June 27th Iwata v Yudai - Who was responsible?

We saw Komiyama start the game on the grounds that he and Iwata get on. Unfortunately this theory reckoned without Iwata who was terrible this game. Admittedly, he did have the shock of a terrible error in the first but he really wasn't on the ball. Wada, though wasn't aware of this and switched his catcher instead of his pitcher. The penny dropped the very next innings as Iwata pitching to Fujii proceeded to give up another run and finally he was replaced. This should have happened after the first innings though as Iwata was that bad. Fujii didn't have a good game but apart from Arai, Kubota and Yamato non of the Tigers players can exactly be said to have shone and Dragons rather cruised to victory. This game Kubota topped out at 151 kmh. Scores

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

Starting lineups

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

Dragons
1. Araki (Second)
2. Ohshima (Cente)
3. Wada (Left)
4. Blanco (First)
5. Ibata (Short)
6. Hirata (Right)
7. Tanishige (Catcher)
8. Naohisa Donue (Third)
9. Yudai (Pitcher)

It was good to see Yamato back in the lineup. Once again he made a strong case for being preferred over Shibata. This switching between the two is pointless. Shibata doesn't drive in runs and Tigers are run starved. If there needs to be a choice between candidates for centre it should be Yamato and Asai both of home are more likely to bring the runs in than Shibata who is rather light in that department. Tigers first started in much the same way as it did the previous game. Murton grounded out but Hirano walked. Then Toritani again hit into a double play to end the innings. As mentioned above Iwata was rubbish. His first pitch went for a single into centre. He then dead balled Ohshima to set up runners on first and second. Wada hit to Hirano at second who fielded and threw to Toritani to initiate the double play. The throw was on the high side and Toritani missed it allowing the ball to roll away into left field. Both base runners took full advantage of this making home 2-0 Dragons with Wada on second. This was a 90's Tigers mistake. The error was credited to Hirano who felt aggrieved as he thought that Toritani hadn't been paying attention. It's never a good thing to blame your teammates but it is standard Japanese baseball practice to attribute the error to the thrower not the receiver no matter who was the culprit. It's almost an extension of the customer is always right no matter what principle. Iwata who hadn't' started well anyway was now totally off his game and walked Blanco. Ibata bunted the runners to second and third. This was a stupid move as it gave the Tigers a free out and with Hirata flying out it looked as if Tigers were going to escape. Iwata though was still wobbly and let fly a wild pitch - a misthrown change up. This brought a runner home 3-0 Dragons, runner on third. Tanishige walked and then Donue singled right off his first pitch bringing in the run 4-0 Dragons, runners on first and second. Iwata was so bad that Yudai singled to centre and Tanishige went for home. He was tagged out at the plate to end the innings. It had been a disaster for Tigers and should have seen Iwata replaced. Arai led off Tigers second singling to centre and then making second on Kanemoto's ground out. Neither Brazell nor Yamato though moved him further and the Tigers couldn't score. To be honest this was another of those games that was over in the first innings. Even though there would be a lot more action Tigers were never realistically in with a chance of victory. Iwata returned for Dragons second and Araki singled off the first pitch of the innings again. He was bunted to second by Ohshima. The Dragons bunting was particularly stupid throughout the game just wasting outs and letting the Tigers off the hook. Wada grounded out to second taking Araki to third but this time Blanco also grounded out and Dragons didn't add to the score. Tigers third saw both Komiyama and Iwata ground out to Yudai and then Murton hit to short. Ibata couldn't make the throw in time and Murton was safe on first. Hirano then grounded out to Yudai to end that innings. Having ignored the warning signs Wada paid the price for leaving Iwata in. Ibata led off the Dragons third by singling to right. Then Hirata hit left to set up runners on first and second - there was still time to avert disaster but Wada did nothing. Tanishige hit his first pitch into right for a two base hit bringing in both runners 6-0 Dragons. Donue flew out and Yudai tried to bunt but was out with three failures. Finally, Araki flew out to centre to end the innings.

