Pacific League Playoffs: First Stage, Game 1

What a first game of the Playoffs! Both teams had their leads. Both teams had their home runs. Both teams had their bases clearing doubles.

There were a couple of frustrating moment when the radio went to the Chunichi game in anticipation of their winning the Central League championship. And to Jingu where the Swallows lost to give the Championship Flag away. During these too long breaks, they failed to say what what going on at Seibu Dome, making it very hard to cover that game.

Nonetheless, here's a transcript that's the best I could do, with special thanks to the help of a few others monitoring other sources. I hope you enjoy the game, and can join tomorrow afternoon (JST) for another attempt to transcribe the Pacific League playoffs.

TRANSCRIPT generated on : 2004/10/01 21:47
CHATROOM : Pacific League Playoffs/First Stage, Game 1
MODERATORS : westbaystars

17:59 westbaystars: With a couple of minutes to spare, I think I've got everything ready.
17:59 westbaystars: Radio is set to Bunka Housou.
17:59 westbaystars: Yahoo! live stream is up and running. http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/stream/baseball/pl/16/seibulions/motion/
18:00 westbaystars: Shinjo stands in for the first pitch against a judo player.
18:00 westbaystars: He fouls the ball off! What's with that?
18:01 westbaystars: Anyway, Matsuzaka finishes warming up on the mound for Seibu.
18:01 westbaystars: ---
18:01 westbaystars: Top of First
18:01 westbaystars: ---
18:01 westbaystars: Shinjo leads off for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
18:02 westbaystars: Matsuzaka's first pitch misses for ball one.
18:03 westbaystars: The next pitch is grounded to the left side.
18:03 westbaystars: The throw to first gets him. One out.
18:03 westbaystars: Next up for the Fighters is Kimoto.
18:04 westbaystars: And he goes down swinging on three pitches! Two quick outs.
18:04 westbaystars: That'll bring up Ogasawara.
18:05 westbaystars: The Internet stream is two to three pitches behind the radio. Hard to watch.
18:06 westbaystars: On a 2-2 pitch, Matsuzaka gets Ogasawara swinging at a change-up.
18:06 westbaystars: Matsuzaka retires the side in order in the first.
18:06 westbaystars: ---
18:06 westbaystars: Bottom of First
18:06 westbaystars: ---
18:07 westbaystars: Getting the start for Hillman-kantoku's Fighters is Kanemura.
18:09 westbaystars: He faces Satoh to start off the bottom of the first.
18:09 westbaystars: Satoh's first pitch is called strike one.
18:09 westbaystars: After another strike, Satoh misses outside for ball one.
18:10 westbaystars: Satoh lifts a fly to the right side of the infield.
18:10 westbaystars: Second baseman Kimoto calls it, and takes it in for the first out.
18:11 westbaystars: That brings up Akada.
18:11 westbaystars: Akada grounds the ball to the left side.
18:11 westbaystars: Shortstop Kaneko fumbles the ball, gets it, throws to first, safe!
18:12 westbaystars: E-6.
18:12 westbaystars: With the error, the Lions get the first base runner of the evening.
18:12 westbaystars: Kazuka is next.
18:13 westbaystars: Kaizuka grounds the ball to first.
18:13 westbaystars: Oda throws to second for one, the relay back is, ...
18:14 westbaystars: ... it's called that the batter him himself with the ball.
18:14 westbaystars: Kaizuka is still alive.
18:16 westbaystars: Satoh throws over to first a few times to keep Akada close.
18:16 westbaystars: Kazuka lifts the ball deep.
18:16 westbaystars: Into the gap.
18:17 westbaystars: But it's caught (by who?)!
18:17 westbaystars: Akada is at third base, and the throw to first doubles him up.
18:17 westbaystars: The Lions' chance fizzles up with premature base running.
18:18 westbaystars: At the end of one complete, there is no score.
18:18 westbaystars: ---
18:18 westbaystars: Top of Second
18:18 westbaystars: ---
18:20 westbaystars: Seguignol leads off grounding Matsuzaka's first pitch just right of the bag.
18:21 westbaystars: Second baseman H. Takagi, fielding the ball behind the second base bag, grabs the ball,
18:21 westbaystars: and in mid-air, throws to first for the first out of the inning.
18:21 westbaystars: Oda follows with a pop out. Two quick outs.
18:22 westbaystars: Catcher S. Takahashi is next, and grounds out.
18:22 westbaystars: Matsuzaka retires the side in order on seven pitches.
18:22 westbaystars: ---
18:22 westbaystars: Bottom of Second
18:23 westbaystars: ---
18:25 westbaystars: Number four batting Cabrera leads off for the Lions' half of the second.
18:26 westbaystars: Cabu-chan lifts the ball high in foul territory.
18:27 westbaystars: Takahashi calls it and takes it in for out number one, a foul out to the catcher.
18:27 westbaystars: That brings up Wada.
18:29 westbaystars: Wada grounds the ball to the left side.
