From the indispensable NPB Tracker:
Yu Darvish’s Number To Be (Sort Of) Retired
The other day, Sports Hochi reported that, in the event that he signs with the Rangers, the Nippon Ham Fighters will “semi-retire” Yu Darvish’s number 11. The number won’t be officially retired, but will remain unused until the team develops another “absolute, Darvish-caliber ace”.Reminder of what Darvish-caliber might mean: The right-hander didn’t post an ERA over 2.00 in any of his last five seasons. So when the Fighters say they’re just waiting for another Darvish-caliber pitcher to come around, that’s like the Yankees saying they’ll just hold on to that #3 uniform until they find someone worthy enough to wear it.
The NPB Tracker links to an original source that’s in Japanese, so by Internet-law I’m required to post some of the idiosyncratic translations from Google.
Respect to the glorious triumph.There were more, but that one kind of says it all. Darvish’s number isn’t just going to be handed out to someone like Micah Hoffpauir when he ambles over to Japan. That seems appropriate. Respect to the glorious triumph.
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