Kash ties the knot with long time girlfriend
Kashiwada marries a 25-year old office worker on Dec. 12.
They have been introduced through a friend 5 years ago, and have
started going steady in 1994.
Kash decided to marry her while in spring camp with the Mets.
The couple has not decided on an official wedding.
Kash returns to the Tokyo Giants
On Oct. 22, the Giants formerlly announced that Kashiwada has
returned to the team. Kash tied the knot for an annual income of
about 25 million yen. It is believed that he made 18 million yen with the Mets and
12.5 million yen in 1996 when he played for the Giants.
Kash kept it to himself about the 98 season upon his return to Japan on Oct.6.
Skipper Bobby Valentine of the Mets, however, made it clear on Oct. 2 that Kashiwada will play
with his former team, the Tokyo Giants next season.
Valentine also mentioned his plan to replace Kash with another Japanese pitcher.
Kash on the mound
September 18 in Atlanta
The Atlanta Braves were ahead 4 to 9 when Kash came to pitch in the 7th inning.
He yielded a hit only and finished that inning. The game finished 11 to 4 for the Braves.
September 16 in Philadelphia
Kash only got to face 2 batters with the Mets behind the Phillies 1 to 3.
He walked one then took out the next. The team lost 2 to 3.
September 8 in New York
It's been more than a month since Kash last pitched for the Mets.
He pitched to 2 players of the Philadelphia Phillies, walked one, and struck out the other.
The Mets, in any case, lost 4 to 13.
Kash returns to the Majors
Kash was demoted to the Minors on Aug.5, to play with the triple A Norfolk ball club.
He has been registered back with the Mets on Sept. 1. The main reason is because the
number of legible players in the Major League level had been increased from 25 to 40.
August 2 in Houston
Kash was the 4th one to pitch at the time the Mets were 0 to 5 to the Houston Astros.
He was suddenly doubled and singled, losing an RBI.
July 27 in San Diego
The Mets were ahead of the San Diego Padres 3 to 2 when Kashi came to pitch in the 7th inning.
He, however, ruined the game allowing 2 Padres to come home. Kash recorded his first loss in the Major Leagues.
The Padres won 5 to 3.
July 25 in San Diego
Just for getting 2 San Diego Padres players out in the 7th inning, Kash earned his 3rd win this season.
He was lucky, because the Mets reversed the game in the 8th inning. The Mets won 4 to 2.
July 20
Kash walked 3 Cincinnati Reds' players in one inning.
July 16 in New York
The Mets were just one point behind the Chicago Cubs when Kash pitched in the 9th inning.
He finished the inning safely and it was to be seen if the Mets could turn the game.
However, it ended 5 to 6 for the Cubs.
July 14 in Pittsburgh
The Mets were leading by a point when Kash was ordered to pitch.
He could not stop the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was on in the 7th inning at 2 outs with runners on 1st and 3rd.
The Mets reversed the game in the top of the 8th, but the Pirates took revenge in the bottom of that inning for
a 5 to 4 victory.
July 11 in Atlanta
Kash pitched the 6th inning to safety after the Mets caught up with the Atlanta Braves, 5 to 5.
However, he was homered in the 7th.
Thank goodness, the Mets came back adding runs, and in the end, won the game 9 to 7.
July 3 in New York
Another perfect 8th inning for Kash, this time, against the Florida Marlins.
July 1 in Detroit
This time, Kash pitched a perfect 8th inning although his team lost 6 to 8 to the Detroit Tigers.
June 30 in Detroit
The game was made even worse for the Mets by Kash, unfortunately. The team was behind the Detroit Tigers 0 to 12
by the time he came to pitch in the 8th inning. Then Kash lost a 2 run homer to the Tigers and the Mets ended up 14 to 0.
June 27 in Pittsburgh
Kash pitched with the Mets way behind the Pittsburgh Pirates 1 to 6 in the 8th inning.
He lost only a base hit.
June 24 in New York
The Atlanta Braves was leading 4 to 3 and the Mets were in trouble when Kash came to pitch in the 7th inning
With 1 out there were runners on 1st and 2nd. He did lose an RBI, but overall, hurled well.
He pitched until the end of the 8th inning.
Thereafter, the Mets got back at the Braves. Carlos Baerga tied the game with a 2 run homer,
than in the 9th, he singled a game winning RBI. The Mets rose to 3rd place in the National League East Division.
June 22 in New York
Kashiwada not only played a part of a good relief in the 10th inning.
He collected his 2nd win. That's because in the bottom of the inning,
the Mets succeeded in scoring 3 runs to end the game 12 to 9 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kash mentioned after the game that he was much happier about this 2nd win then his first one.
June 17 in New York
For the first time, Kash faced the New York Yankees in the Interleague.
The turnout was enormous that day. The Yankee Stadium attracted more than 56,000 spectators.
