Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 5/16
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Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 5/16
The only evening game this Sunday evening will be the Giants hosting the Swallows at Tokyo Dome from 6:00 pm JST. That, ladies and gentlemen, will be this week's Game of the Week. Hope to see you there.
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Re: Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 5/16
[ Author: Guest: Stevie | Posted: May 16, 2004 10:45 AM
]
Cool!
Yakult got their first win of the season against Yomiuri last night. We'll have to see if they can do it again!
Out of curiosity, do the Giants normally get this Sunday 6 PM timeslot? By doing GotW on Sunday nights, will the majority of them be Yomiuri games? I believe last week's game would have been Carp vs. Giants again, right?
Thanks again for doing this! See you there!
- Stevie
Yakult got their first win of the season against Yomiuri last night. We'll have to see if they can do it again!
Out of curiosity, do the Giants normally get this Sunday 6 PM timeslot? By doing GotW on Sunday nights, will the majority of them be Yomiuri games? I believe last week's game would have been Carp vs. Giants again, right?
Thanks again for doing this! See you there!
- Stevie
Re: Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 5/16
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: May 16, 2004 5:58 PM
| YBS Fan
]
The session is up at this chat room.
And, yes, one of my main concerns about switching to Sunday evenings was that the Giants will more often than not be the only available game since they discourage the scheduling of day games for themselves.
And, yes, one of my main concerns about switching to Sunday evenings was that the Giants will more often than not be the only available game since they discourage the scheduling of day games for themselves.
Re: Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 5/16
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: May 16, 2004 10:00 PM
| YBS Fan
]
A bit of a one sided game this week. A couple of first for a couple of players, but no big records or milestones like the Game of the Week two weeks ago. The game did finnish in under three hours, which is an above average pace for the Giants at home.
After the game I had a 45 minute chat session with MHStevie in New York. He's spreading interest in NPB there for his college radio station. And I quizzed him a bit on how to get big media to think about broadcasting NPB States-side. No conclusions, but I'm trying to prepare for the impending wave of questions on how to watch the All Star Games in [your country]. Perhaps getting people like him to go into big media after graduation will be the only way?
Anyway, without further ado, here is the game and chat transcript:
TRANSCRIPT generated on: 2004/05/16 21:47
CHATROOM: Game of the Week/Swallows vs. Giants
MODERATORS: westbaystars
17:59: westbaystars: Kubo is taking his warm-up pitches on the mound for the Giants.
17:59: westbaystars: Kiyohara appears to be in the lineup at first for the Giants this evening.
18:00: westbaystars: ---
18:00: westbaystars: Top of First
18:00: westbaystars: ---
18:00: westbaystars: Inaba leads off the game against Kubo, taking ball one outside.
18:00: westbaystars: Time to stop flipping back and forth to the BayStars' game.
18:01: westbaystars: After taking ball two, Inaba grounds out to Kiyohara at first who takes the ball to the bag himself.
18:01: westbaystars: One out.
18:01: westbaystars: Dobashi steps in next.
18:01: westbaystars: He fouls the first pitch off his left foot, but appears OK.
18:02: westbaystars: Kubo's third pitch, a slider on the inside corner, had Dobashi bailing out of the right handed batter's box.
18:03: westbaystars: A couple pitches later Dobashi pulls the ball through the left side of the infield and into left for a base hit.
18:03: westbaystars: One out base runner for Yakult.
18:03: westbaystars: That brings up Iwamura.
18:06: westbaystars: After two quick strikes, Kubo threw a waste pitch way high and outside that Abe saved from going to the backstop.
18:07: westbaystars: After a few foul balls, Iwamura goes down swinging ahead of the low changeup. Two down.
18:07: westbaystars: Ramirez swings and lifts Kubo's first offering to him to right.
18:07: westbaystars: But it's way too high and not deep enough.
18:07: westbaystars: The right fielder has it easilly for the third out.
18:07: westbaystars: ---
18:08: westbaystars: Bottom of First
18:08: westbaystars: ----
18:09: westbaystars: Mounce starts for Yakult.
18:09: westbaystars: His first pitch of the game is taken by Nishi for ball one.
18:10: westbaystars: Nishi thought he had a walk on four pitches, but the umpire called him back for one more pitch.
18:10: westbaystars: That one was called ball four, and Nishi jogs up to first.
18:10: westbaystars: Shimizu comes up next.
18:12: westbaystars: Shimizu swings and lines Mounce's third offering into the Giants' oen-dan in right.
18:12: westbaystars: That ball was hit high up into the stands, with no doubt about it from the moment it left the bat.
18:12: westbaystars: The Giants go up 2-0 on a the long ball.
18:13: westbaystars: Rhodes follows grounding the ball to the right side.
18:13: westbaystars: With the "Rhodes Shift" on, Dobashi has a hard play going toward second to get the ball.
18:14: westbaystars: But turns and fires to first in time.
18:14: westbaystars: Two out.
18:14: westbaystars: Takahashi then hits one far enough, but foul.
18:14: westbaystars: I don't think that Mounce is fooling any of the Giants.
18:15: westbaystars: Takahashi works the count full, then swings and misses a dropping curve ball on the corner.
18:15: westbaystars: Two down.
18:15: westbaystars: That brings up fan favorate Kiyohara.
18:17: westbaystars: Kiyohara, batting .167 going into the game, draws a walk on five pitches.
18:17: westbaystars: Just like Nishi, he takes three, watches strike one, then draws the walk.
18:17: westbaystars: That brings up former Daiei #4 batter, Kokubo.
18:18: westbaystars: After breaking and replacing his bat on a foul ball, lifts the ball deep to left.
18:19: westbaystars: The outfielders converge in left-center.
18:19: westbaystars: Look up.
18:19: westbaystars: Haittaaaaaa.
18:19: westbaystars: Home run.
18:19: westbaystars: The Giants go up 4-0 on two walks followed by two home runs.
18:19: westbaystars: Walks come back to haunt you!
18:20: westbaystars: That brings up Abe who leads both leagues with 20 home runs so far.
18:21: westbaystars: And Abe slaps a line drive to the left side that bounces in before reaching Ramirez.
18:21: westbaystars: The first non-home run hit for the Giants.
18:22: westbaystars: Motoki follows by grounding out to second to retire the side.
18:22: westbaystars: But the Giants strike first with two two-run home runs to take an early 4-0 lead.
18:22: westbaystars: ---
18:22: westbaystars: Top of Second
18:23: westbaystars: ---
18:24: westbaystars: Suzuki Ken leads off the second inning, watching strike three go by on three pitches, but getting it called ball one.
18:24: westbaystars: The ump saved him.
18:25: westbaystars: After that Kubo misses with his next two deliveries, and we have full count.
18:25: westbaystars: The next pitch is lifted to left. But well within Shimizu's range as he comes in a bit to get the ball.
18:25: westbaystars: One out.
18:25: westbaystars: Furuta comes up to bat.
18:26: westbaystars: He's fooled by the change-up on the first pitch, called strike one.
18:27: westbaystars: After a few foul balls, Furuta is retired on a fly ball right to Takahashi-kun in right.
18:27: westbaystars: Two down.
18:28: westbaystars: Martin hits a sharp one hopper that almost takes Motoki's head off.
18:28: westbaystars: But Motoki stabs the ball while falling backward, gets up, fires to first, and the side is retired.
18:29: westbaystars: Yakult goes down in order in the second
18:29: westbaystars: and continue to trail by a score of Yakult 0 - 4 Giants.
18:29: westbaystars: ---
18:29: westbaystars: Bottom of Second
18:29: westbaystars: ---
18:29: westbaystars: Pitcher Kubo leads off the second inning for the Giants.
18:30: westbaystars: He is 0 for 5 so far this season.
18:30: westbaystars: And strikes out swinging on four pitches for out number one.
18:30: westbaystars: That brings us back to the top of the order for the Giants in Nishi.
18:32: westbaystars: After getting his first pitch over for a strike, Mounce has been all over the place, not coming close for the next
18:32: westbaystars: three pitches.
18:32: westbaystars: Mounce's sixth pitch is taken for a strike.
18:32: westbaystars: Then the shoubu pitch is taken for ball four. Nishi draws his second walk in as many innings.
18:33: westbaystars: That brings up Shimizu who started the scoring for the game with his 97th career home run.
18:33: westbaystars: ... in the first.
18:34: westbaystars: This time Shimizu drives the ball back up the middle for a base hit, just missing Mounce's right leg.
18:35: westbaystars: Runners at first and second, one out.
18:35: westbaystars: Rhodes comes to bat.
18:35: westbaystars: With the runner at second, Yakult doesn't put the Rhodes Shift into motion.
18:36: westbaystars: It doesn't matter, because Rhodes lines the ball off the right field wall.
18:36: westbaystars: Nishi scores from second, and Shimizu goes to third on the base hit.
18:36: westbaystars: That that's it for Mounce. Soon after the Swallows' pitching coach went out to the mound, Wakamatsu-kantoku
18:37: westbaystars: came out to talk with the umpire.
18:38: westbaystars: Mounce is knocked out after 1.1 innings, giving up 5 runs so far.
18:38: westbaystars: Right handed Kamada will be taking over for the lefty.
18:39: westbaystars: Number four batting Takahashi Yoshinobu steps up and takes ball one for Kamada's first pitch.
18:39: westbaystars: Yakult's infield is at double play depth.
18:41: westbaystars: Takahashi, after fouling off a number of high pitches, hits a clean hit to left on an inside and high pitch.
18:41: westbaystars: Shimizu scores easilly from third to put the Giants up 6-0.
18:41: westbaystars: Rhodes holds at second.
18:42: westbaystars: That brings up the 7 for 42 (with 4 home runs) Kiyohara.
18:42: westbaystars: He lifts it to left.
18:42: westbaystars: Going, going,
18:42: westbaystars: off the left field fense, just above a jumping Ramirez.
18:43: westbaystars: Rhodes scores from second.
18:43: westbaystars: Takahashi played it safe and stops at third on Kiyohara's double.
18:43: westbaystars: That Giants go up 7-0, and that closes the book on Mounce.
18:44: westbaystars: With one out and runners at second and third, Yakult's infield plays in for the play at the plate.
18:44: westbaystars: They can't afford to give up any more runs.
18:45: westbaystars: And Kokubo, who hit a home run in the first, stands in.
18:46: westbaystars: Kamada goes full count to Kokubo.
18:46: westbaystars: Kokubo is batting .444 with runners in scoring position.
18:46: westbaystars: And he foulds a could of full count pitches away.
18:47: westbaystars: Then sends a line drive into the left field stands.
18:47: westbaystars: Nobody moved to get that one in the outfield.
18:47: westbaystars: It was gone when it left the bat.
18:47: westbaystars: The Giants go up 10-0.
18:48: westbaystars: Kamada hasn't gotten a single out and now faces Abe.
