Yomiuri Giants outfielder Yoshinobu Takahashi has pulled out of the Japanese national team in the upcoming qualifiers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics because of a sore back, the Central League club said Monday. "I advised him not to risk himself because he has years to play in the future," Japan manager Senichi Hoshino said. "There's nothing we can do about injuries and I know he wanted to play." Takahashi, a member of the bronze-winning Japanese baseball team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, hit .308 with 35 homers and 88 RBIs in 133 games this past season.