Tigers finally woke up in the fourth. Yudai wasn't quite the pitcher that Yoshimi was and so when Toritani led off with a walk he got nervous. Arai drove the ball left setting up runners on second and third. Arai may not have driven in any runs but he was the catalyst for what runs the Tigers did produce. Kanemoto looking more and more like the Kanemoto of the glory years singled right bringing in a run 6-1 Dragons, runners on first and third. Brazell struck out looking but Yamato singled left to bring in another run 6-2 Dragons, runners on first and second. Things were looking good but then Ryota Arai (pinch hitting for Komiyama) hit into a double play to end the innings. Fujii took over the catching duties for the fourth and instantly demonstrated the folly of Wada's judgment. No catcher could have handled Iwata in his state especially as Tigers managed another error. The innings started with Ohshima grounding out and then Wada hit a grounder to Arai at third. He fumbled the ball and allowed the runner to reach first. Blanco flew out but then Ibata whacked his third pitch deep over Yamato for a timely two base hit 7-2 Dragons. Now Wada understood but still didn't immediately remove Iwata. Luckily for Tigers Hirata flew out to end the innings. Tigers fifth saw the long delayed pinch hitter for Iwata, Asai but he didn't do anything and neither did Murton nor Hirano. Tsuru took over for Dragons fifth and with one out gave up a single to Donue. Of course, Takagi had Yudai bunt (with a five run lead) Donue to second. This gave Tigers the second out and so it was an easy task for Tsuru to strike out Araki to end the innings. Yudai ran into trouble again in Tigers sixth issuing a lead off walk to Toritani. Arai hit left to set up runners on first and second but Dragons decided it was time to change pitchers. Kobaysahi took over and walked Kanemoto to load the bases. Brazell hit a grounder to Blanco who went for the double play. This didn't work out and they only ended up with the force out of Kanemoto. In the meanwhile Toritani was home 7-3 Dragons, runners on first and third. Once again Dragons switched pitchers with Yamai taking over. He faced Yamato who singled to centre bringing home a runner 7-4 Dragons, runners on first and second. Yamato was caught too far off base and was tagged out by Blanco and a wild pitch from Yamai took Brazell to third. Fujii was next but all he could do was to fly out to right and end the innings. Having given up two runs Dragons then set about restoring the margin. Watanabe was the pitcher and he gave up a single to Ohshima. Ohshima tried to steal second as Wada struck out. Fujii's throw wasn't good enough and Ohshima was successful. Fujii and Watanabe don't always get on and this was one of those occasions. Blanco walked to set up runners on first and second. Again Ibata was able to select his shot and hit deep into centre bringng home both runners 9-4 Dragons, runner on second. Hirata grounded out to third which prevented Ibata from advancing. However, Watanabe then dead balled Tanishige, runners on first and second. Donue grounded out to short to end the innings.

Yamai pitched Tigers seventh and was much more assured and comfortable this innings. He retired the batters smoothly and without any difficulty. For Dragons seventh Katoh took the mound and ran into trouble wtih Yamasaki (pinch hitter). Yamasaki hit his second pitch to right for a useful two base. Araki grounded out to take Imasaki (pinch running for Yamasaki) to third but then Ohshima struck out swingng. Finally Wada grounded out to short. Tigers had escaped this time. Soto pitched Tigers eighth and got Toritani to fly out. Arai hit to short and beat the throw but then couldn't advance any further. Kanemoto swung at his first pitch and flew out to third and then Brazell flew out to left. Kubota pitched Dragons eighth and handled the handicap of Fujii well retiring the batters in order. One hopes that this level of pitching continues as a fit and performing Kubota is a definite asset. Mutoh was the pitcher for Tigers ninth. Wada deployed pinch hitters once again more in hope than in any practical expectation. Yamato flew out to right, then Imanari (pinch hitter) struck out swinging. The final out was Sekimoto (pinch hitter) who could only ground out to third. Dragons victory.

Dragons took the series and even though the Tigers had shown more fight they were outclassed again. Once again Wada's decision making had been strange - the removal of Komiyama after three innings rather than the rapid removal of Iwata being the main decision. However, this wouldn't have changed the game's outcome - even though Fujii was poor as usual Tigers were never going to win the game. Wada seems to lack awareness of pitchers and so doesn't take the right decisions concerning them. Furthermore, his judgment of players abilities in general is lacking. Yamato is turning into a useful batter able to drive in runs and so should get more playing time. The same can be said for Asai. Shibata should be used as a pinch runner not a starting member. With Komiyama and Fujii unable to hit beyond the occasional shot Tigers do need runs at seven and Yamato or Asai are more likely to bring these in. The third game of the series is tonight and Tigers need to play much better than their inept performance this game if they are to avoid a series sweep. It is very much backs to the walls this time.