Ohya-kantoku Taking Sabbatical, Tashiro-kantoku Moves Up

Ken D. popped up on Skype this afternoon asking me about Yokohama's Ohya-kantoku being relieved of duty. I immediately ran through today's Nikkan Sports to see how I missed that one, but it wasn't there. It's breaking news on SpoNichi (in Japanese), happening today.

There are those (like Matt - aka No.1BayFan) who have been rallying for Tashiro-kantoku to move up from managing the farm team to the top team for some time. Well, it looks like we're going to get our wish. Tashiro-kantoku led the SeaRex to a third place finish in the Easter League last season, and currently has a 22 and 14 record in the Eastern league (almost the opposite of the BayStars' 13 and 23 record), in second place just 2.5 games behind the Fighters. He's done a lot with the young talent (as has been clear when many have been called up). Now it's a matter of getting that young talent to perform well in a consistent manner.

Changing the topic a little bit, I had kind of rushed the changes of the new site in without much fanfare or explanation. One of the big motivating forces being the changes was the introduction of the writers sections. This section has the works of a number of journalists and, most famously, Robert Whiting - who was actually the first to contribute his works. (I have a big pile of papers of his to digitize still.)

Back on topic, Rober Whiting wrote "Bowed But Never Bloodied" in the May 17, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated. This story is about "The Boss," Kazuto Tsuruoka, taking a "rest" as his 1962 Nankai Hawks were off to a very poor start. Am I comparing Ohya-kantoku to The Boss? No. Please give it a read, as it's as relevant now as it was when Whiting wrote the article 3 decades ago.

Wow, just wow is all I can say. This honestly caught me off guard today when I got word of it. I'm actually split on this issue right now to tell you the truth. Looking at one of those pictures on SpoNichi made me feel really bad for Ohya-kantoku as he looks totally beaten down and worn out.

But on the other hand, I've been waiting for this announcement for a very long time now and I really do hope that Tashiro-kantoku will help change the team around for the better. Something tells me that Yokohama may not end up in last place this season after all.

Like everyone else, I'm just waiting to see what will happen.

I kind of feel bad for Ohya-kantoku as well. He is not the one who cant hit the ball, but I guess he is overall in charge of who starts and who is in the game at what time and sometimes those decisions seem a little suspect, especially when the players he chooses keep striking out and grounding into double plays.

Of course it is easy to say "I told him so" when the pinch hitter strikes out just like you "thought" he would- but how much of that falls on the manager Im not sure. Is it just me though or are all the new BayStars batters pretty much the same player, skinny, lefthanded and no power? just hit the ball on the ground and try to run fast as they can?

The issue is definitely batting, considering there are 11 players who have appeared in at least 13 games this year who are batting UNDER the pitiful team batting average of .224. Add to that 2 of the 3 players who are leading the team in batting average are in the Top 10 in the league in strikeouts (your 5th batter and your leadoff man!?) and that is a recipe for disaster.

The starting pitching has been exceptional, which we can almost never say about the BayStars. Starters had an ERA of 0.90 this last 3 game series, averaged almost 7 IP per start, yet BayStars lost all 3 games? Not like it was really the bullpen fault either, the batting just gave them no room for error.

But, even despite those horrible games against the Dragons last weekend, still 4.5 games out of the playoffs, so hope it can turn around somehow. It almost HAS to, a pro team cant bat .224 all season can they? But what I am afraid of is that the great pitching is being wasted and that once the bats heat up, then the pitching might go south. A lot of those starters might be getting neurotic as the losses pile up when they pitch really well?

Go Go Baystars! Move On...(out of last place)...

At last a Japanese team has actually taken necessary action. Ohya didn't deliver and didn't look like he would deliver despite many talented players. I consider this to be a positive step and one which I hope sets a precedent (and no I'm not thinking of Mayumi). A certain ruthlessness is needed if a team is to be successful and this represents a start.

I like Ohya-kantoku. The 1998 championship was as much his making as it was Gondoh-kantoku's. I keep waiting for him to do something that will similarly turn the team around, and it just doesn't seem to be happening.

On the bright side, the pitching really has come around. I know that I was critical of the BayStars for choosing an outfielder in the first round of the draft instead of a pitcher - as it was pitching that I thought we mostly needed. But other than the occasional bout of ippatsu-byo, pitching has been great.

Somebody's just loaded the Machine Gun Offense cartridges with blanks. We get men on base, but nobody seems able to bring them home. Too many times have we had the bases loaded or runners at second and third with nobody out and come up empty. It's so frustrating! And it's not some rookie striking out in those situations, it's Murata, Johnson, and Yoshimura. What could Ohya-kantoku have done differently in those situations? Nothing. Pinch hitting Saeki and/or Kinjyo with men on and the pitcher's spot up has worked a couple of times, earning Saeki a starting spot for a while - but even that didn't last long.

