May Day Kubo v Yamai - A poor throw

It's no use outclassing the opposition in the pitching department (and this is what the Tigers did) when your offense is pathetic. Tigers batters are not bringing runs in and it is costing them games. Kanemoto despite his hitting is not hitting with runners on and is not suitable for No. 5. One remembers the arrival of Murton and the batting performance of the Tigers, three batters with over 100 RBIs and two in the nineties. Arai has been the only one performing to that level and even he is going through a lean patch. One can't say it's wholly down to opposition pitching either, Tigers batting coaching isn't working and the switches in the lineup don't seem to helping either.
The game hung on a poor throw by Toritani in the eighth but quite frankly for the Dragons to give a hero interview to Takahiro Donue was the height of stupidity. The guy screwed up - he got it wrong and almost compounded his error with a head sliding dive to first. But even so Kubo should have thrown to home. It was also interesting to listen to the home fans who got so excited when one of their runners reached second that they started the chance march. Obviously, they really are starved of runs but the way things are going Tigers fans will be indulging in similar practices as well. Score

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

Starting lineups

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

Dragons
1. Ohshima (Centre)
2. Araki (Second)
3. Hirata (Right)
4. Wada (Left)
5. Blanco (First)
6. Ibata (Short)
7. Tanishige (Catcher)
8. Naomichi Donue (Third)
9. Yamai (Pitcher)

Yamai faced Hirano in a revised lineup which Wada hoped would revitalise an underperforming side. It didn't start so well for Tigers. Yamai put one wide and Hirano swung to strike out - even Yamai looked surprised. He actually swung at that? Shibata grounded out and then Toritani hit to first also for a ground out. Fortunately, Kubo's start was just as good. He had to work a bit with Ohshima but Araki and Hirata proved to be no trouble and the first was scoreless. Tigers second saw Arai and Kanemoto fail to get to grips with Yamai but Murton singled to centre for Tigers first hit of the evening. Brazell was next but he hasn't been batting well of late (the whole Tigers side in a nutshell) and he grounded out weakly to second to end the innings. Wada led off Dragons second by swinging too soon and flying out to Komiyama. The next two batters flew out as well and Kubo could be happy with some nice work. Tigers third and with one out Kubo singled to centre. Hirano swung at his first pitch and flew out - he could have productively left that, very irresponsible batting. Shibata singled left to set up runners on first and second and create Tigers first real chance. Toritani though hit straight to Naomichi Donue at third for a simple innings ending ground out. You can't win them all but it seems that Tigers can't win any. Dragons third was quiet - Kubo and Komiyama were working well together and Dragons still hadn't had a runner on base.

Once again Arai and Kanemoto failed to do anything in Tigers fourth but Murton drew a walk as Yamai's control round the edges of the zone inexplicably went haywire. Again it was up to Brazell and again he grounded out weakly to second. Tigers aren't generating extra base hits at all and a succession of singles is not going to score many runs. Dragons got their first base runner in the fourth with a single to Ohshima. He was bunted to second by Araki for the first out. Time to relax, Hirata though walked and the Dragons fans got excited and started a chance march (poor things). Wada was lured into swinging too soon again and flew out. Then came Blanco who swung at his third strike - the umpire thought he missed (and the umpires in general weren't very good) and ruled a strike but Komiyama pointed out it was actually a foul. A very honourable move and great to see. It paid off for Tigers as Ohshima had strayed too far off second and was thrown out with a sharp throw from Kubo. Komiyama and Kubo struck out to start Tigers fifth but then Hirano singled. He stole second very nicely but once again a Tigers batter failed to convert - Shibata this time grounding out to Yamai. Blanco returned to pick up his unfinished at bat for Dragons fifth and also collected a dead ball. A discussion between Kubo and Komiyama followed and the double play was nicely worked. Tanishige flew out to end the innings. With one out in Tigers sixth Arai hit nicely to left centre and made second. At last an extra base hit. Kanemoto though drew a walk - this is not what Tigers need. He needs to hit with runners on especially against the Dragons. Still Murton and Brazell to go so Tigers still had a chance. Murton blew it by swinging too soon and flying out to second and then Brazell grounded out to Yamai. Dragons sixth was quiet with Ohshma lining out to Kubo to end the innings. Kubo had basically been in control throughout the game.

Komiyama started Tigers seventh by flying out but Kubo singled right - his second hit of the night. Hirano forced Kubo out by grounding out to first and then Shibata struck out looking - very poor batting. This would be the end of Yamai who hadn't really done that well but had done a lot better than the non entities who would get the hero interviews (to some extent one feels that the Dragons had to pick someone but maybe the option of no hero would have been worth taking this time). Araki led off Dragons seventh by singling to left and was bunted to second by Hirata - the stupid bunt of the night. Wada was induced to hit to short for the ground out and then Blanco popped one up to second to end the innings. Kobayashi started Tigers eighth and retired Toritani. He was then replaced Tajima. He got Arai to fly out but Kanemoto singled. However, Murton grounded out to second to end the innings. So to Dragons eighth and Tanishige. With one out he took a swing and hit a lucky two base to left. Next was Naomichi Donue who singled left. Here Dragons had contrived a one out, runners on first and third situation. Takahiro Donue (pinch hitter) faced Kubo. As Takahiro Donue mishit the ball to Kubo - the Tigers pitcher had two options. He could throw to Komiyama at home or to Toritani at second. He chose the latter option even though Komiyama was screaming for the ball. The force out at second was a formality but Toritani's throw to first was high and to the right pulling Brazell off base and allowing Takahiro Donue to reach first safely 1-0 Dragons, runner on first. A bad mistake - a throw to home would have ensured no score and the score was at the worst possible moment for Tigers with Iwase guaranteed to pitch the ninth. Kubo then dead balled Ohshima and threw a pass ball to put the runners on second and third. Here the Dragons fans chants were well justified. However, Araki flew out to right to end the innings. Wada tried to change the ambience by sending in a battery of pinch hitters to face Iwase. It was a forlorn hope and you felt that the way Tigers had played they had no chance. Sekimoto flew out to centre. Then Ryota Arai struck out looking - like Shibata's out this can only be laid down to poor batting. Finally, Hiyama managed a right fly. Dragons victory.

Dragons had snatched victory at the last but not because they were better but because they were able to capitalise on Tigers mistakes. A return of zero runs on seven hits is not acceptable though and Tigers have only themselves to blame. Dragons didn't even have to win this game either as the mess up in the eighth was avoidable. What is really worrying though is the lack of RBIs. Something does need to be done about the batting quickly if Tigers are to have any chance of a championship.

I see Murton is back to batting sixth. I think Wada gave up on batting Murton first too quickly. Yes, he's off to a slow start, but you have to give your line-up some time. I think Murton was originally moved up because the Tigers weren't scoring runs. Well, they're still not scoring runs.

The switch of Murton back to sixth seems to be an attempt to get things going by shaking the lineup around. I think you have a point though that it is premature. Wada needs patience with the lineup especially as the pitching and catching is going well. Kanemoto at five though is definitely a mistake.