Isotopes veterans keep one eye on the Far East

The life of a veteran minor-league player can be a challenge, especially from a financial standpoint.

As players cross the age 30 threshold, in particular, their chances of ever getting to a solid footing in the big leagues and make enough money to retire on start to dwindle.

That causes many players to start looking to Nippon (Japan) Professional Baseball as an alternative to the Majors.

Among the Albuquerque Isotopes, outfielder Michael Restovich and closer Scott Dohmann have already played in Japan, while first baseman John Lindsey has been holding out hope that he, too, can earn an NPB contract.

“For a person like me, at my age, financial stability is one of the biggest things," Lindsey said. "My dream is to play in the Major Leagues, but the chance of having a long career is probably not as good as having one in Japan. I’d like to provide for my family and now that I’m taking care of my wife and my son, that’s the most important thing for me right now."

Lindsey has scorched the ball this year for Albuquerque, batting .363 with 21 home runs and 81 RBI, all team highs. He fits the profile of a veteran power hitter that Japanese teams tend to covet.

Former Isotopes Dee Brown and Brett Harper are both filling that role in Japan this season.

Brown has been with the Seibu (Tokyo) Lions all season, and while he has only hit .241 he has clubbed 21 home runs with 76 RBI.

Harper joined the Yokohama BayStars at midseason and has been on fire ever since, batting .342 with 11 homers and 33 RBI.

“They want guys who can come over and drive the ball out of the ballpark," Lindsey said. "Most of the ballparks are smaller than here. I’d love to have that opportunity to show what I can do over there."

Lindsey said he's aware that just getting the opportunity to play in Japan is no guarantee of success there. The style of play can be very different than it is here and oftentimes teams have a very short amount of patience for a struggling foreign player.

All Lindsey needs to do is ask Restovich and Dohmann, who both said they enjoyed their time in Japan from a cultural perspective but were frustrated with their playing situation.

Restovich hit .223 with three homers and 17 RBI in 48 games with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in 2008.

“The baseball part for me was pretty frustrating," Restovich said. "I had a manager, Sadaharu Oh, he was an unbelievable player and was really the most respected person in Japan, but he really had a short leash for Americans. I never really got off the ground there. I think after seven or eight games, I’d played poorly, and they sent me down to the minor leagues. After that they’d pretty much written me off. I got at-bats here and there pretty sparingly."

Dohmann got even less time to prove himself than Restovich did as he was demoted after nine games with the HIroshima Carp last year. Dohmann posted a 17.28 ERA (16 runs in 8 1/3 innings) and was later released from his contract so he could return to the United States.

"All the guys over there try to put the ball in play, no one takes pitches," Dohmann said. "They try to punch it through the holes. I got singled to death over there."

Even though their playing time wasn't the best, both Restovich and Dohmann said they'd go back if they got the opportunity.

"I wasn't there long, but I'm not saying I wouldn't go back," Dohmann said. "I'd love the opportunity to show what I can do."

Restovich agreed.

“If the opportunity ever came again I would definitely go back," Restovich said. "I would just hope to get into a better situation baseball-wise. If you can get over there, get off to a hot start and play for a team that lets you play everyday, it’s a great opportunity to play baseball and make some money."

Restovich said the Hawks were one of the wealthier teams in Japan and were stacked in corner outfielders.

“That was frustrating, but everything else about it I loved," he said. "I loved the baseball, the people, the fans. The people there are so friendly and accepting. I got to take my family there. I never really worried about whether they were safe."

Lindsey said he hasn't heard of any firm offers for next season, but he keeps in touch with his agent about the possibility.

“My agent has mentioned a couple times I’ve been on the list of guys," Lindsey said. "Somebody had major-league experience or something and they won out on the job opportunity.

"A couple years ago I had the chance to go to Korea, but money-wise the Dodgers and the team couldn’t come up with an agreement, so that fell through. Hopefully something happens this offseason."

Lindsey said he has talked to Restovich and Dohmann from time to time about their experiences in Japan.

“I’ve talked a few times about it in the locker room," Lindsey said. "They just said their experiences over there were different than here in the States. They said the work ethic is different. It’s just a little different game that they talk about. But at the end of the day it’s 90 feet (on the bases) and 60 feet, six inches from the mound."

Restovich has been happy to share any advice he can on the Japanese game.

“I get approached a lot by other players that are considering it," Restovich said. "I’ve told them things to look for, things you’ve got to be careful of, but overall I had a very positive response.

“If someone is willing to go, ready to go and has the right frame of mind, I would definitely tell them if they have the opportunity to do it."