横浜ベイスターズのClayton Hamiltonだけど質問ある？

@HamiltonClayton

I've decided later tonight I will take some time to field questions from you guys on any subjects you would like such as baseball, japan etc

@HamiltonClayton

So feel free to fill up my @mentions box with your questions! I will get to as many as I can tonight

うずら @uzuradonburi

@HamiltonClayton Looks like your favorite music. Have you heard the music of Japan? If you have heard it if you have a favorite song?

@HamiltonClayton

@uzuradonburi My favorite band of all-time is Fuel. I do like several japanese songs but I have no idea who sings them!

Mike Lee @pigskins15

@HamiltonClayton who on the #BayStars do you think would play well in the Majors?

@HamiltonClayton

@pigskins15 Mike I think Yamaguchi could have success in MLB right now

Stuart Graham @sturev

@HamiltonClayton what is the biggest difference pitching in Japan compared to USA? Do catchers in Japan call for more breaking balls?

@HamiltonClayton

@sturev there are alot of differences to be honest, the baseball here is softer than the balls in MLB, and the mounds are softer dirt also

@HamiltonClayton

@sturev Catchers seem to call more breaking balls yes, in '10 season in MLB 71% of pitches thrown were Fastballs while in NPB only 49%

Stuart Graham @sturev

@HamiltonClayton home plate umpires and Japan/USA strike zones? Thanks for taking the time to do this!

@HamiltonClayton

@sturev Strike zone wise, I would say the biggest difference i've seen is that in the NPB they will call belt-high strikes consistently

@HamiltonClayton

Answering questions from you guys/girls the rest of the night, feel free to ask away!

Mike Lee @pigskins15

@HamiltonClayton what's the hardest thing about playing in Japan besides being so far away from family?

@HamiltonClayton

@pigskins15 For me the hardest part has been adjusting to a different style of hitter here in Japan than I was used to in the U.S.

@HamiltonClayton

@pigskins15 Basically, Japanese hitters are great contact hitters while most hitters in the U.S. look to hit with power moreso than contact

Mike Lee @pigskins15

@HamiltonClayton thank you.

@HamiltonClayton

@pigskins15 No problem Mike, I hope to see you back in Yokohama sooner than later... I am healing and should be pitching again soon

@Taylor_made66

@HamiltonClayton how'd you end up playing in Japan? Is the game much different than in North America?

@HamiltonClayton

@Taylor_made66 A good friend of mine who works with the Rangers passed my name along to a Japanese scout he knows after Texas released me

@HamiltonClayton

@Taylor_made66 Here is a link to a podcast I did regarding my career and journey to Japan if you are interested http://t.co/znnqjCo

@Taylor_made66

@HamiltonClayton long way from home. So do MLB teams have rights to certain Japanese teams?

@HamiltonClayton

@Taylor_made66 Yeah being away is hard. MLB does not have rights to teams in the NPB but in some cases they do have working relationships

@Taylor_made66

@HamiltonClayton thanks! Big Bowie Baysox fan and of course Orioles. Michael Schlact isn't far from here.

@HamiltonClayton

@Taylor_made66 @michael_schlact is a former teammate of mine and remains a good friend, I am glad to see his success in Maryland this year

@Taylor_made66

@HamiltonClayton you got my support. Love of the game...Hope u get back here soon. Ever work with Nolan Ryan? A hero of mine.