September 22nd Iwata v Yoshikawa - Tigers are rubbish

When you play a second rate side you need to be aware that wins are not guaranteed. Such was the case with this match as Tigers once again lost to the BayStars. Like Nohmi, Iwata was lazy and slack and did not pitch as he could. In consequence several non-entities hit runs off him. This continued late into the match when Tsutsui didn't try and that waste of space Kinjoh was able to hit his second home run in two matches. It is not Tigers purpose to make minor batters look good. Tigers remain in third because Carp lost to Swallows, which puts the gap between the three sides at 0.5 games. Tigers really didn't apply themselves and like last year let an inferior outfit win. Hoshino used to inspire fire in his players and this is something that neither Okada or Mayumi seem to be able to manage. Whilst Mayumi looks set to stay we really do need a new management and coaching team. To lose like this late season when every win is vital is not satisfactory. Tigers are not playing like they want to win and this disease needs to be eliminated. One sees why the Giants are going to win the pennant for the third year running - they do not treat second rate rubbish as decent opponents but crush them. Tigers need to learn this attitude if they want to match this kind of record. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers    0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2  6 0
BayStars  0 0 1 3 0 0 0 3 X 7 12 0

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Asai (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Sekimoto (First)
7. Sakurai (Right)
8. Kanoh (Catcher)
9. Iwata (Pitcher)

BayStars
1. Kinjoh (Centre)
2. Fujita (Short)
3. Uchikawa (Left)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Saeki (First)
6. Yoshimura (Right)
7. Yamasaki (Second)
8. Takeyama (Catcher)
9. Yoshikawa (Pitcher)

Amazingly Tigers failed to take advantage of some slack pitching in the first. OK - Yoshikawa got the first two outs bu then he walked Toritani and Kanemoto in succession. This was an ideal opportunity but Arai grounded out to second. A waste of a great chance. BayStars first was quiet as the batters fell in order. In Tigers second, the batters also fell in order and here a question has to be registered. Why is Sekimoto preferred to Brazell? If Sekimoto bats and Brazell is fit Sekimoto should be second not first. BayStars second was also quiet with no one reaching base. Tigers third was nice. Iwata flew out but then Asai hit. Hirano's bunt was successful and Tigers had runners on first and second. Kanemoto hit to centre driving in the run. 1-0 Tigers, runners on first and third. Then Arai hit to left driving in another run 2-0 Tigers, runners on first and second. Sekimoto struck out to end the innings. Iwata, though, ran into trouble in the BayStars third. Here he really pitched poorly, given the opposition. With one out Takeyama hit and was bunted to second by Yoshikawa. Amazingly he gave up a two base hit to Kinjoh 2-1 Tigers, runner on second. This really was poor pitching and it continued. Fujita hit to set up runners on first and third. Then Iwata walked Uchikawa to load the bases. He got Murata to strike out but it had been a poor innings. He needs to protect the leads he is given but currently can't.

Tigers fourth was quiet as Yoshikawa retired the batters in order. Iwata then proceeded to blow everything in the BayStars fourth which considering he was thought suitable for the WBC is amazing. It is no use pitching well when your baby daughter is born - pitch well all the time. Once you get past Murata, you are into the really left over batters, Saeki and Yoshimura. However, in BayStars fourth, Iwata started with a two base hit to Saeki. He then gave up a two base hit to Yoshimura 2-2 scores tied, runner on second. Yamasaki bunted Yoshimura to third but then Takeyama struck out. However, Iwata couldn't even get this right, he walked the pinch hitter, Shimozono and then faced Kinjoh, Kinjoh got a slow slider which he hit to left for a two base hit. What rubbish was Iwata throwing - a slow slider? Anyway both runners were home 4-2 BayStars runner on second. Finally Fujita flew out but Iwata had blown the lead in a big way and unnecessarily. Tigers were now faced with a great chance in their fifhth - Takasaki as Yoshikawa had been retired. They failed and the batters fell in order. Iwata returned for the BayStars fifth and retired the batters in order. Why didn't he do that in the fourth? Too many Tigers pitchers consider that good performances after they have given up runs are acceptable - no they aren't. Don't give up hard won leads in the first place. Tigers sixth saw Kanemoto lead off with a hit. He stayed on first as no one did anything to move him round. In BayStars sixth Yoshimura walked and then Takeyama hit to centre. With two out Iwata walked Kinjoh to load the bases and finally Fujita struck out to end the innings.

Sanada took Tigers seventh and with one out walked Shoda. Here Mayumi didn't need to use a pinch hitter as lead off but panicked. Arai then hit into a double play to end the innings. Atchison took BayStars seventh and pitched poorly. Murata hit to right but could only lumber to first. He was pinch run for by Ishikawa who stole second. Saeki walked but then the next two batters fell easily. For Tigers eighth BayStars chose Takamiya who should have been easy enough to hit. Not so - Toritani hit but then Kizuka replaced Takamiya and walked Arai, runners on first and second with two outs. Brazell (pinch hitter) struck out but Tigers had mishandled the innings. BayStars eighth was pitched by Tsutsui who wasn't interested in what he was throwing. He walked Takeyama and then gave up a hit to Matsumoto (pinch hitter). Kinjoh then hit a two run home run 6-2 BayStars. This was really lazy pitching and not acceptable. A non entity had driven in five runs. Really Tigers pitching had been bad. Tsutsui then gave up a two base hit to Fujita. Honestly we are dealing with a team who are not in contention. But even so you do not throw soft pitches to them. The only BayStar worh any respect, Uchikawa had a two base hit driving in another run 7-2 BayStars, runner on second. Tsutsui then walked Saeki and Yoshimura to load the bases before getting Yamasaki to strike out. A demotion to the second team would be a good reward for this performance. Yamaguchi took Tigers ninth and the batters fell in order - they couldn't be bothered. BayStars victory.

Sometimes the pathetic performance of the Tigers takes ones breath away. They hadn't played well and their overpaid players had floundered around against the inferior team. Second rate batters were allowed to hit and to score and then the response was uninterested. BayStars had more pride than the Tigers who lack anyone to motivate and lead them. This is not a second rate side but should not perform in this second rate way. Ironically, this was a typical BayStars performance but from the wrong side. Tigers want to be considered as a legitimate challenger to the Giants but on this performance they have a long way to go. They are still hanging onto third but this is more due to other teams, not Tigers.