Minnesota Twins sticking with Tsuyoshi Nishioka for now

Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan said the team will stick with 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka for now despite Nishioka going 0-for-12 with three errors against the Cleveland Indians. “He had a very difficult game yesterday and we all saw it but the only way to find out how he’ll respond up here is to play him,” Ryan said.

In addition, while I’m not really a big “team chemistry” guy (I think it’s overrated as a success factor), I do have to wonder how well Nishioka would fit in with the Twins. In 2007, he announced that henceforth he would be listed on the Chiba Lotte roster simply as “Tsuyoshi”. Kind of like “Cher” or “Madonna”. Or that other diva, “Ichiro”.

On the other hand… the guy has dated models and even a professional golfer and he’s apparently engaged to model/actress Naoko Tokuzawa, so he’s got that going for him. She’d certainly constitute one of those “Target Field enhancements” the Twins have been talking about if she attends his games. And get this… both Noshioka and Tokuzawa have blogs!

via Twins | Sticking with Tsuyoshi Nishioka for now – MLB Hot off the Wire.