2007 CL Climax Series Stage 1 Game 2
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Re: 2007 CL Climax Series Stage 1 Game 2
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Oct 14, 2007 9:35 PM
| YBS Fan
]
Well, it's all over for the Tigers. For the Dragons it's on to Stage Two at Tokyo Dome.
The more I review this game in my head, the more I'm convinced that maybe the better team didn't win this one. The Dragons' offense was just the first inning. They managed a couple more threats, but were unable to capitalize on them.
The lack of runs for Hanshin early on were all the Tigers' fault. Nakata didn't appear to get it together until the end of the second inning, but the Tigers weren't able to take advantage of that. I disagreed with those who thought that yesterday's loss was all Hanshin's fault (as noted in the transcript below) as Kawakami was simply brilliant. But I won't argue with such a view of the first couple of innings tonight.
Well, on the bright side, it'll make it easier to decide which game to watch tomorrow night.
Now, the game log:
TRANSCRIPT generated on 2007/10/14
CHATROOM 2007 Central League Climax Series/Stage 1 Game 2
18:05 westbaystars: Toritani leads off the game against Nakata flying out to Morino in left-center on a full count pitch.
18:05 westbaystars: Akahoshi follows.
18:07 westbaystars: Another full count.
18:09 westbaystars: Akahoshi fouls a couple full count pitches off.
18:09 westbaystars: Then hits a come backer to Nakata.
18:10 westbaystars: Nakata short bounds the ball, throws to first, and we have two outs.
18:10 westbaystars: Nakata has thrown 20 pitches to the first two batters.
18:10 westbaystars: Sheets comes up next.
18:10 westbaystars: And is in the hole two strikes, no balls in no time.
18:11 westbaystars: Sheets lays off a couple of bad pitches to even the count at 2-2.
18:12 westbaystars: But swings and misses ball three outside. Strike out.
18:12 westbaystars: Nakata didn't look terribly commanding, but is out of the inning 1-2-3.
18:12 westbaystars: ---
18:12 westbaystars: Bottom of 1st
18:12 westbaystars: ---
18:15 westbaystars: Uezono takes the mound this evening for the Hanshin Tigers.
18:15 westbaystars: Araki leads off for the Dragons.
18:15 westbaystars: Araki hits a blooper toward left-center field.
18:16 westbaystars: Neither outfielder has a chance at that one.
18:16 westbaystars: And shortstop Toritani makes a fantastic grab running out to get the ball.
18:16 westbaystars: Nice save by Toritani.
18:17 westbaystars: Ibata follows.
18:17 westbaystars: And Ibata draws a base on balls on five pitches.
18:18 westbaystars: Runner at first, one out.
18:18 westbaystars: That brings up Mr. Three Run, Morino.
18:18 westbaystars: But with only one runner on.
18:18 westbaystars:
18:21 westbaystars: Morino grounds the ball through the right side.
18:21 westbaystars: Ibata kicks second and heads for third.
18:21 westbaystars: The throw from Lin is to the shortstop, everyone's safe!
18:21 westbaystars: That brings up Tyrone Woods with runners at the corners and one out.
18:21 westbaystars: A long ball will score one.
18:22 westbaystars: As will a past ball, almost given up on the first pitch by Uezone to Woods - way outside.
18:22 westbaystars: It's Noguchi behind the plate for the Tigers tonight.
18:24 westbaystars: All but one pitch to Woods is low and away, and Woods wasn't going for them.
18:24 westbaystars: So five pitches to Woods loads the bases with just one out.
18:25 westbaystars: And Kubo-pitching coach heads out to talk with Uezono.
18:25 westbaystars: He's had his word with the starting pitcher, and Nakamura Norihiro comes up to the plate.
18:25 westbaystars: Nori batted .293 over the regular season. Much better than the Buffaloes probably figured.
18:26 westbaystars: He was a steal for the Dragons.
18:27 westbaystars: Nori strokes the ball over the left side into left-center.
18:27 westbaystars: One run in. Two runs in.
18:27 westbaystars: And Nakamura drives in the first two runs of the game.
18:28 westbaystars: Dragons up 2-0 with one out and runners on first and second.
18:28 westbaystars: Here in the bottom of the first.
18:28 westbaystars: That brings up Lee.
18:29 westbaystars: Lee lifts the ball deep to right field.
18:29 westbaystars: Right fielder Lin looks up.
18:29 westbaystars: Haittaaaaaaaaaaaa!
18:29 westbaystars: Three run home run by Lee.
18:29 westbaystars: And the Dragons are off to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
18:30 westbaystars: Okada-kantoku isn't going to be able to play the one-run game.
18:30 westbaystars: Hirata follows.
18:31 westbaystars: Hirata's ground ball to third is fielded by Imaoka.
18:31 westbaystars: The throw to first is off line, but Woods makes a good play to save Imaoka for out number two.
18:31 westbaystars: Next up is Tanishige.
18:32 westbaystars: A pitch sails behind Tanishige's head and shoulders, prompting an apology from Uezone.
18:33 westbaystars: But Tanishige pops the next pitch up to Toritani in shallow left to end the inning.
18:33 westbaystars: But Nori's two run double followed by Lee's three run home run put the Dragons up 5-0 after one complete.
18:33 westbaystars: ---
18:33 westbaystars: Top of 2nd
18:33 westbaystars: ---
18:35 westbaystars: Kanemoto leads off the second for Hanshin.
18:38 westbaystars: And he walks on yet another full count pitch by Nakata.
18:38 westbaystars: Nakata really does go full count too often.
18:38 westbaystars: Maybe Imaoka will help him out.
18:39 westbaystars: He's on the way with two quick strikes.
18:40 westbaystars: Hey, and 三球三振 (strike out on three pitches) as Imaoka whiffs at a pitch down the middle.
18:40 westbaystars: One out, runner at first, Lin at the plate.
18:42 westbaystars: Lin batted over .400 with a runner on first during the regular season.
18:42 westbaystars: And we go full count yet again.
18:43 westbaystars: And Nakata hits Lin on his back (left) foot.
18:43 westbaystars: It just got him on the big toe.
18:43 torakichi: What a brilliant display of guts from th Tigers! (rolls eyes)
18:44 westbaystars: Bottom of the first?
18:44 westbaystars: How much damage did you see?
18:44 torakichi: All of it...
18:44 westbaystars: Noguchi, behind the plate tonight, follows Lin.
18:45 westbaystars: Without succuming to gouging out your eyes?
18:45 westbaystars:
18:46 torakichi: Ha! Nah, to be honest, I think yesterday's game and the play so far tonight are a fair indicator of the two teams'...
18:46 torakichi: ...conditions.
18:47 westbaystars: I didn't really agree with the Tiger fans who said that last night was a failure of the Tigers.
18:47 westbaystars: It was Kawakami's brilliance.
18:47 westbaystars: Tonight, however, Nakata goes full count yet again.
18:47 westbaystars: If they can't get to Nakata, forget it.
18:48 westbaystars: Strike three called.
18:48 torakichi: And that's what happens.
18:48 westbaystars: It looked like Noguchi was trying to dug under the pitch, then appeal that it was too high.
18:48 westbaystars: Sorry.
18:48 torakichi: As for Kawakami, yes, he is that good. So are Nakata and Asakura.
18:49 westbaystars: That brings up Sekimoto.
18:49 westbaystars: Other than a few pitches, Nakata hasn't impressed me yet.
18:50 westbaystars: With two strikes and no balls on Sekimoto, he just checks his swing on a low-outside pitch.
18:50 torakichi: On the other hand, you wouldn't say that Sheets, Kanemoto, Imaoka, Akahoshi, Yano or Sekimoto inspire fear in pitchers..
18:51 westbaystars: The next pitch is reached for and grounded to the right side.
18:51 torakichi: ...on present form.
18:51 westbaystars: Second baseman Araki looks like he touches the runner going by.
18:51 westbaystars: But for good measure, throws to first for the force.
18:52 westbaystars: Well, Kanemoto still has name value if nothing else.
18:52 westbaystars: No matter how poorly he does, pitchers will be careful with him.
18:52 torakichi: True. And if those guys hit some form, then the Tigers can get up a good head of steam.
18:52 westbaystars: ---
18:52 westbaystars: Bottom of Second
18:52 westbaystars: ---
18:52 westbaystars: Watanabe comes in to pitch for Hanshin in the second inning.
18:53 westbaystars: Uezono is knocked out after just one inning.
18:53 westbaystars: Watanabe appeared in 53 games, was 1 and 1 with a .247 ERA during the regular season.
18:54 westbaystars: This whole season seemed like the year of the streak.
18:54 westbaystars: And Hanshin seemed to exemplify that more than any other team.
18:54 westbaystars: Pitcher Nakata leads off the Dragon half of the second.
18:55 torakichi: As an aside, I'm loving the sub-channel soundtrack on BS.
18:55 westbaystars: What are they playing? I've watched when it was just the raw crowd feed.
18:56 westbaystars: Nakata strikes out swinging after a good fight.
18:56 westbaystars: One away.
18:56 torakichi: That. Just the in-stadium sound. Love it.
18:56 westbaystars: I'm watching JSports ESPN tonight.
18:56 westbaystars: It wasn't on BS1 at 6:00.
18:57 westbaystars: Yea. I want to get a mixer so that I can feed from NHK along with my mic for my broadcasts.
18:57 torakichi: I think they start at 18:05 to allow for the news.
18:57 torakichi: Now *that* would rock.
18:57 westbaystars: The down side is they tend to start 5 minutes late (for the news) and miss some of the game for news updates.
18:58 westbaystars: Araki breaks his bat and lines the ball toward left.
18:58 zman: I hate to ask, but what is the score?
18:58 westbaystars: But Toritani makes a well timed jump and pulls it in.
18:58 westbaystars: 5-0 Dragons.
18:58 torakichi: Don't ask!
18:58 zman: oh no, my heart is breaking
18:59 westbaystars: Ibata grounds out to short on the first pitch, and the side is retired in order in the second.
18:59 westbaystars: == Review ==
18:59 torakichi: Re. mixers: Go to any music store. You can pick up little 4-line mixers for a few thousand yen.
18:59 zman: did woods go yard again?
18:59 westbaystars: Nori hit a 2-run bases loaded single in the first.
18:59 westbaystars: Then Lee hit a 3-run home run to right.
18:59 westbaystars: ---
18:59 westbaystars: Top of 3rd
18:59 westbaystars: ---
19:00 zman: Korea is going nuts . . .