18:29 westbaystars: It's third baseman Ogasawara up with it, the throw to first is in time, two outs.
18:30 westbaystars: Fernadez follows.
18:30 westbaystars: Satoh gets ahead in the count quickly with Fernadez swinging, two strikes, no balls.
18:31 westbaystars: The third pitch misses inside. Come on, Satoh. San kyu shoubu shiyo!
18:32 westbaystars: Two more balls to make it three in a row and the count is full.
18:32 westbaystars: The payoff pitch misses outside! Ball four. After having him two strikes and no balls!
18:32 westbaystars: Walks like that have a tendency to haunt you.
18:33 westbaystars: Nakajima, who took over the shortstop job for Kazuo Matsui, comes up.
18:33 westbaystars: Nakajima lines the ball to left, base hit!
18:34 westbaystars: That's the first hit of the game between both teams.
18:34 westbaystars: Fernandez holds at second, and we have runners at first and second with a two out rally starting.
18:34 westbaystars: Catcher Hosokawa comes up.
18:36 westbaystars: Kosokawa lifts the ball to left.
18:36 westbaystars: Shimada has it in his sights, pulls the ball in, and the side is retired.
18:37 westbaystars: A walk and the first hit of the game came to nothing for the Lions.
18:37 westbaystars: At the end of two complete, we still have no score.
18:37 westbaystars: ---
18:37 westbaystars: Top of Third
18:37 westbaystars: ---
18:38 westbaystars: Matsuzaka is going for his third consecutive perfect inning.
18:39 westbaystars: Former Tiger Tsuboi leads off the third inning.
18:41 westbaystars: Tsuboi battles the count full with a couple of foul balls.
18:42 westbaystars: It took eight pitches, but Matsuzaka finally gets Tsuboi swinging for the first out.
18:42 westbaystars: Seven pitches finished off the Ham last inning.
18:43 westbaystars: Matsuzaka is throwing in the low 150s, gaining speed as we go, maxing at 153 so far.
18:43 westbaystars: Shimada is the next batter.
18:45 westbaystars: And Shimada goes down on strikes, Matsuzaka's fourth strike out victim of the night.
18:45 westbaystars: That'll bring up number nine batting H. Takagi.
18:45 westbaystars: Sorry, Kaneko.
18:47 westbaystars: After fouling a number of pitches off, Kaneko fails to meet Matsuzaka's fifth pitch to go down on strikes.
18:47 westbaystars: Matsuzaka strikes out the side in order, completing a perfect first time through the Fighters' lineup.
18:47 westbaystars: ---
18:48 westbaystars: Bottom of Third
18:48 westbaystars: ---
18:49 westbaystars: H. Takagi leads off the bottom half of the third for the Lions.
18:51 westbaystars: Satoh hits Takagi no the elbow, putting the first Lion of the inning on first.
18:52 westbaystars: Sorry, that's Kanemura on the mound, not Satoh.
18:52 westbaystars: Satoh was just hit by Kanemura, his second dead ball in a row.
18:53 westbaystars: This isn't a good way to start off an inning.
18:53 westbaystars: Left handed batter Akada stands in next.
18:54 westbaystars: Kanemura misses with his first two pitches to Akada.
18:54 westbaystars: His third pitch misses outside, ball three.
18:54 westbaystars: Kanemura is digging himself a big hole.
18:55 westbaystars: The next pitch is called ball four! Bases loaded, nobody out!
18:55 westbaystars: And Kanemura has himself to blame for this.
18:55 westbaystars: That brings out the Fighters' pitching coach.
18:56 westbaystars: Kaizuka stands into the left handed batters box.
18:57 westbaystars: He grounds the ball to Kimoto playing in at second.
18:57 westbaystars: The throw to home gets one.
18:57 westbaystars: There's no relay to first.
18:57 westbaystars: One out, bases still out.
18:57 westbaystars: One more time: One out, bases still loaded.
18:57 westbaystars: (This is harder with the radio.)
18:58 westbaystars: Cabrera is swinging at the first pitch, a dribbler.
18:58 westbaystars: But it's called foul before he's doubed up.
18:59 westbaystars: The third pitch is ripped to the outfield, this one bounces in.
18:59 westbaystars: One run in, two runs in, three runs in!
19:00 westbaystars: Cabrera is standing on third base with a bases clearing double!
19:00 westbaystars: And he's waving to the trainer from second.
19:00 westbaystars: Did he pull something?
19:00 westbaystars: Cabu-chan has done his job.
19:01 westbaystars: The announcers have forgotten about Cabrera's call, so he must be OK.
19:01 westbaystars: Wada stands in.
19:01 westbaystars: Walks (and hit batsmen) will haunt Kanemura for a long time after this game.
19:02 westbaystars: Welcome, yakyuujin-san.
19:02 westbaystars: Cabrera just put the Lions up 3-0 with a bases clearing double.
19:02 westbaystars: In the bottom of the third inning.