Kash pitched the 8th inning with the Mets losint 3 to 6. Although he walked 2 Yankees, he did not lost a base hit.
The game ended without any new addition in runs.
June 15 in Chicago
In the 1 inning that he pitched, Kash lost a base hit and an RBI.
The Boston Red Sox beat the Mets to a 1 to 10.
June 11 in Chicago
It's not getting any better for Kash. In the 7th inning, he hit the batter with his pitch, then he was doubled and
lost an RBI. He was out before taking any out from the Chicago Cubs himself.
At that point, the Mets were 1 to 3.
The game finished 4 to 5. The Mets didn't quite make it.
June 10 in Chicago
The Mets won this game against the Chicago Cubs, and Kash pitched a perfect inning.
June 1 in New York
It wasn't a very good day for Kash again, although his team won.
He settled the 7th inning with a runner on first base with 2 outs.
In the 8th inning though, the Phillies singled and Kash walked the next batter. He lost an RBI.
Then, he was off the mound. The Mets, nevertheless, won 8 to 5 over the Phillies.
May 26 in Montreal
Not even one out was called when Kashiwada pitched this time. He pitched against the
Montreal Expos in the 8th inning. He was singled and walked the next Expo.
He left the bases loaded for the next pitcher.
At least, the Mets were able to keep their 4 to 3 lead.
May 21 in Philadelphia
Kashiwada pitched just an inning--that's in the 8th inning, with the Mets leading 10 to 3.
He just walked one Phillie. The game finished with the score unchanged.
May 18 in New York
At last, Kashiwada succeeded in clinching his in the US Major League.
It wasn't that he did great though.
His turn came in the 7th inning with a runner on 2nd base and 1 out.
He took an out. However, lost a point when the catcher passed his pitch behind
with runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs. In the 8th inning, he was homered by Galarraga.
By the time, the Mets were behind 2 to 4. But the Mets batted in a whooping 8 runs in the 8th inning.
Kashiwada was luckily, entitled to the team's victory of 10 to 4.
May 11 in St. Louis
For the first time, Kashiwada was ordered to pitch to just one player.
The Mets were just one run behind the Cardinals in the 7th inning with
runners on 1st and 2nd bases when Kashiwada was asked to pitch.
He settled that inning. The Mets, succeeded in reversing the game in the 9th inning to a
6 to 3.
May 9 in St. Louis
Kashiwada experimented with a new type of pitch--a change-up--
that's when he was called on to pitch in the 9th inning.
He learned it from ace relief pitcher and teammate John Franco.
The change-up was indeed effective. Although he was doubled, he finished the 9th inning and
as a matter of fact, the game with the Mets keeping the lead of 10 to 3 from the Cardinals.
May 6 in Denver
Kashiwada did not face any base hits, but was scored for the first time in the US Major Leagues.
He came to pitch in the 7th inning with the Mets behind the Colorado Rockies.
He walked a Rocky, hurled a wild pitch to allow the runner to go to third, then the catcher
could not get his strike out pitch to the next batter, so the runner came home.
May 5 in Denver
With the Mets leading the Colorado Rockies by 5 RBIs in the 9th inning,
Kashiwada came to relief the team. He hurled that inning to safely bring the game to an end.
The Mets won 6 to 1.
May 3 in New York
Kashiwada's chance to pitch for the 2nd time came quickly. He pitched 2 innings for the Mets,
with the team leading the St. Louis Cardinals 5 to 1. He was singled twice, but they didn't lead
to a score. The game finished rather peacefully.
May 1 in New York
Former pitcher of the Tokyo Giants has for the first time pitched in the Big League.
His chance to pitch came on the 8th inning with the Mets far behind the San Diego Padres
0 to 7. His 15 pitches took out all 3 batters that inning.
Michiyo's Note: It must've been a fascinating moment for
Kashiwada. In Japan, during the 7 years he played professionally, he's only had one
game victory.
Kashiwada is promoted to the Big League
Kashiwada was notified on Apr.30 about his promotion to the Major League level.
He has become the 5th Japanese Major League player.
He joined the New York Mets on May 1. He has been given a uniform with the number 18 on it.
Michiyo's Note: In Japan, 18 is regarded as the number worn by ace pitchers.
So Kashiwada should be thrilled. It is also the number which Daryl Strawberry wore
when he was awarded Rookie of the Year as a member of the Mets in 1983.
Kashiwada signs with the Mets
Takashi Kashiwada have signed with the New York Mets based on a monetary trade between
the Tokyo Giants on Apr.4. Kashiwada has been on a special program to study baseball during the US
spring camp training with the Triple A team of the Mets.
He pitched in 6 games--won 1 and lost 1 with an ERA of 3.86.
The Mets later expressed their desire to use him for the official season.
It's the first time since Masanori Murakami in 1964 that a Japanese player on training has been
signed by a Major League team.