Power Pros Forum

I don't know if you know this, but I like to search the actual players in the intro videos to these games. Here's who I came up with:

-Chiba Lotte Marines: Yuki Karakawa (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=karaka001yuk) at only 21, he is their staff ace, posting a 12-6 record for the Marines in 2011, with a 2.41 ERA.

-Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles: Masahiro Tanaka (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tanaka003mas) Another youngster/staff ace, he has been in these intros (I know he was also in the intro for 14 (?)) for the longest time. Went 19-5 last season with a microscopic 1.27 ERA. Think of him as a right-handed Cliff Lee (when he's ON, of course.)

-ORIX Buffaloes: Takahiro Okada (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=okada-001tak) The first batter in the intro. From the stats, he's like a Ryan Howard: hits for power, not for average, except not as many HRs as Howard. Hit .260 with 16 HRs and 85 RBIs last season, after hitting .280 with 33 HRs and 96 RBIs in 2010.

-Seibu Lions: Hideaki Wakui (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=wakui-001hid) Based on last year's stats, the only MLB equivalent I can think of is Felix Hernandez: Good pitcher on a .500 team at best. Maybe not the best example, seeing his stats prior to 2011, but the staff ace of the Lions went 9-12 last year with a 2.93 ERA.

-Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters: Toss-up between Yuki Saito (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=saito-000yuk) and Ryo Sakakibara (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=sakaki001ryo). Both pitchers look like relievers to me, based on their stats, though I do give the edge in this battle to Saito, but you be the judge.

-Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks: Absolutely no clue.

-Yokohama DeNa BayStars: Takehiro Ishikawa (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ishika001tak) When you see this player's stats, think of a younger version of Omar Vizquel. Tons of glove, but a career batting average of .256.

-Hiroshima Toyo Carp: Kenta Maeda (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=maeda-001ken) Forget what I said about Wakui being Felix Hernandez. THIS guy is THE Felix Hernandez of NPB. Had a 10-12 season in 2011, but a sparkling 2.46 ERA. Also averaged 8.0 K/9 last season.

-Hanshin Tigers: Takashi Toritani (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=torita001tak) Solid .280-.300 hitter year-in and year-out. Doesn't get you much in terms of power (though those 20 HRs in 09 look appealing), but can steal you a few bases. Think of an infield version of Austin Jackson, only with much, much, less in terms of strikeouts (his K/BB ratio was 0.92 in 2011, or 72/78).

-Yomiuri Giants: Hayato Sakamoto (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=sakamo001hay) VERY similar in statistics to Okada last year (.262/16/59), but strikes out a lot.

-Tokyo Yakult Swallows: Yoshinori Sato (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=sato--002yos) Holy frijoles, just how many young people can they put in this intro? At 21, went 7-6 last year with a 2.86 ERA. Hasn't pitched yet in 2012, which makes me think he may be injured, but don't quote me on that.

-Chunichi Dragons: Takuya Asao (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=asao--001tak) Wow. Just...wow. Finished 52 games last year for Chunichi, and gave up only 5 runs ALL YEAR. That equates to a 0.41 ERA. Can you say Eric Gagne during "the streak"? (OK, yeah, he had only 10 saves last year, but that ERA is stinkin' incredible.)

That's what my research came up with. Errors, omissions, let me know.