Tsuyoshi Yoda

Tsuyoshi Yoda (与田 剛, Yoda Tsuyoshi, born December 4, 1965 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball player and manager. He managed of the Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) between 2019 and 2021.

Tsuyoshi Yoda
与田 剛
Pitcher / Manager
Born: (1965-12-04) December 4, 1965
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
NPB debut
April 7, 1990, for the Chunichi Dragons
Last appearance
October 2, 1999, for the Nippon-Ham Fighters
NPB statistics
(through 2000)
Win–loss record8-19
Saves59
ERA4.58
Strikeouts212
Teams
As player

As coach

As Manager

Career highlights and awards
Last updated on: 25 February 2020

Although born in Fukuoka prefecture, Yoda grew up in Kimitsu, Chiba Prefecture. His wife is Tokyo Broadcasting System Television announcer, Hiroko Kiba.

Early career

He is the son of Kenji and Atsuko Yoda. He has two siblings, Kozue and Kaori. Yoda attended Kisarazu Chuo High School (now Kisarazu Sōgō High School) in Chiba Prefecture before entering Asia University. Yoda was troubled with injuries during much of his time in college, caused by blood flow issues from throwing too much during high school.[1] However, as a member of NTT East in the industrial leagues, Yoda's 150 km/h fastball caught the eye of national team selectors as well as professional scouts.

At the 1989 NPB Draft, Yoda was selected in the first round by the Chunichi Dragons after showing a preference for a non-Tokyo team.[2] Yoda signed on a provisional contract with a ¥75,000,000 sign-on bonus and a ¥7,200,000 yearly salary.[3]

Professional career

Yoda's first appearance came in on April 7, 1990 against the Yokohama Taiyo Whales on opening day. In the 11th inning with one out and runners on 1st and 3rd, he threw two strikeouts to close out his inning.[2] From that point on Yoda was made full-time closer by manager Senichi Hoshino and on June 1 passed double-digit saves.[2] Yoda received the fan vote to appear in the 1990 All-Star game going on to claim 31 saves as well as claiming Rookie of the Year and Most valuable reliever awards. On 15 August at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, Yoda threw a 157 km/h fastball, which was at the time a Japanese record.[2] After the 1990 season, Yoda played on a team of Japanese all-stars, opposing American all-stars.[4]

While continuing as a reliever, Yoda had shoulder and elbow issues and was unable to leave behind any notable results after only 4 years of service. Halfway through the 1996 season, Yoda was traded to the Chiba Lotte Marines for Naoyuki Naitō and in the same year enjoyed a study abroad with the Memphis Chicks of the Class AA Southern League. However, elbow injuries limited him.[5] On return to the Marines, Yoda failed to make any first-team appearances and was released in the 1997 off-season.

He signed for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in 1998 via a try-out. The Fighters without a full-time closer had hoped Yoda would make the team, but he ended the season failing to make an appearance for either the top or farm team. However, due to pitching well in the fall development league he stayed with the team for a further year. On 2 October 1999, Yoda made his first pitching appearance in 4 years but was released at the end of the year.

The Hanshin Tigers would give Yoda another chance to revive his career in 2000 with then manager Katsuya Nomura mentioning in spring training that he was among the shortlist for closer. After pitching well in a pre-season game, Yoda was unable to get out of bed the following day following lumbar pain.[6] Unable to fully recover, Yoda pitched in two farm games before eventually being released in the fall.

Post-playing career

NHK Analyst and national team coaching

From 2001 to 2015, Yoda served as a color analyst for NHK baseball broadcasts. During this time, Yoda was also a columnist for Tokyo Chunichi Sports Shimbun as well as serving as a pitching coach for the Japan women's national baseball team[7] and club team, Thousand Leaf Ichihara.[8]

Yoda served as a coach for the Japanese national baseball team in the 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classic.[9]

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

On 13 October 2015, Yoda was appointed as pitching coach of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.[10] In the off-season of the same year, Yoda was listed alongside Kazuyoshi Tatsunami,[11] Takeshi Yamasaki, Hideki Hashigami, Kazuhiro Sasaki and Takashi Saito to take over as Rakuten manager.[12] Masataka Nashida however would be the successful candidate.