Well, looking forward, Tashiro-kantoku has experience with the up and coming players - a real plus. Also, he has experience against the younger Lions, Fighters, Marines, and Eagles; both with and without the DH. The start of inter-league play seems like excellent timing for his promotion. All in all, I look at this as a big plus.

Furthermore, it seems that the BayStars have done well the second half of the past few seasons. Wasn't it the BayStars turning a few games around at the end of last season against Fujikawa that started the Tigers' dramatic drop from grace?

We've given the rest of the league a big enough head start. Time to start playing to our potential. And hopefully this will be what it takes to get the gears turning.

I remember Tashiro from the playing days. Tashiro and Leon Lee were hitting clean up then later Ponce for Leon Lee. This was in the late 80s early 90s. Tashiro played 1B and 3B. He played 3rd but was converted to first. He used to be called Oba-Q. He is from Yokohama unlike Ohya who I think played for Yakult, so nice to see home grown players leading the team. One year I went to the fan fest when I was a little kid years ago and there was this home run derby between Yokohama Taiyo Whales players. Tashiro and Leon Lee being the sluggers, the expectations were high but the derby ended in a tie. 0 home runs.

Cheering for Yokohama you kind of get used to not being a contender. My expectations aren't high but maybe in 10, 20 years if they get 1 pennant should not Yokohama fans be happy?

- My expectations aren't high but maybe in 10, 20 years if they get 1 pennant should not Yokohama fans be happy?

Right. 1960, 1998, 2036. Just 27 years to go to the next pennant.

For me its not even the not winning the pennant part. It is the total lack of competitiveness.

Last night just another example, the new guy Shimozono was 2 for 4, but the rest of the usual cast of characters was 3 for 29 (with 10 strikeouts). So yet another offensive explosion of 1 run and another loss when 2 or 3 runs could have won it. It is to the point that you almost know when that first run crosses the plate against the BayStars that is pretty much game over, just need to watch to see which unlucky reliever is going to give up the one run that will lose it.

Prior to last year, at least the team was competitive and could score. Now it is just extremely hard to watch as the BayStars struggle mightily to score their 1 or 2 runs while the other team scores 4 runs on no hits like the other night against the Tigers or gets the winning run with 1 hit. How many times has the opponenent turned a walk, then a bunt/stolen base/error, then ground out and flyout into a run while it usually takes the Baystars getting 2 to 3 singles in a row to score the same run?

276 strikeouts as a team with only 266 hits that includes only 27 hrs, 75% of which are probably solo HRs? Averaging over 7.5 strikeouts per game, nearly one per inning? 19 of 38 games scoring 2 runs or less? something gotta give to even be competitive, much less actually win something. BayStars are extremely lucky to only be 4 games out of 3rd place to say the least, so there is still some hope

It wouldn't have been unusual if last night's game was 9-1. Mastny allowed base runners left and right, allowing 6 hits and 5 walks through 5 innings. It was nerve racking, but he managed to get out of each and every jam he created for himself. He surpassed 100 pitches on the first Lotte batter of the 5th inning. All of those long balls to the warning track in the first had me shaking in terror. To his credit, Mastny did strike out 5.

Karakawa was the opposite. A complete game. Only allowing 2 runners to reach base in the third inning, erasing two of the 5 base runners on a pick off (in the 6th) and caught stealing (in the 1st). He didn't allow a single walk while striking out 10. Surpassed 100 pitches in th 8th inning. Never did he give the BayStars the impression that they had any chance whatsoever of scoring.

I hear you about how hard it is for the BayStars to score. It seems like a lot of really hard work just to get 1 run. Then the opposition will score 4 with no effort at all.

I have to admit, though. The games are a serious emotional roller coaster. Very intense. Sad in the end, but only after going through a whole range of emotions (mainly hope and despair, alternating repeatedly).

Tonight I turned on the TV just in time to see Murata and Saeki (Saeki!) hit back-to-back home runs though -- I was beginning to wonder if ippatsu-byo was contagious like swine flu. Maybe Naruse got too close to the Baystars during batting practice yesterday or something.

Oh man, I'm getting behind with following Yokohama seriously.

That's just sad that Yokohama got played like that yesterday (although I'm extremely happy for my new favorite Marines player Karakawa for putting on a brilliant performance).

Really though, it doesn't surprise me anymore and it's driven me to the point of glancing at the morning newspaper and then shaking my head in disgust to see how many times the BayStars have dropped the ball in one game. I guess it's part of being a Stars fan.