Watanabe Appointed Giants Chairman

It's probably naive (or more likely, darn right incorrect) to assume that he was ever away, but former Giants' owner and "evil toad," Tsuneo Watanabe, is back in an official role at the Giants. News - Japan Ball]

The part I found most interesting was:

He added that he looks forward to discussions with the heads of the other 11 clubs to find ways of rebuilding Japanese pro baseball.

Well from where I'm sitting Japan's Pro Baseball seems to be healthier than ever, with the inter-league play proving very popular with supporters and leading to some of the most exciting games and matchups I can remember. Exactly how does it need rebuilding? If Watanabe had had his way we'd be all watching a single league this season.

Oh, wait a minute! He said: "The Giants are facing a historical crisis now. It is time that the team rebuild itself and aim to become champions again." Watanabe was referring to the club which is languishing in last place in the Central League. Ahhhhh. It all makes sense now. I'm sure he'll try to change the rules/system to help his team back into contention and give them an even bigger advantage than they've historically always had. (Like he did a couple of seasons ago with the changing of the Central League rankings to follow games won rather than winning percentage).

The fact that the Giants have stumbled so badly this year has given renewed hope to supporters of all the other clubs in the fact that, despite the Giant's poaching of the oppositions best players, their enourmous player salaries, and their media monopoly, they are still at bottom of a CL currently being led by an unfashionable yogurt company.