19:00 westbaystars: Woods drew a walk on 5 pitches. Uezono kept everything low and away, but Woods wasn't biting.
19:01 westbaystars: I'd looked at Yodobashi Camera. They were all pretty expensive there.
19:01 westbaystars: Guess I need to try music stores. Good idea.
19:02 zman: My bathtub TV is not showing the game, guess I am better off not watching the season end
19:02 westbaystars: Hamanaka pinch hits for the most effective Tiger pitcher so far.
19:02 westbaystars: Hamanaka lifts a slider to straight away center.
19:02 westbaystars: The center fielder comes in a couple of steps to make the catch.
19:02 westbaystars: One away.
19:02 westbaystars: That brings us to the top of the order in Toritani.
19:03 westbaystars: Toritani flew out to left on 9 pitches in the first.
19:03 westbaystars: He grounds out to second on one pitch in the third.
19:03 westbaystars: That brings up Akahoshi who lasted 11 pitches his first at bat.
19:03 westbaystars: Before grounding out to Nakata.
19:04 westbaystars: Slider over for strike two.
19:04 zman: He is a tough out
19:04 westbaystars: Nakata is starting to look fairly good.
19:04 westbaystars: After the traditional waste pitch, he throws another one outside.
19:05 zman: A five run lead will do that . . .
19:05 westbaystars: The 2-2 offering inside is swung on and missed, strike three.
19:05 westbaystars: And the Tigers go down in order in the third.
19:05 westbaystars: After 2 and a half, the Dragons hold on to a 5-0 lead.
19:05 westbaystars: ---
19:05 westbaystars: Bottom of 3rd
19:05 westbaystars: ---
19:05 torakichi: Man, are the Tigers going to rack up 18 donuts in this series?!
19:06 westbaystars: Nakata didn't look too impressive in the first two innings.
19:06 zman: Remember the J-Series against the Marines
19:06 westbaystars: If he gets any better as the game goes on, that may be.
19:06 westbaystars: Egusa comes in to pitch for the Tigers.
19:07 westbaystars: Egusa has a 1.15 ERA against the Dragons this season.
19:07 westbaystars: Better than his 1.95 ERA on the season.
19:07 westbaystars: Morino leads off for the Dragons.
19:08 westbaystars: Morino hits a low line drive to Sekimoto at second.
19:09 westbaystars: Sekimoto grabs the ball on his knees for out number one.
19:09 westbaystars: That brings up Woods.
19:09 zman: No men on base for him to clear this time
19:10 westbaystars: Woods strikes out swinging at a pitch in the dirt outside.
19:10 westbaystars: Egusa got Woods to go after that low and away pitch that Uezono couldn't.
19:11 westbaystars: That brings up Nori, who hit a 2-run timely with the bases loaded his first at bat.
19:11 westbaystars: That started the scoring for the Dragons in the first.
19:12 westbaystars: A big one bounder way before the plate brings the count full to Nakamura.
19:12 westbaystars: And Nori swings and misses big time on the next pitch.
19:12 torakichi: There ya go!
19:12 westbaystars: Egusa retires the Dragons in order here in the third.
19:13 westbaystars: After three complete, the Dragons continue to lead 5-0.
19:13 westbaystars: ---
19:13 westbaystars: Top of 4th
19:13 westbaystars: ---
19:14 torakichi: Come on, lads! Something! Anything!
19:14 torakichi: There's a start.
19:14 zman: Time for a little Tiger magic with Sheets starting it all off
19:14 westbaystars: Sheets lines the first pitch to left field for a base hit.
19:15 zman: Finally!!
19:15 westbaystars: That brings up Kanemoto.
19:15 torakichi: At last. We finally make the scorers work!
19:16 westbaystars: Kanemoto goes the other way, but right to Morimoto for out number one.
19:16 zman: Homer?
19:16 westbaystars: Imaoka follows.
19:16 westbaystars: He struck out his first at bat.
19:17 torakichi: More like Homer Simpson.
19:18 westbaystars: That slider is fooling the Tiger batters.
19:18 westbaystars: As Imaoka swings and misses a high slider.
19:18 westbaystars: Imaoka goes the other way with a high pitch.
19:19 westbaystars: Right fielder goes to the wall!
19:19 torakichi: Go ball! Go ball! Arrrrrrrrrgh!
19:19 westbaystars: He stops.
19:19 westbaystars: Reaches up and makes the catch.
19:19 zman: Homer?
19:19 westbaystars: Two down, runner at first.
19:19 westbaystars: Lin coming to the plate.
19:19 zman: Perhaps Imoka would have been better off bunting the runner along
19:20 westbaystars: With his luck, he'd have bunted into a double play, I'm afraid.
19:21 westbaystars: This kind of thing happened the the BayStars all season long as well.
19:21 zman: good point
19:21 westbaystars: Lin ground the ball past a diving Araki and into right field!
19:21 westbaystars: Base hit.
19:21 torakichi: That's more like it!
19:21 zman: So Lin is hitless so far
19:21 westbaystars: Sheets heads to third.
19:22 zman: Wow!
19:22 westbaystars: That brings up Noguchi, who struck out his first at bat.
19:22 torakichi: Noguchi up. He didn't do too badly in the regular season.
19:23 torakichi: At last!
19:23 zman: Checking Yahoo sports box score, Tigers hitting 156, Dragons 361
19:23 westbaystars: Noguchi grounds the ball through the left side.
19:23 westbaystars: Sheets scores!
19:23 zman: A run!
19:23 westbaystars: The Tigers crack those goose eggs!
19:23 westbaystars: And that brings Mori-pitching coach out to the mound.
19:23 zman: Four more to go to make the game interesting
19:24 torakichi: A run! Who'd have thought you could be so happy about one lousy run?!
19:24 torakichi: Awesome!
19:24 westbaystars: The Tigers now have runners at first and second, two down, and Sekimoto at the plate.
19:24 zman: Westbay, since Ochiai used his whole staff yesterday if you hope on the shinkansen you may get a chance to pitch tonight
19:24 zman: hop
19:24 westbaystars: Sekimoto got the Tigers' first hit yesterday in the 6th inning.
19:25 westbaystars: I don't think the Tigers could hit anything as slow as I throw.
19:26 torakichi: Re. "you may get a chance to pitch tonight": I've always wanted to do the speed gun contest at Koshien.
19:26 zman: Stay loose, you may get the call
19:27 westbaystars: And the first base umpire calls Sekimoto out, swinging at a pitch in the dirt.
19:27 westbaystars: But, the Tigers have finally scored a run in the Series.
19:27 westbaystars: Will this lead to another? Stay tuned!
19:28 westbaystars: After 2 1/2 innings, the Tigers cut the lead to 1-5.
19:28 westbaystars: ---
19:28 westbaystars: Bottom of 3rd
19:28 westbaystars: ---
19:28 westbaystars: Botto of 4th
19:28 westbaystars: ---
19:28 westbaystars: Make that "After 3 1/2 innings."
19:29 zman: Right
19:29 westbaystars: Lee leads off the fourth for the Dragons.
19:29 westbaystars: His 3-run home run made this look like an insurmountable lead in the first.
19:30 westbaystars: Egusa into his second inning of work.
19:30 westbaystars: Lee goes down swinging at a pitch in the dirt outside.
19:30 zman: We know now the Tigers can score, at least one run at a time
19:30 westbaystars: He breaks for first, but the throw beats him by a good distance.
19:30 westbaystars: One away.
19:31 torakichi: Egusa's looking good.
19:31 westbaystars: Hirata follows.
19:31 westbaystars: He hits a chopper to short.
19:32 westbaystars: Toritani has no trouble with it, throwing Hirata out for out number two.
19:32 westbaystars: That'll bring up Tanishige.
19:33 westbaystars: Tanishige lines the ball into right field.
19:33 westbaystars: Lin fields the ball on a few hops, holding Tanishige to a single.
19:33 westbaystars: That's the first Dragon base runner since the first.
19:33 westbaystars: And brings up pitcher Nakata.
19:34 westbaystars: Nakata battled Watanabe fairly well.
19:34 westbaystars: But couldn't touch Egusa.
19:34 westbaystars: He goes down swinging for the final out of the fourth.
19:35 westbaystars: At the end of four complete now, the Dragons lead this one by a score of 5-1.
19:35 westbaystars: ---
19:35 westbaystars: Top of 5th
19:35 westbaystars: ---
19:36 westbaystars: It's a shame Egusa will be replaced for a pinch hitter this inning.
19:36 westbaystars: As the pitcher's spot comes up first.
19:36 westbaystars: But the Tigers need offense badly right now.
19:37 zman: Dont want to waste the talented pitch hitters from the Tigers
19:37 westbaystars: Pinch hitter Katsuragi drives the first pitch he gets to righte field.
19:37 westbaystars: Base hit.
19:37 torakichi: Well, that turned out to be the right decision.
19:37 westbaystars: Hey, Okada didn't waste Egusa with Hiyama.
19:38 zman: Wow!
19:38 westbaystars: Toritani follows.
19:38 zman: That is what I was expecting . . .
19:38 westbaystars: And he give the ball a ride to center.
19:38 westbaystars: But the line drive is right to the center fielder.
19:38 westbaystars: One away.
19:39 westbaystars: Akahoshi grounds the ball to Ibata at short.
19:39 westbaystars: The toss to second gets one.
19:39 westbaystars: The relay to first looked in time to me, but not the umpire.
19:39 westbaystars: Akahoshi beats out the double play.
19:40 zman: Toritani is batting zero, as is Akahoshi
19:40 westbaystars: That brings up Sheets.
19:40 westbaystars: Not very good for #1 and #2.
19:40 zman: No kidding, but Sheets can redeem himself here with a homer
19:40 westbaystars: Toritani made sense at the beginning of the season, but was he able to keep his OBP up?
19:41 westbaystars: I didn't think so. Buy I hadn't really paid close attention.
19:41 zman: He is at 167 in the series . . .
19:42 westbaystars: Sheets goes the other way.
19:42 westbaystars: Lee goes back to the wall.
19:42 zman: Akahoshi ended up hitting 300 but not as leadoff
19:42 westbaystars: And takes a step back in, and makes the catch on the warning track.
19:42 zman: Close!!
19:42 westbaystars: The side is retired.
19:43 westbaystars: Lead off pinch hit comes to naught.
