Kenshin Kawakami Has Decided To Retire

Preliminary middle-aged Ken Kawakami pitcher (41) live on CBC TV "Sunday Dragons" on 19th, officially announced his retirement from the job. I am troubled by the breakdown of my right shoulder, and for 15 years I am free contract for China.  (Translated)

Nikkan Sports

Chunichi Not Offering Contract To Kenshin Kawakami, But Still Wants To Continue Career

Chunichi Official Site

Shelby Miller's Streak Of Hard-Luck Outings Continues

Shelby Miller's winless streak reached 14 games Tuesday night, as the Giants topped the Braves, 8-3, in the second of a three-game series at Turner Field -- the longest stretch by an Atlanta starter since Kenshin Kawakami in 2010.

Atlanta Official Site

Yakult Has Some Interest In Bringing Back Chris Narveson

Yakyubaka

Braves' Demise Puts Cardinals Success In Perspective

To fully appreciate the Cardinals' steady success, one must consider the inability of rival franchises to sustain that same pace.

Tipsheet

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB Action 4-23-14: Hector Luna Singles

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Chunichi) started at third base and batted third.  1-for-4 with one run and two strikeouts.

Chunichi beat Hanshin 4-1

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 3-28-14: Chad Huffman & Hector Luna Each Walk

Chad Huffman (former Memphis-Chiba Lotte) started in left field and batted sixth.  0-for-2 with one walk and two strikeouts.

Softbank beat Chiba Lotte 11-5


Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Chunichi) started at third base and batted third.  0-for-4 with one walk.

Hiroshima beat Chunichi 3-2

Brian Falkenborg To Begin Rehab Assignment With Ichi-gun Team

Brian Falkenborg (tightness in neck and back) is expected to join the Ichi-gun team on Wednesday. Whether or not he will be added back to the active roster is not yet known and will depend on how he is feeling and whether or not the team needs him right away.

Yakyubaka

Les Walrond Signs Minor League Deal With Mets

Baseball America

Clubs Seek Diamond In Rough In Rule 5 Draft

In a perfect world, teams would take the relatively low risk of making a selection in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft and uncover a Johan Santana, Josh Hamilton, Joakim Soria or Dan Uggla.

MLB Official Site

Colby Rasmus Most Attractive Trade Target To Braves

The most attractive outfield trade target for the Braves might be St. Louis center fielder Colby Rasmus, a 24-year-old slugger who won't be eligible for arbitration until after the 2011 season and is under contractual control for four seasons.

The Cardinals say they're unlikely to trade Rasmus, even with his past friction manager Tony La Russa. St. Louis wouldn't do it without getting a bevy of young talent in return.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

At Long Last, The Hot Stove

that special season is upon us again, when young men everywhere make mlbtraderumors.com their homepages, and unintentional comedy falls from dayton moore's mouth.

Viva El Birdos

Braves Outright Kenshin Kawakami To Double-A

As the Braves continue to attempt to trade Kenshin Kawakami, or sell him to a Japanese team, they'll do so without him on their 40-man roster.

Braves Official Site

Troy Glaus To Be Activated Thursday

David O'Brien Twitter

Jeff Weaver Leaves Game Before Throwing First Pitch

Meanwhile, reliever Jeff Weaver's injury was nothing more serious than a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. Weaver came in from the bullpen to start the seventh inning but was taken out before he threw an actual pitch when the blister appeared while he was warming up, and Torre said Weaver's removal was just a precaution to prevent the blister from opening up. Weaver presumably will be available Friday night.

ESPN

Skip Schumaker Sparks Cardinals Offense

Following three consecutive seasons of hitting better than .300, Cardinals leadoff man Skip Schumaker was at .289 before Wednesday night's game against the Atlanta Braves. That latter number, however, was not his batting average but his on-base percentage, which isn't acceptable by any standards, especially for a leadoff man.

STL Today

Wednesday's Lineups 4-28-10

1. Schumaker 2B
2. Ludwick RF
3. Pujols 1B
4. Holliday LF
5. Rasmus CF
6. Molina C
7. Freese 3B
8. Garcia LHP
9. Ryan SS
Obviously, You're Not A Golfer

When the Cardinals and lefthanded rookie Jaime Garcia face the Atlanta Braves and Japanese righthander Kenshin Kawakami tonight at Busch Stadium, none of the hitters will have much of a scouting report to offer. The only active player on either side to have faced one of the pitchers is Atlanta outfielder Nate McLouth, who was hitless in one at-bat as a Pittsburgh Pirates player against Garcia two years ago.
Cardinal Beat

Jaime Garcia, Kenshin Kawakami In Uncharted Territory

Uncharted waters will be explored on both sides of the diamond when the Braves visit the Cardinals on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.

MLB Game Day

Will Troy Glaus Provide Braves Power?

Do you believe Troy Glaus will provide the Braves the power they need from an offensive standpoint?
-- Darren H., Jacksonville, Fla.

Only time will tell, and as you monitor his progress in the Grapefruit League over the next couple of weeks, don't focus solely on the number of homers that he hits. Instead, it will be more important to see that his right shoulder is allowing him to play on a regular basis and get the extension that he possessed before undergoing surgery last year.

Because he missed nearly all of the 2009 season, the Braves will likely attempt to get Glaus at least 50-60 (more if he wants) at-bats during Spring Training. This should give him plenty of time to reacquaint himself with the game and possibly regain the confidence that he can be a consistent power threat.

History has shown that when physically capable of taking the field on a consistent basis, Glaus is going to find a way to hit something in the neighborhood of 30 homers per season. But for now, it seems you would only be guessing if attempting to answer whether he'll prove to be the power source the Braves are seeking.

Braves Not Focused On Signing Mark DeRosa

I certainly wouldn't rule out this possibility. But for now, I think they seem to have more interest in signing Xavier Nady to play first base and occasionally play one of the corner outfield spots.

Braves Official Site