Tigers season - batting and fielding

A few comments on the performance of Tigers offense. Figures are from the NPB website so do not include sabremetrics. I have arranged the batters in shirt number order.

0. Takahiro Shoda (Right)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  13   24  23   4    7   1  0  0   8   2  0  1   0    0   1  0  4    0 .304

Didn't get much playing time but did well enough. Not well enough to convince the conservative Hanshin coaches though.


1. Takashi Toritani (Short stop)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
 144  605 523  66  147  17  6 13 215  80  4  7   5    5  68  4  85  10 .281

Toritani did well this season. His batting was far in excess of his previous best year (2006) with his hitting being more effective. He hit his first career grand slam and managed 80 RBI's. Significantly as well, he struck out far less than previously though he did show a liking for low outside pitches and this is something he needs to work on. Fielding was much improved with his error count being well down on his worst year of 2006. Toritani has at last begun to live up to expectations. He was a better batter at five or six and even though he was tried at three was not very effective.

2. Toshihiro Noguchi (Catcher)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  55  167 141  10   27   5  0  1  35   9  0  1   7    1  16  1  35   4 .191

Noguchi was Tigers main replacement catcher after Yano. He worked mainly with Iwata but when Yano was away at the Beijing Olympics he was the main catcher. This was a clear mistake - he was not very effective and his age was a problem. His throwing was superior to Yano's but that was all. He frequently failed to read the game especially early on. His batting was lightweight and really one can only say he kept more effective batters out of the team. Tigers needed to be giving their younger catchers more playing time but both Kanoh and Komiyama did not get much chance. Interestingly even though he has been with Tigers for 6 years he does not have a fight song. Definitely a case of 'old and in the way'.

3. Kentaro Sekimoto (First, Second, Third)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
 136  521 430  57  128  25  2  8 181  52  2  1  38    5  42  6  47  10 .298

Another player with a career year - Sekimoto was more effective this season knocking in 52 RBIs. The highest total of his career. He looked more confident at the plate (he used to blink a lot) and was a good performer. He fielded all bases and was very adept and able though prone to the odd stunningly bad error (his error against the Carp scoring two runs at second for example). On the down side his running was not as aggressive as it used to be. He was the only Japanese player I have seen who would charge the catcher in an attempt to dislodge the ball when going for home. His versatility ensured that he started almost all games. Also hit his first career grand slam. When batting second he was asked to bunt and this was a waste of his abilities. He was much better in batting five or six.

5. Keiichi Hirano (Second, Centre, Right)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
 115  452 365  46   96   7  3  1 112  21  7  3  47    1  35  4  62   9 .263

Hirano came from Orix after a truely horrendous injury which left him wheelchair bound for a while. As a result he will receive a special award from the Central League for his efforts. He too was asked to bunt too much doing so 47 times. His speed wasn't really utilized and no effort was made to develop his batting which could mature into something impressive. In the field he was a live wire switching between infield and outfield with equal adeptness. He continued to show the reckless bravery that earned him his injury but apart from a thigh strain remained healthy and well.

6. Tomoaki Kanemoto (Left)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB  RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
 144  623 535  87  164  33  2 27 282  108  2  1   0    8  77  3  99   8 .307

What can be said about Kanemoto? He might be old (40 years) but still delivers the numbers. Kanemoto played in every innings in every game and holds the world record for the longest run of consecutive innings in baseball. However, he could have done with a rest and despite his numbers was clearly getting tired. His batting performance fell of in July and after a spike in August fell back with only 5 RBIs in October. The problem for Tigers is that the team is built around Kanemoto and if he doesn't perform it has difficulties. There is no one to replace him. Even though he struggled at times his performance in the field and with the bat says quality and the number of times he is deliberately walked indicates how the opposition fears him.

7. Makoto Imaoka (Third)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  55  186 169  15   29   3  0  7  53  29  0  0   0    3  13  1  38   5 .172

Imaoka has suffered from his 2005 performance. He hit almost everything on offer and produced 147 RBIs. Since then he was ineffective and his performance dropped off alarmingly. Okada used to say he was from Mars and no one could figure out what he was thinking. Imaoka started the season poorly and after several bad games was sent down to the farm team. He did not reappear until September. Suddenly it was like the Imaoka of 2005. He announced his return with a straight 2 run home run off Ishikawa and then proceeded to bat more like the Imaoka of 2005. His batting was instinctive and even though he failed occasionally he was much improved. Time will tell whether he is back to his previous form. His fielding at third base was also much improved - Mr Yatta dekiru yan ka (see what you can do if you try) had become a much more effective third base.

8. Ryo Asai (Right)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP  K  GDP  Avg
  31   52  48   3   12   3  1  0  17   4  1  1   3    0   1  0   8    0 .250

Tigers third catcher - it was decided that he wasn't needed and so Asai converted into an outfielder. Really, he wasn't effective and did nothing to justify his place in the team.

9. Atsushi Fujimoto (Second)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  58   89  76  12   19   1  1  0  22   7  1  0   4    2   6  1  14   3 .250

Fujimoto was used mainly as a replacement second or pinch runner. He didn't figure much in Okada's plans and with Hirano's joining wasn't needed. He is a dynamic fielder but his lightweight hitting has been a problem.

24. Shinjiro Hiyama (Right)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  94  121 110   7   33   8  2  0  45  19  0  0   0    1   9  1  26   2 .300

Hiyama converted into a pinch hitter and was very successful in the role. He didn't hit any home runs but hit in 19 runs. He did make one or two appearances at right field and was secure.