19:43 westbaystars: Going to the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers still trail by 4.
19:43 westbaystars: ---
19:43 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th
19:43 westbaystars: ---
19:43 westbaystars: Kubota comes in to pitch the fifth for the Tigers.
19:43 westbaystars: He lit the flames for the Dragons last night.
19:44 westbaystars: He would never come in down by 4 during the regular season.
19:44 westbaystars: But this is the end.
19:44 westbaystars: [Says the announcers.]
19:45 zman: Saw that his ERA last night was 108
19:45 westbaystars: It's the top of the order for the Dragons in the fifth, Araki, Ibata, Morino.
19:45 zman: Hopefully he can reduce that
19:46 westbaystars: Araki lines the first pitch in front of the center fielder.
19:46 westbaystars: Lead off base hit.
19:46 westbaystars: Where's the decimal point on that?
19:46 westbaystars: Ibata showing bunt.
19:46 zman: one hundred and eight
19:46 torakichi: It seems that the Dragons and Giants have had Kubota's number since mid-August.
19:46 zman: no decimal point
19:46 westbaystars: Up by four, Ochiai-kantoku has the luxery of playing for adding a single run.
19:48 westbaystars: You both know my opinion of Okada-kantoku.
19:48 westbaystars: I don't think he thinks in terms of the opposition.
19:48 westbaystars: He's just going on auto-pilot.
19:48 westbaystars: The sacrifice bunt is successful.
19:48 westbaystars: Runner at second, one out.
19:48 westbaystars: Mr. Three Run coming to the plate (with only one base runner again).
19:49 westbaystars: Okada's "winning pattern" is to put Kubota in. So it doesn't matter to him that Kubota is poor against the Dragons.
19:50 westbaystars: No strikes, three balls to Morino.
19:50 zman: If he saw 108 ERA in the box score he would not put him in
19:51 westbaystars: Strike one gift given to Kubota, high and away.
19:51 zman: This is not looking good . . .
19:51 westbaystars: Fifth offering was actually a strike on the inside part of the plate.
19:51 westbaystars: Full count.
19:51 westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is grounded to second.
19:52 westbaystars: Runner moves to third while the out is made at first.
19:52 westbaystars: Two down, runner at third, Woods coming to the plate.
19:52 westbaystars: That's the thing, I don't get the impression that Okada-kantoku pays attention to the box scores.
19:53 westbaystars: His selective memory works sometimes, and it doesn't others.
19:53 westbaystars: Woods hits a high chopper to the left side.
19:53 westbaystars: Kubota has a long wait for the ball to come down.
19:54 westbaystars: When it does, he fires to first while the runner crosses the plate.
19:54 westbaystars: In time at first!
19:54 westbaystars: (Woods isn't a speed daemon.)
19:54 westbaystars: Three away.
19:54 westbaystars: Kubota gets out of it this evening.
19:55 westbaystars: At the end of five complete, the Dragons continue to lead 5-1.
19:55 westbaystars: ---
19:55 westbaystars: Top of 6th
19:55 westbaystars: ---
19:55 westbaystars: For those of you who missed it, Lotte tied the Pacific League Climax Series Stage Two up 1-1 ...
19:56 westbaystars: ... defeating Nippon Ham 8-1.
19:56 westbaystars: On five home runs, two by Satozaki.
19:56 torakichi: Sooooooo, the Dragons replace Nakata with Ogasawara!
19:56 westbaystars: Ogasawara comes in to pitch for the Dragons.
19:57 westbaystars: 2.99 ERA in 21 games with 6 wins and 6 losses over the season.
19:57 westbaystars: Color man on the TV thinks this is good timing to replace Nakata.
19:57 westbaystars: As Kanemoto comes up to the plate.
19:57 westbaystars: Ogasawara's first pitch is taken over the outside corner for strike one.
19:59 westbaystars: Argh. Ogasawara goes full count after two quick strikes.
19:59 westbaystars: Why, oh why so many wasted pitches?
20:00 westbaystars: After fouling one off, Kanemoto grounds out to Araki at second.
20:00 westbaystars: One away.
20:00 westbaystars: Araki was playing way over toward the first base line.
20:00 westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
20:02 westbaystars: Imaoka grounds out to Nakamura at third. Two away.
20:04 torakichi: Sakurai replaces Lin.
20:04 westbaystars: Sakurai pinch hits for Lin?
20:04 westbaystars: Why take Lin out?
20:04 torakichi: More brilliant decision-making.
20:04 westbaystars: Oh, yea. Okada-kantoku's world.
20:05 westbaystars: Sakurai grounds the ball just inside the first base line.
20:05 torakichi: Everyone knows that if you desperately need a hit, a run, you should always replace the guy with the highest batting avg
20:06 westbaystars: With the pitcher covering *late*, Woods dashes to the bag before Sakurai for the out.
20:06 westbaystars: And Sakurai is down.
20:06 westbaystars: Woods took the hit without a flinch, but Sakurai, who isn't small, didn't.
20:07 westbaystars: After about a minute, Sakurai stood up with the Hanshin trainer and limped back to the dugout.
20:07 westbaystars: Nonetheless, that's the third out of the inning.
20:08 westbaystars: Sakurai says in the game in right field. He looks OK now.
20:08 westbaystars: ---
20:08 torakichi: The laws of physics are proven sound again
20:08 westbaystars: Bottom of 6th
20:08 westbaystars: ---
20:08 westbaystars: Nakamura leads off the 6th for the Dragons.
20:08 westbaystars: He drove in the first two runs with a bases loaded single in the first.
20:10 zman: All your grousing about Okada-san, he did take a team with no offence and no starting pitching into the playoffs
20:10 westbaystars: Kubota goes full count to Nakamura.
20:10 zman: And briefly into first place
20:11 westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is grounded through the right side. Base hit.
20:11 westbaystars: I know. I'm constantly amazed at what the Tigers can do despite Okada-kantoku.
20:12 westbaystars: That brings up Lee, who's three run home run capped off a 5-run first.
20:12 westbaystars: Toritani tosses to second for one.
20:12 westbaystars: But the relay to first is not in time.
20:12 zman: You cant have it both ways Westbay-san
20:13 westbaystars: One out, runner at first, Hirata at the plate.
20:13 westbaystars: I know. I've heard the arguements against Christopher.
20:13 torakichi: I'll reserve comment about Okada. Just as I have done about Igawa.
20:14 westbaystars: Wise choice, I'm sure.
20:15 zman: Well, if the this game ends as is, the Tigers are in rebuilding mode next year and perhaps that includes the manager
20:15 westbaystars: Hirata hits a blooper toward right.
20:15 westbaystars: And with the umpire right on the play, Sakurai fields the ball on a short hop.
20:15 westbaystars: Base hit.
20:16 westbaystars: That brings up Tanishige.
20:16 zman: Is anyone warming up?
20:17 westbaystars: I agree with a lot of what Christopher says, just not his reasoning.
20:17 westbaystars: Having bull pens hidden away, it's hard to tell.
20:18 westbaystars: With the pitcher's spot due up next inning, I would guess that someone is throwing for Hanshin, though.
20:18 zman: Well, he bad-mouthed the Tigers early on but had to eat his words later. Now of course he may feel vindicated.
20:19 westbaystars: Tanishige grounds the ball just left of the second base bag.
20:20 westbaystars: Toritani fields the ball, steps on the second base bag, and throws to first to end the inning.
20:20 westbaystars: At the end of six complete, the Dragons continue to lead this one 5-1.
20:20 westbaystars: ---
20:20 westbaystars: Top of 7th
20:20 westbaystars: ---
20:20 zman: Kubota is lowering his ERA, it must be below a hundred now
20:21 westbaystars: Let's see, 4 runs over 2 1/3rd innings now.
20:23 westbaystars: Noguchi leads off the Tigers' Lucky 7.
20:23 zman: About 14 or so I figure
20:23 westbaystars: And he sends the ball to right field for a lead off base hit.
20:24 westbaystars: I get 15.43, if I calculated it correctly.
20:24 torakichi: Okay, here we go. Time to make things respectable.
20:24 zman: He was hitting 500 before this hit, the one bright spot for the tigers hitting
20:24 westbaystars: Sekimoto follows.
20:26 westbaystars: Sekimoto drives the ball through the left side of the infield.
20:26 westbaystars: Back to back base hits to start off the 7th.
20:26 zman: Yes!
20:26 westbaystars: Former Dragon Takahashi comes up to pinch hit for Kubota.
20:27 westbaystars: He reaches out and lifts the ball to right.
20:27 westbaystars: The throw back toward third is cut off by Ibata, but nobody is advancing.
20:28 westbaystars: Sorry, that was a fly out to right.
20:28 westbaystars: One out, runners at first and second.
20:28 westbaystars: Top of the order in Toritani at the plate.
20:28 westbaystars: Toritani drives the ball to the warning track in center.
20:29 westbaystars: This will at least move the runner over as the catch is made and the runner tags.
20:29 westbaystars: Runners now at the corners with Akahoshi at the plate.
20:29 torakichi: Come on Akahoshi. If ever there was a time to get a hit...
20:30 westbaystars: Akahoshi, 0 for 3 so far tonight, batted .470 at Nagoya Dome during the season.
20:30 torakichi: ...instead of watching the ball sail by...
20:30 torakichi: ...twice in a row...
20:31 westbaystars: But it isn't meant to be.
20:31 torakichi: Oh man.
20:32 westbaystars: Akahoshi grounds the ball to Nori at third.
20:32 torakichi: It all seems a bit easy for the Dragons at the moment.
20:32 westbaystars: He fires across the diamond for out number three.
20:32 westbaystars: Going to the Dragons' Lucky 7, they hold onto a 5-1 lead.
20:32 westbaystars: ---
20:32 westbaystars: Bottom of 7th
20:32 westbaystars: ---
20:34 westbaystars: 'J' Williams comes in to pitch the 7th for the Tigers.
20:35 westbaystars: Koji Nakaumura steps in as a pinch hitter.
20:36 westbaystars: For pitcher Ogasawara.
20:37 westbaystars: He lifts a 2-2 pitch to center.
20:37 westbaystars: The center fielder, right fielder, and second baseman converge.
20:37 westbaystars: And it's the center fielder who makes the catch for out number one.
20:37 westbaystars: That brings up Araki.
20:37 westbaystars: Who promptly grounds out to second on the first pitch.
20:37 westbaystars: Two quick outs.