19:02 yakyuujin: thank you for doing this......i still cannot believe i can watch a pointless hanshin game and not the playoff game
19:03 yakyuujin: wow
19:03 westbaystars: I'm rather upset about that as well, but am trying to make the best of it.
19:03 westbaystars: The count goes full to Wada.
19:04 westbaystars: And a couple of pitches later, Wada draws a walk.
19:04 westbaystars: That puts runners at first and second with one out.
19:04 yakyuujin: the game is not being shown at all in the kansai region
19:05 westbaystars: Wada marks Kanemura's fourth free pass (two dead balls, two walks) of the inning.
19:05 westbaystars: Fernandez drills the ball deep, going, going, caught!
19:05 westbaystars: Cabrera touches up and moves to third.
19:06 westbaystars: The Fighters appeal that Cabrera left early to no effect.
19:06 westbaystars: Is it not on the radio?
19:06 westbaystars: That's where I'm reporting from.
19:07 westbaystars: Nakajima follows with a fly out to right, and the side is retired.
19:07 westbaystars: But not before the two dead balls and base on balls to lead off the inning score on Cabu's three run double.
19:07 yakyuujin: have to dig the radio up
19:07 westbaystars: At the end of three complete, Seibu takes a 3-0 lead.
19:08 yakyuujin: not on yahoo sports
19:08 westbaystars: ---
19:08 westbaystars: Top of Fourth
19:08 westbaystars: ---
19:08 westbaystars: The game is on Bunka Housou in the Kanto region.
19:09 westbaystars: I was watching the game here: mms://baseball01.cdn.bcast.co.jp/lions_live.asf
19:09 westbaystars: But the stream stopped an inning ago.
19:10 westbaystars: Too busy?
19:10 westbaystars: Shinjyo leads off with a fly ball to right.
19:10 westbaystars: Before Satoh can get to the ball, it bounces in foul.
19:10 westbaystars: Shinjyo still at bat.
19:11 yakyuujin: link didn't work.......shuffling for batteries for my radio....hehe
19:11 westbaystars: Shinjyo grounds the ball past Nakajima at short. The Fighters get their first base runner of the night.
19:12 westbaystars: I wondered if it was just me. Guess they're overloaded.
19:12 westbaystars: Kimoto follows.
19:12 yakyuujin: really sorry.......what station are you listening to?
19:13 westbaystars: Bunka Housou.
19:13 westbaystars: I think it's one of the NHK channels.
19:14 westbaystars: Kimoto grounds the ball between first and second, base hit!
19:14 westbaystars: Shinjyo kicks second and heads for third.
19:14 westbaystars: The throw is not in time, safe!
19:15 westbaystars: That puts runners at first and third with nobody out.
19:15 westbaystars: Ogasawara follows going deep, deep,
19:15 westbaystars: the outfielder looks up,
19:16 westbaystars: haitaaaaaaaaaaa.
19:16 westbaystars: Game tying home run!
19:16 westbaystars: We have a 3-3 ball game.
19:16 westbaystars: Nippon Ham took one time through their lineup to get him, but they finally got to Matsuzaka.
19:17 westbaystars: That brings up Seguignol.
19:17 westbaystars: Ogasawara's home run was to right field on a change-up.
19:18 yakyuujin: http://www.joqr.co.jp/bbqr/lions01.asx　that link worked.....at last
19:18 westbaystars: Seguignol goes down on strikes for the first out of the inning.
19:18 yakyuujin: wow......i missed a lot in those 2 minutes
19:19 westbaystars: Well, the Internet feed is about a minute behind.
19:20 yakyuujin: true
19:20 westbaystars: That's the one that won't work with VLC (Video Lan Client), the media player I use.
19:21 westbaystars: Oda draws a walk, the first one given up by Matsuzaka on the evening.
19:22 westbaystars: S. Takahashi follows.
19:23 westbaystars: Takahashi grounds the ball to Takagi at second.
19:23 westbaystars: It's a tailor made 6-4-3 double play, and the side is retired.
19:24 westbaystars: But not before Ogasawara hit a big game tying home run.
19:24 westbaystars: The game is now evened up at 3-3.
19:24 westbaystars: ---
19:24 westbaystars: Bottom of Fourth
19:24 westbaystars: ---
19:24 yakyuujin: a pitcher's best friend
19:26 westbaystars: Hosokawa leads off the Lions' half of the fourth.
19:26 westbaystars: Hosekawa lifts a high fly to the right side.
19:26 westbaystars: Kimoto (I think) calls it and makes the catch for the first out.
19:27 westbaystars: That brings up H. Takagi.
19:28 westbaystars: Takagi lifts the ball to the outfield, but right to the fielder (in left?).
19:28 westbaystars: Two outs.
19:29 yakyuujin: isn't their right fielder tsuboi? (右 7 坪井
19:29 westbaystars: Satoh fouls out to Oda in foul territory right of first.
19:29 westbaystars: Three quick outs.
19:29 westbaystars: When Kanemura throws strikes, he gets outs.
19:29 westbaystars: I wasn't sure if it was hit to right or left.
