A brief news article on Page 1 of the Dec. 12 edition of The Japan Times reminded me of former Yakult Swallows and Rakuten Eagles pitcher Kevin Hodges. "Wendy's pulling out of Japan by end of month," read the headline above the story about the U.S. hamburger chain ending its operations in this country.
Baseball players often have superstitions about what they do or eat prior to a game. Former Chunichi Dragons slugger Tyrone Woods always had to have a bowl of ramen noodles an hour before game time.
Tom Mastny, a right-hander with the Yokohama BayStars in 2009, said he always shaved before taking the mound on days when he was the starting pitcher.