What Has Gotten into the Yakult Swallows?
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Re: What Has Gotten into the Yakult Swallows?
[ Author: Yakulto | Posted: Jul 17, 2007 5:41 PM
| TYS Fan
]
The short answer is that we're starting to play more to our true ability after the woeful start. This year has been difficult with the departure of Iwamura to MLB and injuries to key players (Riggs, Kawashima, Ishii Hirotoshi, and Igarashi).
The longer answer is that Furuta has found a more settled lineup, with relative newbies Tanaka and Ihara starting to gain confidence. Ramirez has awoken from his usual slow start, Guiel is starting to justify his place in the number 4 spot, and Miyade is becoming more consistent and is (belatedly) starting to resemble the player many fans hoped he could be. The list goes on.
Aside from the stellar Greisinger (with honorable mentions to Kida and Endoh) our pitching has been pretty hit and miss, both starting and relief. But there have been signs of improvement recently with the good form of Tateyama and with the return of Kawashima last night.
The only other player who has been stellar throughout is Aoki who really is shaping up to be the next Ichiro, both with the bat and the glove.
We're showing a lot more fight of late, and one thing Furuta seems to be good at is creating a good team spirit with all men pulling in the same direction. I'm cautiously optimistic that the third playoff spot is achievable for us this year.
As I said to start, we're just starting to play to our potential. On our day we're a match for anyone in NPB, just finding that consistency has been our Achilles heel for some years now.
The longer answer is that Furuta has found a more settled lineup, with relative newbies Tanaka and Ihara starting to gain confidence. Ramirez has awoken from his usual slow start, Guiel is starting to justify his place in the number 4 spot, and Miyade is becoming more consistent and is (belatedly) starting to resemble the player many fans hoped he could be. The list goes on.
Aside from the stellar Greisinger (with honorable mentions to Kida and Endoh) our pitching has been pretty hit and miss, both starting and relief. But there have been signs of improvement recently with the good form of Tateyama and with the return of Kawashima last night.
The only other player who has been stellar throughout is Aoki who really is shaping up to be the next Ichiro, both with the bat and the glove.
We're showing a lot more fight of late, and one thing Furuta seems to be good at is creating a good team spirit with all men pulling in the same direction. I'm cautiously optimistic that the third playoff spot is achievable for us this year.
As I said to start, we're just starting to play to our potential. On our day we're a match for anyone in NPB, just finding that consistency has been our Achilles heel for some years now.
Re: What Has Gotten into the Yakult Swallows?
[ Author: Yakulto | Posted: Jul 31, 2007 10:34 PM
| TYS Fan
]
- I'm cautiously optimistic that the third playoff spot is achievable for us this year.
Well, I take this back. The Swallows' season is over. The All-Star break removed any remaining wind from our sails. It's 3 from the top 4 now.
Well, I take this back. The Swallows' season is over. The All-Star break removed any remaining wind from our sails. It's 3 from the top 4 now.
Re: What Has Gotten into the Yakult Swallows?
[ Author: BigManZam | Posted: Jul 17, 2007 5:42 PM
| CLM Fan
]
They've always had the talent. It's just the pitching wasn't there for them. When your ace rarely has an ERA under 4.00, you'll struggle to win games. How about those Aoki power numbers?
Re: What Has Gotten into the Yakult Swallows?
[ Author: Yakulto | Posted: Jul 17, 2007 7:14 PM
| TYS Fan
]
- When your ace rarely has an ERA under 4.00, you'll struggle to win games.
Couldn't have said it better myself. We haven't had a consistently dominating pitcher for years now (until Greisinger this year in fact). When your most consistent pitcher in terms of wins over the last 5 years always has an ERA over 4.00 it says a lot (step forward Ishikawa Masanori). Hopefully we won't let Greisinger slip away at the end of this season.
- How about those Aoki power numbers?
He is, dare I say it, turning into the complete player.
Couldn't have said it better myself. We haven't had a consistently dominating pitcher for years now (until Greisinger this year in fact). When your most consistent pitcher in terms of wins over the last 5 years always has an ERA over 4.00 it says a lot (step forward Ishikawa Masanori). Hopefully we won't let Greisinger slip away at the end of this season.
- How about those Aoki power numbers?
He is, dare I say it, turning into the complete player.
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I saw the Swallows play the Hawks (and was part of that game thanks to Pro Yakyu Live!), and the Swallows were a pretty pathetic bunch. Now look at them! Has Furuta-kantoku been able to regain his old magic? I'm just hoping the All-Star break doesn't take away their momentum.