19:29 westbaystars: Yes, Tsuboi is in right.
19:30 westbaystars: At the end of four complete, the game is tied at 3-3.
19:30 westbaystars: ---
19:30 westbaystars: Top of Fifth
19:30 westbaystars: ---
19:31 westbaystars: Tsuboi leads off the fifth inning.
19:32 yakyuujin: was he the roy in his first year?
19:33 westbaystars: I think he was. Or was that the same year as Chunichi's Kawakami and the Giants' Takahashi Yoshinobu?
19:33 westbaystars: If he was the year before, I think so.
19:33 westbaystars: Tsuboi strikes out to lead off the inning, though.
19:33 westbaystars: *** Yakult leads 2-1.
19:33 yakyuujin: maybe......all i know is that he had an impressive first year
19:33 westbaystars: *** Over the Giants.
19:33 westbaystars: *** Chunichi and Hiroshima are tied.
19:34 yakyuujin: the commentators one way conversations are funny
19:34 westbaystars: Shimada follows with a base hit over the second baseman's head.
19:35 westbaystars: Those on the radio were talking about the other games.
19:35 yakyuujin: or is it just my feed that i cannot hear the people on the other line?
19:35 westbaystars: I thought that something had happened in the background, but they returned just in time for the base hit.
19:35 westbaystars: Kaneko comes up.
19:36 westbaystars: Kanemoto grounds the ball to Fernadez at third.
19:36 westbaystars: He throws to second for one, the relay to first is in time.
19:36 westbaystars: Matsuzaka gets out of his second straight inning with the double play.
19:37 westbaystars: Maybe one of the mikes aren't plugged into the Internet feed?
19:37 westbaystars: ---
19:37 westbaystars: Bottom of Fifth
19:37 westbaystars: ---
19:38 westbaystars: Number two batter Akada, who's gotten on base twice so far, leads off.
19:38 westbaystars: *** Chunichi and Hiroshima still tied at 1-1.
19:39 westbaystars: Akada fails this time, though, grounding out back to Kanemura on the mound.
19:39 westbaystars: That brings up Kaizuka.
19:41 westbaystars: Kaizuka draws a walk of five pitches.
19:41 westbaystars: That will bring up Cabrera, the hero of the game so far.
19:42 westbaystars: Sounds like a big swing and miss on the radio.
19:43 westbaystars: And he gets hit by Kanemura's second pitch!
19:43 westbaystars: That's the third dead ball by Kanemura this evening.
19:43 westbaystars: Putting runners at first and second with one out and Wada coming to the plate.
19:43 yakyuujin: kanemura struggling with control
19:44 westbaystars: It seem to come and go.
19:44 westbaystars: Two stright balls to Wada.
19:45 westbaystars: The next pitch is called strike on on the outside corner.
19:45 westbaystars: The fourth pitch is low for ball three.
19:46 westbaystars: His fork ball isn't fooling anyone, and it's not going in for strikes.
19:46 westbaystars: The fifth pitch is grounded to Kaneko at short.
19:46 westbaystars: He doesn't bobble the ball this time, but rather throws to second for one,
19:47 westbaystars: and before you can say "Ah!" the relay to first gets Wada.
19:47 yakyuujin: my feed is way behind yours..... are you listening on the net?
19:47 westbaystars: Inning ending double play.
19:47 westbaystars: Listening on the radio. Bunka Housou.
19:47 westbaystars: When I was watching the Internet stream, it was about two to three pitches behind.
19:48 westbaystars: At the end of five complete, the game remains tied at 3-3.
19:48 westbaystars: ---
19:48 westbaystars: Top of Sixth
19:48 westbaystars: ---
19:50 westbaystars: Shinjyo leads off the sixth inning for the Fighters.
19:50 westbaystars: He got everything going in the fourth when three consecutive hits, ending in Ogasawara's home run, tied the game.
19:51 westbaystars: There's a full house of 30,000 people at Seibu Dome.
19:51 westbaystars: Witnessing Shinjyo strike out to lead off the sixth.
19:52 westbaystars: Kimoto follows.
19:53 westbaystars: And Kimoto goes down on strikes, making it two in a row this inning.
19:54 westbaystars: Ogasawara, the Fighters' hero so far, comes up next.
19:55 westbaystars: Ogasawara lines the ball to left-center, but it's caught.
19:55 westbaystars: That retires the side in order for the fifth out of sixth time.
19:56 yakyuujin: it seems bunka housou doesn't broadcast in the kansai region
19:56 westbaystars: ---
19:56 westbaystars: Bottom of Sixth
19:56 westbaystars: ---
19:56 yakyuujin: isn't it sad that i am forced to listen to the game online when i am in japan?
19:57 westbaystars: Do you get any Japanese sports newspapers? They usually have TV and radio coverage easy to find.
19:57 yakyuujin: no......my japanese kanji ability is very lacking.....except for baseball
19:57 westbaystars: I'm anxiously waiting for it to be 8:00. That's when TV Asahi (in Kantoh) starts broadcasting.
