July 17th Kubo v Katoh - Bakayumi strikes again

This game was unfathomable - why was Kubo pitched for 9 innings thowing a total of 155 pitches when there wasn't a shutout on offer? Replacing Kubo after the seventh would have been logical, reasonable and good management. This kind of idiocy wrecks pitchers - Andoh has never been the same since Okada did it to him. Tigers pitching resources are limited and so the effective pitchers need to be nurtured and cherished. A pitcher of Kubo's quality doesn't come along every day. Mayumi's conduct towards his pitchers is really unforgivable and stupid as well. He needs to think about what is necessary and what is best.
The Hirano/Wada incident also raises interesting questions. Jingu umpires are indeed rigid and stupid - in fact the general standard of umpiring throughout Japan is little short of laughable. Poorly trained and without CPD (Continuous Professional Development) umpires are not the most favourite of people. It wouldn't be too bad if the umpires were unable to change their minds (once a decision is made that is final) but they are. However, their stubborn insistence on their view without necessarily taking other opinions creates problems. Everyone makes mistakes but to stubbornly insist you are right no matter what when you can change your mind is also foolish. It was difficult to tell but from the replays of the incident it looked as if Whitesell's foot was off the sack when he took the ball. The first base umpire was in a position to see this but missed it. Hirano was angry and did throw his helmet down but really he had a right to be angry. However, the umpire was not justified in ejecting him - this was an arbitrary and petty exercise of power. The question which follows from this is which is the correct form of protest to take. A quiet gentle protest or shoving the umpires around as Wada did? The quiet gentle protest does not work - one thinks of Wimbledon tennis and MacEnroe. Even though he didn't push anyone his behaviour was instrumental in getting electronic technology introduced to the tennis tournament and raising standards. If all teams started shoving the umpires around then a crisis situation might develop in which things would have to be done. Umpires need to recognise that they are not perfect and that they need also to improve. Standards have to be raised and umpiring pettiness needs to be eliminated. One recalls the dreadful incident in which Yano shoved a plate umpire over when he supported Ishii (ex-BayStar's) cheating. Yano was right to do as he did - the umpire insisted on the wrong interpretation. Everyone makes mistakes but the ability to accept this and change your decision in the light of evidence is indicative of a superior indifvidual. Let's have more of Wada's type of action please. It's time for change and for those who would object I would remind you of Jesus' actions in the temple. Game scores

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

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Toritani (Short)
2. Hirano (Second
3. Murton (Right)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Brazell (First)
6. Kanemoto (Left)
7. Johjima (Catcher)
8. Asai (Centre)
9. Kubo (Pitcher)

Swallows
1. Aoki (Centre)
2. Tanaka (Second)
3. Iihara (Right)
4. Whitesell (First)
5. Hatakeyama (Left)
6. Miyamoto (Third)
7. Kawamoto (Catcher)
8. Onizaki (Short)
9. Katoh (Pitcher)

Tigers first started with Toritani grounding out. Hirano hit to left and then Murton flew out catching Hirano off base and ending the innings. Kubo's last two starts had been poor and so he had something to prove. One also thought that Mayumi needed to try and limit his pitching. His first innings indicated a certain lack of sharpness in control. The first two outs were easy enough but then he walked Iihara and Whitesell to set up runners on first and second. Hatakeyama struck out though to end the innings. Tigers second started with Arai picking up a walk. Brazell grouned out which moved Arai to second but Kanemoto did nothing and can we have Kanemoto switched to seventh please. Johjima was next and he hit a low Katoh pitch into the left stand for a two run home run 2-0 Tigers - a beautiful stroke. Asai flew out but Tigers were in the lead. Importantly, the Swallows second was quiet with the batters falling in order, Kubo striking out two. Tigers third really ended the game as a contest. Kubo hit to Katoh and was able to beat the throw to first. Toritani flew out but Hirano hit a nice two base to set up runners on second and third. Murton then bounced one nicely past Katoh and between short and second for a two run timely 4-0 Tigers, runner on first. Next up Arai who hit to left but a powerful deep home run the moment it left the bat 6-0 Tigers. Takaichi took over from Katoh at this point. He got Brazell to ground out but walked Kanemoto. Johjima flew out to centre to end the innings. Tigers were in control. With one out in Swallows third Aoki hit. This in itself was not a problem but Kubo got into all sorts of trouble. He let fly a wild pitch which took Aoki to third, the Swallows centre being quick round the bases. With the count full he fired off another wild pitch to Tanaka who of course made first but Aoki was home 6-1 Tigers. Swallows hadn't done anything to score the run, rather it had dropped into their laps. Iihara struck out looking and then Whitesell grounded out to first to end the innings.