20:38 westbaystars: Williams is always impressive.
20:38 torakichi: He is.
20:38 westbaystars: That brings up Ibata. 0 for 1 tonight with a walk and sacrifice.
20:39 torakichi: Thomas O'Malley did well to scout Williams.
20:40 westbaystars: Williams gets Ibata whiffing at an inside pitch for out number three.
20:40 westbaystars: At the end of seven complete, the score remains fixed at Dragons 5 - 1 Tigers.
20:40 westbaystars: ---
20:40 westbaystars: Top of 8th
20:40 westbaystars: ---
20:41 westbaystars: Okamoto comes in to pitch for the Dragons.
20:41 westbaystars: 62 games, 5 wins, 2 losses, 0 saves. 2.89 ERA.
20:41 westbaystars: I've never seen him break down, although it clearly happens.
20:42 westbaystars: Hanshin will be sending up their cleanup.
20:42 westbaystars: Sheets, Kanemoto, and Imaoka.
20:42 torakichi: What a fearsome crew!
20:43 westbaystars: In fact, I think I've seen Iwase break down, but not Okamoto.
20:43 torakichi: Come on boys! A hit, a walk, an HR, whatever...
20:44 westbaystars: Sheets reaches out and pokes the ball into center field for a base hit.
20:44 westbaystars: Lead off man is aboard for the Tigers.
20:45 westbaystars: And that brings up Kanemoto. Still a feared name, despite his stats.
20:45 torakichi: Alright. This is it. A big inning!
20:45 westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to right center.
20:45 torakichi: Yes!
20:45 westbaystars: It's a one bounder to the wall!
20:45 westbaystars: Sheets is on the run.
20:45 westbaystars: Rounds third.
20:46 westbaystars: The throw home beats him.
20:46 westbaystars: But Sheets gets around the tag.
20:46 westbaystars: Safe, safe, safe!
20:46 westbaystars: The Tigers have scored again.
20:46 westbaystars: Cutting the lead to 3.; 2-5.
20:46 westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
20:47 westbaystars: Kanemoto went to second on the throw? Or was that a clean double?
20:47 westbaystars: Sekimoto lifts the ball to center.
20:47 westbaystars: Too high.
20:48 westbaystars: Kanemoto touches up at second.
20:48 westbaystars: The throw to third is not in time!
20:48 torakichi: About time we did something. Come on, lads!
20:48 westbaystars: Runner at third, one out.
20:48 torakichi: Himaya?! HIYAMA?!
20:48 westbaystars: And pinch hitter Hiyama is announced.
20:48 westbaystars: Ochiai-kantoku heads out to the mound.
20:49 westbaystars: And Ochiai-kantoku is asking for a new ball. We have a pitching change.
20:49 westbaystars: Well, I guess it had to happen. I had to witness Okamoto falling down.
20:50 westbaystars: Iwase is being announced.
20:50 westbaystars: Has he had enough time to get ready?
20:51 westbaystars: 61 games, 2 wins, 4 losses, 43 saves, 2.44 ERA over the season.
20:52 torakichi: Hiyama...
20:52 westbaystars: A problem I see with the way closers are used is that their routine doesn't permit them to come in early well.
20:52 westbaystars: They do, of course. But I think that they're not as sure.
20:52 westbaystars: Hiyama lines the first pitch to center field.
20:53 westbaystars: It's deep enough.
20:53 torakichi: Hiyama does a job. Well done, that fellow.
20:53 westbaystars: And the Tigers have made this a 2-run ball game.
20:53 westbaystars: They now trail 3-5.
20:53 westbaystars: With Noguchi coming up next.
20:55 westbaystars: But Noguchi grounds out to Ibata at short to end the threat.
20:55 westbaystars: The Tigers manage to put two more on the board. Two left to go.
20:55 westbaystars: As they trail 3-5 with 3 outs to go.
20:55 westbaystars: ---
20:56 westbaystars: Bottom of 8th
20:56 westbaystars: ---
20:57 westbaystars: Williams takes the mound for the second inning.
20:57 westbaystars: I like that Okada-kantoku is thinking that the Tigers will tie the game and need 'F' later.
20:57 westbaystars: Morino leads off for the Dragons.
20:59 westbaystars: And he hits the ball through the left side on a 2-2 pitch to become a lead off base runner.
21:00 westbaystars: Does anyone know how effective Jeff is over more than one inning?
21:00 westbaystars: Woods coming up next.
21:00 westbaystars: And Woods is hit on the elbow!
21:00 torakichi: Jeffrey!
21:00 westbaystars: He spins around backwords at the inside pitch.
21:00 westbaystars: The umpire it quick to get between him and Williams.
21:01 westbaystars: But Woods doesn't look mad.
21:01 westbaystars: Runners at first and second, nobody out.
21:01 westbaystars: Nori coming to the plate.
21:01 zman: Unusual for Williams to hit someone as his control is excellent
21:01 westbaystars: 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs tonight.
21:02 westbaystars: Due to pitching more than one inning?
21:03 westbaystars: Tatsunami starts swinging a bat in the on deck circle.
21:03 zman: Dont think so, he is very consistant
21:03 zman: beyond one inning
21:03 westbaystars: And this umpire is one who won't give a pitcher three strikes on three pitches.
21:03 westbaystars: That third pitch looked pretty good. But it may have been outside.
21:03 torakichi: Steady, Jeffrey, steady...
21:04 westbaystars: But Jeff and Noguchi thought they had ball the ball three call on the inside corner.
21:04 westbaystars: Full count.
21:05 westbaystars: After a foul ball, Williams come over the middle of the plate with a 150 kph fast ball.
21:05 westbaystars: Getting Nori to whiff.
21:05 westbaystars: The crowd goes wild for Mr. Dragons, Tatsunami.
21:06 westbaystars: He check swings and lifts the first pitch toward thrd.
21:06 westbaystars: Infield fly is called as Imaoka makes the catch.
21:06 westbaystars: Two down, runners at first and second.
21:06 westbaystars: Looks like Williams has settled down.
21:06 zman: Good
21:06 westbaystars: Hirata follows.
21:07 westbaystars: Two quick strikes on Hirata.
21:07 westbaystars: Third pitch is grounded foul.
21:07 torakichi: Oooooooooooooooooooooh!
21:07 westbaystars: Up the third base side.
21:08 westbaystars: Next pitch is outside. First base umpire says Hirata didn't swing.
21:08 westbaystars: Ummmm. Not sure about that from the side camera.
21:08 torakichi: I'm telling you, that 1st base ump is a Chunichi employee!
21:08 westbaystars: Again an appeal to first on a low and away pitch.
21:08 westbaystars: Again called safe.
21:08 torakichi: Yeah!
21:08 westbaystars: The 2-2 pitch is up, but swing on and missed for strike three.
21:09 westbaystars: The Dragons threaten, but fail to score.
21:09 westbaystars: Going to the Tigers last chance, they need two.
21:09 westbaystars: ---
21:09 westbaystars: Top of 9th
21:09 westbaystars: ---
21:09 zman: Williams get the job done as he has all year
21:10 westbaystars: Iwase to throw his second inning of work.
21:10 torakichi: Yep. Williams is solid.
21:10 westbaystars: Or at least, more than one.
21:11 westbaystars: Fujii comes in in righte field.
21:11 westbaystars: Ueda comes in in left.
21:11 westbaystars: Morino moves to first.
21:11 westbaystars: Sekimoto takes strike one.
21:12 westbaystars: And strike two on the outside part of the plate.
21:12 westbaystars: Third pitch missed outside. Two strikes and a ball.
21:12 zman: Need a baserunner early
21:13 westbaystars: Next offering to Sekimoto is up and away. Sekimoto looked like wanted to swing, but held back.
21:13 westbaystars: The 2-2 offering is fouled off to the right side and out of play.
21:14 westbaystars: 2-2 again, and it's called strike three on the inside corner.
21:14 westbaystars: Sekimoto disagrees.
21:14 zman: Hitting 400 in the series
21:14 torakichi: Sekimoto is disgusted, but that was unhittable.
21:14 westbaystars: That brings up Yano pinch hitting.
21:15 westbaystars: And he hits a slow dribbler to the left side.
21:15 zman: Toritani and Akahoshi are O fers in the series
21:15 westbaystars: The third baseman makes a great play to get him.
21:15 westbaystars: Toritani grounds the first pitch to Araki.
21:15 westbaystars: That's not where he wants to hit it.
21:16 westbaystars: Araki throws to first in time, and the game is over.
21:16 westbaystars: ===
21:16 torakichi: Hanshin and Chunichi have played to the best of their current abilities, and the gulf is clear for all to see.
21:16 westbaystars: The Chunichi Dragons head to Tokyo for Stage Two of the Central League Climax Series.
21:16 westbaystars: I didn't seen that big a gulf this evening.
21:17 zman: Best of luck to the Dragons, a very fine team
21:17 westbaystars: Not like lastnight.
21:17 westbaystars: Chunichi did everything in the first offensively.
21:17 westbaystars: Thereafter, the Tigers did a great job of holding them down.
21:17 zman: The stats will show the dominance of the Dragons
21:18 westbaystars: Nori is declared the hero of the game.
21:18 torakichi: That's true. But it would have been a very brave man to have bet on the Tigers for this series.
21:18 westbaystars: ===
21:18 westbaystars: Game Final
21:18 westbaystars: Hanshin 3 - 5 Chunichi
21:19 westbaystars: ===
21:19 westbaystars: ===
21:19 westbaystars: Series Final
21:19 westbaystars: Hanshin 0 - 2 Chunichi
21:19 westbaystars: ===
21:19 zman: Next year the Tigers will win it all!
21:19 westbaystars: Will Okada be in charge?
21:19 zman: Thanks again Westbay for the fun play by play
21:20 torakichi: NO comment.
21:20 zman: Tough call, maybe not. I expect many changes
21:20 westbaystars: My pleasure. It's so nice to have some people to bounce questions/comments off of as well.
21:20 torakichi: Thanks Westbaystars-san. Back to work...
21:21 westbaystars: To the bath. It's been a tiring day. (Undodai this morning.)
21:21 westbaystars: But I don't have a TV in there.
21:21 westbaystars:
21:22 westbaystars: Take care.
The more I review this game in my head, the more I'm convinced that maybe the better team didn't win this one. The Dragons' offense was just the first inning. They managed a couple more threats, but were unable to capitalize on them.