19:58 westbaystars: Fernadez leads off the Lions' half of the sixth.
19:58 westbaystars: Fernadez rips the ball deep to center.
19:58 westbaystars: Going, going, gone!
19:58 westbaystars: Home run!
19:59 westbaystars: The Lions take a 4-3 lead.
19:59 yakyuujin: kyouretsu na ataridesu
19:59 westbaystars: Only the third hit allowed by Kanemura, but this and Cabrera's three run double did some damage.
19:59 yakyuujin: sorry......that should be in quotes
20:00 westbaystars: Wada goes deep!
20:00 westbaystars: Shinjyo goes back!
20:00 westbaystars: He makes the catch at the fense!
20:00 westbaystars: Nice play.
20:00 yakyuujin: sounded really close!
20:01 westbaystars: Sorry, that was Nakajima after Fernandez, not Wada.
20:01 westbaystars: Hosokawa goes down on strikes.
20:02 westbaystars: And TV Asahi is showing the Yakult vs. Giants game! Argh!
20:02 westbaystars: They're doing a "double broadcast" between Jingu and Seibu Dome.
20:03 yakyuujin: you're kidding me right?
20:03 westbaystars: *** Giants tied the game 2-2.
20:03 westbaystars: Takagi lines out to short to end the inning.
20:03 westbaystars: But not before Fernandez ties the game with a big home run to center.
20:03 westbaystars: At the end of six complete, the Lions now lead 4-3.
20:04 westbaystars: I wish I were kidding you.
20:04 westbaystars: I'm getting more and more frustrated with what broadcasters feel is important.
20:04 westbaystars: ---
20:04 westbaystars: Top of Seventh
20:04 westbaystars: ---
20:05 yakyuujin: they really don't understand their market do they? unless everyone on your forum is an exception
20:05 westbaystars: *** Stands look pretty empty at Jingu with the Giants there.
20:06 westbaystars: *** Abe strikes out with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to end the inning.
20:06 yakyuujin: i heard sub 15000
20:06 westbaystars: Seguignol lead off the inning with a game tying home run!
20:06 westbaystars: The game is now 4-4!
20:07 yakyuujin: the radio announcer kinda sounded disappointed
20:07 westbaystars: Oda up next.
20:07 westbaystars: Hi, Stevie. You joined just in time. We've got a tied ball game.
20:08 westbaystars: Yea, that's the Lions' announcers you're listening to.
20:08 MHtrStevie: Konbanwa, minna-san!
20:08 westbaystars: I missed what happed to Oda. Did you catch it?
20:08 MHtrStevie: Yeah, the first thing I see is Seguignol tying the game... WOW!
20:09 westbaystars: Suddently S. Takahashi is up.
20:09 Lucky: Whats the score?
20:09 yakyuujin: i missed it too
20:09 westbaystars: 4-4 Top of the seventh.
20:09 yakyuujin: 4-4 tie
20:10 westbaystars: *** They're showing the first inning on TV. What's with this?
20:11 westbaystars: Takahashi grounds Matsuzaka's seventh pitch to him right back to the mound.
20:11 yakyuujin: oda grounded out to short
20:11 westbaystars: Matsuzaka throws to first, and we have two outs.
20:11 westbaystars: Thanks, yakyuujin.
20:11 MHtrStevie: FYI, Oda grounded out to short (from Yahoo Sports)...
20:11 westbaystars: Tsuboi comes up next.
20:12 yakyuujin: they're doing the same thing in kansai.....on ABC
20:12 westbaystars: Double broadcase?
20:12 yakyuujin: on the daily yomiuri it said Un/Nan variety (or baseball)
20:12 Lucky: Weird
20:13 westbaystars: Tsuboi battles the count to 2-2.
20:13 yakyuujin: i would think so......but i don't know for sure......tv is in a different room
20:14 westbaystars: Tsuboi continues battling with the count 2-2, Matsuzaka on his nineth pitch to him.
20:15 westbaystars: The nineth pitch gets Tsuboi swinging, Matsuzaka's 10th strike out of the evening.
20:15 westbaystars: And that retires the side.
20:15 Lucky: Tire him down
20:15 westbaystars: It all started off with Seguignol's game tying lead-off home run.
20:16 westbaystars: Going to the Lions' Lucky Seven, the game is tied at 4-4.
20:16 westbaystars: ---
20:16 westbaystars: Bottom of Seventh
20:16 westbaystars: ---
20:16 yakyuujin: apparently it is a special broadcast
20:16 Lucky: This is slow
20:16 MHtrStevie: *** Bottom of the 9th at Nagoya Dome, Chunichi still tied with the Carp 1-1...
20:17 Lucky: C'mon carp!
20:17 westbaystars: Yea, that's what it says in the upper-left corner. As they show the bottom of the first!
20:17 yakyuujin: 決戦スペシャル
20:17 yakyuujin: 決定スペシャル*
20:18 yakyuujin: that is what i get for using japanese
20:18 westbaystars: Ah! Now they're broadcasting from Nagoya Dome!
