Tigers season - Batting and Fielding

Tigers batting was poor to say the least and Kataoka as batting coach can only be said to have been a disaster. Tigers manager Wada was also a big drag on production. Players are listed in their shirt order with HRs, RBIs and batting average shown.

0. Yamato Maeda
Av: .257, HR: 0 RBI: 26
An excellent year for Yamato. He took over the centre slot and was not afraid to try his bat which brought a nice selection of RBIs. Fast and agile but not really in the Akahoshi class when it came to stealing. A free thinker, something Tigers need more of.

1. Takashi Toritani
Av: .262, HR: 8, RBI: 59
Toritani did drive in more runs this year but was disappointing. His fielding was good and he was reliable. He has decided to stay with Tigers for another year and this is a good development as Tigers need talent.

2. Kenji Johjima
Av: .179, HR: 0, RBI: 5
Johjima struggled with injury but had to give up the battle and retire. He started at first and never (apart from his retirement game) appeared behind the plate. Ever the gentleman, he waived his final year's salary when he was forced to retire.

3. Kentaro Sekimoto
Av: .212, HR: 1, RBI: 12
Used mainly as a pinch hitter, Sekimoto also fielded first and third and even second on occasion. Was a big disappointment this season, lacking the judgement of Hiyama. He did improve on the previous season though. It would have been a good idea to play him more than the Mayumi favourites.

4. Hiroki Uemoto
Av: .254, HR: 1, RBI: 7
Used as second and lead off batter. There is not really much one can say about him - he was not a particularly inspired player and for a lead off batter was very poor at working walks. He kept Hirano out of the team for no visible gain.

5. Keichi Hirano
Av: .245, HR: 1, RBI: 24
Hirano wasn't particularly happy and may leave Tigers. Once again an effective performance with a reasonable RBI count but much reduced batting average. Fielding was sound so much so that one couldn't see any advantage of playing Uemoto over Hirano.

6. Tomoaki Kanemoto
Av: .258, HR: 6, RBI: 30
Kanemoto finally retired. He struggled throughout the season and was clearly no longer an effective player. Still Wada in a move of stunning idiocy played him at No. 4 during the Inter League series. One can't see any justification for that move. It was a sad end to an illustrious career. Kanemoto lingered too long.

7. Shunsuke Fujikawa
Av: .185, HR: 0, RBI: 4
Gave more proof that he isn't really top team material. Lacked power with the bat and ability to drive in runs. One can't say that his presence in the top team adds anything.

8. Ryo Asai
Av: .211, HR: 0, RBI: 9
Showed aggression and drive. He looked good when he got a run of games but as it seems Wada's approach was to bench anyone who stood out did not get the playing time he should have received.

9. Matt Murton
Av: .260, HR: 5, RBI: 38
An even worse season than 2011 but Murton will likely be asked back for 2013. He struggled at times and was benched and was eventually asked to bat down the order. It was more a sign that Wada hadn't any idea of what to do with him. Certain controversies and weird incidents attached themselves to him as much to do with the incompetents coaching Tigers as the player himself.

24. Shinjiro Hiyama
Av: .224, HR: 0, RBI: 6
Another good year by Hiyama with a nice preformance as Tigers premier pinch hitter. He hit regularly and drove in runs and is a real asset to the side.

25. Takahiro Arai
Av: .250, HR: 9, RBI 50
Takahiro Arai started the season hot and was undermined and disillusioned by poor coaching and management. He had to put up with a lot and one really can't credit that a baseball side would do this to their best hitter. He ended the season with a shoulder injury but also without any particular motivation. His brother replaced him at fourth and the less said about that the better. Ryota Arai is a very promising No. 6 but not a No. 4. Tigers must treat their stars better.

31. Lin Weichu
Av: .143, HR: 0, RBI: 0
Failed to make an impression this season and wasn't really given a chance either.

32. Ryota Arai
Av: .280, HR: 11, RBI: 32
Showed power and drove in runs when Tigers were in need of someone to do so. This earned his promotion to the No. 4 slot but he was out of his depth in that position. Bats better down the order. His fielding at third was an abysmal joke - in fact that sums up his fielding anywhere and he would be good as a DH in the six or seven slot.

