August 21st Akiyama v Fukuda - Too long, too long

Tigers latest pitcher lost due to Mayumi's desire for him to go as long as possible. Here we saw Hara's superior management, he recognised his pitcher was ripe for replacement after the fifth and pulled him. Mayumi pushed Akiyama too far for his first start with the consequence that he blew the victory. Even starting Akiyama in the sixth Mayumi could have pulled him and replaced him with Nishimura for the final out. Nishimurs's seventh wasn't exactly an example of good pitching but he would have probably preserved Tigers lead in the sixth and even pitched a better seventh. Mayumi does need to pay more attention to his pitchers - his slimmed down bullpen isn't working and given half a chance he pushes his starters too far. Really, a second year manager should have an awareness of his side's limitations and not be focused on the number of runs they can bat in. Akiyama, until he tired, looked very, very proficient and was throwing some excellent stuff - one hopes the Tigers coaches do not screw up with this young man - he has a lot of potential. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers  1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3  7 0
Giants  0 2 0 0 0 2 4 0 X 8 11 0

Starting lineups

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

Giants
1. Sakamoto (Short)
2. Tani (Right)
3. Ogasawara (Third)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Abe (Catcher)
6. Edgar (First)
7. Chono (Centre)
8. Wakiya (Second)
9. Fukuda (Pitcher)

Tigers start was bright with Murton hitting to centre. Hirano bunted him to second but then Toritani lined out to the pitcher. Arai drew a walk as Fukuda struggled with the conditions and Brazell took advantage of this hitting into centre or a timely hit 1-0 Tigers, runners on first and second. Kanemoto flew out to right to end the innings. Despite his improved hitting of late, Kanemoto does still need to bat seven or eight. He misses too many chances. Akiyama started Giants first with a ground out but then walked Tani. Ogasawara's ground out took Tani to second and then Akiyama struck out Ramirez for the first strike out of his professional career and the innings was over. Tigers second was quiet and the batters fell in order. Akiyama ran into trouble in the Giants second. Abe hit and then Edgar hit a two base which put runners on second and third. Things looked dangerous and Akiyama couldn't hold - Chono bouncing his hit into centre field for a timely hit 1-1 scores tied, runners on first and third. Here Giants got a lucky break. Wakiya was next and he lined out straight to Hirano catching Chono off base. A throw to first would have secured another out but Hirano didn't try and Chono was safe. Fukuda popped one up to Akiyama but then Sakamoto hit into centre for another timely hit 2-1 Giants, runners on first and third. Tani struck out looking to end the innings and with a bit of fortune, the Giants were in front. This lead lasted for as long as it took Fukuda to warm up for Tigers third. His first pitch was despatched into the left stand by Murton for a solo home run 2-2 scores tied. Hirano lined out to Edgar but then Toritani hit a nice two base. He stole third but both Arai and Brazell grounded out preventing a run. This was a real waste and represented very poor batting. Neither batter really worked hard and whilst this approach will work against other teams it won't necessarily work against the Giants. It's not that the Giants pitchers are better but that they try much harder against the Tigers. The batters need to take this into account. Giants third saw Akiyama's potential displayed to the full - getting the three batters out and striking out Ramirez (again) and Abe to end the innings.

Kanemoto led off Tigers fourth with a big solo home run to right 3-2 Tigers. It really is nice to see him hitting with his old power again. Fukuda then dead balled Johjima which wasn't exactly the most intelligent piece of pitching but Lin hit into a double play. This left Akiyama who grounded out to third and the innings was over. Giants fourth was quiet - Akiyama being in complete control. In Tigers fifth Fukuda walked Hirano with one out but then Toritani hit into a double play and the innings was over. Akiyama got the first two outs of Giants fifth and then walked Tani in four - a sign he was tiring. However, Ogasawara flew out to right and he escaped without damage. Hara had wisely decided to replace Fukuda with Takagi for Tigers sixth. Fukuda had been lucky only to give up three runs and Hara didn't want to push his luck - Mayumi take note. Takagi gave up a hit to Arai who advanced to second on a pass ball. However, Brazell struck out and Kanemoto and Johjima flew out - Johjima swinging at his first pitch when he should have waited. Here is where Mayumi should have acted - switching Akiyama for Watanabe (oops, no Watanabe) or NIshimura. Akiyama had thrown 90 pitches in the most intense game in Japanese baseball and done very well. Time to rest him. Instead he started the sixth - Ramirez flew out in foul ground. Abe was next and he drew a full count walk - Akiyama's placement just wasn't there anymore. Edgar flew out to right but Chono hit and Giants had runners on first and second. At this point Kubo came out to talk to Akiyama and buck him up but it would have been better to have taken him off. Wakiya followed and he was desperate despite what he said in the Daily Yomiuri. A rather wild swing connected rather fortuitously with Akiyama's pitch for a lucky three base hit bringing both runners home 4-3 Giants, runner on third. Furuki (pinch hitter) grounded out to second but the Giants were in the lead and in the driving seat.

Of course, it was only a one run lead and could be easily overhauled but Tigers proceeded to give up. Kubo pitched the Tigers seventh and Lin flew out to short off his first pitch. Asai (pinch hitter) struck out looking - a stunning piece of misjudgement even though the pitch was a very good one. Murton hit his second pitch to short - no one had done well. Finally, for Giants seventh we saw Nishimura. He didn't pitch well this innings though he might well have pitched better if he had had a lead to protect. Like Kojima the game before he was vulnerable to centre and with Sakamoto out gave up a centre hit to Tani. Ogasawara hit to centre - runners on first and third and then Nishimura threw a poor pitch to Ramirez who hit to centre for a timely hit 5-3 Giants, runners on first and second. Next batter Abe who also received a very poor pitch which he commandingly blasted into the stands for a three run home run 8-3 Giants. Edgar struck out and Chono grounded out to short to end the innings. Tigers were out of this game as well. Yamaguchi pitched Tigers eighth and was in control as Tigers batters failed to handle the situatioin. Hirano and Toritani struck out and Arai lined out - a nice hit which unfortunately found Wakiya in the way. Fukuhara pitched Giants eighth and this was the first game in which he actually managed to get through a session without giving up a run. He started with a lead off hit to Wakiya but then retired the next three batters whilst keeping the runner firmly on first. For Tigers ninth, Hara went with Kroon probably on the grounds that he needed the practice. He struck out Brazell and Kanemoto in succession but then gave up a hit to Johjima. However, Hiyama (pinch hitter) flew out to third to end the game. Giants victory.

Tigers had actually been in control of this game until the sixth and Mayumi's mistake. After that they surrendered the initiative rather too easily. The gap between the sides is currently one game and Tigers do need to take the third one of the series to maintain a two game lead. They also need to look at how they handle games at Tokyo Dome and Nagoya Dome as well. Today is the last game at Tokyo Dome but Tigers need to up their intensity and take this game and at least one from the Nagoya Dome series in September. The batting is a bit too lazy at the moment.