July 15th Messenger v Shimizu - Abject is the word

Tigers did what they usually do when they're unhappy, lose to one of the bottom feeders in a totally terrible way. It wasn't that Messenger was bad - he was quite reasonable it was that the batting was abysmal. There are too many makeweights and lightweights in the team at the moment and they are strategically placed to kill off any chance of a big innings. Uemoto, Murton, Kanemoto and Fujii ensure that the real performers don't get the support. Murton is included in the list because he is batting in the wrong position not because he is a bad batter. The folly of dropping Sekimoto for Uemoto (a far inferior player in every respect) was clearly exposed. Mayumi's tactical management was ridiculous and all this against a rather weak side. Shimizu didn't even pitch well but then he didn't have to - Tigers ensured that he had an easy ride. For Tigers to be shut out by this level of opposition is really too much. The BayStars by contrast looked as if they were thoroughly enjoying the whole business which they should be. Tigers need to seriously rethink the way they play baseball and this starts with Mayumi being struck down by exhaustion sooner rather than later. Scores

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

Starting lineups

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

BayStars
1. Ishikawa (Short)
2. Shimozono (Right)
3. Harper (First)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Sledge (Left)
6. Kinjoh (Centre)
7. Watanabe (Second)
8. Hosoyamada (Catcher)
9. Shimizu (Pitcher)

Things started badly with the first pitch which Hirano drove straight to second for the first out. Uemoto swung wildly and flew out to right - the sooner he goes back to ni-gun the better. I am all for bringing up young players but only if they have the requisite level of quality. He doesn't. Finally Toritani flew out in foul ground and the Tigers first was over. Messenger also started well getting Ishikawa to fly out to short and Uezono to fly out to left. Harper battled a bit longer but struck out. Messenger was pitching confidently and like a pitcher who knew what he was doing. Tigers second saw the first two outs go down and then Arai hit left along the baseline. The ball beat the dive of Murata and rolled into the left corner for a two base hit. However, next was Kanemoto who struck out swinging to end the innings. One can't put Kanemoto in the side if he blows scoring chances, fields poorly and throws weakly can one? Unfortunately, one can if he is called Mayumi. Messenger was excellent in BayStars second retiring all three batters comfortably. Tigers third was quiet but then it was Fujii, Messenger and Hirano who managed to ground out to second yet again having learned nothing from his first at bat. BayStars third was also quiet - so far the only hit of the game had been Arai's which had been immediately wasted by Kanemoto.

Tigers fourth saw the second base runner of the game. Uemoto lined out to Murata but then Toritani drew a walk. Murton hit a grounder to short but Toritani made second safely. It was all set up for Brazell who is also in a slump and he grounded out to second. The innings was over. Ishikawa led off BayStars fourth hitting to Messenger who couldn't hold the ball. It would have been a miracle if he had managed it. The ball rolled to Toritani who threw to first but just to late. This was ruled an error - a ridiculous piece of rubbish, it was one of those things and Ishikawa had done well to reach first safely. Shimozono bunted Ishikawa to second and then after a short fight Harper hit nicely into left field well over third for a timely single 1-0 BayStars, runner on first. Murata grounded out to second and here was the real error - there was a double play on but Uemoto dropped the ball and then picked up and threw to first. It was a mistake that Sekimoto would never have made. Sledge struck out swinging but BayStars had the first run. Then Tigers wasted an immediate chance. Shimizu isn't a good pitcher and even though he got the first two outs Fujii hit to left. Messenger was next and he drove to centre - runners on first and second. It needed something from Hirano who proceeded to select his favourite second ground out to end the innings. Messenger then ran into trouble in BayStars fifth. Kinjoh hit to centre and then Watanabe drove into right setting up runners on first and third with no outs. This looked even worse but Hosoyamada grounded out to Murton who threw to Fujii for the tag out. Hosoyamada was safe and BayStars had runners on first and second and a wasted chance. Shimizu bunted the runners round to second and third and then Messenger struck out Ishikawa in three to end the innings spectacularly. Nice pitching to get himself out of the jam. Tigers sixth was a real gem in the annals of management incompetence. Uemoto hit to short and was able to beat the throw. Then Mayumi had Toritani bunt him to second. This is not the proper use of your No. 3 batter. Uemoto is in the top team because he is fast and presumably because he can steal. He did so in the previous game. A steal does not waste an out and with a runner who is very fast it is what one uses him for. So Uemoto was on second with a wasted out. Murton then grounded out to third and Uemoto stayed on second. Brazell hit his first pitch to first for the final out and nothing had happened. The bunt gives the impression of doing something whilst actually doing nothing. With the score at 1-0 a steal would have increased Tigers chances of levelling by scoring on a sacrifice. This could have then exposed Shimizu and changed the game around. As our friends on Tsubamegun have noted the bunt was a waste. BayStars sixth was going well until Murata's at bat. With two out the BayStars third got a lucky swing and deposited the ball in the left stand 2-0 BayStars. It looked nice but it was a very lucky contact and one understands Murata staying with the BayStars, a big fish in a little pond. Sledge drew a walk but Kinjoh grounded out to short.

