On the Yankees beat

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Happy Thanksgiving Jim and family.

Right back at ya buddy

Happy Thanksgiving to you Jim and all my fellow Yankee fans on this blog.

Free agent left-hander Hideki Okajima said Saturday he has received offers from major league teams and is leaning toward accepting one of them.

Okajima, who helped the Nippon Ham Fighters win the Pacific League and Japan Series titles as a setup man, revealed that the 30-year-old has drawn interest from both Japanese and major league clubs and offers from overseas are generally better. Okajima was traded to Nippon Ham in late March after spending 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He went 2-2 with four saves and a 2.14 ERA this year with Nippon Ham, bringing his career record to 34-32 with 41 saves and a 3.36 ERA. (Kyodo News)

Yes, I would give this guy a chance like Wang did. Wang was given oppurtunity to pitch even He has no experience in the majors because kevin brown was hurt and they need young arms. I say why not?

Surprisingly Nippon Ham fighters' manager is Trey Hillman, who managed 12 seasons in the New York Yankees minor league system.

Villone is 34 and he's old. He's also fat. I don't want him back. Are you racist,? Do you hate japanese players playing here?

You can make that same argument about any league or program that is not MLB, wherever it is based, yet you only here the criticism posted by some on this web directed to Japanese baseball.

Talent is talent no matter what country you come from or no matter what international league you played before you hit MLB.

By the way, followers of Japanese baseball thought that Takashi Saito of the Dodgers was washed up in Japan before he came to the US this year, and were surpised at how well he pitched for the Dodgers this year.

So, who knows? May be Okajima will be just as good this year for some MLB team.

To David: your description of Villone may be a little inaccurate. He was a tightend for Division 1 school, Rutgers just a little FYI.