The lack of runs for Hanshin early on were all the Tigers' fault. Nakata didn't appear to get it together until the end of the second inning, but the Tigers weren't able to take advantage of that. I disagreed with those who thought that yesterday's loss was all Hanshin's fault (as noted in the transcript below) as Kawakami was simply brilliant. But I won't argue with such a view of the first couple of innings tonight.
Well, on the bright side, it'll make it easier to decide which game to watch tomorrow night.
Now, the game log:
TRANSCRIPT generated on 2007/10/14
CHATROOM 2007 Central League Climax Series/Stage 1 Game 2
18:05 westbaystars: Toritani leads off the game against Nakata flying out to Morino in left-center on a full count pitch.
18:05 westbaystars: Akahoshi follows.
18:07 westbaystars: Another full count.
18:09 westbaystars: Akahoshi fouls a couple full count pitches off.
18:09 westbaystars: Then hits a come backer to Nakata.
18:10 westbaystars: Nakata short bounds the ball, throws to first, and we have two outs.
18:10 westbaystars: Nakata has thrown 20 pitches to the first two batters.
18:10 westbaystars: Sheets comes up next.
18:10 westbaystars: And is in the hole two strikes, no balls in no time.
18:11 westbaystars: Sheets lays off a couple of bad pitches to even the count at 2-2.
18:12 westbaystars: But swings and misses ball three outside. Strike out.
18:12 westbaystars: Nakata didn't look terribly commanding, but is out of the inning 1-2-3.
18:12 westbaystars: ---
18:12 westbaystars: Bottom of 1st
18:12 westbaystars: ---
18:15 westbaystars: Uezono takes the mound this evening for the Hanshin Tigers.
18:15 westbaystars: Araki leads off for the Dragons.
18:15 westbaystars: Araki hits a blooper toward left-center field.
18:16 westbaystars: Neither outfielder has a chance at that one.
18:16 westbaystars: And shortstop Toritani makes a fantastic grab running out to get the ball.
18:16 westbaystars: Nice save by Toritani.
18:17 westbaystars: Ibata follows.
18:17 westbaystars: And Ibata draws a base on balls on five pitches.
18:18 westbaystars: Runner at first, one out.
18:18 westbaystars: That brings up Mr. Three Run, Morino.
18:18 westbaystars: But with only one runner on.
18:18 westbaystars:
18:21 westbaystars: Morino grounds the ball through the right side.
18:21 westbaystars: Ibata kicks second and heads for third.
18:21 westbaystars: The throw from Lin is to the shortstop, everyone's safe!
18:21 westbaystars: That brings up Tyrone Woods with runners at the corners and one out.
18:21 westbaystars: A long ball will score one.
18:22 westbaystars: As will a past ball, almost given up on the first pitch by Uezone to Woods - way outside.
18:22 westbaystars: It's Noguchi behind the plate for the Tigers tonight.
18:24 westbaystars: All but one pitch to Woods is low and away, and Woods wasn't going for them.
18:24 westbaystars: So five pitches to Woods loads the bases with just one out.
18:25 westbaystars: And Kubo-pitching coach heads out to talk with Uezono.
18:25 westbaystars: He's had his word with the starting pitcher, and Nakamura Norihiro comes up to the plate.
18:25 westbaystars: Nori batted .293 over the regular season. Much better than the Buffaloes probably figured.
18:26 westbaystars: He was a steal for the Dragons.
18:27 westbaystars: Nori strokes the ball over the left side into left-center.
18:27 westbaystars: One run in. Two runs in.
18:27 westbaystars: And Nakamura drives in the first two runs of the game.
18:28 westbaystars: Dragons up 2-0 with one out and runners on first and second.
18:28 westbaystars: Here in the bottom of the first.
18:28 westbaystars: That brings up Lee.
18:29 westbaystars: Lee lifts the ball deep to right field.
18:29 westbaystars: Right fielder Lin looks up.
18:29 westbaystars: Haittaaaaaaaaaaaa!
18:29 westbaystars: Three run home run by Lee.
18:29 westbaystars: And the Dragons are off to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
18:30 westbaystars: Okada-kantoku isn't going to be able to play the one-run game.
18:30 westbaystars: Hirata follows.
18:31 westbaystars: Hirata's ground ball to third is fielded by Imaoka.
18:31 westbaystars: The throw to first is off line, but Woods makes a good play to save Imaoka for out number two.
18:31 westbaystars: Next up is Tanishige.
18:32 westbaystars: A pitch sails behind Tanishige's head and shoulders, prompting an apology from Uezone.
18:33 westbaystars: But Tanishige pops the next pitch up to Toritani in shallow left to end the inning.
18:33 westbaystars: But Nori's two run double followed by Lee's three run home run put the Dragons up 5-0 after one complete.
18:33 westbaystars: ---
18:33 westbaystars: Top of 2nd
18:33 westbaystars: ---
18:35 westbaystars: Kanemoto leads off the second for Hanshin.
18:38 westbaystars: And he walks on yet another full count pitch by Nakata.
18:38 westbaystars: Nakata really does go full count too often.
18:38 westbaystars: Maybe Imaoka will help him out.
18:39 westbaystars: He's on the way with two quick strikes.
18:40 westbaystars: Hey, and 三球三振 (strike out on three pitches) as Imaoka whiffs at a pitch down the middle.
18:40 westbaystars: One out, runner at first, Lin at the plate.
18:42 westbaystars: Lin batted over .400 with a runner on first during the regular season.
18:42 westbaystars: And we go full count yet again.
18:43 westbaystars: And Nakata hits Lin on his back (left) foot.
18:43 westbaystars: It just got him on the big toe.
18:43 torakichi: What a brilliant display of guts from th Tigers! (rolls eyes)
18:44 westbaystars: Bottom of the first?
18:44 westbaystars: How much damage did you see?
18:44 torakichi: All of it...
18:44 westbaystars: Noguchi, behind the plate tonight, follows Lin.
18:45 westbaystars: Without succuming to gouging out your eyes?
18:45 westbaystars:
18:46 torakichi: Ha! Nah, to be honest, I think yesterday's game and the play so far tonight are a fair indicator of the two teams'...
18:46 torakichi: ...conditions.
18:47 westbaystars: I didn't really agree with the Tiger fans who said that last night was a failure of the Tigers.
18:47 westbaystars: It was Kawakami's brilliance.
18:47 westbaystars: Tonight, however, Nakata goes full count yet again.
18:47 westbaystars: If they can't get to Nakata, forget it.
18:48 westbaystars: Strike three called.
18:48 torakichi: And that's what happens.
18:48 westbaystars: It looked like Noguchi was trying to dug under the pitch, then appeal that it was too high.
18:48 westbaystars: Sorry.
18:48 torakichi: As for Kawakami, yes, he is that good. So are Nakata and Asakura.
18:49 westbaystars: That brings up Sekimoto.
18:49 westbaystars: Other than a few pitches, Nakata hasn't impressed me yet.
18:50 westbaystars: With two strikes and no balls on Sekimoto, he just checks his swing on a low-outside pitch.
18:50 torakichi: On the other hand, you wouldn't say that Sheets, Kanemoto, Imaoka, Akahoshi, Yano or Sekimoto inspire fear in pitchers..
18:51 westbaystars: The next pitch is reached for and grounded to the right side.
18:51 torakichi: ...on present form.
18:51 westbaystars: Second baseman Araki looks like he touches the runner going by.
18:51 westbaystars: But for good measure, throws to first for the force.
18:52 westbaystars: Well, Kanemoto still has name value if nothing else.
18:52 westbaystars: No matter how poorly he does, pitchers will be careful with him.
18:52 torakichi: True. And if those guys hit some form, then the Tigers can get up a good head of steam.
18:52 westbaystars: ---
18:52 westbaystars: Bottom of Second
18:52 westbaystars: ---
18:52 westbaystars: Watanabe comes in to pitch for Hanshin in the second inning.
18:53 westbaystars: Uezono is knocked out after just one inning.
18:53 westbaystars: Watanabe appeared in 53 games, was 1 and 1 with a .247 ERA during the regular season.
18:54 westbaystars: This whole season seemed like the year of the streak.
18:54 westbaystars: And Hanshin seemed to exemplify that more than any other team.
18:54 westbaystars: Pitcher Nakata leads off the Dragon half of the second.
18:55 torakichi: As an aside, I'm loving the sub-channel soundtrack on BS.
18:55 westbaystars: What are they playing? I've watched when it was just the raw crowd feed.
18:56 westbaystars: Nakata strikes out swinging after a good fight.
18:56 westbaystars: One away.
18:56 torakichi: That. Just the in-stadium sound. Love it.
18:56 westbaystars: I'm watching JSports ESPN tonight.
18:56 westbaystars: It wasn't on BS1 at 6:00.
18:57 westbaystars: Yea. I want to get a mixer so that I can feed from NHK along with my mic for my broadcasts.
18:57 torakichi: I think they start at 18:05 to allow for the news.
18:57 torakichi: Now *that* would rock.
18:57 westbaystars: The down side is they tend to start 5 minutes late (for the news) and miss some of the game for news updates.
18:58 westbaystars: Araki breaks his bat and lines the ball toward left.
18:58 zman: I hate to ask, but what is the score?
18:58 westbaystars: But Toritani makes a well timed jump and pulls it in.
18:58 westbaystars: 5-0 Dragons.
18:58 torakichi: Don't ask!
18:58 zman: oh no, my heart is breaking
18:59 westbaystars: Ibata grounds out to short on the first pitch, and the side is retired in order in the second.
18:59 westbaystars: == Review ==
18:59 torakichi: Re. mixers: Go to any music store. You can pick up little 4-line mixers for a few thousand yen.
18:59 zman: did woods go yard again?
18:59 westbaystars: Nori hit a 2-run bases loaded single in the first.
18:59 westbaystars: Then Lee hit a 3-run home run to right.
18:59 westbaystars: ---
18:59 westbaystars: Top of 3rd
18:59 westbaystars: ---
19:00 zman: Korea is going nuts . . .
19:00 westbaystars: Woods drew a walk on 5 pitches. Uezono kept everything low and away, but Woods wasn't biting.
19:01 westbaystars: I'd looked at Yodobashi Camera. They were all pretty expensive there.
19:01 westbaystars: Guess I need to try music stores. Good idea.
19:02 zman: My bathtub TV is not showing the game, guess I am better off not watching the season end
19:02 westbaystars: Hamanaka pinch hits for the most effective Tiger pitcher so far.
