Tsuyoshi Nishioka Is Eligible At 2B

[Greg Ambrosius]

I know we haven't officially listed eligibility lists for 2011, but one player is coming up now through the Slow Drafts. That player is Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who was signed by the Twins this off-season and is scheduled to start at second base. He will be 2B eligible only to start the season according to the NFBC. We will correct the draft software shortly to make sure he is 2B only, not SS as well.



Plan accordingly in your Slow Drafts. Good luck all and we'll post all of the eligibility lists shortly.

[DOUGHBOYS]

How many times did you look at that name to spell it, Greg?

[CC's Desperados]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

I know we haven't officially listed eligibility lists for 2011, but one player is coming up now through the Slow Drafts. That player is Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who was signed by the Twins this off-season and is scheduled to start at second base. He will be 2B eligible only to start the season according to the NFBC. We will correct the draft software shortly to make sure he is 2B only, not SS as well.



Plan accordingly in your Slow Drafts. Good luck all and we'll post all of the eligibility lists shortly. He's a shortstop all the way.

[CC's Desperados]

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll see how Tsuyoshi Nishioka looks in spring training before deciding whether to play him at second base or shortstop.



Nishioka was a shortstop in Japan, but indications have been that he will play second base for the Twins, with Alexi Casilla at shortstop. Gardy will see how the Japanese import fares at both position in spring training before he makes a decision.

[LONG GONE]

Agree with Shawn. He is a ss that maybe converted to 2nd. He should be a ss in the league until he puts in 10 games at 2nd. We should treat him as if he played in the minors last year, that played ss all of 2010.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll see how Tsuyoshi Nishioka looks in spring training before deciding whether to play him at second base or shortstop.



Nishioka was a shortstop in Japan, but indications have been that he will play second base for the Twins, with Alexi Casilla at shortstop. Gardy will see how the Japanese import fares at both position in spring training before he makes a decision. I read the same Rotoworld post that you did Shawn. His situation is no different than other imports who need to have a position assigned to them before the start of the season. It's more likely that he will start at second base in Minnesota and thus that's the position he will be given in the NFBC. Once he plays 10 games at shortstop -- if he plays there -- he will then have dual eligibility.

[CC's Desperados]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll see how Tsuyoshi Nishioka looks in spring training before deciding whether to play him at second base or shortstop.



Nishioka was a shortstop in Japan, but indications have been that he will play second base for the Twins, with Alexi Casilla at shortstop. Gardy will see how the Japanese import fares at both position in spring training before he makes a decision. I read the same Rotoworld post that you did Shawn. His situation is no different than other imports who need to have a position assigned to them before the start of the season. It's more likely that he will start at second base in Minnesota and thus that's the position he will be given in the NFBC. Once he plays 10 games at shortstop -- if he plays there -- he will then have dual eligibility. [/QUOTE]I understand, but he hasn't played a game at 2B.

[KJ Duke]

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll see how Tsuyoshi Nishioka looks in spring training before deciding whether to play him at second base or shortstop.



Nishioka was a shortstop in Japan, but indications have been that he will play second base for the Twins, with Alexi Casilla at shortstop. Gardy will see how the Japanese import fares at both position in spring training before he makes a decision. I read the same Rotoworld post that you did Shawn. His situation is no different than other imports who need to have a position assigned to them before the start of the season. It's more likely that he will start at second base in Minnesota and thus that's the position he will be given in the NFBC. Once he plays 10 games at shortstop -- if he plays there -- he will then have dual eligibility. [/QUOTE]I understand, but he hasn't played a game at 2B. [/QUOTE]Seems like he should be a SS and become a 2b if and when he plays there, same as any MLB player who is expected to be taking a new position for the upcoming season.

[DOUGHBOYS]

If Roto World had Hosmer playing LF next year, he wouldn't be an outfielder. He would be a 1B as he played before. It's not what RotoWorld says a player will do, it's what the player has done.

I agree that Nishioka should be a shortstop and when he plays 10 games at 2B, he qualifies there as well. Japan should be no different than Minor League rules.

[Asumijet]

Just an FYI. It appears in changing Nishioka from SS to 2B, a second Noshioka was add to the draft list. In Slow Draft 1, I drafted him as the SS and now a new one is in the draft queue waiting to be picked as a 2nd baseman.

[KJ Duke]

[ December 28, 2010, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by Asumijet:

Just an FYI. It appears in changing Nishioka from SS to 2B, a second Noshioka was add to the draft list. In Slow Draft 1, I drafted him as the SS and now a new one is in the draft queue waiting to be picked as a 2nd baseman. He is listed in the software as 2B and SS. I've talked to the Fanball guys about this and one needs to be removed. He should not have dual eligibility, or as you say two different "stickers" and thus one has to be removed.



We have to designate one spot for him. All reports are that he is going to start at second base and thus his designation.

[sephrath]

He should only be 2B... if a catcher in college was drafted and promoted to the majors the next season to play 3B, he wouldnt be eligible at at C.

[Asumijet]

Originally posted by sephrath:

He should only be 2B... if a catcher in college was drafted and promoted to the majors the next season to play 3B, he wouldnt be eligible at at C. No disagreement. But I do take issue with the draft and overall competition underway with the player being logically posted as SS, only to be changed mid-draft. Some have already taken him as a SS, or in anticipation of eventually having dual eligibility. That effectively devalued the picks already made.

