Happy New Year, and 2010 may be a happy year for fans of the Yokohama BayStars, a team that deserves a lot of credit for a series of transactions during the offseason in an effort to improve the standing of the 2008 and 2009 Central League last-place team.
The deals include the appointment of a new manager, a couple of trades, the signing of new foreign players, a free agent acquisition and some promising draft choices.
Yokohama has brought in former Yakult Swallows pitcher Takao Obana to run the club on the field as its freshman manager, and it is obvious the team's No. 1 priority is improving its mound staff. More recently, Obana served as pitching coach for championship teams such as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks and Yomiuri Giants.