19:02 westbaystars: Hamanaka lifts a slider to straight away center.
19:02 westbaystars: The center fielder comes in a couple of steps to make the catch.
19:02 westbaystars: One away.
19:02 westbaystars: That brings us to the top of the order in Toritani.
19:03 westbaystars: Toritani flew out to left on 9 pitches in the first.
19:03 westbaystars: He grounds out to second on one pitch in the third.
19:03 westbaystars: That brings up Akahoshi who lasted 11 pitches his first at bat.
19:03 westbaystars: Before grounding out to Nakata.
19:04 westbaystars: Slider over for strike two.
19:04 zman: He is a tough out
19:04 westbaystars: Nakata is starting to look fairly good.
19:04 westbaystars: After the traditional waste pitch, he throws another one outside.
19:05 zman: A five run lead will do that . . .
19:05 westbaystars: The 2-2 offering inside is swung on and missed, strike three.
19:05 westbaystars: And the Tigers go down in order in the third.
19:05 westbaystars: After 2 and a half, the Dragons hold on to a 5-0 lead.
19:05 westbaystars: ---
19:05 westbaystars: Bottom of 3rd
19:05 westbaystars: ---
19:05 torakichi: Man, are the Tigers going to rack up 18 donuts in this series?!
19:06 westbaystars: Nakata didn't look too impressive in the first two innings.
19:06 zman: Remember the J-Series against the Marines
19:06 westbaystars: If he gets any better as the game goes on, that may be.
19:06 westbaystars: Egusa comes in to pitch for the Tigers.
19:07 westbaystars: Egusa has a 1.15 ERA against the Dragons this season.
19:07 westbaystars: Better than his 1.95 ERA on the season.
19:07 westbaystars: Morino leads off for the Dragons.
19:08 westbaystars: Morino hits a low line drive to Sekimoto at second.
19:09 westbaystars: Sekimoto grabs the ball on his knees for out number one.
19:09 westbaystars: That brings up Woods.
19:09 zman: No men on base for him to clear this time
19:10 westbaystars: Woods strikes out swinging at a pitch in the dirt outside.
19:10 westbaystars: Egusa got Woods to go after that low and away pitch that Uezono couldn't.
19:11 westbaystars: That brings up Nori, who hit a 2-run timely with the bases loaded his first at bat.
19:11 westbaystars: That started the scoring for the Dragons in the first.
19:12 westbaystars: A big one bounder way before the plate brings the count full to Nakamura.
19:12 westbaystars: And Nori swings and misses big time on the next pitch.
19:12 torakichi: There ya go!
19:12 westbaystars: Egusa retires the Dragons in order here in the third.
19:13 westbaystars: After three complete, the Dragons continue to lead 5-0.
19:13 westbaystars: ---
19:13 westbaystars: Top of 4th
19:13 westbaystars: ---
19:14 torakichi: Come on, lads! Something! Anything!
19:14 torakichi: There's a start.
19:14 zman: Time for a little Tiger magic with Sheets starting it all off
19:14 westbaystars: Sheets lines the first pitch to left field for a base hit.
19:15 zman: Finally!!
19:15 westbaystars: That brings up Kanemoto.
19:15 torakichi: At last. We finally make the scorers work!
19:16 westbaystars: Kanemoto goes the other way, but right to Morimoto for out number one.
19:16 zman: Homer?
19:16 westbaystars: Imaoka follows.
19:16 westbaystars: He struck out his first at bat.
19:17 torakichi: More like Homer Simpson.
19:18 westbaystars: That slider is fooling the Tiger batters.
19:18 westbaystars: As Imaoka swings and misses a high slider.
19:18 westbaystars: Imaoka goes the other way with a high pitch.
19:19 westbaystars: Right fielder goes to the wall!
19:19 torakichi: Go ball! Go ball! Arrrrrrrrrgh!
19:19 westbaystars: He stops.
19:19 westbaystars: Reaches up and makes the catch.
19:19 zman: Homer?
19:19 westbaystars: Two down, runner at first.
19:19 westbaystars: Lin coming to the plate.
19:19 zman: Perhaps Imoka would have been better off bunting the runner along
19:20 westbaystars: With his luck, he'd have bunted into a double play, I'm afraid.
19:21 westbaystars: This kind of thing happened the the BayStars all season long as well.
19:21 zman: good point
19:21 westbaystars: Lin ground the ball past a diving Araki and into right field!
19:21 westbaystars: Base hit.
19:21 torakichi: That's more like it!
19:21 zman: So Lin is hitless so far
19:21 westbaystars: Sheets heads to third.
19:22 zman: Wow!
19:22 westbaystars: That brings up Noguchi, who struck out his first at bat.
19:22 torakichi: Noguchi up. He didn't do too badly in the regular season.
19:23 torakichi: At last!
19:23 zman: Checking Yahoo sports box score, Tigers hitting 156, Dragons 361
19:23 westbaystars: Noguchi grounds the ball through the left side.
19:23 westbaystars: Sheets scores!
19:23 zman: A run!
19:23 westbaystars: The Tigers crack those goose eggs!
19:23 westbaystars: And that brings Mori-pitching coach out to the mound.
19:23 zman: Four more to go to make the game interesting
19:24 torakichi: A run! Who'd have thought you could be so happy about one lousy run?!
19:24 torakichi: Awesome!
19:24 westbaystars: The Tigers now have runners at first and second, two down, and Sekimoto at the plate.
19:24 zman: Westbay, since Ochiai used his whole staff yesterday if you hope on the shinkansen you may get a chance to pitch tonight
19:24 zman: hop
19:24 westbaystars: Sekimoto got the Tigers' first hit yesterday in the 6th inning.
19:25 westbaystars: I don't think the Tigers could hit anything as slow as I throw.
19:26 torakichi: Re. "you may get a chance to pitch tonight": I've always wanted to do the speed gun contest at Koshien.
19:26 zman: Stay loose, you may get the call
19:27 westbaystars: And the first base umpire calls Sekimoto out, swinging at a pitch in the dirt.
19:27 westbaystars: But, the Tigers have finally scored a run in the Series.
19:27 westbaystars: Will this lead to another? Stay tuned!
19:28 westbaystars: After 2 1/2 innings, the Tigers cut the lead to 1-5.
19:28 westbaystars: ---
19:28 westbaystars: Bottom of 3rd
19:28 westbaystars: ---
19:28 westbaystars: Botto of 4th
19:28 westbaystars: ---
19:28 westbaystars: Make that "After 3 1/2 innings."
19:29 zman: Right
19:29 westbaystars: Lee leads off the fourth for the Dragons.
19:29 westbaystars: His 3-run home run made this look like an insurmountable lead in the first.
19:30 westbaystars: Egusa into his second inning of work.
19:30 westbaystars: Lee goes down swinging at a pitch in the dirt outside.
19:30 zman: We know now the Tigers can score, at least one run at a time
19:30 westbaystars: He breaks for first, but the throw beats him by a good distance.
19:30 westbaystars: One away.
19:31 torakichi: Egusa's looking good.
19:31 westbaystars: Hirata follows.
19:31 westbaystars: He hits a chopper to short.
19:32 westbaystars: Toritani has no trouble with it, throwing Hirata out for out number two.
19:32 westbaystars: That'll bring up Tanishige.
19:33 westbaystars: Tanishige lines the ball into right field.
19:33 westbaystars: Lin fields the ball on a few hops, holding Tanishige to a single.
19:33 westbaystars: That's the first Dragon base runner since the first.
19:33 westbaystars: And brings up pitcher Nakata.
19:34 westbaystars: Nakata battled Watanabe fairly well.
19:34 westbaystars: But couldn't touch Egusa.
19:34 westbaystars: He goes down swinging for the final out of the fourth.
19:35 westbaystars: At the end of four complete now, the Dragons lead this one by a score of 5-1.
19:35 westbaystars: ---
19:35 westbaystars: Top of 5th
19:35 westbaystars: ---
19:36 westbaystars: It's a shame Egusa will be replaced for a pinch hitter this inning.
19:36 westbaystars: As the pitcher's spot comes up first.
19:36 westbaystars: But the Tigers need offense badly right now.
19:37 zman: Dont want to waste the talented pitch hitters from the Tigers
19:37 westbaystars: Pinch hitter Katsuragi drives the first pitch he gets to righte field.
19:37 westbaystars: Base hit.
19:37 torakichi: Well, that turned out to be the right decision.
19:37 westbaystars: Hey, Okada didn't waste Egusa with Hiyama.
19:38 zman: Wow!
19:38 westbaystars: Toritani follows.
19:38 zman: That is what I was expecting . . .
19:38 westbaystars: And he give the ball a ride to center.
19:38 westbaystars: But the line drive is right to the center fielder.
19:38 westbaystars: One away.
19:39 westbaystars: Akahoshi grounds the ball to Ibata at short.
19:39 westbaystars: The toss to second gets one.
19:39 westbaystars: The relay to first looked in time to me, but not the umpire.
19:39 westbaystars: Akahoshi beats out the double play.
19:40 zman: Toritani is batting zero, as is Akahoshi
19:40 westbaystars: That brings up Sheets.
19:40 westbaystars: Not very good for #1 and #2.
19:40 zman: No kidding, but Sheets can redeem himself here with a homer
19:40 westbaystars: Toritani made sense at the beginning of the season, but was he able to keep his OBP up?
19:41 westbaystars: I didn't think so. Buy I hadn't really paid close attention.
19:41 zman: He is at 167 in the series . . .
19:42 westbaystars: Sheets goes the other way.
19:42 westbaystars: Lee goes back to the wall.
19:42 zman: Akahoshi ended up hitting 300 but not as leadoff
19:42 westbaystars: And takes a step back in, and makes the catch on the warning track.
19:42 zman: Close!!
19:42 westbaystars: The side is retired.
19:43 westbaystars: Lead off pinch hit comes to naught.
19:43 westbaystars: Going to the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers still trail by 4.
19:43 westbaystars: ---
19:43 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th
19:43 westbaystars: ---
19:43 westbaystars: Kubota comes in to pitch the fifth for the Tigers.
19:43 westbaystars: He lit the flames for the Dragons last night.
19:44 westbaystars: He would never come in down by 4 during the regular season.
19:44 westbaystars: But this is the end.
19:44 westbaystars: [Says the announcers.]
