POST 2002 SEASON
Mac joins BlueWave
It was announced on Dec 27 that Mac has decided to join the BlueWave.
This has made him the first Japanese to have placed in the US Major Leagues first before
playing professionally in his home country.
Since he was drafted, he will play as a rookie.
Mac is no stranger to the place where his team is based which is Kobe.
He was raised in the area.
Mac is expected to return to Japan in mid January.
Mac drafted in Japan Mac Suzuki is named the 2nd draft choice for the Orix Blue Wave on Nov 20. It's the first time in Japanese baseball history that a former MLB player is named. Mac was reported to have wished to join the Swallows, but the Swallows plan was to name him only in the 4th round.
MAC SUZUKI WITH THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS IN 2002
June 19
He opposed another Japanese starting pitcher. It's Tomokazu Ooka of the Montreal Expos.
Mac however lost the competition losing 4 runs in 5 innings.
He succumbed to his 2nd loss in a 3 to 6 game.
MAC SUZUKI WITH THE MILWAUKEE BREWER IN 2001
August 28
Mac pitched 6 innings and gave up 3 runs. At that point, he was qualified to take a win.
But the relief pitcher lost more runs. And it turned out that the Brewers lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 5 to 6.
August 22 Mac pitched unexpectedly to take over from the starting pitcher the 2nd inning. He hurled 3 2/3 innings and gave up one run. He proved lucky as his team defeated the Chicago Cubs 8 to 1, giving him his 5th win of the season and his 3rd with the Brewers.
August 17 Mac managed to stay on until the 7th inning giving up only one run. The Brewers won 5 to 1 to the Cincinnatti Reds 5 to 1, and Mac gaining his 4th win.
August 11 Mac started the game. He lasted 7 innings, and did not give up any runs. His team won 6 to 0 over the Montreal Expos, and secured his 3rd win.
Mac moves again
It's been reported on July 12, that Mac had been acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers.
It's off waivers from the Colorado Rockies, Brewers' General Manager Dean Taylor said.
MAC SUZUKI WITH THE COLORADO ROCKIES IN 2001
July 4
Mac started for the first time for the Rockies.
He kept the San Diego Padres scoreless until the 4th inning.
Then in the 5th inning, the scene changed.
He could not finish it. In 4 1/3 innings, he gave up 4 runs.
And the Rockies lost to the Padres 5 to 8.
Mac to play with Rockies
It was finalized on June 24, that Mac will be joining the Colorado Rockies.
Mac started in 9 games with the Royals so far.
He has 2 wins 5 losses, and an ERA of 5.30.
MAC SUZUKI WITH THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS IN 2001
April 26
Mac was about to pitch over a distance a shut out game.
But in the 9th inning, his teammate erred, and putting on base a Arizona DevilRay.
And he stepped off the mound there.
His team, still won 6 to 0 and Mac picked up his 2nd win.
April 14 It's the 2nd time Mac started. He hurled 6 innings, and gave up only a run. His team was leading 3 to 1 to the Toronto Blue Jays when he left. But the team in the end lost 4 to 5.
April 8 It's his first game of the season. And it was indeed a good start for someone who had a surgery of his right shoulder last Oct. He hurled 5 innings, giving up only a homerun to the Minnesota Twins. The Royals defeated the Twins 15 to 4, and Mac earning a win.
STARTING WITH THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS IN 2000
September 20
By yielding 4 runs in 7 innings, it put Mac in danger of taking responsible for the game.
But luckily, the Royals caught up with the Anaheim Angels.
However, the bad part for his team was that in the end the Angels won 7 to 4.
September 5 Mac unfortunately had to take the loss this time against the New York Yankees. It's his 8th loss against 8 wins. He managed to stay until the 6 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs.
August 30 The Royals helped Mac with a whooping 8 run lead. Mac gave up 2 runs and stepped down after the 7th inning. But it was a dangerous game for the Royals. The Minnesota Twins almost caught up. It finished 8 to 7 for the Royals so Mac was able to win his 8th game.
August 24 Mac was a very different pitcher from the previous game. He lost a whooping 5 runs in just 3 0/3 innings. But, the game went into the 10th inning, and it did not count on him. However, the Royals in the end lost 7 to 9 to the Boston Red Sox.
August 19 It was probably the most satisfactory day for Mac since he's started playing in the US. He not only hurled over the distance against the Baltimore Orioles, he shut them out. The first time for him to do so in the US Major Leagues. And Mac clinched his 7th win. The Royals won 7 to 0.
August 13 Mac was able to earn his 6th win but he did not put on a good pitch. He pitched 7 1/3 innings giving up 5 runs. But his team batted in 10 runs from the Baltimore Orioles.
August 8 Mac lasted only 3 2/3 innings. He lost 6 runs, one of his worst records. The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Royals 6 to 1. Mac took the loss.
August 3 Mac only gave up a run to Tino Martinez of the New York Yankees during 7 innings. And at that point his team was taking the lead. But after he left, the Yankees caught up and in the end clinched that game 3 to 2. So Mac unfortunately was unable to pick up a win.
