October 21st Kubo v Takasaki - The final game at Koshien

So it seems that Hanshin's front office is leaning to appoint Wada as the new manager. They never learn. Wada was a very poor third base coach and has been indifferent as a batting coach but he is an insider and that's what counts. The rationale for this move such as has emerged is so feeble as to laughable. Appointing Wada will encourage future internal candidates such as Akahoshi and Yano that they too can succeed to the managership (as if ability doesn't matter) and if they do appoint an outsider then what will they do when his tenure is up (this one is totally incomprehensible). One can hope that Sakai-owner is one of those who favours an external candidate and puts his foot down but you do feel that the Hanshin organisation needs a clear out as well. Otherwise things do not look good. At the moment there are two excellent external candidates both with winning records. If Tigers win they pull in fans and generate income. If they play like they do under Mayumi the fans stay away and income falls - which is the preferable situation? Why is this so difficult for the Front Office to understand? Appointing a manager who will deliver or is likely to deliver victory will boost revenue and the organisation's profile. Appointing an outsider will bring in fresh ideas and help maintain the edge against the opposition. A strong Tigers will benefit the whole of Japanese baseball increasing income for all clubs but a weak Tigers benefits nobody but a bunch of cronies.
As for the game this was Mayumi's last outing at Koshien and the team delivered a victory. Kubo started and was pinch hit for before Tigers took the lead. He didn't look too pleased about that. Shimizu was the catcher and was Fujii class. However, BayStars blew their lead and Tigers worked a victory. One thing that needs to be said about the players Mayumi has introduced - there are a lot of makeweights and the batting lineup is very weak to say the least. Only Shibata is showing promise but he really does need to work on his throw which is non-existent and for a centre that is a serious problem. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
BayStars  1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0
Tigers    0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 X 4 9 2

Starting lineups

BayStars
1. Shimozono (Left)
2. Aranami (Centre)
3. Tsutsugoh (First)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Watanabe (Short)
6. Matsumoto (Right)
7. Yamazaki (Second)
8. Hosoyamada (Catcher)
9. Takasaki (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Shibata (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Murton (Right)
6. Brazell (First)
7. Kanemoto (Left)
8. Shimizu (Catcher)
9. Kubo (Pitcher)

I have come to the conclusion that the positions of Murton and Brazell were reversed so that when Brazell is replaced by Yamato it doesn't look so embarrassing having him bat six as it does five. There seems to be no other reason for the move. Anyway BayStars started well as Kubo struggled to cope with Shimizu's mediocrity. Shimozono led off with a hit but was forced out by Aranami. Tsutsugoh singled and set up runners on first and third. Murata hit deep to left for the sacrifice fly 1-0 BayStars, runner on first. A neat start and finally Watanabe struck out swinging to end the innings. Takasaki started Tigers first well and retired the batters in order. There is a general listlessness about Tigers play - they still have games to go but they want the season over. BayStars second was much more effective from Kubo's point of view, he was able to get all three batters without anyone taking base. Tigers second was similar, Arai and Murton flew out and Brazell grounded out to second. BayStars third was quiet as well no one reaching base. The bottom followed the same pattern and one had to say that BayStars were controlling the game nicely.

This control became even more evident in the BayStars fourth. Tsutsugoh drew a lead off walk. Then Murata hit to centre to set up runners on first and second. Things looked to be drifting away from the Tigers. Watanabe bunted the runners to second and third and Matsumoto singled very nicely to centre bringing in a run 2-0 BayStars runner on third with one out. Yamazaki was a bit too keen to make an impact and struck out swinging before Hosoyamada flew out to second. Still BayStars were comfortably on top. Tigers though would cut the lead in half in their fourth. Shibata singled infield and second couldn't pick up and throw in time. Actually, the first base umpire got it wrong. The throw had to first had beaten Shibata and he was in fact out Then Hirano singled left - runners on first and second. Toritani flew out to centre which allowed Hirano to tag up and take third. Arai hit to centre as well and Hirano tagged up and raced home 2-1 BayStars, runner on first. Murton hit straight to Takasaki for an easy ground out to end the innings. With one out in BayStars fifth Shimozono walked. He was forced out by Aranami grounding out to short. Aranami tried to steal second and Shimizu's throw was particularly poor missing Toritani entirely and rolling into the outfield. Aranami was able to take third as well on the error. However, Tsutsugoh then grounded out to short and the innings was scoreless. Tigers fifth: Brazell singled along the ground to Takasaki who deflected the ball away from him to Yamazaki who had to come in a long time. Brazell surprisingly was able to make first. He was pinch run for by Tagami though given his earlier turn of speed it seemed a bit superfluous. Tagami stayed on first as the next three batters all contrived ways to get out without moving him round. Morita had pinch hit for Kubo which had upset the latter. This had been a pointless move as Morita flew out in foul ground. Fukuhara took over for BayStars sixth and gave up a lead off hit to Murata. He then struck out Watanabe and Matsumoto, both looking. Some fine pitching which knocked the stuffing out of the BayStars offense. Yamazaki grounded out easily to second to end the innings. Shibata led off Tigers sixth by grounding out - this time he couldn't beat the throw and the umpire was awake. Hirano hit to second who couldn't get the throw away, another of those annoying infield hits. Toritani hit right to set up runners on first and third. With Arai at the plate, Toritani stole second and this seemed to unsettle Takasaki who walked Arai to load the bases. Next was Murton who didn't look comfortable but managed to connect and hit the ball right centre field. Aranami fumbled the pick up and the ball rolled on allowing all three runners to make home, Arai in particular doing well 4-2 Tigers, runner on second. Obana had paid for trying to squeeze another innings from Takasaki. Tagami grounded out to second taking Murton to third and then Sekimoto (pinch hitter) grounded out to third to end the innings but now Tigers were ahead.

