Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
Discussion in the NPB News forum
Comments
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Deanna | Posted: Nov 12, 2006 1:30 PM
| NIP Fan
]
I don't know. They have the rosters up on the Asia Series site.
So let's see, I'm guessing these guys were starters? Kenny Rayborn, 16-5, 1.94
Szu-Yu Wu, 17-3, 2.27
Ying-Feng Tsai, 11-5, 3.37
Chih-Hua Hsu, 4-7, 3.26
I'll admit I honestly have no idea, but I think it's really neat that the series wasn't entirely predictable this year. Have fun at the game! I'm sure Darvish will be awesome!
So let's see, I'm guessing these guys were starters? Kenny Rayborn, 16-5, 1.94
Szu-Yu Wu, 17-3, 2.27
Ying-Feng Tsai, 11-5, 3.37
Chih-Hua Hsu, 4-7, 3.26
I'll admit I honestly have no idea, but I think it's really neat that the series wasn't entirely predictable this year. Have fun at the game! I'm sure Darvish will be awesome!
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Nov 12, 2006 11:52 PM
| YBS Fan
]
You hit the nail on the head, Darvish was awesome! He struck out the first five batters he faced. Darvish was named MVP of the game and the Series.
The one run came on a lead-off error by the third baseman in the bottom of the seventh. The next batter bunted the runner over. Then, with Tsuruoka at the plate, Fiore threw a wild pitch advancing the runner to third. A blooper to right by Tsuruoka plated the runner, and that was the difference.
Both teams were truly incredible. Despite 3 errors, the Bears' defense was a great deal better than the Bulls' last year, and a major reason for so many 1-run ball games; unfortunately for them, two in the loss column against the Fighters.
The one run came on a lead-off error by the third baseman in the bottom of the seventh. The next batter bunted the runner over. Then, with Tsuruoka at the plate, Fiore threw a wild pitch advancing the runner to third. A blooper to right by Tsuruoka plated the runner, and that was the difference.
Both teams were truly incredible. Despite 3 errors, the Bears' defense was a great deal better than the Bulls' last year, and a major reason for so many 1-run ball games; unfortunately for them, two in the loss column against the Fighters.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Kiyoshi | Posted: Nov 12, 2006 10:23 PM
| HAN Fan
]
Westbay was spot-on predicting a low scoring pitchers' duel. The Hokkado Nippon Ham Fighters slipped past the La New Bears 1-0 to claim the 2006 Konami Cup Asia Series Championship. No earned runs were allowed by either team.
Fighter's starter Yu Darvish gave up only one hit and two walks, and struck out 10 batters in seven innings for the win. Hisashi Takeda yielded one hit and struck another Bear in the eighth inning. Micheal Nakamura took over the ninth inning to shut the door with two strik outs to earn the save.
La New starter Wen-Hsiung Hsu allowed only three hits, one walk, and struck out two in six innings. Anthony James Fiore pitched the seventh and eighth inning to take the loss for the Bears on an unearned run. Fiore gave up only two hits, one walk, and struck out three Nippon Ham batters.
Source: NPB Asia Series Site [in English]
Fighter's starter Yu Darvish gave up only one hit and two walks, and struck out 10 batters in seven innings for the win. Hisashi Takeda yielded one hit and struck another Bear in the eighth inning. Micheal Nakamura took over the ninth inning to shut the door with two strik outs to earn the save.
La New starter Wen-Hsiung Hsu allowed only three hits, one walk, and struck out two in six innings. Anthony James Fiore pitched the seventh and eighth inning to take the loss for the Bears on an unearned run. Fiore gave up only two hits, one walk, and struck out three Nippon Ham batters.
Source: NPB Asia Series Site [in English]
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: mondejoe | Posted: Nov 13, 2006 2:24 AM
| YOK Fan
]
Finally there was some competition this year.
According to a report in Hochi Sports the Chiba Lotte Marines are interested in La New Bears' left hander Wu Si-you. Wu can throw a 90 mph fastball (140 km/h) and a change up.
