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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