Arai started off Tigers seventh well with a hit to left. However, next was Kanemoto and the fool hit into a double play. That was a really poor piece of batting but is indicative of Kanemoto's quality nowadays. Fujii swung too soon and flew out to right. Because Shimizu had pitched the seventh Mayumi felt he had to put Messenger in again. Messenger was near his limit and shouldn't have pitched the seventh. There was also an element of I am punishing you for giving up the home run. Mayumi is that pathetic. Messenger couldn't locate and walked first Watanabe and then Hosoyamada. This brought Kubo to the mound and a change of pitcher. Messenger returned to the dugout and looked to by crying. Mayumi's choice of pitcher though was strange, it was Kawasaki. It was almost if he had given up the game and didn't expect to win. Fujita (pinch hitter) bunted the runners to second and third. Why use a pinch hitter to do this? Ishikawa then grounded out to first which meant the runner on third scored 3-0 BayStars, runner on third. Shimozono walked to put runners on the corners but Harper struck out swingint to end the innings. Still BayStars could relax and with the way the Tigers were playing enjoy the final stages. Ushida pitched Tigers eighth and faced Sekimoto who hit a two base to left. He was then pinch run for by Nohara - another Mayumi stupidity. Hirano flew out to centre and then Hiyama (pinch hitting) grounded out to Ushida moving Nohara to third. It needed Toritani to do something but he is also slumping and seems to have given up for the moment. Mayumi can't punish all his slumping players and Toritani grounded out to second to end that chance. Kubota pitched BayStars eighth and was a curates egg. Maybe he is fading but more likely he doesn't really care. He struck out Murata with ease and then gave up a hit to Sledge. Kinjoh hit to right and then Watanbe hit to left with runners on first and third. Sledge was home 4-0 BayStars, runners on first and second. Kubota then struck out Hosoyamada and Nakamura (pinch hitter) to end the innings. I think Kubota wants a spell in ni-gun. Yamaguchi pitched Tigers ninth and immediately gave up a hit to Murton. Put Murton back where he belongs at lead off not No. 4. Brazell hit into a double play and then Arai flew out to left. BayStars victory.

Poor management and poor batting had combined to wasted some nice work by Messenger. This was another case of the Tigers being worse not the BayStars being better. Management failures and incompetence demotivates players and even if the team can get some motivation up the manager will drag them down again. This is a team which is capable of winning the pennant but is so badly led that it is crippled before it even starts. None of Mayumi's young players are suitable for a first team and there are so many injuries to key players that there are clearly serious problems with the coaching. A look at the injury list shows, Kubo (soon to recover though), Johjima, Kanoh, Akiyama, Sakurai - too many.