It seems many Japanese teams are looking to Taiwan and South Korea for cheap foreign talent. I'm sure those guys are much better than the expensive busts that have been coming out of the American minor league system in recent years.
According to a report in Hochi Sports the Chiba Lotte Marines are interested in La New Bears' left hander Wu Si-you. Wu can throw a 90 mph fastball (140 km/h) and a change up.
It seems many Japanese teams are looking to Taiwan and South Korea for cheap foreign talent. I'm sure those guys are much better than the expensive busts that have been coming out of the American minor league system in recent years.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Nov 13, 2006 10:08 AM
]
145 Kph is 90 Mph.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Nov 13, 2006 1:11 PM
]
The final last night was excellent. I wish they could start playing the Asian Series in other Asian countries in the future to make it more even. Or say the champion team host the next year Asian Series, so yeah, well, that does mean that they will host it in Japan next year.
Does anyone know where I can find the attendance for the Nippon Ham games?
Cheers.
Does anyone know where I can find the attendance for the Nippon Ham games?
Cheers.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Deanna | Posted: Nov 13, 2006 3:10 PM
| NIP Fan
]
Yes, attendance is posted with the scores for each game here: [Asia Series, NPB Site]
Thursday Nov 9:
Taiwan vs. China 12pm - 2,127
Japan vs. Korea 6pm - 15,147
Friday Nov 10:
China vs. Korea 12:30pm - 2,024
Japan vs. Taiwan 6:30pm - 11,038
Saturday Nov 11:
China vs. Japan 1pm - 12,337
Korea vs. Taiwan 7pm - 6,445
Sunday Nov 12, finals:
Taiwan vs. Japan 6pm - 24,580
There were 37,078 people at the final game last year for the Asia Series - but that might have been due to the Marines still being a Kanto-based team, and also due to the Korean population wanting to see Seung-Yeop Lee face his old team, the Samsung Lions.
Thursday Nov 9:
Taiwan vs. China 12pm - 2,127
Japan vs. Korea 6pm - 15,147
Friday Nov 10:
China vs. Korea 12:30pm - 2,024
Japan vs. Taiwan 6:30pm - 11,038
Saturday Nov 11:
China vs. Japan 1pm - 12,337
Korea vs. Taiwan 7pm - 6,445
Sunday Nov 12, finals:
Taiwan vs. Japan 6pm - 24,580
There were 37,078 people at the final game last year for the Asia Series - but that might have been due to the Marines still being a Kanto-based team, and also due to the Korean population wanting to see Seung-Yeop Lee face his old team, the Samsung Lions.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Nov 14, 2006 5:46 PM
]
Last year's final had great attendance by Marines fans who rocked the dome out. I didn't get to see this year's final to see how they compared, but having a home town team probably helped boost the attendance last year.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Heian-794 | Posted: Nov 15, 2006 12:52 AM
| HT Fan
]
Just curious; I saw the Chinese characters used for player names on the Taiwanese jerseys, but didn't see Rayborn pitching; how do they express the foreign players' names? Do they use the nearest phonetic equivalents in Chinese? Or Roman letters? Bopomofo?
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Nov 15, 2006 4:34 PM
]
They either give them a Chinese name, or just simply have their name in English.
Ramon Morel had Morel.
Ramon Morel had Morel.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Nov 15, 2006 7:30 AM
| HAN Fan
]
That is the main reason for the lower attendances. Nippon Ham mainly moved to Hokkaido because their support in Tokyo was not high year after year. Furthermore, this series is not perceived as an international series but as a club championship. This will stop many fans who might have come if it had been a national side from attending. Only two teams at the moment could fill Tokyo Dome for this kind of series.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Heian-794 | Posted: Nov 16, 2006 3:18 AM
| HT Fan
]
This is why the game should be played in the home country's club's stadium instead of the Tokyo Dome. I know it gets cold in Sapporo in November, but the fans would be a lot more involved.
If the Tigers or Orix had won, would they have used the Osaka Dome or would they have insisted on playing it in Tokyo?