18:49: westbaystars: Abe lifts a high fly ball to right.
18:49: westbaystars: Martin looks up.
18:49: westbaystars: Haitta.
18:49: westbaystars: It's been a while for Abe after reaching 20 at a record pace.
18:49: westbaystars: That's #21.
18:50: westbaystars: And the Giants are now up 11-0.
18:50: westbaystars: Motoki took ball two high and inside, and fell down as though the ball were closer than it was.
18:50: westbaystars: That got the crowd a little excited.
18:51: westbaystars: The next pitch is grounded up the middle.
18:51: westbaystars: Noguchi makes a great diving stop behind the second base bag.
18:51: westbaystars: Comes up, but holds onto the ball as Motoki has the base.
18:52: westbaystars: That brings up Kubo who struck out to lead off the inning.
18:52: westbaystars: He's way back in the back of the batter's box, and takes three straight strikes to end the Giants' hitting streak a ...
18:52: westbaystars: ... seven consecutive batters.
18:53: westbaystars: Kubo had no intention of putting wood on the ball.
18:53: westbaystars: Nishi lifts a fly ball to right.
18:53: westbaystars: Martin runs over and makes a sliding attempt at it in the corner, but isn't close.
18:53: westbaystars: Foul ball.
18:54: westbaystars: The next pitch is bounced between Kamada's legs and goes on up the middle into center field.
18:54: westbaystars: The hit parde continues for the Giants as Nishi gets his first hit of the game.
18:55: westbaystars: Shimizu comes up for his second time this inning.
18:55: westbaystars: He grounds the ball right to Dobashi at second.
18:55: westbaystars: The throw to first, and the side is finally retired.
18:56: westbaystars: But not before Kokubo hit his second home run of the evening as part of seven consecutive hits.
18:57: westbaystars: At the end of two complete, the Giants lead 11-0.
18:57: westbaystars: ---
18:57: westbaystars: Top of Third
18:57: westbaystars: ---
18:59: westbaystars: I think it was Noguchi who fouled out to Abe on the third base side for the first quick out.
18:59: westbaystars: Kashiwada pinch hit and struck out swinging for out number two.
19:00: westbaystars: Back to the top of the order for only Yakult's second time in Inaba.
19:00: westbaystars: And he grounds out to second to retire the side in order.
19:00: westbaystars: ---
19:00: westbaystars: Bottom of Third
19:00: westbaystars: ---
19:03: westbaystars: That was Miyade pinch hitting last inning, not Kashiwada. My mistake.
19:05: westbaystars: Satoh Masaru comes in to pitch for Yakult.
19:05: westbaystars: And he walks Rhodes to lead off the inning.
19:05: westbaystars: All walks up until now have scored for the Giants.
19:06: westbaystars: Takahashi comes up next.
19:06: westbaystars: But Tahahashi grounds to short, and it's a routine 6-4-3 double play.
19:07: westbaystars: Boy, Yakult could have used that last inning.
19:07: westbaystars: That brings up Kiyohara.
19:08: westbaystars: Kiyohara is now counting down with 10 more hits needed to reach 2,000 career hits.
19:08: westbaystars: His drive off the left field fense last inning was a meter short of a home run.
19:08: westbaystars: But he draws a walk here.
19:09: westbaystars: That's two consecutive walks by Satoh to lead off the third.
19:09: westbaystars: And Kokubo, who's hit a pair of home runs his first two at bats up next.
19:10: westbaystars: Kokubo hit a home run in his last at bat last night, so he's got a 3 at bat HR streak going.
19:11: westbaystars: But, it comes to an end as he lines the ball right at Noguchi at short.
19:11: westbaystars: Three out.
19:11: westbaystars: My mistake, that wasn't two consecutive walks. There was a double play in between.
19:11: westbaystars: Sorry for the confusion.
19:12: westbaystars: The Giants finally go down easilly. But at the end of three complete, continue to lead 11-0.
19:12: westbaystars: ---
19:12: westbaystars: Top of Fourth
19:12: westbaystars: ---
19:13: westbaystars: Number two batter Dobashi leads off the fourth for Yakult.
19:13: westbaystars: And he drives a one bounder to Takahashi in right for a lead off base hit.
19:13: MHStevie: Greetings all... looks like a blowout in progress...
19:13: westbaystars: 4 runs in the first, 7 in the second.
19:14: westbaystars: Iwamura grounds the ball through the right side of the infield.
19:14: westbaystars: Yakult has two runners on for the first time this game.
19:14: westbaystars: Are they getting to Kubo the second time around?
19:14: westbaystars: Ramirez steps in.
19:15: westbaystars: He is 0 for 4 against Kubo with two strike outs.
19:16: westbaystars: That probably has something to do with Kubo's 4 and 0 record against Yakult.
19:16: westbaystars: Ramirez grounds the ball over Kubo's head.
19:16: westbaystars: It's fielded by Motoki in front of the second base bag.
19:16: westbaystars: His only play is at first.
19:17: westbaystars: Runners move up to second and third, one out.
19:17: westbaystars: That brings up Suzuki Ken.
19:18: westbaystars: That Giants aren't concerned about letting in a run.
19:18: westbaystars: And Suzuki grounds the ball through the right side!
19:18: westbaystars: Base hit. Run in!
19:18: westbaystars: Yakult strikes back with a run and now only trail by 10.
19:19: westbaystars: Team leader Furuta comes up to bat.
19:20: westbaystars: Furuta rips a line to left.
19:20: westbaystars: But it's stabbed by Kubo just behind the third base bag.
19:21: westbaystars: Ramirez gets back before Kokubo touches the bag.
19:21: westbaystars: Martin then grounds to Motoki on the first pitch.
19:21: westbaystars: Motoki flips the ball to Nishi covering second.
19:21: westbaystars: The side is retire.
19:21: westbaystars: But not before Yakult struck back with a run.
19:22: westbaystars: Yakult now trails the Giants 1-11.
19:22: westbaystars: ---
19:22: westbaystars: Bottom of Fourth
19:22: westbaystars: ---
19:23: westbaystars: Abe, who hit his 21st home run of the season in the second inning, leads off against Satoh.
19:24: westbaystars: He lifts a high fly ball to center.
19:25: westbaystars: Inaba runs in, calls off the infielders, and takes the ball in for the first out of the inning.
19:25: westbaystars: *** They're showing that the BayStars lost 8-1 to Chunichi. It got worse after
19:25: westbaystars: *** I left to watch this game.
19:26: westbaystars: *** The only other game today was Kintetsu defeating Seibu 8-1.
19:26: westbaystars: *** All other games were rained out.
19:26: westbaystars: Motoki slaps a base hit that falls in fair up the right side.
19:26: habs: Who pitched the Baystar game?
19:27: westbaystars: Martin plays the ball in the corner.
19:27: westbaystars: And Motoki has a stand up double.
19:27: westbaystars: Katoh started.
19:27: westbaystars: ... for Yokohama.
19:28: westbaystars: No he didn't. Mullan started. Katoh was pitching when I turned the game on after getting in from fishing with the kids
19:29: westbaystars: Pitcher Kubo stands in, and he's swinging this time. Fouls off a pitch to bring the count to 2 strikes, 1 ball.
19:29: westbaystars: But at least he isn't watching all pitches this time.
19:30: westbaystars: Mounce started this game for Yakult, but was pulled with one out in the second.
19:30: westbaystars: Hey, after another foul ball, Kubo grounds a base hit through the left side.
19:31: westbaystars: That's his first hit of the season.
19:31: westbaystars: Back up to the top of the order and the Nishi comes up for the fourth time this evening.
19:32: westbaystars: He goes with the outside pitch and punches the ball through the right side.
19:32: westbaystars: The runner comes across from third, and the Giants add a run to increase their lead to 12-1.
19:33: westbaystars: Runners at first and second, one out, Shimizu at the plate.
19:33: westbaystars: Shimizu started the scoring with a 2-run home run in the first.
19:34: westbaystars: Shimizu lines the ball through the right side, pulling the ball up the line into right.
19:34: westbaystars: Kubo scores from second while Martin is chasing the ball down.
19:35: westbaystars: The Giants increase their lead to 13-1 on Shimizu's third hit of the evening.
19:35: westbaystars: That brings up Rhodes who had a base hit in the second.
19:35: westbaystars: Nishi held at third on Shimizu's double.
19:36: westbaystars: Rhodes isn't holding anything back, giving two full swings after a ball.
19:37: westbaystars: Satoh's fourth pitch is taken outside, 2-2.
19:37: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed, Rhodes strikes out.
19:37: westbaystars: That's the second out of the inning.
19:38: westbaystars: Takahashi comes up next and grounds Satoh's first pitch to third.
19:38: westbaystars: The throw to first is in time, and the side is retired.
19:38: westbaystars: But not before the Giants score two more on no home runs.
19:38: westbaystars: At the end of four complete, the Giants now lead 13-1.
19:38: westbaystars: ---
19:38: westbaystars: Top of Fifth
19:38: westbaystars: ---
19:40: MHStevie: Looks like my streak of close games to report on ends here...
19:41: westbaystars: Noguchi leads off lifting a high fly to Kiyohara at first. One out.
19:41: westbaystars: Yep. It'll take quite a bit to make this one close.
19:42: westbaystars: Manaka pinch hits for the Satoh.
19:42: westbaystars: He was 10 for 40 as a pinch hitter last season.
19:42: westbaystars: But goes down swinging here. Two outs.
19:43: westbaystars: Back to the top of the order in Inaba.
19:43: westbaystars: Inaba checks his swing, but grounds the ball to third.
19:44: westbaystars: He hustles up the line after the initial surprise of hitting the ball.
19:44: westbaystars: But isn't even close. Three up, three down.
19:44: westbaystars: ---
19:44: westbaystars: Bottom of Fifth
19:44: westbaystars: ---
19:45: westbaystars: Kiyohara leads off the bottom of the fifth.
19:46: westbaystars: Kiyohara hit a double off the left field fense in the big second inning that was a meter short of a home run.
19:46: westbaystars: That evened out his home runs to non-home run hits at 4 apiece.
19:47: westbaystars: He grounds the ball to the left side. The announcers got excited, but it doesn't go through.
19:47: westbaystars: The one bound to first is scooped up well by Suzuki Ken for the out.
19:47: westbaystars: One down.
19:48: westbaystars: That brings up Kokobo who hit home runs in his first two at bats (3 in a row counting last night).
19:48: westbaystars: Kokubo is batting .400 in the month of May so far.
19:49: westbaystars: He hits another one!
19:49: westbaystars: Foul!
19:50: westbaystars: No doubt about the distance, but it was just foul.
19:50: westbaystars: The next pitch is lifted to center, but not nearly as far.
19:50: westbaystars: Inaba comes in and catches the fly for out number two.
19:51: westbaystars: That brings up Abe.
19:51: westbaystars: He lines the ball to right, but not as high as in the second.
