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Jun 20 62° / 54° Day: Fair, 0% chance of percipitation and 5mph wind during the day. Evening: Clear, 0% chance of percipitation and 5mph wind in the evening.	Jun 21 78° / 59° Day: Sunny, 0% chance of percipitation and 5mph wind during the day. Evening: Clear, 0% chance of percipitation and 5mph wind in the evening.	Jun 22 84° / 65° Day: Mostly Sunny, 0% chance of percipitation and 7mph wind during the day. Evening: Partly Cloudy, 10% chance of percipitation and 7mph wind in the evening.
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Masahide Kobayashi | Relief Pitcher

Team:	Cleveland Indians
Age / DOB:	(39) / 5/24/1974
Ht / Wt:	6'0' / 195
Bats / Throws:	Right / Right
Contract:	view contract details [x] 2011: Free agent
Share:	Tweet

Cleveland Indians

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Masa Kobayashi has inked a deal with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.

Kobayashi, now 35, was released by the Indians in late July of 2009 after posting an 8.38 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 9 2/3 innings of relief. He had a 5.10 ERA during his disappointing two-year tenure in Cleveland. Tue, Dec 1, 2009 10:33:00 AM

Source: Kyodo News

Masa Mobayashi inks deal with Japanese club
Tue, Dec 1, 2009 10:33:00 AM
Indians release reliever Masahide Kobayashi
Mon, Jul 20, 2009 10:21:00 AM
Kobayashi accepts Triple-A demotion
Sun, May 17, 2009 11:11:00 AM
Indians planning to dump Kobayashi on Sunday
Sat, May 16, 2009 08:48:00 PM

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Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Indians released RHP Masa Kobayashi.

Signed to a two-year, $6.25 million deal in the winter of 2007, Kobayashi posted a 5.10 ERA and 5.4 K/9 in 65.3 innings during his career with the Tribe. He indicated to the media Sunday that he'll continue working out in the United States in search of a deal with another organization.

Mon, Jul 20, 2009 10:21:00 AM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Indians outrighted RHP Masa Kobayashi to Triple-A Columbus.

Kobayashi has been off to an awful start but wants to remain in the majors rather than return to Japan. With the Indians' bullpen in major flux, he made the right choice in sticking around.

Sun, May 17, 2009 11:11:00 AM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

According to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, the Indians will remove Masa Kobayashi from their 40-man roster on Sunday.

The Indians need to clear roster space for Sunday's starter, David Huff. Kobayashi can either accept an assignment to Triple-A Columbus or opt for free agency. The way things have gone in Cleveland, we wouldn't be surprised to see him leave town. The 34-year-old had an 8.38 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 9 2/3 innings this season.

Source: MLBlogs

Sat, May 16, 2009 08:48:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Masa Kobayashi gave up five runs in his inning of relief against the Mariners on Wednesday.

The Indians have gotten rid of the competition, so Kobayashi is probably on the team, even though he struggled in the second half of last season and hasn't impressed with a 12.27 ERA this spring. If he does get cut, then Matt Herges would likely take his spot.

Wed, Apr 1, 2009 07:48:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Asked Monday about Masa Kobayashi's status, general manager Mark Shapiro said: "When the games start counting, he's going to have to pitch better than he has out here."

Reacting to Kobayashi's ineffectiveness and Adam Miller's career-threatening finger injury, Shapiro has been looking to acquire bullpen help. On the plus side, Shapiro is happy with the way that Kerry Wood and Vinnie Chulk have pitched this spring.

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tue, Mar 24, 2009 12:41:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Manager Eric Wedge said the Indians will limit Masa Kobayashi's workload down the stretch.

Wedge said he thinks "it will help next year." "We want him to finish the season strong," Wedge said. "We want him to feel good physically." Kobayashi is 4-5 with a 4.27 ERA in 54 games this season but has struggled recently.