From 2018, Yoda was demoted to work with the Rakuten farm pitchers and at the end of the season was released.[13]

Chunichi Dragons

On the 17th of October 2018, Yoda was instated as the new manager of his former club the Chunichi Dragons.[14] After 3 seasons in charge, it was confirmed on the 12th of October that Yoda would be stepping down as manager at the end of the 2021 NPB season.[15]

Personal life

Yoda's shoulder breadth has been somewhat of a topic since his playing days and has been measured at 60 cm.[16] Major leaguer, Yu Darvish who is 10 cm taller than Yoda has been reported as saying "what's going on with those shoulders?"[17]

On Yoda's aforementioned debut with the Taiyo Whales, there was a cross-play involving Whales player Yoshiyuki Shimizu tackling then Dragons catcher, Takeshi Nakamura which almost lead to a brawl. Later on 22 June 1994, after striking Whales outfielder, Glenn Braggs, Yoda failed to tip his hat leading to Braggs charging the mound. Yoda and Braggs were ejected from the game after the following a bench-clearing brawl.[18][19]

Yoda hates the words "gambare" (do your best) and "doryoku" (determination), preferring the word junbi (preparation).[20] After becoming Dragons manager, Yoda declared that he would use "player that are best prepared" and that he has explained "the importance of preparation before a game."[21]

References
  1. Yoh, Nobuyuki (2018-10-12). "与田剛氏が中日の新監督に。現役時代の剛球を生んだ秘密とは" [Tsuyoshi Yoda to become Chunichi's new manager. What was the secret behind his high velo pitching as a player?]. Yahoo! Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  2. "【６月１日】1990年(平２) セ新人初の快挙！与田剛、２ケタセーブでリーグトップ" [[June 1st] 1990 Magnificent achievement for Central League rookie! Tsuyoshi Yoda logs two digit saves to lead league]. Sponichi (in Japanese). 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  3. "中日ドラ１ 与田剛と契約合意". Asahi Shimbun. No. 14. 1989-12-16. p. 22.
  4. "Japanese Stars Edge US Team". Bangor Daily News. 1990-11-06. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  5. Neel, Eric (2012-07-10). "WE'VE HAD JAPANESE ACES, JAPANESE ALL-STARS AND JAPANESE WORLD CHAMPS. SO HOW FAR CAN WE BE FROM A JAPANESE SKIPPER IN THE BIG LEAGUES? [NOT VERY.]". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  6. "与田監督悲痛 「恩師」野村克也さん突然の訃報に ２０００年野村阪神にテスト入団". Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  7. "ロッテ新監督に"世界一コーチ"与田氏浮上" [New Lotte manager after "world's best coaches"; Yoda's name comes up]. Sponichi (in Japanese). 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  8. "１１月１７日「サウザンリーフ市原」トライアウト" [November 17th Thousand Leaf tryout]. Team Baseball Kids (in Japanese). 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  9. Nagatsuka, Kaz (2013-03-04). "Japan struggling to deliver on mound". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  10. "与田コーチ・池山コーチ 就任会見" [Coaches Yoda and Ikeyama presented to press]. Rakuten Eagles (in Japanese). 2015-10-13. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  11. "楽天新監督に立浪氏急浮上！星野副会長と師弟タッグで再建だ". Sanspo (in Japanese). 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  12. "楽天不穏 デーブ後任問題「なり手いないだろ」の声". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  13. "来季のコーチ契約に関して" [Regarding next year's coaching appointments]. Rakuten Eagles Official Website (in Japanese). 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  14. "Tigers manager Tomoaki Kanemoto won't return for 2019 season". The Japan Times Online. 2018-10-11. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  15. "中日が立浪和義さんに監督就任要請 "ミスタードラゴンズ"に再建託す 与田監督は今季限りで辞任" [Chunichi calls on Kazuyoshi Tatsunami to become new manager. "Mister Dragons to lead rebuild", Manager Yoda to leave position at end of season.]. Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  16. "ストレスのはけ口に…ＷＢＣ投手コーチ与田剛". ZakZak. 2009-04-30. Archived from the original on 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  17. "ダルビッシュ有 「まだ見ぬ完璧」／特集：WBC後の選手たちを追う！（藤島大）". Sports Graphic Number (in Japanese). 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  18. "元ベイ助っ人ブラッグス氏インタ後編、乱闘の与田氏と「一杯飲みに行きたい」" [Former Baystars import, Braggs interview; "I'd like to have a drink" with brawlee, Yoda.]. Full Count (in Japanese). 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  19. 伝説の乱闘王　グレン・ブラッグス (Youtube Video) (in Japanese). 2020-02-25.
  20. "現役最後の１年「感謝の思い出」 燕市教育委員会 与田剛さんスポーツ講演会(上)". Community Paper Palge. 2016-08-24. Archived from the original on 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  21. "中日・与田剛(第33代監督) 結束力を高める新指揮官／監督徹底分析". Sponichi (in Japanese). 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
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