20:18 MHtrStevie: Is the TV coverage in some sort of tape delay?
20:18 westbaystars: Tanishige is batting.
20:18 westbaystars: This is the wrong game!
20:18 Lucky: I bet its confusing
20:18 yakyuujin: haitta!!!!!!!
20:19 yakyuujin: 5-4 lions by satoh
20:19 westbaystars: Yes, TV is in tape delay, going to Jingu when the Giants are threatening.
20:19 westbaystars: Who?
20:19 Lucky: nuts
20:20 yakyuujin: Satoh
20:20 Lucky: yakyuujin, you want Fighters to win?
20:20 yakyuujin: 14 Iba replacing Kanemura
20:20 westbaystars: So the Yahoo! broadcast is still working for you?
20:21 yakyuujin: http://www.joqr.co.jp/bbqr/lions01.asx
20:21 westbaystars: *** Chunichi fails to score in bottom of nineth. Going to extra innings.
20:22 yakyuujin: yahoo doesn't have radio......but has a delayed play by play
20:23 yakyuujin: Akada is up to bat
20:23 westbaystars: Not the video from before?
20:23 westbaystars: Oh, that's audio? I was expecting video.
20:24 westbaystars: Bunka Housou is now back.
20:24 yakyuujin: i had no idea about the video......i am switching over!
20:24 westbaystars: But they're in the center field stands.
20:25 westbaystars: Video seemed to be over-stressed and stopped.
20:25 Lucky: Is there a game tommorow?
20:26 westbaystars: Yes. 2:00 or 2:30, I don't remember off hand.
20:26 Lucky: so......
20:26 westbaystars: I'll try to be here for it. I just hope someone broadasts the game!
20:26 westbaystars: There's currently a runner at first.
20:27 westbaystars: Akada, I think.
20:27 yakyuujin: back to the internet radio
20:27 Lucky: miatta na!
20:27 Lucky: 3am
20:27 yakyuujin: that is correct
20:27 westbaystars: And Akada just stole second base with Kazuka up to bat and nobody out.
20:27 Lucky: and a person on first!
20:27 yakyuujin: stolen base
20:27 Lucky: awwwwwwwww
20:28 westbaystars: Kazuka takes ball four.
20:28 MHtrStevie: Akada drew a walk to get on 1st before the steal...
20:29 Lucky: How long was the pitcher in?
20:29 westbaystars: No, he strikes out.
20:29 yakyuujin: he struck out...
20:29 westbaystars: One out runner at second.
20:29 yakyuujin: Cabrera is up
20:30 westbaystars: TV goes off. It's too much of a distraction to what's happening on the radio.
20:30 westbaystars: Sorry for my loss of concentration.
20:30 yakyuujin: will they pitch around him?
20:30 yakyuujin: it seems to be an unintentional intentional walk
20:30 westbaystars: One strike, three balls.
20:31 westbaystars: The catcher isn't standing, but it's pretty much an intensional walk, according to the announcers.
20:31 westbaystars: Ball four.
20:31 westbaystars: Runners at first and second, one out, Wada at the plate.
20:31 westbaystars: Didn't Wada ground into an inning ending double play a couple of innings ago?
20:32 westbaystars: One bounder to the plate!
20:32 westbaystars: The runners move up a base.
20:32 yakyuujin: yes he did
20:33 yakyuujin: but that option is not available anymore
20:33 Lucky: Hit him?
20:33 Lucky: Is that what happened?
20:33 yakyuujin: wild pitch
20:33 westbaystars: One strike, three balls.
20:33 Lucky: its a walk
20:34 westbaystars: And it's a walk. That was quick, Lucky.
20:34 westbaystars: Premonition?
20:34 Lucky: Mind reader
20:35 Lucky: Across the world
20:35 westbaystars: With the bases loaded and one out, Fernandez comes up to bat.
20:35 yakyuujin: haha
20:35 westbaystars: He hit a home run his last at bat.
20:35 Lucky: Sometimes you just feel it
20:36 Lucky: like this isn't good
20:36 westbaystars: Iba gets ahead in the count, two strikes, one ball.
20:36 Lucky: its like an expos game
20:37 westbaystars: Hits it big to center.
20:37 westbaystars: Going, going,
20:37 westbaystars: Haitaaaaaaaa!
20:37 westbaystars: Manrui Home Run!
20:37 westbaystars: The Lions take a 9-4 lead!
20:38 Lucky: THAT i saw coming
20:38 yakyuujin: and that should be the deciding swing
20:38 Lucky: im out
20:38 Lucky: School time
20:38 Lucky: bye
20:38 yakyuujin: 2 homers........what a night for fernandez......a night for the gaigins
20:38 Lucky: Go Fighters!
20:38 yakyuujin: *gaijins
20:38 westbaystars: Matsuzaka, waming up on the side, slams his glove with his right hand in triumph.
20:39 Lucky: not this one
20:39 westbaystars: Bye. Thanks for stopping by.