19:51: westbaystars: Martin has him played perfectly, and takes the line drive in for the third out.
19:51: westbaystars: The Giants go down in order.
19:52: westbaystars: But continue to lead at the end of five complete 13-1.
19:52: westbaystars: ---
19:52: westbaystars: Top of Sixth
19:52: westbaystars: ---
19:54: westbaystars: Dobashi leads off the sixth inning for Yakult.
19:55: westbaystars: And he grounds out to Kokubo at third. One out.
19:55: westbaystars: Sorry, that was Ohsuga at third, according to the announcers. He was just put in for Kokubo.
19:56: westbaystars: Iwamura lifts a high fly to left.
19:56: westbaystars: Shimizu goes back to the wall.
19:56: westbaystars: Lifts his glove up, and takes it in with his back to the wall.
19:56: westbaystars: Two down.
19:57: westbaystars: Ramirez takes a high and tight pitch, ball one.
19:57: westbaystars: The next pitch is hit through the left side, base hit!
19:58: westbaystars: Yakult gets their first base runner in a while with two down in the sixth.
19:58: westbaystars: That brings up Suzuki Ken.
20:00: westbaystars: And he watches a 2-2 strike three at the top of the strike zone and down the middle of the plate.
20:00: westbaystars: Yakult managed to get a runner on, but failed to score.
20:00: westbaystars: They continue to trail the Giants 1-13.
20:00: westbaystars: ---
20:00: westbaystars: Bottom of Sixth
20:00: westbaystars: ---
20:02: westbaystars: Motoki leads off the bottom of the sixth by lining out to short on the first pitch.
20:03: westbaystars: Kawabata is in to pitch for Yakult, by the way.
20:03: westbaystars: Kubo will be hitting for himself.
20:03: westbaystars: And he strikes out swinging.
20:04: westbaystars: Kubo's pitch count is still pretty low, so he deserves a shot at a complete game.
20:04: westbaystars: Nishi was bailing out of strike one, completely fooled by Kawabata's first pitch.
20:04: westbaystars: He swings weakly at strike two way low and outside.
20:05: westbaystars: He wises up and lets the next low and away pitch go by.
20:05: westbaystars: The next pitch is low and over the plate, swung on and missed, strike three.
20:05: westbaystars: Kawabata retires the Giants in order.
20:05: westbaystars: At the end of six complete, the Giants continue to lead 13-1.
20:06: westbaystars: ---
20:06: westbaystars: Top of Seventh
20:06: westbaystars: ---
20:07: westbaystars: Furuta leads off the seventh inning for Yakult.
20:09: westbaystars: He leans down low and hits the ball back up the middle, with a little slicing motion on the ball.
20:09: westbaystars: Nonetheless, it's a base hit.
20:10: westbaystars: Martin, blowing bubbles with his gum, steps up to the plate.
20:10: westbaystars: Martin hit the first grand slam off of Giant veteran Kuwata in Kuwata's 19 year career.
20:11: westbaystars: ... last nigh.
20:11: westbaystars: ... last night, that is.
20:11: westbaystars: Here, he lines the ball right at Motoki at short.
20:11: westbaystars: The throw to first to try to double up Furuta is not in time.
20:12: westbaystars: But Noguchi's first pitch grounder to Motoki allows Motoki to step on second for one,
20:12: westbaystars: then throw to first to complete the double play.
20:12: westbaystars: Yakult got their leadoff runner on, but have nothing to show for it.
20:13: westbaystars: Going to the Giants' Lucky Seven, the Giants continue to lead 13-1.
20:13: westbaystars: ---
20:13: westbaystars: Bottom of Seventh
20:13: westbaystars: ---
20:13: westbaystars: Yakult's battery is changing.
20:14: westbaystars: Sakamoto comes in to pitch and will bat in Furuta's #6 spot in the order.
20:14: westbaystars: Yoneno takes over behind the plate and will bat in the #9 spot.
20:15: westbaystars: Miki replaces Dobashi at second and will bat where Dobashi did, in the #2 spot.
20:15: westbaystars: Sakamoto's first batter is Shimizu.
20:16: westbaystars: He grounds the ball over Sakamoto's head.
20:16: westbaystars: It's played by Noguch in front of the second base bag.
20:16: westbaystars: And Noguchi just gets Shimizu by half a step.
20:16: westbaystars: One out.
20:16: westbaystars: That brings up Rhodes.
20:17: westbaystars: The Rhodes Shift is on. The third baseman is in the shortstop position.
20:18: westbaystars: The shortstop is just right of the second base bag.
20:18: westbaystars: And the second baseman is over midway between first and second.
20:19: westbaystars: There was a similar shift used against Oh in his day.
20:20: westbaystars: Abe currently holds the top spot in all three Triple Crown categories. Rhodes is second or third in all three.
20:20: westbaystars: But he draws a walk here.
20:20: MHStevie: In MLB, I think some teams employ that shift against Giambi of the Yankees...
20:20: westbaystars: And takes the rest of the night off as a pinch hitter comes in to run for him.
20:21: westbaystars: Takahashi pops the first pitch to him up to third for out number two.
20:21: westbaystars: Yea, there are some *all pull* hitters with power that that can be done with.
20:21: westbaystars: Kiyohara comes up to the delight of the crowd.
20:22: westbaystars: His .167 batting average going into the game doesn't matter to them.
20:23: westbaystars: And he strikes out swinging for the third out of the inning.
20:23: westbaystars: The game is starting to slow down.
20:24: westbaystars: At the end of seven complete, the Giants continue to lead 13-1.
20:24: westbaystars: ---
20:24: westbaystars: Top of Eighth
20:24: westbaystars: ---
20:24: MHStevie: It sounds like as long as he tries to hit it out each time, they're happy...
20:25: westbaystars: Yes, they are. 4 of his 8 hits this season have been home runs.
20:26: westbaystars: Inaba leads off the eighth against Giants' starter Kubo.
20:27: westbaystars: Is Kubo tiring? He's gone 1 strike, 3 balls on Inaba, surpassing 90 pitches now.
20:28: westbaystars: After a foul ball, Inaba rips the full count pitch to left center.
20:28: westbaystars: The ball comes back in, and Inaba is standing on second.
20:28: westbaystars: That's Yakult's 7th hit of the inning.
20:29: westbaystars: (The Giants hit 7 in a row in their 7 run second inning.)
20:29: MHStevie: Do you mean 7th hit of the game?
20:29: westbaystars: Miki, who came in last inning defensively, comes up for the first time this game.
20:30: westbaystars: He grounds the ball weakly to the left side.
20:30: westbaystars: Motoki comes up, but doesn't have a throw anywhere as Inaba holds at second.
20:30: westbaystars: That puts runners at first and second, nobody out.
20:31: westbaystars: Yes, that's what I meant.
20:31: westbaystars: And Iwamura lines his first pitch to right.
20:31: westbaystars: Takahashi comes up with the ball on a bounce, fires home.
20:31: westbaystars: The ball is cut off, Ibata scores!
20:32: westbaystars: And before I can complete typing that, Ramirez grounds the ball through the left side on Kubo's 99th pitch of the game.
20:32: westbaystars: Shimizu is up throwing home, but it's cut off and Miki scores!
20:33: westbaystars: Four hits in a row for Yakult!
20:33: westbaystars: ... scores two runs.
20:33: westbaystars: Suzuki Ken is nice enough to wait for the second pitch to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.
20:33: westbaystars: So that I can catch up to the action.
20:34: westbaystars: That retires the side.
20:34: westbaystars: but not before the Swallows showed that they were still alive and kicking with a pair of runs.
20:35: westbaystars: Going to the bottom of the eighth, they cut their deficite to *just* 10: 3-13.
20:35: westbaystars: ---
20:35: westbaystars: Bottom of Eighth
20:35: westbaystars: ---
20:36: westbaystars: Sakamoto is still on the mound for Yakult.
20:36: MHStevie: All right... is that the closest they've been since the 1st inning?
20:36: westbaystars: He faces Ohsuga, a defensive replacement earlier.
20:37: westbaystars: And Ohsuga hit his first professional (ichi-gun) home run!
20:37: MHStevie: Haitta!
20:37: westbaystars: Actually, Yakult came within 10 with a run in the fourth.
20:37: westbaystars: But it was short lived.
20:37: westbaystars: Like this time.
20:37: westbaystars: The Giants go up by 11, 14-3.
20:38: MHStevie: Ah, that's right...
20:38: westbaystars: Abe comes up.
20:39: westbaystars: Wow, watching the reply, Ohsuga's home run was deep in the stands in left.
20:39: westbaystars: Abe walked.
20:40: westbaystars: That brings up someone I don't recognize.
20:40: westbaystars: Suzuki something. Hold on.
20:40: westbaystars: Suzuki Takahiro.
20:42: westbaystars: He grounds the ball up the middle, past a diving Noguchi.
20:42: westbaystars: Base hits.
20:42: westbaystars: Even the replacement Giants are hitting Yakult this evening.
20:43: westbaystars: Suzuki was pinch hitting for Motoki.
20:43: westbaystars: Kubo bats for himself, so he'll be going for the complete game.
20:44: westbaystars: Kubo strikes out swinging, not trying to hit the ball.
20:44: MHStevie: Why not go for the complete game? He's got quite a pad for himself... =)
20:44: westbaystars: That's the first out of the inning, runners at first and second.
20:46: westbaystars: He is going for the complete game. He was showing signs of tiring last inning.
20:46: westbaystars: I'm not against it, if that's what you mean.
20:46: MHStevie: Westbay-san, I wanted to ask you an off-baseball question... you can answer when you have a free moment if you want...
20:46: westbaystars: Sure.
20:47: westbaystars: Nishi is up with the count full.
20:47: westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is taken outside, that loads the bases.
20:47: westbaystars: For Shimizu who just needs a triple for the cycle tonight.
20:49: westbaystars: He lifts a high fly ball to the left side of the mound.
20:49: westbaystars: Infield fly is called.
20:49: westbaystars: The ball is caught for the second out.
20:49: MHStevie: I wanted to know if you listened much to the pop/rock music in Japan or not (since my show is mostly music)...
20:49: westbaystars: Ide comes up.
20:50: MHStevie: Oh, and I was asking rhetorically about the complete game... if he's got an 11-run lead, it's worth trying...
20:50: westbaystars: I listen to whatever is on the radio, but just in the morning when I wake up.
20:50: westbaystars: I tend to listen to classical music on Internet radio channels all day.
20:51: westbaystars: Ide strikes out swinging, and the side is retired.
20:51: MHStevie: Are you familiar with the group B'z at all?
20:51: westbaystars: The Giants add another run to keep an 11 run difference.
20:51: westbaystars: Going to the final inning, the Giants lead 14-3.