[CC's Desperados]

Originally posted by sephrath:

He should only be 2B... if a catcher in college was drafted and promoted to the majors the next season to play 3B, he wouldnt be eligible at at C. He played SS for six years. In the past, players coming from Japan have used their previous years to determine eligibility.



The college argument is weak at best. There are rules in place for minor league players and players coming from Japan should be treated the same way.

[KJ Duke]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

We have to designate one spot for him. All reports are that he is going to start at second base and thus his designation. Giving a 6-yr professional player eligibility based on a report rather than the position he's always played doesn't look logical or consistent with your rule for other professional players. Japan should not equal high school.

[Quahogs]

I agree with Shawn and KJ. His ability to play 2b has not been established, but as a SS it is. 2b or not 2b, it's not even a question

[Atlas]

Originally posted by Quahogs:

I agree with Shawn and KJ. His ability to play 2b has not been established, but as a SS it is. 2b or not 2b, it's not even a question Aaaahahaha!

Was Shakespeare a baseball fan??

[mgk2004]

This past Monday I sent the following e-mail to Greg:



=================================================

Hi Greg,



I have a question regarding Nishioka of the Twins. He is currently listed twice in the Draft Room ...



2157 as a SS

2192 as a 2B



I'm sure he shouldn't be in the database twice! I may be drafting one of them today and I wondered if it mattered? Also, since he played SS in Japan and it hasn't been determined yet where he will be playing for the Twins, will he be qualified at SS or 2B or both?

=================================================



Greg quickly replied back that he would ONLY have 2B eligibility. I needed a SS, so I passed on him. And then before my next turn, I checked the Message Boards, where it was confirmed that he would ONLY have 2B, so I passed on him again. And now he has been drafted by someone else. So, as much as I think he SHOULD have had SS eligibility, it seems like the ruling has been made and changing it now would be wrong ... (selfish of me, but since I went to the trouble of asking it doesn't seem like I should be penalized) ...

[Greg Ambrosius]

I think there are all kinds of rulings that people can disagree with me on and I have no problem with that. But you have to make a decision that you feel is best for your contest and stick with it.



Nishioka did not play in the majors or minors last year and needs to have a position designation. I may be wrong, but it sure looks like the Twins are going to play him at second base and thus we gave him second base eligibility. If I'm wrong and he plays at shortstop then he will have SS eligibility after 10 games there. I didn't feel he should start out with SS eligibility with the possibility that he may not even play there in 2011.



Yes, I understand that he did play SS in Japan, but there isn't anything specific in our rules that state a player's position is determined by his last position in a foreign league. It says the NFBC will designate a position for those players and those positions are final.



He has value at 2B and if/when he plays 10 games at shortstop he will have dual eligibility. Until that time, he is 2B-only. Again, I understand why some folks feel it should be the other way around because of his past at SS, but our reasoning is based on where he's likely to play in 2011 and by most accounts it's second base. Good luck all.

[KJ Duke]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

I think there are all kinds of rulings that people can disagree with me on and I have no problem with that. Some more than others!



I don't really care about T-Sushi, and it would be tricky to change now with a draft already in the books ... but for next season maybe you could re-consider how to determine foreign elig?

[Fourslot40]

He's a middle infielder who has played both positions.



I understand what some are saying about comparing it to the existing minor league MLB eligiblity procedure. However, in this case I agree with Greg. MLB teams groom the players at a position before they come up to the big leagues for a reason. They intend to play them there for the majority.



Japanese players are different. The league is on a different level of play. For example: Kaz Matsui was a star shortstop and when he came to the U.S., he couldn't play SS. They moved him to 2B. Had Matsui been brought up through the minor league system, he would have not come up as a SS.



I agree with Greg's decision and think that foreign league players should be positioned based on eligibility projection for the U.S. level and not the foreign level. If he isn't projected to play SS in the U.S., he shouldn't receive eligibility there until he proves he can play it.



Just my opinion.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

I think there are all kinds of rulings that people can disagree with me on and I have no problem with that. Some more than others!



I don't really care about T-Sushi, and it would be tricky to change now with a draft already in the books ... but for next season maybe you could re-consider how to determine foreign elig? [/QUOTE]I think Terry Haney is still mad at me today for saying Prince Fielder was DH only to start 2006!! He wasn't alone in giving me grief over that.



Sounds good, but let's see if I made the right call or not first.

[ToddZ]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by KJ Duke:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

I think there are all kinds of rulings that people can disagree with me on and I have no problem with that. Some more than others!



I don't really care about T-Sushi, and it would be tricky to change now with a draft already in the books ... but for next season maybe you could re-consider how to determine foreign elig? [/QUOTE]I think Terry Haney is still mad at me today for saying Prince Fielder was DH only to start 2006!! He wasn't alone in giving me grief over that.



Sounds good, but let's see if I made the right call or not first. [/QUOTE]Not disputing the ruling for this season-- the rules state it is the commissioner's call, no problem.



But the question is not where he is going to play -- no one is disputing he is going to play second base.



It is obvious Kevin Youkilis is going to play 3B but he only qualifies at 1B for now.



The question is going forward, should the Japan leagues should be treated the same as the MLB Majors and Minors for eligibility. Not where he is supposed to play.



If Dustin Ackley played exclusively in the OF in the minors, but was announced as the Seattle opening day 2B, he would be OF only to start.



[ December 29, 2010, 06:03 PM: Message edited by: ToddZ ]

[LONG GONE]

You have the smartest people on these boards telling you he is a ss that is going to play 2nd.



Please someone WAKE UP!