20:39 westbaystars: We have a pitching change.
20:39 MHtrStevie: See ya, Lucky!
20:40 westbaystars: Tateyama is announced for Nippon Ham.
20:40 yakyuujin: they seem sooo interested in the CL games
20:40 westbaystars: A batter too late.
20:41 yakyuujin: toughest decision for a manager to make...pitching change
20:41 westbaystars: I checked the TV again. After showing the Giants bat, they've gone back to this game in the THIRD!
20:42 westbaystars: I can't claim to have had a better idea of who to put in.
20:42 westbaystars: Let's see how Tateyama does as he's just finished his warm up and Nakajima stands in.
20:42 westbaystars: Fernadez is the game Hero so far.
20:43 westbaystars: Tateyama strikes Nakajima out. The ball is in the dirt, thrown to first, and the out is recorded.
20:43 westbaystars: Hosokawa hits the ball hard!
20:43 westbaystars: Is it?
20:43 westbaystars: It is!
20:43 yakyuujin: anyway......i am out........thanks for the coverage Mr Westbay
20:43 westbaystars: Haittaaaaaa.
20:43 westbaystars: Thanks for your help.
20:44 westbaystars: Good night.
20:44 yakyuujin: into the Left Field bleachers
20:44 westbaystars: That makes it 10-4.
20:44 yakyuujin: see you around on the forum......good night
20:45 westbaystars: Number nine batting H. Takagi comes up.
20:45 westbaystars: Takagi strikes out, and the side is finally retired.
20:46 westbaystars: But not before the Lions score six runs on three home runs.
20:46 westbaystars: The big blow being Fernandez' grand slam to center.
20:46 westbaystars: At the end of seven complete, the Lions lead 10-4.
20:46 westbaystars: ---
20:46 westbaystars: Top of Eighth
20:46 westbaystars: ---
20:50 westbaystars: The radio's gone to Nagoya Dome again, so I have no idea what's going on again!
20:50 westbaystars: This is getting frustrating.
20:52 westbaystars: Back to http://www.joqr.co.jp/bbqr/lions01.asx for coverage.
20:52 westbaystars: Obando is up to bat.
20:53 westbaystars: He's a pinch hitter.
20:54 westbaystars: This broadcast isn't nearly as good as the radio. But at least it's on the right game.
20:54 westbaystars: Runner at first.
20:55 westbaystars: Shimada walked to lead off the inning.
20:55 westbaystars: Obando pinch hit for Kaneko.
20:55 westbaystars: And he lines the ball to the right side (I think) for a base hit!
20:56 westbaystars: That puts runners at first and second with nobody out.
20:56 westbaystars: Number one batter Shinjyo comes up to the plate.
20:56 westbaystars: The Fighters aren't giving up.
20:57 westbaystars: *** Chunichi failed to score in the 10th with a runner at third.
20:57 westbaystars: *** They still haven't clinched, which is why they keep leaving the main game.
20:58 westbaystars: *** Giants take a 3 run lead over Yakult.
20:58 westbaystars: *** So the Central League may be decided by that game.
20:58 westbaystars: *** Woods hit a home run to catch Rhodes in the home run race.
20:59 westbaystars: Matsuzaka just misses Shinjyo's face on an inside pitch, bringing the count to 2-2.
21:00 westbaystars: The next pitch misses, full count.
21:01 westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is fouled off. As is the next.
21:01 westbaystars: Matsuzaka's 10th offering to Shinjyo is taken for all four.
21:01 westbaystars: That loads the bases with nobody out.
21:02 westbaystars: Seibu's pitching coach heads out to the mound for the first time this evening.
21:03 westbaystars: After a short conference, Kimoto stands in.
21:03 westbaystars: He sends the ball right of center, bouncing in before hitting the wall!
21:04 westbaystars: One run in. Two runs in. Three runs in!
21:04 westbaystars: Bases clearing double brings the Fighters to within three!
21:04 westbaystars: And with the lead reduced to 10-7, Matsuzaka heads for the dugout.
21:07 westbaystars: Lefty Hoshino comes in to pitch for the Lions.
21:08 westbaystars: Ogasawara, who hit a three run home run to tie the game at 3-3 earlier, stands in.
21:09 westbaystars: Kimoto stands on second with nobody out.
21:09 westbaystars: Ogasawara strikes out swinging for the first out of the inning.
21:09 westbaystars: The Lions have a good bull pen.
21:10 westbaystars: Seguignol comes up and immediately grounds out to third for the second out of the inning.
21:12 westbaystars: Pinch hitting for Oda is one of the Tanakas.
21:12 westbaystars: I'm not sure which one.
21:12 westbaystars: Tanaka grounds the ball to second.
21:13 westbaystars: Takagi fields the ball, throws to first, and the Fighters are retired.
21:13 westbaystars: But not before Kimoto hit a three run double to come to within three.
21:13 westbaystars: Nippon Ham now trail 7-10.
21:13 westbaystars: ---
21:13 westbaystars: Bottom of Eighth
21:13 westbaystars: ---
21:16 westbaystars: Welcome back.