Watanabe took over for BayStars seventh and struck out Hosoyamada. We then saw a strange and unnecessary pitching change with Tsutsui replacing Watanabe. Tsutsui struck out Naitoh and then gave up a single to Shimozono but finished the innings by striking out Aranami. Tigers seventh was pitched by Ohhara who gave up a one out single to Yamato (pinch hitter). Shibata's ground out took Yamato to second but then Hirano grounded out to first and the innings was over. Enokida pitched the eighth and struck out Tsutsugoh. Murata hit to third where Yamato messed up and allowed the BayStars No. 4 to reach first. Luckily for Tigers, the very next batter, Watanabe grounded out to short for an innings ending double play. The game was winding down by now but Toritani led off with a single to left. This brought a change of pitcher and Ejiri took over. He induced a double play from Arai and then Murton hammered out another two base hit. Hiyama (pinch hitter) was deliberately walked to get at Shunsuke (pinch hitter) who skiied his first pitch into foul ground where Tsutsugoh took the catch to end the innings. Shunsuke has been basically ineffective with the bat though much improved in the field. Kyuji pitched the ninth with Fujii calling. This all worked out well for a change, BayStars had shot their bolt and had nothing left to offer. Otherwise it would have been a worrying innings. The batters fell in order. Tigers victory.

Kyuji picked up his 40th save of the season and the victory went to Fukuhara. Tigers lost the rubber to the BayStars but had won the season series against them. They now stand 66-69 and need to sweep the Carp in the final series of the season to reach a .500 record. The crowd at Koshien was much better than the previous two games but still not full.

I was there last night and a bittersweet victory. Still, it was a great night and I was really surprised by the attendance and atmosphere. It was very empty at the beginning, but filled to 80-90%. Despite it being a meaningless game, the crowd was really into it as always and at least it was a nice ending to a forgettable and unfortunate season. Even Mayumi got a lot of support last night. Was nice to see what could very well be Murton's last game at Koshien go so well.

I'm also disappointed in the way the search for a new manager seems to be headed, but I'll wait and see. It's amazing how just some small changes and a fresh start can change the performance as a team, so hopefully 2012 will be a different story. Coupled with the Red Sox collapse and soap opera, 2011 is a baseball year I'd like to quickly forget!

If they do appoint Nashida then Wada would also go and this can only be a good thing. However, there is a lot of momentum behind the internalists and they may be successful.

I read on japanball that Sakai owner said that the next kantoku will most probably get a 3-years contract; so if they choose Wada and if he's inept as you say (which I have no reason to doubt) it would mean 3 more years Mayumi-style...

Am I the only one who gets the impression that the ownership hates us fans? Jeez...

The belief among the Front Office is that Fans are a nuisance it is true but Sakai is trying to re-establish the organisations authority which has been badly dented. He is also hoping to head off future trouble by being able to point to a three year deal but this might backfire as the fans are quite capable of taking against the new kantoku as well.
The big test for the new kantoku will be restoring Kanoh to the catching duties perhaps even as No. 1 catcher. Quite simply Johjima cannot be relied on and isn't as good in many ways. Fujii is useless and Komiyama whilst showing a lot of promise will never be as good as Kanoh. Shimizu is Fujii level. However, the management would have to forgive Kanoh for embarassing Yano by being better than him.