September 11th - Continuing the streak

If there is anything that means more to Tigers fans than the Pennant or even the Japan series it is beating the Giants over the seasons games. "At least we beat the Giants" is a common refrain for Tigers fans after another dismal season. However, this season is different - the Giants won the most games. This has turned fans against Wada in unprecedented numbers (well those who were still neutral) and there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the manager in Tigersland especially in the manner Giants took the series. Nohmi started and pitched to Umeno instead of Tsuruoka. One can surmise that Nohmi (who is petulant at best) was not happy though he didn't exactly shine with Tsuruoka. The truth is no catcher can currently manage the temperamental ace who is also suffering from over-pitching. He started badly loading the bases with one out in Giants first. First Kamei and then Murata hit right and left to bring in four runs for the Giants. It was that kind of night. Nohmi finally exited the game in the sixth and was replaced by Kaneda another pitcher who is struggling even though Wada loves to use him. He promptly gave up another 2 runs to make the score 6-0 to the Giants. Tigers loaded the bases in their seventh and Uemoto brought home 2 runs but the clean up failed to explode and all three were out without adding to the score. A perfect surmisation of Tigers recent batting performance. The rest of the game was an anti-climax moving to its inevitable conclusion a 6-2 victory to Giants. It really was inevitable there was no spark at all from the Tigers who just looked like they were going through the motions and couldn't wait for the season to end. Tigers have now lost 6 in a row and worryingly have been swept in the last two rubbers. They now have a chance to make it a third in a row as they take on Carp next.

> They now have a chance to make it a third in a row as they take on Carp next.

I know you're probably as frustrated as every other Tigers fan out there, but you are starting to sound as though you don't like them or don't want them to win.

Mixed feelings - it's great when Tigers win but each win ensures the survival of Wada for another period. Each loss brings his replacement closer and this is what most Tigers fans desire. This season Wada was given a championship winning team. Tigers actually have a good record of selecting players of ability and this year they did really well. However, their record on selecting managers who can use this material to put it frankly is poor. Wada was a case in point - incompetent and unwilling and unable to learn; he has had three years in which he has done nothing. He was selected on the basis of the fact that he was an old boy of the 1985 Japan Series winning team not for any managerial ability. The Tigers management (which incidentally is a microcosm of Japanese management in general) will reappoint him if the team does what they consider 'well enough'. They have made that very clear. For fans to have a winning Tigers without all the deadwood Wada has to go and someone else has to manage. Of course, the management could still select another hopeless incompetent (they followed Mayumi with Wada for example) but there is a chance. There is Akinobu Okada available who was at best an average manager but at least was an average manager and was able to deliver a pennant. He would need to work on his single series games but would be a more than adequate replacement for Wada plus he is an Old Boy. But for Okada to come back or anyone to take over Wada needs to go and painful as it is Tigers need to perform poorly to give the management the kick up the butt they need to act (or let things happen).

losing it at the end of the season is a far cry from throwing the season (which in my mind constitutes 'fan treason'). tigers are a whipping boy right now and being in the CS likely wont change that.

have to think about the future at some point, and i dont think any of us want to see these current events (or last year's CS) for another three years. also, it really sucks to go to a game and see them get walloped.
if being spared from another CS embarrassment carries the possibility of team improvement, i think its worth supporting. certainly sucks to do though, and it would be nice if there was a perfect in-between in tigers making CS and still discarding some coaching staff.