25. Takahiro Arai (First)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  94  410 366  54  112  22  4  8 166  59  2  1   0    4  35  5  83   7 .306

Arai was the big signing from Hiroshima and Tigers had high hopes from him. His season started well and he hit nicely knocking in runs comfortably. However, he picked up a stress fracture of his fifth lumbar vertibrae. This was misdiagnosed as arthritis (I have no idea whether it is easy to tell the difference so I cannot comment on the decision) and he was advised to rest. He then joined the Beijing Olympics team and this further aggravated his injury. He should have rested. On his return a correct diagnosis meant that he was put on the disabled list but when he returned even though he hit he only knocked in one RBI. A better diagnosis and sitting out Hoshino Japan would have improved his season imensely.

31. Weizhu Lin (Right)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  66  189 177  17   44   6  2  2  60  13  1  0   0    1  10  1  31   4 .249

Lin returned from surgery in July but was not the player of 2007. He struggled to adjust and to recover his bat speed. He did not perform effectively and really is a prospect for next year.

32. Tadatoki Maeda (Third)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
   1    3   3   0    0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0   0    0   0  0  1    0 .000

Maeda appeared in one game and then returned to the farm team. One wonders why they bothered.


33. Ikuro Katsuragi (First, Right)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP  K  GDP  Avg
 112  263 238  24   62  12  3  1  83  29  0  1   2     3  16  3  48   1 .261

Katsuragi had to platoon for first with Takahashi and this probably had a bearing on his performance. An effective batter in bursts he did produce 29 RBIs but one felt he was misused.

35. Katsuhiko Saka (Third)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  17   10   9   3    0   0  0  0   0   1  0  0   1    0   0  0  2    0 .000

Saka was one of the young players of 2007 who promised so much. However, like many of the others he failed to sustain it in 2008. His fielding at third was disappointing and his hitting was lacking.

39. Akihiro Yano (Catcher)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
 119  404 371  20  102  17  1  4 133  36  0  1  10    5  16  2 100  13 .275

Yano is Tigers No.1 catcher and almost certainly the best catcher in Japan. However, his skills are fading and this season was not one of his best. His run production was drastically down and his decision making and calling were much reduced. His throwing to base especially in the first half of the season was really abysmal and Yano surrendered six steals in one innings (equalling the Central League record). He was better after the Olympics but Tigers desperately need to find a replacement catcher. Younger catchers need to be brought into play and given more chances and less reliance placed on Yano.

50. Mitsunobu Takahashi (First)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  68  115 108   9   34   7  0  4  53  15  0  0   0    1   6  0  16   2 .315

A quite effective batting average but not so much production. Takahashi would make a nice pinch hitter but really shouldn't be platooned with Katsuragi. Fielding was effective.

51. Kodai Sakurai (Right)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  25   44  40   2    5   0  0  0   5   1  0  0   0    0   4  0  13   1 .125

He spectacularly failed to produce his form of 2007. Anemic batting was the order of the day and it seemed that no one had bothered to give him any coaching. A real disappointment.

52. Aarom Baldris (Second, Third)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  77  158 132  21   30   9  0  3  48  16  1  1   4    1  17  4  28   6 .227

Baldris was one of two players from Venezuela signed to the Tigers development squad (the other being Ojeda). Whilst Ojeda failed, Baldris was judged good enough and was inserted as a third base. His positioning was not of the best and he made several errors. Batting proved to be lightweight but with more work this can be corrected as there is a lot of raw potential there. Fielding does need to improve though, particularly positioning.

53. Norihiro Akahoshi (Centre)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
 144  646 556  94  176  15  1  0 193  30 41  9   9    3  73  4  87   3 .317

A highly effective leadoff batter, Akahoshi continued to perform impressively. His stealing wasn't as prolific as previous years but he was very effective in getting on base. Fielding in centre field was very good with his speed being a positive advantage. Base running suffered from the Wada disease - he could have done better but was prevented on several occasions.

55. Jon Lewis Ford (Right)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  47  144 129  11   29   7  1  3  47  11  0  1   0    2  11  2  27   6 .225

Ford came with great expectations as the Tigers foreign power hitter. He quickly established himself as a fan favourite and his hustle round the field was much admired. However, his batting was not up to standard and after a long spell in the first team disappeared into the farm team never to re-emerge. There was talk of giving him a second chance but this is unlikely and he will probably be replaced. A great pity.

60. Shinji Komiyama (Catcher)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
   3    1   1   0    1   0  0  0   1   1  0  0   0    0   0  0  1    0 .500

Appeared in three games, drove in a run. Really, more use needed to be made of him. Yano and Noguchi need to be replaced and the younger catchers need to be given more playing time. Tigers do need their younger guys to be able to step up and for this they must get playing time.

99. Keisuke Kanoh (Catcher)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  12    9   9   2    2   1  0  0   3   1  0  0   0    0   0  0   0   0 .222

Another young catcher who didn't get much chance. He did catch for Iwata and did quite well but mostly made appearances as a pinch hitter. Okada's conservatism and failure to recognise his preferred catchers weren't making the grade was very frustrating. Kanoh needs more playing time as he has great potential. Tigers need to start planning for the post-Yano era.

00. Shuta Tanaka (Infielder)

Games  PA  AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR  TB RBI SB CS SacH SacF BB HBP K  GDP  Avg
  12    2   2   4    0   0  0  0   0   1  0  0   0    0   0  0   0   0 .000

Under Okada used mainly as a pinch runner. This trend continued in 2008.

One outfielder was let go at the end of 2008 as surplus to requirements. This was Shinsuke Yamada.