May 30
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"As soon as the mottled purple circles begin to dissipate into faint yellowish marks, Masa Kobayashi goes back for more. The Indians relief pitcher likes it best when each of the circles that mark his back along his shoulders and arms resembles the color of eggplants, immediately after the suction-cup contraption he brought from Japan does its work. According to Kobayashi, the suction-cup machine with the unpronounceable Japanese name stimulates his circulation, making his arms and shoulders feel fresh each day, allowing the right-hander to pitch when called upon in his setup role for the Tribe."