Asai led off Tigers fourth with a hit. Kubo bunted him to second and Toritani's fly out took him to third. Hirano hit nicely and seemed to beat the throw but the umpire gave him out. He was ejected and then Wada (batting coach) took on the umpire shoving him backwards. Wada also went but we do need to see more of this direct action. Umpires will always make mistakes but to combine petty petulance with wrong decisions always must be resisted. Hirano was replaced by Yamato. Swallows fourth was quiet as the batters fell in order. Murton led off Tigers fifth with a hit to left. Arai hit a two base to left and Tigers had runners on second and third. Brazell hit a deep ground out to second which brought Murton home 7-1 Tigers, runner on third. Then Kanemoto hit a ground out to second and there was some confusion among the Swallows fielders allowing Arai home 8-1 Tigers. Finally Johjima flew out in foul ground to end the innings. Onizaki started Swallows fifth by lining out. Kubo then dead balled Ueda - a sign he was tiring. Aoki grounded out to first forcing out Onizaki and Tanaka managed a walk. Iihara followed and took a swing at a pitch which collided with the foul pole - a three run home run 8-4 Tigers. There was an element of luck in this shot but they all count. Amazingly, at this stage Swallows had generated only two hits - this is efficient use of resources by any definitiion. Whitesell struck out looking to end the innings. Tigers struck back immediately in the sixth. With Matsui pitching and two out Toritani walked. He stole second but a Swallows error allowed him to reach third. Yamato also walked which brought up Murton. He hit to centre bringing home Toritani 9-4 Tigers, runners on first and second. Yamato stole third but Arai grounded out to third to end the innings. Swallows sixth was quiet and you knew that they had no response anymore.

Brazell led off Tigers seventh with a hit. Asai took a dead ball but Kubo grounded out which also indicated he would pitch the Swallows seventh. First Kubo struck out Onizaki swinging and then Ueda (replacement left, Hatakeyama having picked up some kind of injury) looking. However Aoki hit a nice three base to right centre. This was a clear signal that Kubo had pitched enough and that he was almost finished. Tanaka grounded out to short to end the innings. Murton hit to right in Tigers eighth and was pinch run for by Kanoh (who is fielding left despite his obvious qualities as a catcher - mule headedness). He took advantage of a Swallows error to reach third but Arai flew out to end the innings. For more folly, Kubo returned for Swallows eighth. There was just no need or logical reason - just Mayumi's stupidity. With one out Guiel (pinch hitter) hit a two base. Hatakeyama ( who had moved round to first) flew out but Miyamoto hit nicely to right to bring the runner home 9-5 Tigers, runner on first. Finally Fukukawa (pinch hitter) struck out to end the innings. Watanabe pitched Tigers ninth and with two out walked Johjima. Nothing came of this as Asai flew out to right. Amazingly Kubo returned for Swallows ninth. He got the first two outs but then Aoki hit to centre. Tanaka also hit to centre and Swallows had runners on second and third. Mayumi bowed to the inevitable, panicked and brought on Kyuji Fujikawa who induced Iihara to ground out to short to end the game. Tigers victory.

Really, the whole mishandling of Kubo has assumed an alarming level. Mayumi's stupidity and total unawareness is getting dangerous for his pitchers. There was no need for Kubo to pitch beyond the seventh and Mayumi should have known this. What was going on in his mind is impossible to fathom. Tigers are winning because they are a strong team NOT because they have a good manager. In fact, Mayumi is a poor manager. Nice batting saw the Swallows outclassed and overwhelmed. They still have a chance to take the series but they need good pitching against Tigers bad pitching.