July 29 Mac lost again--his 6th. But he didn't do bad. In the 8th inning, Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Mo Vaughn homered off him. Mac was out. But he only gave up 2 runs in all. The game finished 2 to 1 for the Devil Rays.
July 24 Mac tried to withhold despite yielding homers to the Chicago White Sox. But Magglio Ordonez's 3 run homer took him down the mound in the 7th inning. Mac gave up a total 7 runs and marked his 5th loss. The Royals lost 6 to 7.
July 19 Mac was in a sense lucky. Though he lost 4 runs in 6 innings with 3 his responsibility, his team while he still was on reversed the game. The 10 to 5 win over the Cleveland Indians gave Mac his 5th win. His ERA slightly improved and placed him 2nd in the American League.
July 14 In his first game after the all star break Mac gave up only 2 runs in 7 innings. But he did not receive any support from his teammates. So he had to take his 4th loss as a consequence of a 0 to 4 game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
July 8 Mac managed to hold on 7 innings giving up only one run to the Detroit Tigers. His team won 5 to 2 and was himself accredited for his 4th win.
July 2 The starting pitcher for the opposing Detroit Tigers was also Japanese. It's Hideo Nomo. Both Nomo and Mac pitched well. Mac however gave up 2 runs while Nomo, none until the 7th inning. The Tigers in the end won 2 to 0 and Nomo his 3rd win while Mac lost.
June 27 In 5 1/3 innings, Mac was yielded 2 homers and lost a total 4 runs to the Cleveland Indians. He succumbed to his 2nd loss. The game ended 1 to 12.
June 16
Mac had poor control of the ball. He walked 3 in a row in the 1st inning.
Luckily though in 5 innings he gave up only 1 run.
But he did not earn a win because in the end, the Oakland Athletic beat the Royal 8 to 3.
June 5
In the 6th inning, Mac at once gave up 3 runs but he kept Big Mac from getting at him
and clinched the game against the Cardinals 7 to 4.
He hurled 5 1/2 innings and losing 4 runs.
It's his 3rd win.
May 31
Mac started and pitched against the Boston Red Sox. He hurled 7 innings giving up 2 runs.
The game finished 9 to 7 for the Royals.
He awarded himself a birthday treat winning his 2nd game.
May 25
Mac only lost 2 runs in 6 innings, but the relievers were in a turmoil that
his team finished the game 3 to 5 against the Texas Rangers.
May 20
Mac was homered in the 3rd than gave up a 2 run to Mo Vaughn in the 5th.
In all, he succumbed to 5 runs in 4 1/3 inning against the Angels.
May 14
Mac succeeded in pitching 8 1/3 innings.
It's the longest game he's pitched so far.
Although he gave up 4 runs, Mac earned his first win this season.
The Royals defeated the Cleveland Indians 5 to 4.
Mac no longer a starting pitcher
Mac has been taken out of the starting rotation. On Apr. 25, he came on as a relief pitcher.
He didn't lost a run during the 3 innings he pitched against the Devil Rays.
On Apr. 29, he was the 2nd pitcher. He hurled 4 innings and lost 2 runs to the Mariners.
The Mariners in the end defeated the Royals 11 to 3.
On May 4, he appeared in better shape keeping the Oakland Athletics from scoring for 3 innings.
Mac pitched from the 3rd inning.
In fact, his team reversed the game in the 10th 8 to 7.
Apr. 19
This time, Mac lost 3 runs in 4 innings.
At that point the game was a tie, so he would neither be credited for a loss or a win.
In the end though the Royals lost to the Minnesota Twins 6 to 7.
Apr. 12
It's Mac's second game of the season. He pitched the 3 innings well agains the Baltimore Orioles.
In the 4th, he gave up 3 runs, and in the 6th, he was off the mound with runners on 2nd and 3rd.
His back up succumbed to a double, so Mac's total loss went up to 5.
However, The Royals turned the game around in the 9th with Rey Sanchez's 3 run homer.
The Royas won 7 to 6.
MAC SUZUKI WITH THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS IN 1999
Sept. 25
Mac gave up only a run in 5 innings, but in the 6th inning, he was in trouble.
And with bases full at one out, he was off the mound. The pitchers who took over lost runs.
The Royals lost to the Detroit Tigers 3 to 11. Mac had to take the loss--it's his 5th this season.
Sept. 19
As Mac felt he was picking things up in the 5th inning, he was pulled out.
He gave up 3 runs in those innings. It was a no decision game on his record.
But for the Royals, it was an outrageous loss of 3 to 12 against the Oakland Athletics.
Sept. 14
Mac started in the first of the double header against the Anaheim Angels.
He was able to last 6 1/3 innings, during which he gave up 3 runs.
His team was taking the lead, so he had a change to earn a win.
But the Angels came back with runs.
It resulted a 6 to 8.
Sept. 2
For the first time this year, Mac was able to pick up a win.
He hurled 5 1/3 innings against the Boston Red Sox and gave up only 1 run.
The Royals won 4 to 2.
The last time he was able to pitch for a win was just a year ago.
Aug. 28
Mac hurled 4 1/3 innings, and gave up 3 runs. For him, it was a no decision game.
