Training 2025 Pre-Season - Standards are currently being driven

[amaz199]

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the urge to make this an avatar

very tempting

 

[Skarrz]

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the urge to make this an avatar

?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

To be fair Japanese baseball, by around next week or just thereafter, will have produced the only man in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. So I imagine it's a sport that while already popular is only going to grow over the next few years

Or right now.

Just completed the feat.

Machine.

He’s also an absolutely elite pitcher.

Unicorn.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Or right now.

Just completed the feat.

Machine.

He’s also an absolutely elite pitcher.

Unicorn.

The ****in guy went six for six with three home runs in the same game to post the first ever 50/50 season. He is stupid good. We bang on about Mac Andrew or Taylor Goad or whatever being "unicorns" but it's doubtful there's ever been anyone as good at as much as Ohtani is at everything there is to do in baseball

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

The ****in guy went six for six with three home runs in the same game to post the first ever 50/50 season. He is stupid good. We bang on about Mac Andrew or Taylor Goad or whatever being "unicorns" but it's doubtful there's ever been anyone as good at as much as Ohtani is at everything there is to do in baseball

This is just insanity.

He’s Aaron Judge AND Jacob deGrom combined.

Ludicrous.

 

[Makeshift Park]

 

[Orange Peanut]

Every 9 weeks he earns the value of Mac Andrews' entire long term contract. But he agreed to delay almost all of the payments for 10 years, so he won't get most of the money until he's retired. An absolute enigma.

 

[Ichiro #51]

18 months ago Shohei struck out Mike Trout (a top 5/10 batter) to win the WBC for Japan. Absolutely mental.

 

[Orange Peanut]

The ****in guy went six for six with three home runs in the same game to post the first ever 50/50 season. He is stupid good. We bang on about Mac Andrew or Taylor Goad or whatever being "unicorns" but it's doubtful there's ever been anyone as good at as much as Ohtani is at everything there is to do in baseball

I just came back to thank you for mentioning Taylor Goad and Shohei Ohtani in the same sentence. I've been thinking about it all day.

 

[Flawed Genius]

I just came back to thank you for mentioning Taylor Goad and Shohei Ohtani in the same sentence. I've been thinking about it all day.

Just went back and watched the Ohtani highlights from the game. I am comfortable, but only now, in declaring he's probably better than Taylor Goad at baseball.

 

[marklovesbeer]

 

[Gasometer]

…waiting for the comments about what Bull is eating versus being elite athlete

 

[Gasometer]

It’s fun to experience - it’s very very noisy. Constant chanting, drums, etc. The stadiums are very compact compared to footy and pretty much always full.

You have to actually like baseball though. It’s growing on me as my son started playing and really loves it. Still not quite sold, it can be slowww.

Edit: best thing is you don’t have to leave your seat to get a beer. Girls stand at the bottom of the seating bays with a kind of esky slung over their neck. You just raise your hand and they come and deliver a nice cold super dry for about 5 bucks.

Any other must see’s in Japan? Heading over next November at this stage.

Like what about these guys? Looks as riveting as a Baseball game but…

 

[king of the road]

Anyone been to Japanese baseball match? Is it something you’d genuinely be stoked to get a photo at? Like it’s not Camp Nou

You mean like attending a game for an obscure sport at the arse end of the world that no other country plays or gives a **** about?

 

[Lomas]

You mean like attending a game for an obscure sport at the arse end of the world that no other country plays or gives a **** about?

 

[Ichiro #51]

Any other must see’s in Japan? Heading over next November at this stage.

Like what about these guys? Looks as riveting as a Baseball game but…

Haven’t been to the monkey onsen - not a fan of our primate cousins.
It’s in Nagano, which is awesome, although I’ve only been in mid summer.

I live in Osaka so I can probably only give decent advice about Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe). Kyoto is an absolute must for the temples, gardens etc. Arashiyama is a small town about 20 minutes from the center of Kyoto that is definitely worth a visit. Nara is another must visit for a day. 45 minutes from either Kyoto or Osaka. Osaka is great for food, convenience etc. but other than the castle is not the most picturesque city. If time is a factor I’d skip Kobe. I would definitely set aside a night or two to spend in an onsen town.

Happy to answer any specific questions if you (or anyone else) have them.

 

[Psicosis]

Based purely on social media (grain of salt), Eddie Ford appears to be leaving no stone unturned this very early preseason.

 

[Hojuman]

Haven’t been to the monkey onsen - not a fan of our primate cousins.
It’s in Nagano, which is awesome, although I’ve only been in mid summer.

I live in Osaka so I can probably only give decent advice about Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe). Kyoto is an absolute must for the temples, gardens etc. Arashiyama is a small town about 20 minutes from the center of Kyoto that is definitely worth a visit. Nara is another must visit for a day. 45 minutes from either Kyoto or Osaka. Osaka is great for food, convenience etc. but other than the castle is not the most picturesque city. If time is a factor I’d skip Kobe. I would definitely set aside a night or two to spend in an onsen town.

Happy to answer any specific questions if you (or anyone else) have them.

Stayed with mates in Mabashi outside Tokyo for their traditional wedding, birth of son and they've visited us here Itchy ( she's a native & he's from Minnesota ) They've shown us Kyoto and most of Tokyo. Highly recommend the Asahi beer factory tour for anyone !

Hopefully hitting Nagoya next April to visit another mate who came to our wedding in Seoul. Any tips there ?

 

[Ichiro #51]

Stayed with mates in Mabashi outside Tokyo for their traditional wedding, birth of son and they've visited us here Itchy ( she's a native & he's from Minnesota ) They've shown us Kyoto and most of Tokyo. Highly recommend the Asahi beer factory for anyone !

Hopefully hitting Nagoya next April to visit another mate who came to our wedding in Seoul. Any tips there ?

I’ve only passed through Nagoya on the way to other places so can’t really comment on the city.

If you’re interested in that kind of thing it’s pretty close to Sekigahara which is the site of probably the most famous battle in Japanese history.

A bit further away but a place I couldn’t recommend more highly is Ise Shima. One of the most sacred places in Japan and absolutely stunning.

 

[King Corey]

Based purely on social media (grain of salt), Eddie Ford appears to be leaving no stone unturned this very early preseason.

Love him, loads of talent. Just needs to round out his game and conditioning helps him get there. Good to hear.

 

[marklovesbeer]

 

[gerry101101]

I'll judge the players preparation efforts based on how they look in round 1. I expect them to be in the best shape of their lives, considering where we are at, but couldn't give a **** about how they end up there.

Righto - someone call Steven Dank!

 

[Samsquanch]

Righto - someone call Steven Dank!

Please, don't even joke about him. We are not Geelong, Melbourne or Essendon.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

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Seems like the penny hasn't dropped with Coops. Others who are contracted and on the fringe right now like Ford are working their butts off while Coops is holidaying in Japan without a contract. Not the smartest move I would have thought.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Seems like the penny hasn't dropped with Coops. Others who are contracted and on the fringe right now like Ford are working their butts off while Coops is holidaying in Japan without a contract. Not the smartest move I would have thought.

Brent Harvey’s son with Shane Harvey’s outlook.