October 1st Messenger v Soto - Confusion in the seventh

With no outs in the seventh and bases loaded Tigers blew a golden opportunity to take the game from the Dragons. The less than brilliant play we have come to expect under Mayumi and his team continues. Here the coaches tried to blame Shibata and Shibata blamed the coaches for giving him the nod to try. Various excuses were advanced but it signifies a team that is not happy with itself. At the moment Fujii is not being used as starting catcher and one can't help but feel that it is recognised that he is not up to the job. Komiyama is better but also isn't really up to the job. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Dragons
1. Araki (Short)
2. Ibata (Second)
3. Morino (Third)
4. Blanco (First)
5. Wada (Left)
6. Hirata (Right)
7. Ohshima (Centre)
8. Oda (Catcher)
9. Soto (Pitcher)

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

It is obvious that the Tigers need an unorthodox approach to catching but that Mayumi is blindly ignoring the need. It is also obvious that he has no ability to motivate or manage the side but that the higher front office doesn't want to do the right thing and get rid of him. This is typical Japanese management - ignoring a problem or issue because it needs drastic change and because to admit you've made a mistake in the first place (the appointment of Mayumi) is embarrassing. Messenger started the game well retiring the batters in the first in order. With one out in Tigers first Uemoto drew a walk. Toritani hit right - runners on first and second. Then Arai hit left and Uemoto was home 1-0 Tigers, runners on first and second. Brazell flew out to third in foul ground, no luck for him this time and Murton grounded out to short. A good start but it could have been better and both Brazell and Murton should have done better. Dragons second showed how it should be done. The pitching wasn't brilliant and needed to be better - Blanco led the innings off with a walk. Then with one out Hirata hit to short. Toritani fielded well but couldn't make the throw in time and there were runners on first and second. Ohshima hit to right bringing in a run 1-1 scores tied, runners on first and third. Then Oda also hit right 2-1 Dragons, runners on first and second. This against Dragons two most pathetic batters - poor play by the Tigers. Soto struck out and Araki flew out to end the innings. Asai grounded out to short in Tigers second but Komiyama hit. He was bunted to second and then Hirano also grounded out to short. Soto wasn't pitching well at all but Tigers weren't taking advantage. Dragons third was much better with Komiyama and Messenger actually communicating and no one reached base. Tigers third was also much better. Uemoto picked up his second walk of the game. Soto couldn't figure him out at all but was obviously struggling as he had to be replaced by Itoh. He took a but of time to get settled and Tigers took advantage of this. Toritani grounded out to first but Uemoto made second. Arai walked and then a wild pitch took the runners round to second and third. Brazell flew out and it looked like Tigers would waste the chance but then Murton hit left bringing in both runners 3-2 Tigers, runner on first. Asai struck out to end the innings and maybe Kanemoto is better at seven. At least with Kanemoto there is a reasonable chance of a run resulting - with Asai there seems to be no chance.

Messenger then blew the lead again. It shouldn't have been - with Wada out of the way Hirata should not have hit a solo home run which he did 3-3 scores tied. Poor pitching once again and rather a basic mistake. Both Ohshima and Oda grounded out but Dragons could be very happy. Tigers fourth was quiet as Itoh settled down and kept the runners off base. Dragons fifth was also quiet and you began to think that Messenger was a 'yatta dekiru yan ka'. Tigers fifth also quiet but this was worrying for Tigers fans. They should have been doing better but seemed to have gone into standby mode. Once again Messenger strayed - this time to Blanco in Dragons sixth. With one out Blanco hit his first pitch to left for another solo home run 4-3 Dragons. This was dreadful pitching against a struggling batter. Wada and Hirata fell easily but Messenger had not done well. Neither had Komiyama but then Mayumi would rather use inferior catchers than his real stars. Tigers sixth was quiet with Murton going too far and being tagged out after hitting to right.

Murton pitched Dragons seventh and retired the batters in order. He had thrown too much loose stuff and been punished for it. He needs to do better but for that Tigers need new management and pitching coaches. Tigers seventh started really well. Shibata (pinch hitter) hit to left. Fujii (pinch hitter) walked and then Hirano grounded out to first but made it safely as Dragons messed up. Tigers had a bases loaded situation with no outs. At this point Itoh was pulled and Kobayashi took the mound. He faced Hiyama (pinch hitter) who swung and flew out to left. Shibata set off for home but was thrown out at the plate and Tigers had runners on second and third with two outs. A really poor decision. Afterwards Mayumi and the third base coach Yamawaki said that Shibata had taken the decision to go for home. Shibata is fast but when asked he said it was a 50/50 decision and that he had followed the management guidance. Yamawaki also said that Shibata hesitated before running which suggests that Shibata's account is the correct one and that he waited for the coaches OK before going. It's very shabby of Mayumi and Yamawaki to blame the player for their own mistake. If you get it wrong admit it and don't follow what is another distasteful practice of trying to shift the blame. Asao then took over from Kobayashi and struck out Toritani looking to end the innings. Poor management had blown a great chance. Watanabe pitched Dragons eighth and whilst not being convincing he at least didn't give up any runs. With two out Morino was able to hit to short and make first safely. Then Blanco hit left and Dragons had runners on first and second. However, Wada struck out looking to end the innings. Tigers eighth saw Murton hit with two outs but Lin (replacement left) flew out to first. His timing still isn't right. Tigers brought on Kobayashi for the ninth. Bringing him up is a sign of desperation as he still isn't fully back to form. He started by giving up a single to Hirata. Ohshima bunted to third but Arai fumbled this and Dragons had runners on first and second. Oda bunted the runners to second and third and Kobayashi was replaced by Fukuhara. Fukuhara wasn't in an enviable situation but was able to get Tanishige (pinch hitter) to fly out in foul ground and then Arai to fly out to first. Nice pitching to get out of the mess. Iwase pitched Tigers ninth and with one out gave up a hit to Sekimoto (pinch hitter). Hirano walked to set up runners on first and second but Kanemoto (pinch hitter) hit to first forcing out Hirano - runners on first and third with two outs. Still a good chance with Toritani next but he flew out to left to end the game. Dragons victory.

Poor management had blown this game. Tigers are a better side than the Dragons but don't have the mental strength. A weak management makes a weak side. The mess in the seventh and the shabby attempt to shift blame does not reflect well on Mayumi who lacks honour and decency as well as management ability. In English football the front office often praises and reaffirms their faith in the failing manager just before they ruthlessly sack him. One wishes that this were the situation with Mayumi.