Source: Indians.mlb.com

Mon, Sep 1, 2008 08:37:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

After being held out of another save opportunity, Masa Kobayashi replaced Edward Mujica in a tie game on Wednesday and gave up a three-run homer to take a loss.

More bizarre bullpen usage from Eric Wedge. Maybe he doesn't have much to lose by experimenting at this point, but his choices are having an effect on the pennant races. Today, he brought in Mujica to try and close out a three-run lead. Mujica faced just three batters and allowed two doubles and a homer. Kobayashi, who hadn't pitched since Thursday, took over then and gave up an infield single, a walk and then Carlos Pena's walkoff homer. Rafael Perez, the Indians' best reliever, pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings in the contest. Perez figures to get more save opportunities now, but the Indians probably won't use him exclusively as a closer when he's so valuable working multiple innings. Kobayashi is still their best option in three-run games in the ninth.

Wed, Aug 6, 2008 04:22:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Masahide Kobayashi put himself in line for a loss on Wednesday after giving up a run to the Tigers, but Kelly Shoppach let him off the hook.

Rafael Perez pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings after coming in during the sixth, taking the Indians up to the eighth. Edward Mujica then came in with a four-run lead and promptly blew the whole thing. Kobayashi relieved him with two outs and stranded the go-ahead run on third. However, he gave up Placido Polanco's go-ahead sac fly after walking two in the ninth. The Indians came back to tie it, but Kobayashi's latest misstep could cost him save opportunities to Perez going forward.

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 01:06:00 AM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday that the Indians will "play it by ear" in the ninth inning rather than designating an official closer.

"We're going to keep mixing and matching with it," Wedge said. "Depending on where I feel we are and where I feel the guys down there are. There may be three or four guys I use to close down there. The same thing with setting up." Masa Kobayashi has six saves in eight chances, but an ugly appearance Friday appears to have caused Wedge to lose all confidence in him.

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Wed, Jul 30, 2008 10:15:00 AM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Masa Kobayashi was pulled after giving up two runs in the ninth Friday against the Twins, enabling Rafael Perez to pick up his first save.

After entering a 5-2 game, Kobayashi allowed a single, a homer and a double to the only three hitters he faced. Perez came in with the tying run on second and retired all three batters he faced. Kobayashi has blown just one save as a closer, that coming on May 17 (his other came as a setup man), and he's been pretty solid all year long. Perez might be the superior pitcher, but we imagine Kobayashi will keep the job for now.

Fri, Jul 25, 2008 10:58:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Masa Kobayashi was given a chance to close out Saturday's game, but gave up Adam Dunn's walkoff three-run homer to take the loss.

After entering a one-run game, Kobayashi gave up a single and hit a batter before the home run. It looked like he was the heavy favorite for saves with Rafael Betancourt's demotion, but after this one, it's anyone's guess who will get the next. With Joe Borowski due back as soon as Friday, it might not matter very much at this point.

Sat, May 17, 2008 10:20:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Masahide Kobayashi earned his first major-league save on Tuesday night in a win over the A's.

Kobayashi entered with two outs in the eighth inning with the Indians leading 1-0. He got the last out, and then got some breathing room for the ninth after Ryan Garko's three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth put Cleveland ahead 4-0. He holds a 1.93 ERA for the season.

Tue, May 13, 2008 10:08:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Masahide Kobayashi's two-year deal with the Indians is worth $6.25 million and contains a $3.25 million option for 2010.

There's a $250,000 buyout attached to the option. This looks like quite a bargain for Cleveland. Worse bets than Kobayashi will get three-year, $12 million contracts this winter. One already has.

Tue, Nov 20, 2007 08:49:00 PM

Masahide Kobayashi - R - Indians

Indians signed RHP Masahide Kobayashi to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010.

Kobayashi, 33, saved 227 games in Japan. He's coming off one of his worst seasons, but he had a 2.95 ERA and 116/29 K/BB ratio in 146 1/3 IP over the last three season. With an 88-91 mph fastball and a quality splitter, he has a chance to be a very good setup man for the Indians. He'll likely join Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez in working the seventh and eighth innings in front of Joe Borowski.