(And Guest, thanks for the tip on Morel's name!)
If the Tigers or Orix had won, would they have used the Osaka Dome or would they have insisted on playing it in Tokyo?
(And Guest, thanks for the tip on Morel's name!)
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: mijow | Posted: Nov 16, 2006 9:08 AM
| HT Fan
]
- If the Tigers or Orix had won, would they have used the Osaka Dome or would they have insisted on playing it in Tokyo?
That's a good point. The Fighters used to be a Tokyo team not that long ago, so I'm sure a few of the old fans came out to see them. But if the Tigers had won, it would certainly have made sense to hold it in Osaka. Although I'm sure Christopher and his oendan would have filled up a few seats at the Big Egg. With a smaller fan base, it probably wouldn't matter where Orix played it. But what about teams without ready access to a dome, such as Hiroshima? Osaka Dome? Would that make sense for them?
That's a good point. The Fighters used to be a Tokyo team not that long ago, so I'm sure a few of the old fans came out to see them. But if the Tigers had won, it would certainly have made sense to hold it in Osaka. Although I'm sure Christopher and his oendan would have filled up a few seats at the Big Egg. With a smaller fan base, it probably wouldn't matter where Orix played it. But what about teams without ready access to a dome, such as Hiroshima? Osaka Dome? Would that make sense for them?
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Nov 16, 2006 1:10 PM
| HAN Fan
]
If you don't use a neutral ground (though what happens if the Giants win?) then you really have to think about rotating the championship between countries. Tokyo is the easiest place to get to with a good dome. Osaka isn't really championship quality I'm afraid.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Something Lions | Posted: Nov 16, 2006 3:33 PM
| SL Fan
]
Negoro's making a fuss about needing a dome to host the Asia Series because it's such a short series that can't afford to be rained out for TV reasons. I call BS on that (as usual with that guy).
I can see the weather being too cold in Korea in November, but Taiwan should be perfectly suitable for hosting the Asia Series without a dome as long as their Taipei (I assume) facilities are up to par. They're further south than Okinawa and it's now past typhoon season.
I can see the weather being too cold in Korea in November, but Taiwan should be perfectly suitable for hosting the Asia Series without a dome as long as their Taipei (I assume) facilities are up to par. They're further south than Okinawa and it's now past typhoon season.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: mijow | Posted: Nov 16, 2006 8:59 PM
| HT Fan
]
- Osaka isn't really championship quality I'm afraid.
Sorry, do you mean the city itself or the Dome? And I'm intrigued to know why. (This should be interesting.)
Sorry, do you mean the city itself or the Dome? And I'm intrigued to know why. (This should be interesting.)
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Nov 16, 2006 10:51 PM
| HAN Fan
]
The Dome, of course, for previously mentioned reasons - not this thread though.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: mijow | Posted: Nov 17, 2006 9:50 AM
| HT Fan
]
- The Dome, of course, for previously mentioned reasons - not this thread though.
Mmm. It appears OK to me. Are you saying that Tokyo Dome is the only championship quality Dome in Japan? What exactly is the problem with Osaka (Kyocera) Dome? Care to expand on this thread, or at least provide a link to the thread where you do give your reasons?
Sorry Christopher, I sometimes get sick and tired of people in Tokyo constantly disparaging Kansai - the people, the facilities, the food, etc. Just an example: when Kansai International Airport had just opened, some idiot in the Japan Times wrote an article saying how the Japanese just can't get it right, how poorly designed the airport was, terrible facilities, and all that. Turns out he hadn't even visited the place and was relying on what he'd heard. When I visited a couple of months later I had no idea what he'd been going on about.
I know you've been to Osaka Dome, but I'd really like to know what your definition of a championship-quality stadium is, and why Osaka doesn't qualify. Specifically please. Start another thread if you like as it's a little off-topic.
Mmm. It appears OK to me. Are you saying that Tokyo Dome is the only championship quality Dome in Japan? What exactly is the problem with Osaka (Kyocera) Dome? Care to expand on this thread, or at least provide a link to the thread where you do give your reasons?
