This is a site about Pro Yakyu (Japanese Baseball), not about who the next player to go over to MLB is. It's a community of Pro Yakyu fans who have come together to share their knowledge and opinions with the world. It's a place to follow teams and individuals playing baseball in Japan (and Asia), and to learn about Japanese (and Asian) culture through baseball.
It is my sincere hope that once you learn a bit about what we're about here that you will join the community of contributors.
Michael Westbay
(aka westbaystars)
Founder
Lions
Buffaloes
Marines
BlueWave
Fighters
5
4
0
0
0
8
5
0
1
0
8
10
1
0
0
0
1
11
7
2
0
1
5
5
10
0
0
4
8
9
102
94
51
44
35
Points are calculated 6 for 1st, 5 for 2nd, etc.
There is a huge difference between A-class and B-class (the top and bottom halves). Nobody ranks Daiei, Seibu, or Kintetsu in last, and nobody ranks Lotte, Orix, or Nippon Ham first.
Again, though, I'm going with my heart. I'd really like to see an underdog make it, so I'm going to choose Lotte for first place. (Although, I think that Nippon Ham might have a better chance.) After that, I'll go with a slightly more conservative order, but putting the Lions down in B-class. So starting from 2nd I'll say Daiei, Nippon Ham, Seibu, Kintetsu, and Orix.
As much as I'd like to see A-class and B-class turned upside down from the ShuBe predictions, Daiei is still going to be hard to beat.
I think that the loss of Kataoka to Hanshin in free agency is going to turn out to be just what they needed to get some fresh blood and a new way of thinking in. Nobody seems to think they're better than 5th or 6th, so there's little pressure on them. I'd really like to see them upset the establishment and finish in A-class.
Seibu is a first class ball club that has finally ousted Higashio-kantoku. I don't know what it was about him, but he really annoyed me. So on the one hand, changing managers is helping Seibu. On the other hand, Mr. Third Base Coach, Ihara-san, has taken over the role of skipper, but even Ihara himself says that he wishes to be known as the third base coach first, kantoku second. The first choice for manager was catcher Itoh, but he refused, saying that he still wants to play, but not do both. So Seibu is going to spend the year with an anti-power struggle as Itoh and Ihara battle it out to disclaim the team leadership role.
Kintetsu had a great year last year with Rhodes, Nakamura, and several others really coming through when it counted. However, they seriously lacked in pitching. It's highly unlikely that their batting will sustain them like that two years in a row, and they still lack good left handed pitchers.
Finally, Orix rose from the ashes of the 1995 earthquake to the higest heights. But then, went down hill from there. Even Ichiro couldn't keep the team in the race while he was here. The team needs to be rebuilt, and the skippers is as good a place as any to start. So, in come Ishige-kantoku. One of the stars of the powerful Seibu Lions of the 1980's and early '90's, he, Akiyama, and Kudoh all moved to Fukuoka as free agents. It was my understanding back then that he made the move to be groomed to take over the team after Oh-kantoku's contract ran out. It didn't happen. Ishige seemed to be too impatient, and quit as 2-gun kantoku after one year. I've heared that he was one of the leaders of the victorious Lions in thier hey day, but he just doesn't strike me as much of a leader. Kind of like Higashio-kantoku, there's something about him that bothers me - although I can't say what it is. I sincerely hope that he proves me wrong and is a great team leader. But at this point, I just don't see it.
So, what are your predictions?