21:16 westbaystars: The Fighters haven't totally given up, coming back a bit.
21:18 westbaystars: Number one batter Satoh leads off the Lions' half of the eighth.
21:18 MHtrStevie: Sorry... had to step out for a bit.
21:18 westbaystars: He grounds out to short for the first out of the inning.
21:18 westbaystars: No work at the studio on Friday?
21:18 MHtrStevie: Nice to see the Fighters are still fighting...
21:19 westbaystars: Next up is Akada.
21:19 westbaystars: If a game gets away, it's nice to see a come back.
21:19 MHtrStevie: Heh... no, normally I'd be at work, but took a vacation day today...
21:19 westbaystars: Akada grounds out to short, and we have two outs.
21:20 westbaystars: For the playoffs?
21:21 MHtrStevie: If it were for the Marines, perhaps... =)
21:21 westbaystars: Argh! They've gone back to Nagoya Dome!
21:22 MHtrStevie: But in this case, just a regular day off... but I couldn't miss "seeing" the game...
21:22 westbaystars: I'm not sure what happened, but the Lions are changing pitchers now.
21:23 westbaystars: Sorry, Fighters are changing pitchers.
21:23 MHtrStevie: Yeah, I didn't hear what prompted the change...
21:23 westbaystars: Iriki is coming in to pitch.
21:24 MHtrStevie: Surreal to hear no commentary coming out of JOQR right now...
21:25 westbaystars: Takahashi is coming to bat.
21:25 westbaystars: No, Toyoda is in to pitch for Seibu.
21:26 westbaystars: So the Lions are out.
21:26 westbaystars: And we're...
21:26 westbaystars: ---
21:26 westbaystars: Top of Nineth
21:26 westbaystars: ---
21:26 westbaystars: Tsuboi is up to bat.
21:26 westbaystars: *** Yakult just failed to score. Chunichi is the CL Champion.
21:27 westbaystars: *** Yakult lost to the Giants 3-6.
21:27 westbaystars: *** Chunichi is still tied against Hiroshima.
21:28 westbaystars: It sounds like the ball was hit, but they announcers are talking about the Swallows losing.
21:28 westbaystars: I don't know what happened.
21:29 westbaystars: Now Shimada is up to bat.
21:29 MHtrStevie: Seibu's DH struck out to end the 8th...
21:30 westbaystars: Thanks.
21:30 westbaystars: We have a runner at first, and Shimada struck out for the second out of the inning.
21:30 westbaystars: Obando is coming up to bat.
21:31 westbaystars: Obando came in the game to pinch hit earlier in the game.
21:31 westbaystars: Toyoda gets ahead in the count with two quick strikes.
21:31 westbaystars: The third pitch is grounded to short.
21:32 westbaystars: He takes it to second for the force, and the game is over.
21:32 westbaystars: The Seibu Lions win.
21:33 MHtrStevie: Did Obando strike out?
21:33 MHtrStevie: Ah, no... I got lagged there... =)
21:35 MHtrStevie: OK, waiting for Yahoo to catch up to figure out what happened... =)
21:36 MHtrStevie: All right, here's the Fighters 9th:
21:36 MHtrStevie: Takahashi struck out for Out #1.
21:37 MHtrStevie: Ecchevaria (sp?) pinch hit for Tsuboi, and singled to 3rd base.
21:37 MHtrStevie: Shimada struck out on three pitches for Out #2.
21:38 westbaystars: Sorry, the phone rang and my wife was out.
21:38 MHtrStevie: Obando grounded out to the shortstop for Out #3.
21:38 westbaystars: No, Obando grounded out to short.
21:39 MHtrStevie: No problem... Yahoo finally updated, so figured I'd write in what happened.
21:39 westbaystars: Echevarria is the spelling I have.
21:39 westbaystars: Thanks.
21:39 MHtrStevie: Hmm? I thought I said Obando grounded to short...
21:39 westbaystars: ****
21:39 westbaystars: Final Game 1
21:40 westbaystars: Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 7 - 10 Seibu Lions
21:40 westbaystars: ****
21:41 MHtrStevie: *** Dragons and Carp still tied 1-1 in the top of the 12th.
21:43 westbaystars: I'll be back up again tomorrow.
21:43 westbaystars: I'm going to call it a night here.
21:44 westbaystars: If you don't have any burning questions.
21:44 MHtrStevie: OK, great job as always! Probably won't see you tomorrow...
21:45 MHtrStevie: Well, just one... will you still be doing a Sunday evening game, or only the earlier playoff game?
21:45 westbaystars: I understand.
21:45 westbaystars: Have a good day off.
21:45 westbaystars: Only the earlier playoff on Sunday.
21:45 westbaystars: I have to spend some time with the family.
21:47 MHtrStevie: Understandable... well, I'll see you around again for the next evening game you cover... take care!
21:47 westbaystars: Take care.

It would help to say it in Eastern or Western time, or a couple of days in advance.