Sorry Christopher, I sometimes get sick and tired of people in Tokyo constantly disparaging Kansai - the people, the facilities, the food, etc. Just an example: when Kansai International Airport had just opened, some idiot in the Japan Times wrote an article saying how the Japanese just can't get it right, how poorly designed the airport was, terrible facilities, and all that. Turns out he hadn't even visited the place and was relying on what he'd heard. When I visited a couple of months later I had no idea what he'd been going on about.
I know you've been to Osaka Dome, but I'd really like to know what your definition of a championship-quality stadium is, and why Osaka doesn't qualify. Specifically please. Start another thread if you like as it's a little off-topic.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Nov 17, 2006 12:57 PM
| HAN Fan
]
We covered Osaka Dome in detail in the thread about favorite Japanese stadium. Basically, it's poorly designed with average access and lots of dead space. Both Fukuoka and Sapporo are much better, and Sapporo has been used for Olympic baseball as well.
Constantly disparaging? I don't know where you got the idea. Not from me. Incidentally, Kansai Airport Terminal was designed by Renzio Piano, not a Japanese architect.
Constantly disparaging? I don't know where you got the idea. Not from me. Incidentally, Kansai Airport Terminal was designed by Renzio Piano, not a Japanese architect.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: mijow | Posted: Nov 17, 2006 8:45 PM
| HT Fan
]
- Basically, it's poorly designed with average access and lots of dead space.
And that of course is your opinion, as you acknowledge. I quite enjoy going there actually. Access will be better in the future with the new subway connection going underneath, linking Namba with the Hanshin line. The Dome was featured in the Olympic bid Osaka put together a few years ago. It's OK - I think it would be fine as a championship venue.
- Constantly disparaging? I don't know where you got the idea. Not from me. Incidentally, Kansai Airport Terminal was designed by Renzio Piano, not a Japanese architect.
Of course not from you. I didn't say that. And yes, I'm well aware that an Italian designed the terminal. That's exactly my point - the writer may not have known it and that's why he was an idiot - mouthing off about something he only had a little knowledge of.
And that of course is your opinion, as you acknowledge. I quite enjoy going there actually. Access will be better in the future with the new subway connection going underneath, linking Namba with the Hanshin line. The Dome was featured in the Olympic bid Osaka put together a few years ago. It's OK - I think it would be fine as a championship venue.
- Constantly disparaging? I don't know where you got the idea. Not from me. Incidentally, Kansai Airport Terminal was designed by Renzio Piano, not a Japanese architect.
Of course not from you. I didn't say that. And yes, I'm well aware that an Italian designed the terminal. That's exactly my point - the writer may not have known it and that's why he was an idiot - mouthing off about something he only had a little knowledge of.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Nov 17, 2006 9:39 PM
| HAN Fan
]
This is surprisingly common with the general press. Anything resembling technical details they usually get wrong, and their research can often be alarmingly shoddy (baring the times they forge and make up things). It's best to use them to identify trends and for background to support other information, but avoid any reliance on them for primary information.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: mijow | Posted: Nov 18, 2006 12:03 AM
| HT Fan
]
I know what you're saying, but this wasn't a problem with the general press - it was an opinion piece, not a general article. Just one guy's muddle-headed opinion. I don't think he was even a proper journalist. I think it had more to do with a Tokyo-centric view of the world than than the well known problem you just mentioned. But you are right - don't let the facts get in the way of a good story, as my former boss's press secretary used to say.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Nov 16, 2006 5:26 PM
| YBS Fan
]
My understanding was that the current agreement between the four leagues is good for three years (starting in 2005), so they have one more year under the current setup (all games at Tokyo Dome). After the 2007 Asia Series they'll have to work out a new agreement.
Several things brought up in this thread would be good topics to discuss for future agreements. The one where the winning country gets to host would be especially interesting. However, politics impede a lot of progress, and it would be hard to work out an arrangement where Taiwanese and mainland Chinese players could visit each other's countries. (For those who weren't there, the Taiwanese flag was not flown for "Chinese Taipei" either year. It was some neutral flag that China agreed to.)
