Michael Dwyer/AP Photos
BOSTON – Cubs vice president of pro scouting Andrew Bassett dropped a book with Japanese characters across the cover on president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer’s desk Thursday.
Hoyer couldn’t read it. The pages inside were in Japanese, too. But he learned it was left-hander Shota Imanaga’s book on pitching.
“It shows you that’s what he’s like,” Hoyer said before the Cubs’ 7-1 win against the Red Sox on Friday. “He’s very thoughtful. Obviously he has the nickname of the Pitching Philosopher.”
The day after receiving Imanaga’s pitching bible – “Somebody asked me if I wanted to write a book, and so I said yes,” Imanaga explained through interpreter Edwin Stanberry – Hoyer watched Imanaga limit the Red Sox to one run through 6 u2153 innings at Fenway Park.