20:51: westbaystars: ---
20:52: westbaystars: Top of Nineth
20:52: westbaystars: ---
20:52: westbaystars: I know of the group B'z, but can't tell you what they sing/play off hand.
20:52: westbaystars: I'm not really one to pay much attention to who performs the music. I just listen to what's on.
20:53: MHStevie: I understand...
20:53: westbaystars: Not sure who batted, but somebody flew out to center on the first pitch.
20:53: westbaystars: That brings up Martin.
20:54: westbaystars: Sorry to not be of more help with that one.
20:54: westbaystars: And sorry that Martin goes down swinging for the second out.
20:55: westbaystars: Yakult is down to their final out of the game.
20:55: westbaystars: And Wakamatsu-kantoku is letting Noguchi hit?
20:55: MHStevie: Oh, I wasn't asking for help... I had an amusing story on my show if you were a B'z fan at all...
20:55: westbaystars: Oh, it's his birthday, today.
20:56: MHStevie: My radio show here in New York is actually a modern Asian music show...
20:56: westbaystars: Hey, and Noguchi gets a birthday double off the wall in right-center!
20:57: westbaystars: Ah, so that's why the interest in Japanese baseball? That makes it more clear.
20:57: MHStevie: Tanjoubi omedetou, Noguchi-san!
20:57: westbaystars: Yoneno, currently hitless for the year, steps in.
20:57: MHStevie: Well, it's kind of a building interest in Japan in general...
20:58: MHStevie: Started with anime/manga, moved to pop music and has been expanding ever since...
20:58: westbaystars: Yoneno doesn't get his first hit yet, grounding out to Ohsuga at third.
20:59: westbaystars: But this is Kubo's first complete game of his career.
20:59: westbaystars: (He couldn't get the final out against Yokohama a week or two ago, if I remember correctly.)
21:00: westbaystars: I can understand a radio show about Asian pop music, and baseball, but how do you do anime/manga over the radio?
21:00: MHStevie: Congratulations to Kubo as well, then...
21:00: MHStevie: Oh, anime/manga is just where my interest in Japanese culture started...
21:01: MHStevie: Although I do play a fair amount of theme music from anime on the show... that's the tie-in, I guess...
21:02: westbaystars: Ah, I can see that. I've seen some anime Internet radio stations at shoutcast.com.
21:03: MHStevie: I've always followed MLB, so NPB combined two of my interests...
21:03: MHStevie: Yeah, there's a pretty big anime following here these days...
21:04: MHStevie: I was at an anime convention in Baltimore last year, and over 10,000 people attended!
21:04: westbaystars: My first thought was that you were riding the popularity of the two Matsuis.
21:04: westbaystars: With interest in them in New York, it was natural to promote more interest in NPB.
21:04: MHStevie: But less people are really expanding that interest into other things...
21:05: MHStevie: Well, that's obviously a factor... but I'd been aware of guys like Nomo and Ichiro for a while before Godzilla arrived..
21:06: westbaystars: Ah, but looking at some of the posts on my site, it seemed like it took a longer while for New Yorkers to gain an ...
21:07: westbaystars: ... interest in NPB than fans in LA and Seattle.
21:07: MHStevie: Believe it or not, it was your coverage of the Japan Series last year that clinched it for me...
21:07: westbaystars: Because that's where these two superstars went.
21:07: MHStevie: I was aware of NPB, but really had no source for enjoying a game "live"...
21:08: westbaystars: That clinched your interest?
21:08: MHStevie: I'd agree that with H. Matsui going to the Yankees, more general interest in NPB appeared...
21:09: MHStevie: Yep... I was starting to look into NPB right around that time...
21:09: MHStevie: I had so much fun reporting on the games live here at my show...
21:09: westbaystars: Nomo's stint in New York got people interested here, but not so much there (to the best of my knowledge).
21:09: MHStevie: That's when I really started following NPB diligently on your site and others...
21:09: westbaystars: Irabu turned out to flop in New York.
21:10: westbaystars: Komiyama didn't do much.
21:10: westbaystars: It was H. Matsui that saw a huge influx of New Yorkers to my site.
21:11: westbaystars: That's very interesting. Flattering even.
21:11: westbaystars: Most people get to my site because they either have an interest or are interested in a particular friend or relative.
21:12: westbaystars: I've hoped that my site would spark an interest in NPB (for reasons other than "Who's the next _____?").
21:12: westbaystars: But you're the first confirmation. Thank you.
21:13: MHStevie: Well, I think for most people here, there's an awareness of players from Japan...
21:13: MHStevie: But not as many people make that leap to saying "Which team in Japan did that guy play for?"
21:14: MHStevie: Certainly having the Yankees' Japan exhibition games broadcast on the YES network here...
21:14: MHStevie: ...has probably helped that side of things now.
21:14: MHStevie: That was amazing to see Matsui hit the HR against the Giants was amazing...
21:15: westbaystars: Did the Tigers raise some eyebrows that series?
21:15: MHStevie: Definitely, I think... there was some press coverage of that...
21:15: MHStevie: And again, I was able to watch the game live in the USA on the YES network...
21:16: MHStevie: So I think some Yankees fans are becoming more aware of NPB...
21:16: westbaystars: I've heard from a TV station in Hawaii that they're broadcasting Yomiuri Giants games there.
21:16: MHStevie: I'd love it if YES made a deal to show some NPB games on their station...
21:17: westbaystars: Do you think there'll ever be a chance of such a TV deal in New York?
21:17: MHStevie: Do you remember the station at all? Was it KIKU-TV?
21:17: westbaystars: Many of us here thought that that was what the Yankees and Giants did in their working agreement.
21:17: westbaystars: That was it.
21:18: westbaystars: http://www.kikutv.com/GiantsBaseball/index.html
21:19: MHStevie: Yeah, they feature a LOT of Japanese TV...
21:19: MHStevie: Drama series, news... they even show the Kohaku Utagassen each year...
21:19: westbaystars: Where you in Hawaii? Or came across it in your search for NPB news?
21:20: MHStevie: I have a few tapes of shows from their station...
21:20: MHStevie: I think they cater to the Japanese population in Hawaii...
21:21: MHStevie: I was just guessing that they would be the station covering the Giants... =)
21:21: westbaystars: They do have a large Japanese audience. Percentage-wise greater than New York, I'm sure. But total viewers?
21:22: westbaystars: Might New York not have more potential viewers?
21:22: westbaystars: Or is it too nitch market?
21:22: MHStevie: But yes, your Japan Series coverage last year inspired me to update my listeners...
21:23: westbaystars: :s/nitch/niche/
21:23: westbaystars: And your ratings? Or may I ask?
21:24: westbaystars:
21:24: MHStevie: ...on the NPB season this year.
21:24: MHStevie: We're a college station in a pretty small town, so not that much, I'm afraid.
21:25: MHStevie: But we do simulcast on the Internet, so there might be listeners there too... =)
21:25: westbaystars: Oh, yea. You mentioned that before. Oh! During the Series, as I'm starting to recall.
21:26: MHStevie: New York would definitely have more viewers than Hawaii, I would think...
21:26: MHStevie: Yep... I introduced myself then...
21:26: MHStevie: I think New York City has at least one station which caters to the Japanese pop. there...
21:27: MHStevie: But I haven't heard anything about showing any NPB games at all...
21:27: westbaystars: My main interest in these question is that I get inundated with requests on how to watch the
21:27: westbaystars: ... All Stars Games and Nihon Series every year.
21:27: westbaystars: I try to explain that people need to contact media outlets in their area and/or ESPN.
21:28: westbaystars: But I don't have any good data to present a decent business proposal to them.
21:29: westbaystars: 100 NPB fans on the Internet writing to a guy who holds a forum isn't enough incentive for them.
21:29: MHStevie: Yeah, that's a tough sell...
21:29: MHStevie: YES might be a possibility, but they're also a bit of a niche station...
21:30: westbaystars: I feel my readers' pain and want to help. But don't know what else to try.
21:30: MHStevie: YES is the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network...
21:30: MHStevie: Basically a cable station of nothing but Yankees... =)
21:30: westbaystars: That's why so many people here thought that the Giant-Yankee tie-up meant the possiblity of Giants ...
21:30: MHStevie: They cover most of the regular season games, and fill their remaining schedule...
21:31: westbaystars: ... being broadcast live (or via tape delay) to New York on a regular basis.
21:31: MHStevie: ...with Yankees documentaries and old Yankees classic games.
21:31: MHStevie: They definitely seemed to enjoy covering the exhibition games...
21:32: MHStevie: The trick for them would be setting up a commentary team there, I would think...
21:32: MHStevie: They sent their normal team over for the exhibitions since they had the two regular season games as well...
21:32: MHStevie: Yanks/Devil Rays...
21:32: westbaystars: Yomiuri Group's cable channel, G+, is similar - showing Giants' game, games from their glory days, farm games, ...
21:33: westbaystars: ... but also other sports like soccer, auto racing, and others.
21:34: westbaystars: NTV, Yomiuri's VHF network, has had some gaijin commentators in the past. I didn't think they were very good, but ...
21:35: westbaystars: ... I like the "hai"-man commentator on the Japanese side.
21:35: MHStevie: Yep... sounds similar. YES shows Manchester United soccer from the UK...
21:35: MHStevie: ...and also covers the NY Nets NBA team.
21:37: MHStevie: I think there was talk between YES and the Giants, but nothing came of it...
21:37: MHStevie: We'll have to see...
21:37: westbaystars: I'm sure something could be worked out. But it's more than a poor computer programmer with an itch to tell the world
21:38: westbaystars: about NPB can do.
21:38: MHStevie: Yeah... we only do what we can...
21:39: westbaystars: It's been an interesting chat. Thanks for the conversation. I'm seriously thinking of adding the chat room to be ...
21:39: MHStevie: I'm doing my small part trying to turn on upstate New York to Japanese pop music and NPB...
21:39: westbaystars: ... a little more permanent when I redo the site (probably next off season).
21:40: westbaystars: Keep it up. And I'd be especially interested in what kind of feedback you get from those who do tune in.
21:40: MHStevie: That's cool... I've enjoyed having your forums as a place to ask my newbie questions...
21:41: MHStevie: Thanks for staying later to chat! I appreciate getting the chance to talk with you a bit...
21:41: westbaystars: The main feedback I get are questions and "thank you"s - but rarely something specific.
21:41: MHStevie: I imagine it's pretty late there now...
21:41: MHStevie: As I've said, I for one appreciate your efforts...
21:42: westbaystars: I take it you don't mind if I post this as-is? It started off off topic, but stayed well on topic.
21:42: MHStevie: I know I probably wouldn't be half as 'into' NPB now if it weren't for your site and these "live" games...
21:43: MHStevie: No problem at all... I figured anything I said here might appear in the log...
21:43: westbaystars: Perhaps more will tune in to chat after the games in the future.
21:44: MHStevie: Hopefully so...