19:45 zman: Saw that his ERA last night was 108
19:45 westbaystars: It's the top of the order for the Dragons in the fifth, Araki, Ibata, Morino.
19:45 zman: Hopefully he can reduce that
19:46 westbaystars: Araki lines the first pitch in front of the center fielder.
19:46 westbaystars: Lead off base hit.
19:46 westbaystars: Where's the decimal point on that?
19:46 westbaystars: Ibata showing bunt.
19:46 zman: one hundred and eight
19:46 torakichi: It seems that the Dragons and Giants have had Kubota's number since mid-August.
19:46 zman: no decimal point
19:46 westbaystars: Up by four, Ochiai-kantoku has the luxery of playing for adding a single run.
19:48 westbaystars: You both know my opinion of Okada-kantoku.
19:48 westbaystars: I don't think he thinks in terms of the opposition.
19:48 westbaystars: He's just going on auto-pilot.
19:48 westbaystars: The sacrifice bunt is successful.
19:48 westbaystars: Runner at second, one out.
19:48 westbaystars: Mr. Three Run coming to the plate (with only one base runner again).
19:49 westbaystars: Okada's "winning pattern" is to put Kubota in. So it doesn't matter to him that Kubota is poor against the Dragons.
19:50 westbaystars: No strikes, three balls to Morino.
19:50 zman: If he saw 108 ERA in the box score he would not put him in
19:51 westbaystars: Strike one gift given to Kubota, high and away.
19:51 zman: This is not looking good . . .
19:51 westbaystars: Fifth offering was actually a strike on the inside part of the plate.
19:51 westbaystars: Full count.
19:51 westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is grounded to second.
19:52 westbaystars: Runner moves to third while the out is made at first.
19:52 westbaystars: Two down, runner at third, Woods coming to the plate.
19:52 westbaystars: That's the thing, I don't get the impression that Okada-kantoku pays attention to the box scores.
19:53 westbaystars: His selective memory works sometimes, and it doesn't others.
19:53 westbaystars: Woods hits a high chopper to the left side.
19:53 westbaystars: Kubota has a long wait for the ball to come down.
19:54 westbaystars: When it does, he fires to first while the runner crosses the plate.
19:54 westbaystars: In time at first!
19:54 westbaystars: (Woods isn't a speed daemon.)
19:54 westbaystars: Three away.
19:54 westbaystars: Kubota gets out of it this evening.
19:55 westbaystars: At the end of five complete, the Dragons continue to lead 5-1.
19:55 westbaystars: ---
19:55 westbaystars: Top of 6th
19:55 westbaystars: ---
19:55 westbaystars: For those of you who missed it, Lotte tied the Pacific League Climax Series Stage Two up 1-1 ...
19:56 westbaystars: ... defeating Nippon Ham 8-1.
19:56 westbaystars: On five home runs, two by Satozaki.
19:56 torakichi: Sooooooo, the Dragons replace Nakata with Ogasawara!
19:56 westbaystars: Ogasawara comes in to pitch for the Dragons.
19:57 westbaystars: 2.99 ERA in 21 games with 6 wins and 6 losses over the season.
19:57 westbaystars: Color man on the TV thinks this is good timing to replace Nakata.
19:57 westbaystars: As Kanemoto comes up to the plate.
19:57 westbaystars: Ogasawara's first pitch is taken over the outside corner for strike one.
19:59 westbaystars: Argh. Ogasawara goes full count after two quick strikes.
19:59 westbaystars: Why, oh why so many wasted pitches?
20:00 westbaystars: After fouling one off, Kanemoto grounds out to Araki at second.
20:00 westbaystars: One away.
20:00 westbaystars: Araki was playing way over toward the first base line.
20:00 westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
20:02 westbaystars: Imaoka grounds out to Nakamura at third. Two away.
20:04 torakichi: Sakurai replaces Lin.
20:04 westbaystars: Sakurai pinch hits for Lin?
20:04 westbaystars: Why take Lin out?
20:04 torakichi: More brilliant decision-making.
20:04 westbaystars: Oh, yea. Okada-kantoku's world.
20:05 westbaystars: Sakurai grounds the ball just inside the first base line.
20:05 torakichi: Everyone knows that if you desperately need a hit, a run, you should always replace the guy with the highest batting avg
20:06 westbaystars: With the pitcher covering *late*, Woods dashes to the bag before Sakurai for the out.
20:06 westbaystars: And Sakurai is down.
20:06 westbaystars: Woods took the hit without a flinch, but Sakurai, who isn't small, didn't.
20:07 westbaystars: After about a minute, Sakurai stood up with the Hanshin trainer and limped back to the dugout.
20:07 westbaystars: Nonetheless, that's the third out of the inning.
20:08 westbaystars: Sakurai says in the game in right field. He looks OK now.
20:08 westbaystars: ---
20:08 torakichi: The laws of physics are proven sound again
20:08 westbaystars: Bottom of 6th
20:08 westbaystars: ---
20:08 westbaystars: Nakamura leads off the 6th for the Dragons.
20:08 westbaystars: He drove in the first two runs with a bases loaded single in the first.
20:10 zman: All your grousing about Okada-san, he did take a team with no offence and no starting pitching into the playoffs
20:10 westbaystars: Kubota goes full count to Nakamura.
20:10 zman: And briefly into first place
20:11 westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is grounded through the right side. Base hit.
20:11 westbaystars: I know. I'm constantly amazed at what the Tigers can do despite Okada-kantoku.
20:12 westbaystars: That brings up Lee, who's three run home run capped off a 5-run first.
20:12 westbaystars: Toritani tosses to second for one.
20:12 westbaystars: But the relay to first is not in time.
20:12 zman: You cant have it both ways Westbay-san
20:13 westbaystars: One out, runner at first, Hirata at the plate.
20:13 westbaystars: I know. I've heard the arguements against Christopher.
20:13 torakichi: I'll reserve comment about Okada. Just as I have done about Igawa.
20:14 westbaystars: Wise choice, I'm sure.
20:15 zman: Well, if the this game ends as is, the Tigers are in rebuilding mode next year and perhaps that includes the manager
20:15 westbaystars: Hirata hits a blooper toward right.
20:15 westbaystars: And with the umpire right on the play, Sakurai fields the ball on a short hop.
20:15 westbaystars: Base hit.
20:16 westbaystars: That brings up Tanishige.
20:16 zman: Is anyone warming up?
20:17 westbaystars: I agree with a lot of what Christopher says, just not his reasoning.
20:17 westbaystars: Having bull pens hidden away, it's hard to tell.
20:18 westbaystars: With the pitcher's spot due up next inning, I would guess that someone is throwing for Hanshin, though.
20:18 zman: Well, he bad-mouthed the Tigers early on but had to eat his words later. Now of course he may feel vindicated.
20:19 westbaystars: Tanishige grounds the ball just left of the second base bag.
20:20 westbaystars: Toritani fields the ball, steps on the second base bag, and throws to first to end the inning.
20:20 westbaystars: At the end of six complete, the Dragons continue to lead this one 5-1.
20:20 westbaystars: ---
20:20 westbaystars: Top of 7th
20:20 westbaystars: ---
20:20 zman: Kubota is lowering his ERA, it must be below a hundred now
20:21 westbaystars: Let's see, 4 runs over 2 1/3rd innings now.
20:23 westbaystars: Noguchi leads off the Tigers' Lucky 7.
20:23 zman: About 14 or so I figure
20:23 westbaystars: And he sends the ball to right field for a lead off base hit.
20:24 westbaystars: I get 15.43, if I calculated it correctly.
20:24 torakichi: Okay, here we go. Time to make things respectable.
20:24 zman: He was hitting 500 before this hit, the one bright spot for the tigers hitting
20:24 westbaystars: Sekimoto follows.
20:26 westbaystars: Sekimoto drives the ball through the left side of the infield.
20:26 westbaystars: Back to back base hits to start off the 7th.
20:26 zman: Yes!
20:26 westbaystars: Former Dragon Takahashi comes up to pinch hit for Kubota.
20:27 westbaystars: He reaches out and lifts the ball to right.
20:27 westbaystars: The throw back toward third is cut off by Ibata, but nobody is advancing.
20:28 westbaystars: Sorry, that was a fly out to right.
20:28 westbaystars: One out, runners at first and second.
20:28 westbaystars: Top of the order in Toritani at the plate.
20:28 westbaystars: Toritani drives the ball to the warning track in center.
20:29 westbaystars: This will at least move the runner over as the catch is made and the runner tags.
20:29 westbaystars: Runners now at the corners with Akahoshi at the plate.
20:29 torakichi: Come on Akahoshi. If ever there was a time to get a hit...
20:30 westbaystars: Akahoshi, 0 for 3 so far tonight, batted .470 at Nagoya Dome during the season.
20:30 torakichi: ...instead of watching the ball sail by...
20:30 torakichi: ...twice in a row...
20:31 westbaystars: But it isn't meant to be.
20:31 torakichi: Oh man.
20:32 westbaystars: Akahoshi grounds the ball to Nori at third.
20:32 torakichi: It all seems a bit easy for the Dragons at the moment.
20:32 westbaystars: He fires across the diamond for out number three.
20:32 westbaystars: Going to the Dragons' Lucky 7, they hold onto a 5-1 lead.
20:32 westbaystars: ---
20:32 westbaystars: Bottom of 7th
20:32 westbaystars: ---
20:34 westbaystars: 'J' Williams comes in to pitch the 7th for the Tigers.
20:35 westbaystars: Koji Nakaumura steps in as a pinch hitter.
20:36 westbaystars: For pitcher Ogasawara.
20:37 westbaystars: He lifts a 2-2 pitch to center.
20:37 westbaystars: The center fielder, right fielder, and second baseman converge.
20:37 westbaystars: And it's the center fielder who makes the catch for out number one.
20:37 westbaystars: That brings up Araki.
20:37 westbaystars: Who promptly grounds out to second on the first pitch.
20:37 westbaystars: Two quick outs.
20:38 westbaystars: Williams is always impressive.
20:38 torakichi: He is.
20:38 westbaystars: That brings up Ibata. 0 for 1 tonight with a walk and sacrifice.
20:39 torakichi: Thomas O'Malley did well to scout Williams.
20:40 westbaystars: Williams gets Ibata whiffing at an inside pitch for out number three.
20:40 westbaystars: At the end of seven complete, the score remains fixed at Dragons 5 - 1 Tigers.
