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What a difference a year makes

Tadahito Iguchi of the White Sox speaks with the media after the team's practice at US Cellular Field in Chicago on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Tadahito Iguchi traveled 10,879km from Tokyo to New York last October because he wanted to see Game 1 of the World Series and witness the baseball excitement in the country where he hoped to play in 2005.

After Iguchi made his hotel and airline arrangements, the Boston Red Sox ruined his initial plans by shocking the Yankees and winning the American League pennant.

Undeterred, Iguchi trekked another 322km to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox play the St. Louis Cardinals. Iguchi spent most of the game shivering by the right-field foul pole, and did not last nine innings. Nonetheless, Iguchi confirmed that he wanted to play in the US and in the World Series.

"I never imagined I'd be here this year," Iguchi told Japanese reporters Friday.

But Iguchi is, and he could become a part of American baseball history as the White Sox try to win their first World Series since 1917. Manager Ozzie Guillen has repeatedly said that Iguchi, the second baseman with a selfless approach and a .278 batting average, has been the White Sox' most valuable player. Then Guillen waits for the inevitable snickers.

"I never imagined I'd be here this year."

Tadahito Iguchi of the Chicago White Sox on beingin the World Series in his first year in the Major Leagues

"I keep saying he's my MVP and people make fun of me," Guillen said. "I don't want superstars. I want good players."

Iguchi is a good player who has probably sacrificed more for the White Sox than anyone. In Japan, he was a superstar, a power-hitting infielder with speed and a slick style at second. Iguchi hit .333 with 24 homers and 89 runs batted in for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks last season, when he also won a Gold Glove.

But on Iguchi's first day with the White Sox, Guillen told him that he would bat second and that he would be expected to bunt, to take pitches and to move runners over. Iguchi, like all Japanese players, had been schooled in favoring the team over the player, so the team-first concept was not foreign.

adjustments

Still, Iguchi had to adjust. He became a better bunter and was third in the American League with 11 sacrifices. He struggled to figure out leadoff man Scott Podsednik's tendencies and was patient as Podsednik stole 59 bases. He tinkered with his swing to routinely hit the ball to the right side. He did not try to hit 25 homers, which teammate A.J. Pierzynski guaranteed he could. Iguchi had 15 while driving in 71 runs.

"He could have been selfish about it," said Tim Raines, the White Sox' first-base coach. "He could have said he's a better offensive player than just moving guys over. He swallowed his pride and has been a great team player."

When Pierzynski was asked about Iguchi dulling his star to help Chicago's small-ball approach, he said: "He's a star here, too. What he's done here is underrated. He gives himself up."

During two interviews, Iguchi kept his answers brief. Iguchi said through Ryan McGuire, his interpreter, that it was nice that Guillen considered him the team's most valuable player, but he felt the entire team should be the MVP. Iguchi said he has been able to sacrifice because he treats every situation as a new challenge. He is 6 for 29 (.207 average) in the postseason, but had a three-run homer off Boston's David Wells to win the second game of the division series.

When Iguchi was asked what was the most difficult part of his transition, he cited the most critical part of his job. "It's batting in the two spot," Iguchi said through McGuire. "It's a position I never batted in before."

Bobby Valentine, the former manager of the Mets who now manages the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, said in an e-mail response to a question that Iguchi "was the same player here that he is there." Valentine said Iguchi is a smart player so he will continue to get better next season because he will be more comfortable.

"He really knows how to play the game and could hit in the middle of the order there," Valentine said. "I'm not surprised Ozzie loves him."

talented

General Manager Kenny Williams and Dave Wilder, the director of player development, scouted Iguchi on videotape. When Williams received a new tape, he would implore Wilder to come view Iguchi's swing.

Beyond Iguchi's obvious talent, the White Sox needed to learn if he could go from being a star in Japan to being a supporting actor in the US. Wilder credited Williams with discovering the answer through numerous conversations.

"We found out he's a winner," Wilder said.

Since August when the White Sox released Shingo Takatsu, a Japanese reliever, Iguchi has often kept to himself. He warmed up with McGuire before Friday's workout and eats many of his meals with the interpreter.

"In the future, he's said he'd like to be in a different position," McGuire said. "He'd like to be in the three spot, not just the two spot."

That will wait. For now, Iguchi must travel about an hour, not 10,879km, for Game 1 of the World Series. He will definitely stay for the entire game. He has to. He is playing in it.

"It's really good for me," Iguchi said. "And if the team wins, I'll have memories on top of memories."
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