21:45: westbaystars: It's still a little bit before 10:00 pm. here. Nothing left to do but the dishes and take a hot, soothing bath.
21:45: MHStevie: I noticed habs was back again for at least part of the game...
21:46: westbaystars: So I'll wrap it up here. Have a good Sunday.
21:46: MHStevie: The day's just getting started here... I need breakfast after this show... =)
21:46: MHStevie: Oyasuminasai... thanks again for your great work!
21:46: westbaystars: Oh, yea. (S)he came on just before you.
After the game I had a 45 minute chat session with MHStevie in New York. He's spreading interest in NPB there for his college radio station. And I quizzed him a bit on how to get big media to think about broadcasting NPB States-side. No conclusions, but I'm trying to prepare for the impending wave of questions on how to watch the All Star Games in [your country]. Perhaps getting people like him to go into big media after graduation will be the only way?
Anyway, without further ado, here is the game and chat transcript:
TRANSCRIPT generated on: 2004/05/16 21:47
CHATROOM: Game of the Week/Swallows vs. Giants
MODERATORS: westbaystars
17:59: westbaystars: Kubo is taking his warm-up pitches on the mound for the Giants.
17:59: westbaystars: Kiyohara appears to be in the lineup at first for the Giants this evening.
18:00: westbaystars: ---
18:00: westbaystars: Top of First
18:00: westbaystars: ---
18:00: westbaystars: Inaba leads off the game against Kubo, taking ball one outside.
18:00: westbaystars: Time to stop flipping back and forth to the BayStars' game.
18:01: westbaystars: After taking ball two, Inaba grounds out to Kiyohara at first who takes the ball to the bag himself.
18:01: westbaystars: One out.
18:01: westbaystars: Dobashi steps in next.
18:01: westbaystars: He fouls the first pitch off his left foot, but appears OK.
18:02: westbaystars: Kubo's third pitch, a slider on the inside corner, had Dobashi bailing out of the right handed batter's box.
18:03: westbaystars: A couple pitches later Dobashi pulls the ball through the left side of the infield and into left for a base hit.
18:03: westbaystars: One out base runner for Yakult.
18:03: westbaystars: That brings up Iwamura.
18:06: westbaystars: After two quick strikes, Kubo threw a waste pitch way high and outside that Abe saved from going to the backstop.
18:07: westbaystars: After a few foul balls, Iwamura goes down swinging ahead of the low changeup. Two down.
18:07: westbaystars: Ramirez swings and lifts Kubo's first offering to him to right.
18:07: westbaystars: But it's way too high and not deep enough.
18:07: westbaystars: The right fielder has it easilly for the third out.
18:07: westbaystars: ---
18:08: westbaystars: Bottom of First
18:08: westbaystars: ----
18:09: westbaystars: Mounce starts for Yakult.
18:09: westbaystars: His first pitch of the game is taken by Nishi for ball one.
18:10: westbaystars: Nishi thought he had a walk on four pitches, but the umpire called him back for one more pitch.
18:10: westbaystars: That one was called ball four, and Nishi jogs up to first.
18:10: westbaystars: Shimizu comes up next.
18:12: westbaystars: Shimizu swings and lines Mounce's third offering into the Giants' oen-dan in right.
18:12: westbaystars: That ball was hit high up into the stands, with no doubt about it from the moment it left the bat.
18:12: westbaystars: The Giants go up 2-0 on a the long ball.
18:13: westbaystars: Rhodes follows grounding the ball to the right side.
18:13: westbaystars: With the "Rhodes Shift" on, Dobashi has a hard play going toward second to get the ball.
18:14: westbaystars: But turns and fires to first in time.
18:14: westbaystars: Two out.
18:14: westbaystars: Takahashi then hits one far enough, but foul.
18:14: westbaystars: I don't think that Mounce is fooling any of the Giants.
18:15: westbaystars: Takahashi works the count full, then swings and misses a dropping curve ball on the corner.
18:15: westbaystars: Two down.
18:15: westbaystars: That brings up fan favorate Kiyohara.
18:17: westbaystars: Kiyohara, batting .167 going into the game, draws a walk on five pitches.
18:17: westbaystars: Just like Nishi, he takes three, watches strike one, then draws the walk.
18:17: westbaystars: That brings up former Daiei #4 batter, Kokubo.
18:18: westbaystars: After breaking and replacing his bat on a foul ball, lifts the ball deep to left.
18:19: westbaystars: The outfielders converge in left-center.
18:19: westbaystars: Look up.
18:19: westbaystars: Haittaaaaaa.
18:19: westbaystars: Home run.
18:19: westbaystars: The Giants go up 4-0 on two walks followed by two home runs.
18:19: westbaystars: Walks come back to haunt you!
18:20: westbaystars: That brings up Abe who leads both leagues with 20 home runs so far.
18:21: westbaystars: And Abe slaps a line drive to the left side that bounces in before reaching Ramirez.
18:21: westbaystars: The first non-home run hit for the Giants.
18:22: westbaystars: Motoki follows by grounding out to second to retire the side.
18:22: westbaystars: But the Giants strike first with two two-run home runs to take an early 4-0 lead.
18:22: westbaystars: ---
18:22: westbaystars: Top of Second
18:23: westbaystars: ---
18:24: westbaystars: Suzuki Ken leads off the second inning, watching strike three go by on three pitches, but getting it called ball one.
18:24: westbaystars: The ump saved him.
18:25: westbaystars: After that Kubo misses with his next two deliveries, and we have full count.
18:25: westbaystars: The next pitch is lifted to left. But well within Shimizu's range as he comes in a bit to get the ball.
18:25: westbaystars: One out.
18:25: westbaystars: Furuta comes up to bat.
18:26: westbaystars: He's fooled by the change-up on the first pitch, called strike one.
18:27: westbaystars: After a few foul balls, Furuta is retired on a fly ball right to Takahashi-kun in right.
18:27: westbaystars: Two down.
18:28: westbaystars: Martin hits a sharp one hopper that almost takes Motoki's head off.
18:28: westbaystars: But Motoki stabs the ball while falling backward, gets up, fires to first, and the side is retired.
18:29: westbaystars: Yakult goes down in order in the second
18:29: westbaystars: and continue to trail by a score of Yakult 0 - 4 Giants.
18:29: westbaystars: ---
18:29: westbaystars: Bottom of Second
18:29: westbaystars: ---
18:29: westbaystars: Pitcher Kubo leads off the second inning for the Giants.
18:30: westbaystars: He is 0 for 5 so far this season.
18:30: westbaystars: And strikes out swinging on four pitches for out number one.
18:30: westbaystars: That brings us back to the top of the order for the Giants in Nishi.
18:32: westbaystars: After getting his first pitch over for a strike, Mounce has been all over the place, not coming close for the next
18:32: westbaystars: three pitches.
18:32: westbaystars: Mounce's sixth pitch is taken for a strike.
18:32: westbaystars: Then the shoubu pitch is taken for ball four. Nishi draws his second walk in as many innings.
18:33: westbaystars: That brings up Shimizu who started the scoring for the game with his 97th career home run.
18:33: westbaystars: ... in the first.
18:34: westbaystars: This time Shimizu drives the ball back up the middle for a base hit, just missing Mounce's right leg.
18:35: westbaystars: Runners at first and second, one out.
18:35: westbaystars: Rhodes comes to bat.
18:35: westbaystars: With the runner at second, Yakult doesn't put the Rhodes Shift into motion.
18:36: westbaystars: It doesn't matter, because Rhodes lines the ball off the right field wall.
18:36: westbaystars: Nishi scores from second, and Shimizu goes to third on the base hit.
18:36: westbaystars: That that's it for Mounce. Soon after the Swallows' pitching coach went out to the mound, Wakamatsu-kantoku
18:37: westbaystars: came out to talk with the umpire.
18:38: westbaystars: Mounce is knocked out after 1.1 innings, giving up 5 runs so far.
18:38: westbaystars: Right handed Kamada will be taking over for the lefty.
18:39: westbaystars: Number four batting Takahashi Yoshinobu steps up and takes ball one for Kamada's first pitch.
18:39: westbaystars: Yakult's infield is at double play depth.
18:41: westbaystars: Takahashi, after fouling off a number of high pitches, hits a clean hit to left on an inside and high pitch.
18:41: westbaystars: Shimizu scores easilly from third to put the Giants up 6-0.
18:41: westbaystars: Rhodes holds at second.
18:42: westbaystars: That brings up the 7 for 42 (with 4 home runs) Kiyohara.
18:42: westbaystars: He lifts it to left.
18:42: westbaystars: Going, going,
18:42: westbaystars: off the left field fense, just above a jumping Ramirez.
18:43: westbaystars: Rhodes scores from second.
18:43: westbaystars: Takahashi played it safe and stops at third on Kiyohara's double.
18:43: westbaystars: That Giants go up 7-0, and that closes the book on Mounce.
18:44: westbaystars: With one out and runners at second and third, Yakult's infield plays in for the play at the plate.
18:44: westbaystars: They can't afford to give up any more runs.
18:45: westbaystars: And Kokubo, who hit a home run in the first, stands in.
18:46: westbaystars: Kamada goes full count to Kokubo.
18:46: westbaystars: Kokubo is batting .444 with runners in scoring position.
18:46: westbaystars: And he foulds a could of full count pitches away.
18:47: westbaystars: Then sends a line drive into the left field stands.
18:47: westbaystars: Nobody moved to get that one in the outfield.
18:47: westbaystars: It was gone when it left the bat.
18:47: westbaystars: The Giants go up 10-0.
18:48: westbaystars: Kamada hasn't gotten a single out and now faces Abe.
18:49: westbaystars: Abe lifts a high fly ball to right.
18:49: westbaystars: Martin looks up.
18:49: westbaystars: Haitta.
18:49: westbaystars: It's been a while for Abe after reaching 20 at a record pace.
18:49: westbaystars: That's #21.
18:50: westbaystars: And the Giants are now up 11-0.
18:50: westbaystars: Motoki took ball two high and inside, and fell down as though the ball were closer than it was.
18:50: westbaystars: That got the crowd a little excited.
18:51: westbaystars: The next pitch is grounded up the middle.
18:51: westbaystars: Noguchi makes a great diving stop behind the second base bag.
18:51: westbaystars: Comes up, but holds onto the ball as Motoki has the base.
18:52: westbaystars: That brings up Kubo who struck out to lead off the inning.
18:52: westbaystars: He's way back in the back of the batter's box, and takes three straight strikes to end the Giants' hitting streak a ...
18:52: westbaystars: ... seven consecutive batters.
18:53: westbaystars: Kubo had no intention of putting wood on the ball.
18:53: westbaystars: Nishi lifts a fly ball to right.
18:53: westbaystars: Martin runs over and makes a sliding attempt at it in the corner, but isn't close.
18:53: westbaystars: Foul ball.
18:54: westbaystars: The next pitch is bounced between Kamada's legs and goes on up the middle into center field.