20:40 westbaystars: ---
20:40 westbaystars: Top of 8th
20:40 westbaystars: ---
20:41 westbaystars: Okamoto comes in to pitch for the Dragons.
20:41 westbaystars: 62 games, 5 wins, 2 losses, 0 saves. 2.89 ERA.
20:41 westbaystars: I've never seen him break down, although it clearly happens.
20:42 westbaystars: Hanshin will be sending up their cleanup.
20:42 westbaystars: Sheets, Kanemoto, and Imaoka.
20:42 torakichi: What a fearsome crew!
20:43 westbaystars: In fact, I think I've seen Iwase break down, but not Okamoto.
20:43 torakichi: Come on boys! A hit, a walk, an HR, whatever...
20:44 westbaystars: Sheets reaches out and pokes the ball into center field for a base hit.
20:44 westbaystars: Lead off man is aboard for the Tigers.
20:45 westbaystars: And that brings up Kanemoto. Still a feared name, despite his stats.
20:45 torakichi: Alright. This is it. A big inning!
20:45 westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to right center.
20:45 torakichi: Yes!
20:45 westbaystars: It's a one bounder to the wall!
20:45 westbaystars: Sheets is on the run.
20:45 westbaystars: Rounds third.
20:46 westbaystars: The throw home beats him.
20:46 westbaystars: But Sheets gets around the tag.
20:46 westbaystars: Safe, safe, safe!
20:46 westbaystars: The Tigers have scored again.
20:46 westbaystars: Cutting the lead to 3.; 2-5.
20:46 westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
20:47 westbaystars: Kanemoto went to second on the throw? Or was that a clean double?
20:47 westbaystars: Sekimoto lifts the ball to center.
20:47 westbaystars: Too high.
20:48 westbaystars: Kanemoto touches up at second.
20:48 westbaystars: The throw to third is not in time!
20:48 torakichi: About time we did something. Come on, lads!
20:48 westbaystars: Runner at third, one out.
20:48 torakichi: Himaya?! HIYAMA?!
20:48 westbaystars: And pinch hitter Hiyama is announced.
20:48 westbaystars: Ochiai-kantoku heads out to the mound.
20:49 westbaystars: And Ochiai-kantoku is asking for a new ball. We have a pitching change.
20:49 westbaystars: Well, I guess it had to happen. I had to witness Okamoto falling down.
20:50 westbaystars: Iwase is being announced.
20:50 westbaystars: Has he had enough time to get ready?
20:51 westbaystars: 61 games, 2 wins, 4 losses, 43 saves, 2.44 ERA over the season.
20:52 torakichi: Hiyama...
20:52 westbaystars: A problem I see with the way closers are used is that their routine doesn't permit them to come in early well.
20:52 westbaystars: They do, of course. But I think that they're not as sure.
20:52 westbaystars: Hiyama lines the first pitch to center field.
20:53 westbaystars: It's deep enough.
20:53 torakichi: Hiyama does a job. Well done, that fellow.
20:53 westbaystars: And the Tigers have made this a 2-run ball game.
20:53 westbaystars: They now trail 3-5.
20:53 westbaystars: With Noguchi coming up next.
20:55 westbaystars: But Noguchi grounds out to Ibata at short to end the threat.
20:55 westbaystars: The Tigers manage to put two more on the board. Two left to go.
20:55 westbaystars: As they trail 3-5 with 3 outs to go.
20:55 westbaystars: ---
20:56 westbaystars: Bottom of 8th
20:56 westbaystars: ---
20:57 westbaystars: Williams takes the mound for the second inning.
20:57 westbaystars: I like that Okada-kantoku is thinking that the Tigers will tie the game and need 'F' later.
20:57 westbaystars: Morino leads off for the Dragons.
20:59 westbaystars: And he hits the ball through the left side on a 2-2 pitch to become a lead off base runner.
21:00 westbaystars: Does anyone know how effective Jeff is over more than one inning?
21:00 westbaystars: Woods coming up next.
21:00 westbaystars: And Woods is hit on the elbow!
21:00 torakichi: Jeffrey!
21:00 westbaystars: He spins around backwords at the inside pitch.
21:00 westbaystars: The umpire it quick to get between him and Williams.
21:01 westbaystars: But Woods doesn't look mad.
21:01 westbaystars: Runners at first and second, nobody out.
21:01 westbaystars: Nori coming to the plate.
21:01 zman: Unusual for Williams to hit someone as his control is excellent
21:01 westbaystars: 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs tonight.
21:02 westbaystars: Due to pitching more than one inning?
21:03 westbaystars: Tatsunami starts swinging a bat in the on deck circle.
21:03 zman: Dont think so, he is very consistant
21:03 zman: beyond one inning
21:03 westbaystars: And this umpire is one who won't give a pitcher three strikes on three pitches.
21:03 westbaystars: That third pitch looked pretty good. But it may have been outside.
21:03 torakichi: Steady, Jeffrey, steady...
21:04 westbaystars: But Jeff and Noguchi thought they had ball the ball three call on the inside corner.
21:04 westbaystars: Full count.
21:05 westbaystars: After a foul ball, Williams come over the middle of the plate with a 150 kph fast ball.
21:05 westbaystars: Getting Nori to whiff.
21:05 westbaystars: The crowd goes wild for Mr. Dragons, Tatsunami.
21:06 westbaystars: He check swings and lifts the first pitch toward thrd.
21:06 westbaystars: Infield fly is called as Imaoka makes the catch.
21:06 westbaystars: Two down, runners at first and second.
21:06 westbaystars: Looks like Williams has settled down.
21:06 zman: Good
21:06 westbaystars: Hirata follows.
21:07 westbaystars: Two quick strikes on Hirata.
21:07 westbaystars: Third pitch is grounded foul.
21:07 torakichi: Oooooooooooooooooooooh!
21:07 westbaystars: Up the third base side.
21:08 westbaystars: Next pitch is outside. First base umpire says Hirata didn't swing.
21:08 westbaystars: Ummmm. Not sure about that from the side camera.
21:08 torakichi: I'm telling you, that 1st base ump is a Chunichi employee!
21:08 westbaystars: Again an appeal to first on a low and away pitch.
21:08 westbaystars: Again called safe.
21:08 torakichi: Yeah!
21:08 westbaystars: The 2-2 pitch is up, but swing on and missed for strike three.
21:09 westbaystars: The Dragons threaten, but fail to score.
21:09 westbaystars: Going to the Tigers last chance, they need two.
21:09 westbaystars: ---
21:09 westbaystars: Top of 9th
21:09 westbaystars: ---
21:09 zman: Williams get the job done as he has all year
21:10 westbaystars: Iwase to throw his second inning of work.
21:10 torakichi: Yep. Williams is solid.
21:10 westbaystars: Or at least, more than one.
21:11 westbaystars: Fujii comes in in righte field.
21:11 westbaystars: Ueda comes in in left.
21:11 westbaystars: Morino moves to first.
21:11 westbaystars: Sekimoto takes strike one.
21:12 westbaystars: And strike two on the outside part of the plate.
21:12 westbaystars: Third pitch missed outside. Two strikes and a ball.
21:12 zman: Need a baserunner early
21:13 westbaystars: Next offering to Sekimoto is up and away. Sekimoto looked like wanted to swing, but held back.
21:13 westbaystars: The 2-2 offering is fouled off to the right side and out of play.
21:14 westbaystars: 2-2 again, and it's called strike three on the inside corner.
21:14 westbaystars: Sekimoto disagrees.
21:14 zman: Hitting 400 in the series
21:14 torakichi: Sekimoto is disgusted, but that was unhittable.
21:14 westbaystars: That brings up Yano pinch hitting.
21:15 westbaystars: And he hits a slow dribbler to the left side.
21:15 zman: Toritani and Akahoshi are O fers in the series
21:15 westbaystars: The third baseman makes a great play to get him.
21:15 westbaystars: Toritani grounds the first pitch to Araki.
21:15 westbaystars: That's not where he wants to hit it.
21:16 westbaystars: Araki throws to first in time, and the game is over.
21:16 westbaystars: ===
21:16 torakichi: Hanshin and Chunichi have played to the best of their current abilities, and the gulf is clear for all to see.
21:16 westbaystars: The Chunichi Dragons head to Tokyo for Stage Two of the Central League Climax Series.
21:16 westbaystars: I didn't seen that big a gulf this evening.
21:17 zman: Best of luck to the Dragons, a very fine team
21:17 westbaystars: Not like lastnight.
21:17 westbaystars: Chunichi did everything in the first offensively.
21:17 westbaystars: Thereafter, the Tigers did a great job of holding them down.
21:17 zman: The stats will show the dominance of the Dragons
21:18 westbaystars: Nori is declared the hero of the game.
21:18 torakichi: That's true. But it would have been a very brave man to have bet on the Tigers for this series.
21:18 westbaystars: ===
21:18 westbaystars: Game Final
21:18 westbaystars: Hanshin 3 - 5 Chunichi
21:19 westbaystars: ===
21:19 westbaystars: ===
21:19 westbaystars: Series Final
21:19 westbaystars: Hanshin 0 - 2 Chunichi
21:19 westbaystars: ===
21:19 zman: Next year the Tigers will win it all!
21:19 westbaystars: Will Okada be in charge?
21:19 zman: Thanks again Westbay for the fun play by play
21:20 torakichi: NO comment.
21:20 zman: Tough call, maybe not. I expect many changes
21:20 westbaystars: My pleasure. It's so nice to have some people to bounce questions/comments off of as well.
21:20 torakichi: Thanks Westbaystars-san. Back to work...
21:21 westbaystars: To the bath. It's been a tiring day. (Undodai this morning.)
21:21 westbaystars: But I don't have a TV in there.
21:21 westbaystars:
21:22 westbaystars: Take care.
Re: 2007 CL Climax Series Stage 1 Game 2
[ Author: Guest: JR | Posted: Oct 14, 2007 9:41 PM
]
Well, the Tigers' two big weaknesses, (1) starting pitching and (2) clutch hitting, were glaring in this short series. So, maybe the Dragons didn't look like the better team, but they did what they had to. Similar with the Fighters, they might not be exciting, but they are smart and efficient.
By the way, I missed last night's game. Did Lin get injured during the game? I noticed he got taken out and then wasn't in the line-up tonight.
By the way, I missed last night's game. Did Lin get injured during the game? I noticed he got taken out and then wasn't in the line-up tonight.
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