Tuffy Speaks Out

The Japan Times had an interesting interview with Tuffy Rhodes today [Link]. He suggests the Giants lost because their pitching was mismanaged and that, on the business side, the Giants have too much power over the game. (It's great to have a multi-year contract, I guess).

I'd like to ask anyone who saw a lot of the Giants this year what kind of defense they played and how much that might have had to do with the weakness of the pitching? It seemed to me that they had a few stationary types (including perhaps Tuffy in center). Rhodes also thinks the players were too timid in striking only on weekends.

On the latter point: he'd know better than I, but from all I've read, I think the players covered themselves in glory. Bucking their own history and a long cultural tradition, they stood up firmly once all alternatives were exhausted. They somewhat masterfully marshalled public opinion behind them. I wish Furuta would come play a year in MLB so I could go out and applaud him.

They must see it through to assure a sixth Pacific League team next year, and if they do, I think it could be argued (perhaps not to a Buffalo or BlueWave fan) that with the consolidation into a single Osaka-area competitor to the Tigers and expansion to an underserved area with an infusion of new blood into the ownership ranks, that NPB has emerged from the "crisis" significantly stronger in spite of itself.