18:54: westbaystars: The hit parde continues for the Giants as Nishi gets his first hit of the game.
18:55: westbaystars: Shimizu comes up for his second time this inning.
18:55: westbaystars: He grounds the ball right to Dobashi at second.
18:55: westbaystars: The throw to first, and the side is finally retired.
18:56: westbaystars: But not before Kokubo hit his second home run of the evening as part of seven consecutive hits.
18:57: westbaystars: At the end of two complete, the Giants lead 11-0.
18:57: westbaystars: ---
18:57: westbaystars: Top of Third
18:57: westbaystars: ---
18:59: westbaystars: I think it was Noguchi who fouled out to Abe on the third base side for the first quick out.
18:59: westbaystars: Kashiwada pinch hit and struck out swinging for out number two.
19:00: westbaystars: Back to the top of the order for only Yakult's second time in Inaba.
19:00: westbaystars: And he grounds out to second to retire the side in order.
19:00: westbaystars: ---
19:00: westbaystars: Bottom of Third
19:00: westbaystars: ---
19:03: westbaystars: That was Miyade pinch hitting last inning, not Kashiwada. My mistake.
19:05: westbaystars: Satoh Masaru comes in to pitch for Yakult.
19:05: westbaystars: And he walks Rhodes to lead off the inning.
19:05: westbaystars: All walks up until now have scored for the Giants.
19:06: westbaystars: Takahashi comes up next.
19:06: westbaystars: But Tahahashi grounds to short, and it's a routine 6-4-3 double play.
19:07: westbaystars: Boy, Yakult could have used that last inning.
19:07: westbaystars: That brings up Kiyohara.
19:08: westbaystars: Kiyohara is now counting down with 10 more hits needed to reach 2,000 career hits.
19:08: westbaystars: His drive off the left field fense last inning was a meter short of a home run.
19:08: westbaystars: But he draws a walk here.
19:09: westbaystars: That's two consecutive walks by Satoh to lead off the third.
19:09: westbaystars: And Kokubo, who's hit a pair of home runs his first two at bats up next.
19:10: westbaystars: Kokubo hit a home run in his last at bat last night, so he's got a 3 at bat HR streak going.
19:11: westbaystars: But, it comes to an end as he lines the ball right at Noguchi at short.
19:11: westbaystars: Three out.
19:11: westbaystars: My mistake, that wasn't two consecutive walks. There was a double play in between.
19:11: westbaystars: Sorry for the confusion.
19:12: westbaystars: The Giants finally go down easilly. But at the end of three complete, continue to lead 11-0.
19:12: westbaystars: ---
19:12: westbaystars: Top of Fourth
19:12: westbaystars: ---
19:13: westbaystars: Number two batter Dobashi leads off the fourth for Yakult.
19:13: westbaystars: And he drives a one bounder to Takahashi in right for a lead off base hit.
19:13: MHStevie: Greetings all... looks like a blowout in progress...
19:13: westbaystars: 4 runs in the first, 7 in the second.
19:14: westbaystars: Iwamura grounds the ball through the right side of the infield.
19:14: westbaystars: Yakult has two runners on for the first time this game.
19:14: westbaystars: Are they getting to Kubo the second time around?
19:14: westbaystars: Ramirez steps in.
19:15: westbaystars: He is 0 for 4 against Kubo with two strike outs.
19:16: westbaystars: That probably has something to do with Kubo's 4 and 0 record against Yakult.
19:16: westbaystars: Ramirez grounds the ball over Kubo's head.
19:16: westbaystars: It's fielded by Motoki in front of the second base bag.
19:16: westbaystars: His only play is at first.
19:17: westbaystars: Runners move up to second and third, one out.
19:17: westbaystars: That brings up Suzuki Ken.
19:18: westbaystars: That Giants aren't concerned about letting in a run.
19:18: westbaystars: And Suzuki grounds the ball through the right side!
19:18: westbaystars: Base hit. Run in!
19:18: westbaystars: Yakult strikes back with a run and now only trail by 10.
19:19: westbaystars: Team leader Furuta comes up to bat.
19:20: westbaystars: Furuta rips a line to left.
19:20: westbaystars: But it's stabbed by Kubo just behind the third base bag.
19:21: westbaystars: Ramirez gets back before Kokubo touches the bag.
19:21: westbaystars: Martin then grounds to Motoki on the first pitch.
19:21: westbaystars: Motoki flips the ball to Nishi covering second.
19:21: westbaystars: The side is retire.
19:21: westbaystars: But not before Yakult struck back with a run.
19:22: westbaystars: Yakult now trails the Giants 1-11.
19:22: westbaystars: ---
19:22: westbaystars: Bottom of Fourth
19:22: westbaystars: ---
19:23: westbaystars: Abe, who hit his 21st home run of the season in the second inning, leads off against Satoh.
19:24: westbaystars: He lifts a high fly ball to center.
19:25: westbaystars: Inaba runs in, calls off the infielders, and takes the ball in for the first out of the inning.
19:25: westbaystars: *** They're showing that the BayStars lost 8-1 to Chunichi. It got worse after
19:25: westbaystars: *** I left to watch this game.
19:26: westbaystars: *** The only other game today was Kintetsu defeating Seibu 8-1.
19:26: westbaystars: *** All other games were rained out.
19:26: westbaystars: Motoki slaps a base hit that falls in fair up the right side.
19:26: habs: Who pitched the Baystar game?
19:27: westbaystars: Martin plays the ball in the corner.
19:27: westbaystars: And Motoki has a stand up double.
19:27: westbaystars: Katoh started.
19:27: westbaystars: ... for Yokohama.
19:28: westbaystars: No he didn't. Mullan started. Katoh was pitching when I turned the game on after getting in from fishing with the kids
19:29: westbaystars: Pitcher Kubo stands in, and he's swinging this time. Fouls off a pitch to bring the count to 2 strikes, 1 ball.
19:29: westbaystars: But at least he isn't watching all pitches this time.
19:30: westbaystars: Mounce started this game for Yakult, but was pulled with one out in the second.
19:30: westbaystars: Hey, after another foul ball, Kubo grounds a base hit through the left side.
19:31: westbaystars: That's his first hit of the season.
19:31: westbaystars: Back up to the top of the order and the Nishi comes up for the fourth time this evening.
19:32: westbaystars: He goes with the outside pitch and punches the ball through the right side.
19:32: westbaystars: The runner comes across from third, and the Giants add a run to increase their lead to 12-1.
19:33: westbaystars: Runners at first and second, one out, Shimizu at the plate.
19:33: westbaystars: Shimizu started the scoring with a 2-run home run in the first.
19:34: westbaystars: Shimizu lines the ball through the right side, pulling the ball up the line into right.
19:34: westbaystars: Kubo scores from second while Martin is chasing the ball down.
19:35: westbaystars: The Giants increase their lead to 13-1 on Shimizu's third hit of the evening.
19:35: westbaystars: That brings up Rhodes who had a base hit in the second.
19:35: westbaystars: Nishi held at third on Shimizu's double.
19:36: westbaystars: Rhodes isn't holding anything back, giving two full swings after a ball.
19:37: westbaystars: Satoh's fourth pitch is taken outside, 2-2.
19:37: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed, Rhodes strikes out.
19:37: westbaystars: That's the second out of the inning.
19:38: westbaystars: Takahashi comes up next and grounds Satoh's first pitch to third.
19:38: westbaystars: The throw to first is in time, and the side is retired.
19:38: westbaystars: But not before the Giants score two more on no home runs.
19:38: westbaystars: At the end of four complete, the Giants now lead 13-1.
19:38: westbaystars: ---
19:38: westbaystars: Top of Fifth
19:38: westbaystars: ---
19:40: MHStevie: Looks like my streak of close games to report on ends here...
19:41: westbaystars: Noguchi leads off lifting a high fly to Kiyohara at first. One out.
19:41: westbaystars: Yep. It'll take quite a bit to make this one close.
19:42: westbaystars: Manaka pinch hits for the Satoh.
19:42: westbaystars: He was 10 for 40 as a pinch hitter last season.
19:42: westbaystars: But goes down swinging here. Two outs.
19:43: westbaystars: Back to the top of the order in Inaba.
19:43: westbaystars: Inaba checks his swing, but grounds the ball to third.
19:44: westbaystars: He hustles up the line after the initial surprise of hitting the ball.
19:44: westbaystars: But isn't even close. Three up, three down.
19:44: westbaystars: ---
19:44: westbaystars: Bottom of Fifth
19:44: westbaystars: ---
19:45: westbaystars: Kiyohara leads off the bottom of the fifth.
19:46: westbaystars: Kiyohara hit a double off the left field fense in the big second inning that was a meter short of a home run.
19:46: westbaystars: That evened out his home runs to non-home run hits at 4 apiece.
19:47: westbaystars: He grounds the ball to the left side. The announcers got excited, but it doesn't go through.
19:47: westbaystars: The one bound to first is scooped up well by Suzuki Ken for the out.
19:47: westbaystars: One down.
19:48: westbaystars: That brings up Kokobo who hit home runs in his first two at bats (3 in a row counting last night).
19:48: westbaystars: Kokubo is batting .400 in the month of May so far.
19:49: westbaystars: He hits another one!
19:49: westbaystars: Foul!
19:50: westbaystars: No doubt about the distance, but it was just foul.
19:50: westbaystars: The next pitch is lifted to center, but not nearly as far.
19:50: westbaystars: Inaba comes in and catches the fly for out number two.
19:51: westbaystars: That brings up Abe.
19:51: westbaystars: He lines the ball to right, but not as high as in the second.
19:51: westbaystars: Martin has him played perfectly, and takes the line drive in for the third out.
19:51: westbaystars: The Giants go down in order.
19:52: westbaystars: But continue to lead at the end of five complete 13-1.
19:52: westbaystars: ---
19:52: westbaystars: Top of Sixth
19:52: westbaystars: ---
19:54: westbaystars: Dobashi leads off the sixth inning for Yakult.
19:55: westbaystars: And he grounds out to Kokubo at third. One out.
19:55: westbaystars: Sorry, that was Ohsuga at third, according to the announcers. He was just put in for Kokubo.
19:56: westbaystars: Iwamura lifts a high fly to left.
19:56: westbaystars: Shimizu goes back to the wall.
19:56: westbaystars: Lifts his glove up, and takes it in with his back to the wall.
19:56: westbaystars: Two down.
19:57: westbaystars: Ramirez takes a high and tight pitch, ball one.
19:57: westbaystars: The next pitch is hit through the left side, base hit!
19:58: westbaystars: Yakult gets their first base runner in a while with two down in the sixth.
19:58: westbaystars: That brings up Suzuki Ken.
20:00: westbaystars: And he watches a 2-2 strike three at the top of the strike zone and down the middle of the plate.
