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Shingo Takatsu wishes he were still in Chicago. Instead the White Sox’s closer in 2004 and part of 2005 is back in Japan with his old team, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, pitching mostly middle relief. “It is a little difficult to find my role on the team,” he said. Takatsu misses Ozzie Guillen–“I love Ozzie”–and the American strike zone–“It’s tighter in Japan.” Takatsu converted 19 of 20 save opportunities in 2004 but struggled the next year and was released in July 2005. But the Sox sent him a World Series ring anyway. “I really appreciated that and was honored,” he said. Speaking quietly in the Swallows’ clubhouse, Takatsu, 37, confided, “I cannot say this in a loud voice, but I would like to come back to Chicago.”
