The Besuboru Journal (11/17/2056)

[R.Umali]

Massive list of questions for the beloved Pearls as complete unknown R. Umali took the helm at the end of the season. Among this list: where is Mr. Umali?

Turns out, he was riding the trains, making a tour of various ramen stands, driving carefully in Gunma prefecture, and spotted many times gazing up at Tokyo Tower from different vantage points.

The sight seeing did him some good, as one of his first moves was to re-sign fan favorite Huang Cheng. Cheng signed a 1-year extension for $6.5m. Let's call him the chashu to the ramen bowl that is the Pearls.

Speaking through the media, the visibly relaxed Cheng said: "Thanks for your efforts, they will be rewarded." He added, almost inaudibly: "I really don't know what life would be like if I had to leave Tokyo."

Then, in a serious-as-stone voice, Cheng said: "Everybody! Everybody! Please! Everybody ... Huang Cheng tonight!!!"

Cheng finished the year in the bullpen, but Umali plans to have him return to his starting role, where he went 6-8 over 16 starts last year. "I want this guy to go deep. I want beaucoup innings from Cheng and Dogar. God knows we'll need 'em."

The Pearls are going to lose a lot of players through free agency including WAR leaders Michael MacKeon (3.5 WAR) and Jae-hyung Chi (2.7), both of whom reportedly wanted over $8m. Another high performing budget boy, left fielder Juan Rocha (1.7), wants to test free agency.

"When I told the new manager I wanted eight million he just said 'Go get paid, son.'," said MacKeon, who hit 27 home runs and slashed .308 / .370 / .528 and amassed a 3.5. He also went 12 for 13 in stolen bases. This was a remarkable return to the promise he showed as a 24-year old with the Carolina Flight. "I intend to get mine but if I did not have a family to take care of, a couple of cats that need daily care, and an addiction to modular synths, then I'd play for the Pearls for sure. I heard he's assembling a bunch of real personable coaches. Maybe I'll be back when I'm 36 or something."

Indeed, it was not all just sight-seeing for Umali. He'd turned over stone and barrel to find coaches that were both willing to work in the GBC and to have a good time in the process.

New bench coach, 49 year-old Dominican Robinson Ortiz, is an example. "The interview process was easy. We met up at a tavernakaya, talked about a lot of things: baseball, family, the things we missed about in the Western hemisphere, Scrabble - he's actually a ranked Scrabble player, and I'm not bad myself. Before you knew it, we were being kicked out of the joint at 3 AM. I signed the contract when I woke up that afternoon."

With the coaching vacancies filled and the arbitration hearings completed, let us hope that Umali is looking at how to fill out the roster. Maybe the closed office door means he's in there making calls to players, or on the trains pleading his - and the Pearls' - case in person.

[jiminyhopkins]

Next time, head down to Yokohama (really easy on the Keikyu Line) and check out the The Tavern, a British pub just west of the train station in the basement of a McDonalds. Run by some bloke named John from Bristol. Highly recommended!

[Dington]

I really enjoyed this TN. Might even nominate for a Caleca award!

[RonCo]

I like Ramen. That's where I'd be, too.

[Jwalk100]

Besuboru Journal is the perfect name for baseball news in Japan.

Great job!

[R.Umali]

Thanks, guys. I had just read last year's Media Guide so I did add a sentence of color related to Huang Cheng and the song he is associated with. 80's music, I don't think, is his jam but he is appreciative when the fans chant it.

[Trebro]

I need to be better about reading GBC team news, too. This was really good work!