Hideo Nomo

From SoSH

Hideo "The Tornado" Nomo is a right-handed pitcher who started for the Red Sox during the 2001 season, going 13-10 with a 4.50 ERA. He threw a no-hitter at Camden Yards in his first Red Sox start. While with the Sox, Nomo wore uniform number 11.

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Moment in the Sun 3 Awards 4 Achievements 5 Trivia 6 Transactions 7 External Links

Overall Career

Hideo Nomo began his career pitching in Japan, playing five seasons with the Kintetsu Buffaloes. He is most well known for his unorthodox windup (which has earned him the nickname "Tornado"). His pitching motion involved turning his back to the batter and freezing in place for a second before continuing his windup.

Nomo left Japan for the major leagues in 1995, signing a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers after a salary dispute with Kintetsu, and he spent just a month in the minors before being promoted to Los Angeles. His awkward delivery (combined with a nasty forkball) baffled hitters and earned him the Rookie of the Year Award in 1995. That season he racked up 236 strikeouts in just 191 innings, leading the league. His 2.54 ERA was second in the league and he pitched three complete game shutouts. His second season was somewhat of a letdown, perhaps due in part to a loss of velocity on his fastball, but he ended the season by throwing a no-hitter in Colorado and giving up just 11 runs in his last 7 starts, and his overall ERA of 3.19 still ranked him eighth in the league. (He also compiled an impressive 1.16 WHIP and 234 strikeouts in 1996.)

As time went on, batters were able to adjust to his delivery and each season his effectiveness diminished. (His loss totals and ERA steadily increased in each of his first three seasons, although his strikeout totals were consistent.) After a disappointing 1997 season, in which he posted a below-average 4.25 ERA, Nomo had an even worse start to the 1998 season, going 2-7 with a 5.05 ERA and a 1.404 WHIP. The Dodgers, in rebuilding mode, traded Nomo to the New York Mets in June 1998. Unfortunately, Nomo's struggles continued with the Mets: in 16 starts, he was 4-5 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.439 WHIP. Even more damning was the fact that he asked out of a crucial start at the end of the season, insisting he was not worthy of starting such an important game. When the Mets lost that game and missed the playoffs, Nomo's heart was questioned by both the organization and the vicious New York press. When he asked for his release in March 1999 rather than accept a minor-league assignment, these questions arose again.

After the Mets released him, Nomo signed with the Chicago Cubs, but the Cubs released him as well after just three starts, and the Milwaukee Brewers signed him. Nomo made 28 starts for the Brewers during the 1999 season, going 12-8 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. In the offseason, Milwaukee offered him a 2-year ($8 million) contract, but Nomo turned it down, and was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies off waivers. After more failed negotiations, Hideo was released by the Phillies the following day, and he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers. His 2000 season with the Tigers was rather unimpressive (190 innings, 4.74 ERA, 8-12 record), and they declined his option, making him a free agent again. The Red Sox signed him to a 1-year, $4.5 million deal for the 2001 season.

By the time the Red Sox signed Hideo Nomo, his most dominant days were clearly behind him. However, he endeared himself to Red Sox fans instantly when he pitched a no-hitter in his first Red Sox start. On May 25, Nomo pitched a one-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays. Overall, Nomo finished the season 13-10 with a 4.50 ERA, and was one of the few bright spots of Boston's disappointing 2001 season.

Hideo Nomo headed back to Los Angeles after the 2001 season, re-signing with the Dodgers, and he turned back the clock with stellar performances during the 2002 and 2003 seasons (2002: 16-6 with a 3.39 ERA; 2003: 16-12 with a 3.09 ERA). Father Time apparently caught up with him in 2004, as his 4-11 record and 8.25 ERA would demonstrate. Nomo pitched briefly with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later appeared in Triple-A Columbus of the New York Yankees' system, in 2005. He is now pitching in the Chicago White Sox minor league system.

In many ways Hideo was a pioneer for future Japanese Major League stars such as Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui, as he was the first Japanese-born player to join a major league team after playing professionally in Japan's Central or Pacific Leagues.

Moment in the Sun

• On September 17, 1996, Hideo Nomo no-hit the Colorado Rockies as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 9-0 win.
• On April 4th, 2001, Hideo no-hit the Baltimore Orioles in his first start wearing a Red Sox uniform.

Awards

• 1995 National League All-Star
• 1995 Rookie of the Year (National League)

Achievements

• 1995 National League Strikeouts Leader
• 2001 American League Strikeouts Leader
• 1995 National League Shutouts Leader

Trivia

• Established the "Hideo Nomo Club", a non-profit amateur baseball team in Osaka.
• Pitched the first no-hitter in Coors Field as well as the first no-hitter at Camden Yards.
• One of just four players to have no-hitters in the AL and NL.
• Won a silver medal in the 1988 Olympics.
• The first Japanese player to win a major American baseball award.

Transactions

• February 8, 1995: Signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• June 4, 1998: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with Brad Clontz to the New York Mets for Greg McMichael and Dave Mlicki.
• March 26, 1999: Released by the New York Mets.
• April 2, 1999: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago Cubs.
• April 23, 1999: Released by the Chicago Cubs.
• April 29, 1999: Signed as a Free Agent with the Milwaukee Brewers.
• October 28, 1999: Selected off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Milwaukee Brewers.
• October 29, 1999: Granted Free Agency.
• January 21, 2000: Signed as a Free Agent with the Detroit Tigers.
• November 2, 2000: Released by the Detroit Tigers.
• December 15, 2000: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
• November 5, 2001: Granted Free Agency.
• December 21, 2001: Signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• November 1, 2004: Granted Free Agency.
• January 27, 2005: Signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
• July 16, 2005: Released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
• July 29, 2005: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.
• October 15, 2005: Granted Free Agency.
• Mar 2, 2006: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago White Sox to a minor league contract.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis