinking? That's the question many Japanese baseball observers were asking when the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks announced the signing of left-handed American pitcher Chris Haney in mid-April.
The rules here limit the number of foreign players on any Japanese pro team's varsity roster to two pitchers and two position players, and the defending Pacific League champions already had right-handed starter Brady Raggio and ace reliever Rod Pedraza on the mound staff.
Raggio was one of the top pitchers in the Pa League last season, posting an 8-6 record and a sixth-best 4.20 earned run average. This year, he's been even better, having compiled a 4-0 mark with a 3.27 ERA when Haney was brought in. Pedraza is the team's closer, the PL Fireman of the Year for 2000 who's having another fine season in 2001. So, why would Daiei need a third foreign hurler?