35. Katsuhiko Saka
Av: .229, HR: 0, RBI: 6
Some improvement but not much and he can't be said to be a real prospect for a permanent place. That being said he was better than Uemoto so go figure.

38. Haruki Kurose
Av: 000, HR: 0, RBI: 0
A pinch runner with two undistinguished at bats.

39. Shinji Komiyama
Av: .148, HR: 1, RBI: 4
Blossomed out and was even more impressive. The number change indicates that he is Yano's anointed successor. Great appreciation of the game and wonderful ability to hold a tight game. His throwing out of hand was superb with the only issue being his poor batting. There were signs he had begun to improve but his batting level will never reach that of Yano's and he is more likely to equal that of Fujii at best. Still Tigers catcher for the future.

45. Takashi Shimizu
Av: .000, HR: 0, RBI: 0
A reserve catcher. Played in a couple of games at the end of the season as Tigers took a look at him. Considering Fujii's exponential improvement this season one doesn't see him as starting next season.

49. Ryota Imanari
Av: .292, HR: 0, RBI: 4
A catcher traded from Nippon Ham, it rapidly became clear that Tigers had been sold a pig in the poke. He couldn't call well and despite having a big bat at times was not the equal of either Fujii or Komiyama. He was told to up his game; even Wada realising his deficencies.

50. Akihito Fujii
Av: .223, HR: 2, RBI: 15
Considerably improved particularly with Nohmi and Messenger. Tigers plan is for Komiyama to be the main catcher but because of this Fujii has lifted his game and called some very nice games. One can actually see the potential beginning to appear after years of sloth. Throwing out of hand still needs to be much better but behind the plate Fujii was often impressive though not with Iwamoto or Iwata. He works well with certain pitchers.

51. Hayata Itoh
Av: .148, HR: 1, RBI: 5
His first HR for Tigers was a grand slam but after that he didn't really hit. A spectacular beginning and one can forsee a good career ahead of him.

57. Taichi Okazaki
AV: .100, HR: 0, RBI: 0
A poor catcher - used as a reserve when Fujii was injured. One has to say that he didn't do well and was dropped down to ni-gun once Imanari came along.

60. Masahiro Nakatani
Av: 000, HR: 0, RBI: 0
A catcher converted to an outfielder. No noticeable performance ability.

61. Kenichi Tagami
Av: .308, HR: 0. RBI: 1
An RBI but an ability to hit. Possibly he will develop into a good lead off batter.

67. Craig Brazell
Av: .233, HR: 12, RBI: 43
Production was also down this year and Brazell was platooned and he didn't enjoy it. This annoyed the big man and was tactically very poor thinking. Simply put he was a victim of a bunch of incompetents who merely think that they understand baseball but don't realise that star performers need encouragement and support. Arai also suffered from this attitude and Brazell will not be asked back next year (though Murton will).

69. Issei Morita
Av: .208, HR: 0, RBI, 4
Didn't get much playing time and when he did showed a certain amount of promise. It would have been nice if he could have been given a run instead of Saka.

94. Yuya Nohara
Av: .143, HR: 0, RBI: 0
Will be let go. He doesn't fit in with Wada's plans - such as they are.

99. Keisuke Kanoh
Av: .333, HR: 1, RBI: 1
Struggled with back problems but really still wasn't wearing his converstion to outfielder well. Whilst Asai accepted the move and is now enjoying, Kanoh still would like to be a catcher. This is not likely to happen now and he has in fact been resigned to an ikusei contract to make room for other new signings.

00. Kohei Shibata
Av: .271, HR: 0, RBI: 9
Started the season and faded. He didn't deliver on his potential of last year and once he was under performing was dropped down to ni-gun. Possibly can be seen as a victim of the incompetent management under Wada and Kataoka's poor batting coaching.


[Edited by: Christopher on Nov 16, 2012 1:06 PM]
Updated with recent developments.