Koji's Got Soul

Uehara has turned in five straight quality starts, allowing 11 earned runs, walking just two batters and striking out 29 during that span. However, he's 0-3 with two no-decisions in those starts.

This time he didn't take a baseball to the sternum, just another proverbial punch to the gut.

Koji Uehara now ranks second in baseball for tough losses (losses suffered by a pitcher during a quality start). He is one behind Oakland's Dallas Braden who has four this season.

From The Sun: "Uehara has turned in five straight quality starts, allowing 11 earned runs, walking just two batters and striking out 29 during that span. However, he's 0-3 with two no-decisions in those starts."

Somewhere in Japan a bitter Koji fan is asking, "Why didn't he sign with the Yankees?" to which I would respond, "He may not have the wins, but at least he still has his soul." It's a slogan that belongs on a T-shirt: Koji's Got Soul.

Koji took the latest disappointing outcome with characteristic grace. That is, if his translator is to be believed.

"It's all about the team," Uehara said through translator Jiwon Bang. "Whether I win or lose doesn't matter as long as the team wins."

Perhaps Jiwon Bang is just putting everyone on and the real translation reads more like this: "These guys are killing me. I can't believe I flew more than 9,000 miles for this crap!"

Koji is good for baseball, good for Baltimore.