20:00: westbaystars: Yakult managed to get a runner on, but failed to score.
20:00: westbaystars: They continue to trail the Giants 1-13.
20:00: westbaystars: ---
20:00: westbaystars: Bottom of Sixth
20:00: westbaystars: ---
20:02: westbaystars: Motoki leads off the bottom of the sixth by lining out to short on the first pitch.
20:03: westbaystars: Kawabata is in to pitch for Yakult, by the way.
20:03: westbaystars: Kubo will be hitting for himself.
20:03: westbaystars: And he strikes out swinging.
20:04: westbaystars: Kubo's pitch count is still pretty low, so he deserves a shot at a complete game.
20:04: westbaystars: Nishi was bailing out of strike one, completely fooled by Kawabata's first pitch.
20:04: westbaystars: He swings weakly at strike two way low and outside.
20:05: westbaystars: He wises up and lets the next low and away pitch go by.
20:05: westbaystars: The next pitch is low and over the plate, swung on and missed, strike three.
20:05: westbaystars: Kawabata retires the Giants in order.
20:05: westbaystars: At the end of six complete, the Giants continue to lead 13-1.
20:06: westbaystars: ---
20:06: westbaystars: Top of Seventh
20:06: westbaystars: ---
20:07: westbaystars: Furuta leads off the seventh inning for Yakult.
20:09: westbaystars: He leans down low and hits the ball back up the middle, with a little slicing motion on the ball.
20:09: westbaystars: Nonetheless, it's a base hit.
20:10: westbaystars: Martin, blowing bubbles with his gum, steps up to the plate.
20:10: westbaystars: Martin hit the first grand slam off of Giant veteran Kuwata in Kuwata's 19 year career.
20:11: westbaystars: ... last nigh.
20:11: westbaystars: ... last night, that is.
20:11: westbaystars: Here, he lines the ball right at Motoki at short.
20:11: westbaystars: The throw to first to try to double up Furuta is not in time.
20:12: westbaystars: But Noguchi's first pitch grounder to Motoki allows Motoki to step on second for one,
20:12: westbaystars: then throw to first to complete the double play.
20:12: westbaystars: Yakult got their leadoff runner on, but have nothing to show for it.
20:13: westbaystars: Going to the Giants' Lucky Seven, the Giants continue to lead 13-1.
20:13: westbaystars: ---
20:13: westbaystars: Bottom of Seventh
20:13: westbaystars: ---
20:13: westbaystars: Yakult's battery is changing.
20:14: westbaystars: Sakamoto comes in to pitch and will bat in Furuta's #6 spot in the order.
20:14: westbaystars: Yoneno takes over behind the plate and will bat in the #9 spot.
20:15: westbaystars: Miki replaces Dobashi at second and will bat where Dobashi did, in the #2 spot.
20:15: westbaystars: Sakamoto's first batter is Shimizu.
20:16: westbaystars: He grounds the ball over Sakamoto's head.
20:16: westbaystars: It's played by Noguch in front of the second base bag.
20:16: westbaystars: And Noguchi just gets Shimizu by half a step.
20:16: westbaystars: One out.
20:16: westbaystars: That brings up Rhodes.
20:17: westbaystars: The Rhodes Shift is on. The third baseman is in the shortstop position.
20:18: westbaystars: The shortstop is just right of the second base bag.
20:18: westbaystars: And the second baseman is over midway between first and second.
20:19: westbaystars: There was a similar shift used against Oh in his day.
20:20: westbaystars: Abe currently holds the top spot in all three Triple Crown categories. Rhodes is second or third in all three.
20:20: westbaystars: But he draws a walk here.
20:20: MHStevie: In MLB, I think some teams employ that shift against Giambi of the Yankees...
20:20: westbaystars: And takes the rest of the night off as a pinch hitter comes in to run for him.
20:21: westbaystars: Takahashi pops the first pitch to him up to third for out number two.
20:21: westbaystars: Yea, there are some *all pull* hitters with power that that can be done with.
20:21: westbaystars: Kiyohara comes up to the delight of the crowd.
20:22: westbaystars: His .167 batting average going into the game doesn't matter to them.
20:23: westbaystars: And he strikes out swinging for the third out of the inning.
20:23: westbaystars: The game is starting to slow down.
20:24: westbaystars: At the end of seven complete, the Giants continue to lead 13-1.
20:24: westbaystars: ---
20:24: westbaystars: Top of Eighth
20:24: westbaystars: ---
20:24: MHStevie: It sounds like as long as he tries to hit it out each time, they're happy...
20:25: westbaystars: Yes, they are. 4 of his 8 hits this season have been home runs.
20:26: westbaystars: Inaba leads off the eighth against Giants' starter Kubo.
20:27: westbaystars: Is Kubo tiring? He's gone 1 strike, 3 balls on Inaba, surpassing 90 pitches now.
20:28: westbaystars: After a foul ball, Inaba rips the full count pitch to left center.
20:28: westbaystars: The ball comes back in, and Inaba is standing on second.
20:28: westbaystars: That's Yakult's 7th hit of the inning.
20:29: westbaystars: (The Giants hit 7 in a row in their 7 run second inning.)
20:29: MHStevie: Do you mean 7th hit of the game?
20:29: westbaystars: Miki, who came in last inning defensively, comes up for the first time this game.
20:30: westbaystars: He grounds the ball weakly to the left side.
20:30: westbaystars: Motoki comes up, but doesn't have a throw anywhere as Inaba holds at second.
20:30: westbaystars: That puts runners at first and second, nobody out.
20:31: westbaystars: Yes, that's what I meant.
20:31: westbaystars: And Iwamura lines his first pitch to right.
20:31: westbaystars: Takahashi comes up with the ball on a bounce, fires home.
20:31: westbaystars: The ball is cut off, Ibata scores!
20:32: westbaystars: And before I can complete typing that, Ramirez grounds the ball through the left side on Kubo's 99th pitch of the game.
20:32: westbaystars: Shimizu is up throwing home, but it's cut off and Miki scores!
20:33: westbaystars: Four hits in a row for Yakult!
20:33: westbaystars: ... scores two runs.
20:33: westbaystars: Suzuki Ken is nice enough to wait for the second pitch to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.
20:33: westbaystars: So that I can catch up to the action.
20:34: westbaystars: That retires the side.
20:34: westbaystars: but not before the Swallows showed that they were still alive and kicking with a pair of runs.
20:35: westbaystars: Going to the bottom of the eighth, they cut their deficite to *just* 10: 3-13.
20:35: westbaystars: ---
20:35: westbaystars: Bottom of Eighth
20:35: westbaystars: ---
20:36: westbaystars: Sakamoto is still on the mound for Yakult.
20:36: MHStevie: All right... is that the closest they've been since the 1st inning?
20:36: westbaystars: He faces Ohsuga, a defensive replacement earlier.
20:37: westbaystars: And Ohsuga hit his first professional (ichi-gun) home run!
20:37: MHStevie: Haitta!
20:37: westbaystars: Actually, Yakult came within 10 with a run in the fourth.
20:37: westbaystars: But it was short lived.
20:37: westbaystars: Like this time.
20:37: westbaystars: The Giants go up by 11, 14-3.
20:38: MHStevie: Ah, that's right...
20:38: westbaystars: Abe comes up.
20:39: westbaystars: Wow, watching the reply, Ohsuga's home run was deep in the stands in left.
20:39: westbaystars: Abe walked.
20:40: westbaystars: That brings up someone I don't recognize.
20:40: westbaystars: Suzuki something. Hold on.
20:40: westbaystars: Suzuki Takahiro.
20:42: westbaystars: He grounds the ball up the middle, past a diving Noguchi.
20:42: westbaystars: Base hits.
20:42: westbaystars: Even the replacement Giants are hitting Yakult this evening.
20:43: westbaystars: Suzuki was pinch hitting for Motoki.
20:43: westbaystars: Kubo bats for himself, so he'll be going for the complete game.
20:44: westbaystars: Kubo strikes out swinging, not trying to hit the ball.
20:44: MHStevie: Why not go for the complete game? He's got quite a pad for himself... =)
20:44: westbaystars: That's the first out of the inning, runners at first and second.
20:46: westbaystars: He is going for the complete game. He was showing signs of tiring last inning.
20:46: westbaystars: I'm not against it, if that's what you mean.
20:46: MHStevie: Westbay-san, I wanted to ask you an off-baseball question... you can answer when you have a free moment if you want...
20:46: westbaystars: Sure.
20:47: westbaystars: Nishi is up with the count full.
20:47: westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is taken outside, that loads the bases.
20:47: westbaystars: For Shimizu who just needs a triple for the cycle tonight.
20:49: westbaystars: He lifts a high fly ball to the left side of the mound.
20:49: westbaystars: Infield fly is called.
20:49: westbaystars: The ball is caught for the second out.
20:49: MHStevie: I wanted to know if you listened much to the pop/rock music in Japan or not (since my show is mostly music)...
20:49: westbaystars: Ide comes up.
20:50: MHStevie: Oh, and I was asking rhetorically about the complete game... if he's got an 11-run lead, it's worth trying...
20:50: westbaystars: I listen to whatever is on the radio, but just in the morning when I wake up.
20:50: westbaystars: I tend to listen to classical music on Internet radio channels all day.
20:51: westbaystars: Ide strikes out swinging, and the side is retired.
20:51: MHStevie: Are you familiar with the group B'z at all?
20:51: westbaystars: The Giants add another run to keep an 11 run difference.
20:51: westbaystars: Going to the final inning, the Giants lead 14-3.
20:51: westbaystars: ---
20:52: westbaystars: Top of Nineth
20:52: westbaystars: ---
20:52: westbaystars: I know of the group B'z, but can't tell you what they sing/play off hand.
20:52: westbaystars: I'm not really one to pay much attention to who performs the music. I just listen to what's on.
20:53: MHStevie: I understand...
20:53: westbaystars: Not sure who batted, but somebody flew out to center on the first pitch.
20:53: westbaystars: That brings up Martin.
20:54: westbaystars: Sorry to not be of more help with that one.
20:54: westbaystars: And sorry that Martin goes down swinging for the second out.
20:55: westbaystars: Yakult is down to their final out of the game.
20:55: westbaystars: And Wakamatsu-kantoku is letting Noguchi hit?
20:55: MHStevie: Oh, I wasn't asking for help... I had an amusing story on my show if you were a B'z fan at all...
20:55: westbaystars: Oh, it's his birthday, today.
20:56: MHStevie: My radio show here in New York is actually a modern Asian music show...
20:56: westbaystars: Hey, and Noguchi gets a birthday double off the wall in right-center!
20:57: westbaystars: Ah, so that's why the interest in Japanese baseball? That makes it more clear.
20:57: MHStevie: Tanjoubi omedetou, Noguchi-san!
20:57: westbaystars: Yoneno, currently hitless for the year, steps in.