I was under the impression that the largest Taiwanese stadium held just 20,000 people. I'm not sure about Korea. I suppose that the costs in either country wouldn't be as high as in Japan, but would the take for ticket sales and merchandising be able to offset some of those costs?
Tokyo Dome managed to draw 24,000 people for the final without much of a marketing campaign in the Kanto area. (Many people I know didn't even know about the Asia Series and were surprised that I knew about it enough to attend.)
Word was out last year amongst Lotte fans in the Tokyo area, so they were out in large numbers. There were many Fighters uniforms coming out of Suidobashi Station last weekend, but word of mouth wasn't out and about the Tokyo area like it was last year. Unless you're really into Pro Yakyu, you might have missed it altogether.
Several things brought up in this thread would be good topics to discuss for future agreements. The one where the winning country gets to host would be especially interesting. However, politics impede a lot of progress, and it would be hard to work out an arrangement where Taiwanese and mainland Chinese players could visit each other's countries. (For those who weren't there, the Taiwanese flag was not flown for "Chinese Taipei" either year. It was some neutral flag that China agreed to.)
I was under the impression that the largest Taiwanese stadium held just 20,000 people. I'm not sure about Korea. I suppose that the costs in either country wouldn't be as high as in Japan, but would the take for ticket sales and merchandising be able to offset some of those costs?
Tokyo Dome managed to draw 24,000 people for the final without much of a marketing campaign in the Kanto area. (Many people I know didn't even know about the Asia Series and were surprised that I knew about it enough to attend.)
Word was out last year amongst Lotte fans in the Tokyo area, so they were out in large numbers. There were many Fighters uniforms coming out of Suidobashi Station last weekend, but word of mouth wasn't out and about the Tokyo area like it was last year. Unless you're really into Pro Yakyu, you might have missed it altogether.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: eeeham | Posted: Nov 16, 2006 9:43 PM
]
Seoul, Incheon, and Busan each have stadiums that seat 30,000 - 30,500. Outside of the KBO Champ playing the NPB Champ, I doubt the games would draw much. After 5 1/2 years in Seoul, I have come to the conclusion that when it comes to baseball, most Koreans are fair weather fans. They really only show up at playoff time. Even their great run during the WBC didn't do much for attendance this year.
Re: Asia Series Final: Fighters vs. Bears
[ Author: Kiyoshi | Posted: Nov 19, 2006 8:01 AM
| HAN Fan
]
Also, the Asia Series starting a few days after the MLB/NPB Nichi-Bei All-Star Series probably didn't help attendance either.
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The final standings for the round robin segment of the 2006 Asia Series (aka Konami Cup) finished like this:[Source: Nikkan Sports, November 12, 2006, paper edition]
As you can clearly see, the competition this year has been much closer. Even the China All-Stars held their own against the Fighters, not having that game called before 9 innings were up.
LaNew, though, have been looking strong, taking and losing a pair of one-run games. In fact, their game against the Fighters could well have gone the other way, as the NPB champions managed to scape a pair of runs on a hit, two walks, a fielder's choice, and a sacrifice fly in the 8th inning of their game against the Bears.
I'd like some help from the Taiwanese fans on figuring out who they're going to be sending to the mound tonight. A friend with a guide book says that the Bears only have two starters, Rayborn, who threw 7+ innings against the Fighters, allowing just 3 hits (and being charged with the tying run), and Wu Szu-Yu [name corrected] who started last night against the Lions but didn't figure into the decision. Is this information correct? Is Huang Chun-Chung [name corrected], the winner against Samsun, also a starter and may get the nod tonight?
For the Fighters, they saved their best for last. It'll be Darvish taking the mound for the final.
This looks to be an exciting game tonight. And I'll be heading to Tokyo Dome this evening to take in the final game of 2006. I'm expecting a good pitchers duel tonight.
[Corrected LaNew Bears pitcher names on Nov 13, 2006 9:40 PM JST]