Tue, Nov 20, 2007 03:34:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
Pos	Role	Name
C	1	Carlos Santana
	2	Lou Marson D.L. Lou Marson has been pulled from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus due to continued soreness in his right shoulder. Bad news for Marson, who has been sidelined since late April with right shoulder inflammation. There's no timetable for his return. Jun 12
	3	Yan Gomes
1B	1	Nick Swisher Sidelined Nick Swisher (shoulder) is expected to return to the Indians' starting lineup this Saturday. That's contingent on a batting practice session going well on Friday. Swisher hasn't played since last Saturday because of a sore left shoulder. He was given a cortisone injection to treat the discomfort earlier this week and is apparently feeling much better. Jun 19
2B	1	Jason Kipnis
SS	1	Asdrubal Cabrera D.L. Asdrubal Cabrera (quad) will take batting practice Friday for the first time since hitting the DL. Cabrera has been on the shelf since June 4 because of a right quad strain. He should be cleared to return to the Indians' active roster in less than two weeks. Jun 19
	2	John McDonald
3B	1	Mark Reynolds
	2	Lonnie Chisenhall
	3	Mike Aviles
LF	1	Michael Brantley
	2	Ryan Raburn
CF	1	Michael Bourn
RF	1	Drew Stubbs
DH	1	Jason Giambi
Starting Pitcher
Pos	Role	Name
S	1	Justin Masterson
	2	Ubaldo Jimenez
	3	Brett Myers D.L. Indians transferred RHP Brett Myers from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. The move was made to clear room on the 40-man roster for John McDonald. Myers has been out since late April with a mild UCL tear and was shut down last month after he felt renewed soreness. He's throwing again but could possibly return as a reliever. Jun 10
	4	Zach McAllister D.L. Zach McAllister (finger) is expected to be sidelined anywhere from two to four weeks. It sounds like it will probably be closer to four weeks, as Indians manager Terry Francona said the club will be "overly cautious" if they need to. "I think throwing his curveball aggravated it," said Francona. "Last year he was just flipping the curveball. Now he's been gripping it and ripping it and that seam [on the ball] has been digging into that finger. We've got to get that soreness out of there." Jun 9
	5	Scott Kazmir
	6	Carlos Carrasco
	7	Josh Tomlin D.L. Josh Tomlin (elbow) has been throwing two bullpen sessions per week. He's also playing catch a couple times per week. Tomlin underwent Tommy John surgery last August but could possibly make it back to the Indians before the end of the season. Jun 10
Relief Pitcher
Pos	Role	Name
R	1	Chris Perez D.L. Chris Perez (shoulder) will be re-evaluated after a bullpen session on Friday. Perez had been scheduled for activation that day, but that's been pushed back after he allowed three homers and five runs in a rehab appearance Tuesday. He's feeling fine physically, but the Indians want him to work on his mechanics, as they think he was coming open a little too soon in his delivery. Vinnie Pestano will continue to close for the Tribe for now. Jun 19
	2	Vinnie Pestano
	3	Joe Smith
	4	Matt Albers
	5	Bryan Shaw
	6	Rich Hill
	7	Cody Allen
	8	Corey Kluber
	9	Nick Hagadone
	10	Blake Wood D.L. Blake Wood (elbow) will continue his minor league rehab assignment Wednesday with Class A Lake County. Wood felt some soreness in his surgically-repaired elbow during his first appearance on Saturday, but it was only a minor scare. The 27-year-old right-hander is currently in recovery mode from Tommy John surgery and will likely need a handful of appearances before he's a legitimate consideration for the major league roster. May 14
	11	Frank Herrmann D.L. Indians transferred RHP Frank Herrmann from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. The move clears a spot for the newly-claimed Robert Whitenack on the 40-man roster. Herrmann had Tommy John surgery in March and will miss the entire 2013 season. Apr 3

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