For the Royals it was a loss shocking loss of 3 to 4 to the Minnesota Twins.
July 23
Mac was unable to show good performance.
In just 2 2/4 innings, he gave up 6 runs against the Oakland Athletics.
The Royals, however, in the end defeated the Athletics 12 to 7,
so it was a no decision game for Mac.
July 1
Mac started for the first time with the Royals. He was able to go up till the 6th inning.
He lost 2 runs, a no decision on his record.
Mac pitches for the Royals
In the 3rd inning, the Royals were already behind 0 to 5 to the Cleveland Indians.
It was not at an interesting moment, but at any rate, Mac was called to pitch on June 26.
He lost a run, but finished up to the 6th inning.
And a surprise was, his new teammates came back to blast 11 runs to win the
game 11 to 7.
Mac goes to the Royals
Mac joined the Mets bench for just one day. And on June 22, it was announced that
the Kansas City Royals acquired Mac off the waiver wire.
Mac will join Yoshii's team
One June 18, it was disclosed that the New York Mets made a deal with the Seattle Mariners to
trade Allen Watson for Mac plus another player.
Mac so far has a 2 loss record and a 9.43 ERA in 16 games. He started in 4.
Mets general manager Steve Phillips is believed to have been impressed with Mac's fastball.
For the Japanese fans, a relay of Japanese pitchers in a game is expected to be witnessed for the first time.
Mac taken off from the Mariners' registered players
It was learned on June 15, that Mac Suzuki is not included among 40 players
enlisted in the Seattle Mariners.
His only chance to continue playing in the US Major Leagues may be to
join another team.
STARTING WITH THE SEATTLE MARINERS IN 1999
4th game, May 17
The first 2 innings were all right, although Mac did lose a homer.
It was a total disaster in the 3rd inning. Mac lost a total 4 runs and
hurled only 2 1/3 innings.
The Mariners eventually won 15 to 5 to the Minnesota Twins so Mac luckily did not have to take a loss.
He may not be able to start a game.
3rd game, May 12
It was another tough game for Mac. He hurled 6 0/3 innings against the Boston Red Sox
Lost 6 runs, 8 base hits, walked 6 and had to take his 2nd loss.
2nd game, May 7 For the first time, starting pitchers for the competing teams were both Japanese. Hideki Irabu started for the Yankees, and Mac Suzuki for the Seattle Mariners. They were both pitching a scoreless game until the 4th inning. However, in the 5th inning, Suzuki was stuck. Derek Jeter smashed a 3 run homer from him. He was taken off the mound in the 6th inning and lost a total of 7 runs. Meanwhile Irabu lost only a run in 7 innings and picked up his first win of the season
1st game, May 2
At last, Mac was given a chance to start.
He pitched against the Toronto Blue Jays 5 0/3 innings and lost 2 runs.
The game did not count against nor for him.
MAC WITH THE SEATTLE MARINERS IN 1998
5th game, Sept 24
It was the last oppportunity Mac was given this season to start.
He was unable to close the year so happily.
That's because he lasted only 2 1/3 innings.
A former Kintetsu Buffaloes Lee Stevens was one of those who slammed his pitch to a 3 base hit.
Mac had to take responsibility for 5 runs with his 2nd loss.
4th game, Sept 19
Mac gave up 3 runs in 4 innings, including of a total of 7 base hits.
His team had batted in 3 runs before he left the mound, so
the game was a no decision game for him.
In the end, the Mariners lost to the Anaheim Angels 3 to 5.
3rd game, Sept 14
The Mariners led 3 to 1 until the Minnesota Twins caught up in the 3rd inning.
Mac did not lose further runs after that inning though. Even better, his teammate Russ Davis' 3 run homer in the 6th inning
put the Mariners again ahead. Mac hurled 6 1/3 innings and
marked his first win ever in the U.S. Major Leagues.
The Mariners won 10 to 3.
2nd game, Sept 8
Makoto Suzuki was given the opportunity to start again on.
This time, he faced the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He pitched 5 shut out innings.
But then, in the 6th inning, he gave up a 3 run homer to McGriff.
He lost more runs, and was off the mound after succumbing to a total 5 runs.
The Mariners could not score at all, and lost the game 0 to 10.
Mac took his first lost.
1st game, Sept 2
Makoto "Mac" Suzuki started in the Major League level for the first time.
He kept the Boston Red Sox from scoring for 6 innings.
However in the 7th, he was doubled. Still, the Mariners were leading 3 to 1.
What happened was, the pitcher who took over-Jose Paniagua gave up a 2 run homer.
It became a no decision game for Mac.
In the end though, the Mariners were defeated 7 to 3.
Michiyo's Note:
I recall interviewing Mac about 5 years ago.
He was the only one seriously trying out for the Major Leagues then.
Now, at 23, and 7 years in the minors he has finally
been given an opportunity to start a game.
People regard him as the 6th Japanese to start a Major League game.
He actually came before Nomo.
Besides, what makes him special is that, he is the only Japanese
in the U.S Major League who has never played professionally in Japan.
He didn't finish high school in Japan.
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