20:57: MHStevie: Well, it's kind of a building interest in Japan in general...
20:58: MHStevie: Started with anime/manga, moved to pop music and has been expanding ever since...
20:58: westbaystars: Yoneno doesn't get his first hit yet, grounding out to Ohsuga at third.
20:59: westbaystars: But this is Kubo's first complete game of his career.
20:59: westbaystars: (He couldn't get the final out against Yokohama a week or two ago, if I remember correctly.)
21:00: westbaystars: I can understand a radio show about Asian pop music, and baseball, but how do you do anime/manga over the radio?
21:00: MHStevie: Congratulations to Kubo as well, then...
21:00: MHStevie: Oh, anime/manga is just where my interest in Japanese culture started...
21:01: MHStevie: Although I do play a fair amount of theme music from anime on the show... that's the tie-in, I guess...
21:02: westbaystars: Ah, I can see that. I've seen some anime Internet radio stations at shoutcast.com.
21:03: MHStevie: I've always followed MLB, so NPB combined two of my interests...
21:03: MHStevie: Yeah, there's a pretty big anime following here these days...
21:04: MHStevie: I was at an anime convention in Baltimore last year, and over 10,000 people attended!
21:04: westbaystars: My first thought was that you were riding the popularity of the two Matsuis.
21:04: westbaystars: With interest in them in New York, it was natural to promote more interest in NPB.
21:04: MHStevie: But less people are really expanding that interest into other things...
21:05: MHStevie: Well, that's obviously a factor... but I'd been aware of guys like Nomo and Ichiro for a while before Godzilla arrived..
21:06: westbaystars: Ah, but looking at some of the posts on my site, it seemed like it took a longer while for New Yorkers to gain an ...
21:07: westbaystars: ... interest in NPB than fans in LA and Seattle.
21:07: MHStevie: Believe it or not, it was your coverage of the Japan Series last year that clinched it for me...
21:07: westbaystars: Because that's where these two superstars went.
21:07: MHStevie: I was aware of NPB, but really had no source for enjoying a game "live"...
21:08: westbaystars: That clinched your interest?
21:08: MHStevie: I'd agree that with H. Matsui going to the Yankees, more general interest in NPB appeared...
21:09: MHStevie: Yep... I was starting to look into NPB right around that time...
21:09: MHStevie: I had so much fun reporting on the games live here at my show...
21:09: westbaystars: Nomo's stint in New York got people interested here, but not so much there (to the best of my knowledge).
21:09: MHStevie: That's when I really started following NPB diligently on your site and others...
21:09: westbaystars: Irabu turned out to flop in New York.
21:10: westbaystars: Komiyama didn't do much.
21:10: westbaystars: It was H. Matsui that saw a huge influx of New Yorkers to my site.
21:11: westbaystars: That's very interesting. Flattering even.
21:11: westbaystars: Most people get to my site because they either have an interest or are interested in a particular friend or relative.
21:12: westbaystars: I've hoped that my site would spark an interest in NPB (for reasons other than "Who's the next _____?").
21:12: westbaystars: But you're the first confirmation. Thank you.
21:13: MHStevie: Well, I think for most people here, there's an awareness of players from Japan...
21:13: MHStevie: But not as many people make that leap to saying "Which team in Japan did that guy play for?"
21:14: MHStevie: Certainly having the Yankees' Japan exhibition games broadcast on the YES network here...
21:14: MHStevie: ...has probably helped that side of things now.
21:14: MHStevie: That was amazing to see Matsui hit the HR against the Giants was amazing...
21:15: westbaystars: Did the Tigers raise some eyebrows that series?
21:15: MHStevie: Definitely, I think... there was some press coverage of that...
21:15: MHStevie: And again, I was able to watch the game live in the USA on the YES network...
21:16: MHStevie: So I think some Yankees fans are becoming more aware of NPB...
21:16: westbaystars: I've heard from a TV station in Hawaii that they're broadcasting Yomiuri Giants games there.
21:16: MHStevie: I'd love it if YES made a deal to show some NPB games on their station...
21:17: westbaystars: Do you think there'll ever be a chance of such a TV deal in New York?
21:17: MHStevie: Do you remember the station at all? Was it KIKU-TV?
21:17: westbaystars: Many of us here thought that that was what the Yankees and Giants did in their working agreement.
21:17: westbaystars: That was it.
21:18: westbaystars: http://www.kikutv.com/GiantsBaseball/index.html
21:19: MHStevie: Yeah, they feature a LOT of Japanese TV...
21:19: MHStevie: Drama series, news... they even show the Kohaku Utagassen each year...
21:19: westbaystars: Where you in Hawaii? Or came across it in your search for NPB news?
21:20: MHStevie: I have a few tapes of shows from their station...
21:20: MHStevie: I think they cater to the Japanese population in Hawaii...
21:21: MHStevie: I was just guessing that they would be the station covering the Giants... =)
21:21: westbaystars: They do have a large Japanese audience. Percentage-wise greater than New York, I'm sure. But total viewers?
21:22: westbaystars: Might New York not have more potential viewers?
21:22: westbaystars: Or is it too nitch market?
21:22: MHStevie: But yes, your Japan Series coverage last year inspired me to update my listeners...
21:23: westbaystars: :s/nitch/niche/
21:23: westbaystars: And your ratings? Or may I ask?
21:24: westbaystars:
21:24: MHStevie: ...on the NPB season this year.
21:24: MHStevie: We're a college station in a pretty small town, so not that much, I'm afraid.
21:25: MHStevie: But we do simulcast on the Internet, so there might be listeners there too... =)
21:25: westbaystars: Oh, yea. You mentioned that before. Oh! During the Series, as I'm starting to recall.
21:26: MHStevie: New York would definitely have more viewers than Hawaii, I would think...
21:26: MHStevie: Yep... I introduced myself then...
21:26: MHStevie: I think New York City has at least one station which caters to the Japanese pop. there...
21:27: MHStevie: But I haven't heard anything about showing any NPB games at all...
21:27: westbaystars: My main interest in these question is that I get inundated with requests on how to watch the
21:27: westbaystars: ... All Stars Games and Nihon Series every year.
21:27: westbaystars: I try to explain that people need to contact media outlets in their area and/or ESPN.
21:28: westbaystars: But I don't have any good data to present a decent business proposal to them.
21:29: westbaystars: 100 NPB fans on the Internet writing to a guy who holds a forum isn't enough incentive for them.
21:29: MHStevie: Yeah, that's a tough sell...
21:29: MHStevie: YES might be a possibility, but they're also a bit of a niche station...
21:30: westbaystars: I feel my readers' pain and want to help. But don't know what else to try.
21:30: MHStevie: YES is the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network...
21:30: MHStevie: Basically a cable station of nothing but Yankees... =)
21:30: westbaystars: That's why so many people here thought that the Giant-Yankee tie-up meant the possiblity of Giants ...
21:30: MHStevie: They cover most of the regular season games, and fill their remaining schedule...
21:31: westbaystars: ... being broadcast live (or via tape delay) to New York on a regular basis.
21:31: MHStevie: ...with Yankees documentaries and old Yankees classic games.
21:31: MHStevie: They definitely seemed to enjoy covering the exhibition games...
21:32: MHStevie: The trick for them would be setting up a commentary team there, I would think...
21:32: MHStevie: They sent their normal team over for the exhibitions since they had the two regular season games as well...
21:32: MHStevie: Yanks/Devil Rays...
21:32: westbaystars: Yomiuri Group's cable channel, G+, is similar - showing Giants' game, games from their glory days, farm games, ...
21:33: westbaystars: ... but also other sports like soccer, auto racing, and others.
21:34: westbaystars: NTV, Yomiuri's VHF network, has had some gaijin commentators in the past. I didn't think they were very good, but ...
21:35: westbaystars: ... I like the "hai"-man commentator on the Japanese side.
21:35: MHStevie: Yep... sounds similar. YES shows Manchester United soccer from the UK...
21:35: MHStevie: ...and also covers the NY Nets NBA team.
21:37: MHStevie: I think there was talk between YES and the Giants, but nothing came of it...
21:37: MHStevie: We'll have to see...
21:37: westbaystars: I'm sure something could be worked out. But it's more than a poor computer programmer with an itch to tell the world
21:38: westbaystars: about NPB can do.
21:38: MHStevie: Yeah... we only do what we can...
21:39: westbaystars: It's been an interesting chat. Thanks for the conversation. I'm seriously thinking of adding the chat room to be ...
21:39: MHStevie: I'm doing my small part trying to turn on upstate New York to Japanese pop music and NPB...
21:39: westbaystars: ... a little more permanent when I redo the site (probably next off season).
21:40: westbaystars: Keep it up. And I'd be especially interested in what kind of feedback you get from those who do tune in.
21:40: MHStevie: That's cool... I've enjoyed having your forums as a place to ask my newbie questions...
21:41: MHStevie: Thanks for staying later to chat! I appreciate getting the chance to talk with you a bit...
21:41: westbaystars: The main feedback I get are questions and "thank you"s - but rarely something specific.
21:41: MHStevie: I imagine it's pretty late there now...
21:41: MHStevie: As I've said, I for one appreciate your efforts...
21:42: westbaystars: I take it you don't mind if I post this as-is? It started off off topic, but stayed well on topic.
21:42: MHStevie: I know I probably wouldn't be half as 'into' NPB now if it weren't for your site and these "live" games...
21:43: MHStevie: No problem at all... I figured anything I said here might appear in the log...
21:43: westbaystars: Perhaps more will tune in to chat after the games in the future.
21:44: MHStevie: Hopefully so...
21:45: westbaystars: It's still a little bit before 10:00 pm. here. Nothing left to do but the dishes and take a hot, soothing bath.
21:45: MHStevie: I noticed habs was back again for at least part of the game...
21:46: westbaystars: So I'll wrap it up here. Have a good Sunday.
21:46: MHStevie: The day's just getting started here... I need breakfast after this show... =)
21:46: MHStevie: Oyasuminasai... thanks again for your great work!
21:46: westbaystars: Oh, yea. (S)he came on just before you.
Correction
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: May 17, 2004 8:55 AM
| YBS Fan
]
Habs-san asked about Yokohama's starting pitcher yesterday. I incorrectly corrected myself to say that it was Mullan. It was former Chunichi Dragon (and Kintetsu Buffaloe) Kadokura who started. In the first inning, Inoue hit a hard come-backer off of Kadokura, retiring him from the mound early. There is nothing in today's Nikkan Sports that says what Kadokura's condition is, or even what part of his body the ball was hit off of. (Fukudome's part of the game, though, is very well documented - as he was the driving force behind Chunichi on Sunday.)
Mullan pitched on Saturday. Sorry for the mis-information.
It was Katoh on the mound when I came in without any fish, though.
Mullan pitched on Saturday. Sorry for the mis-information.
It was Katoh on the mound when I came in without any fish, though.
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