Tigers season - batting and fielding

Here are some thoughts on individual performances. Players are listed in numerical shirt order and this time only their, HRs, RBIs and averages are quoted.

0. Takahiro Shoda
Av: .000, HR; 0, RBI: 0
Appeared in four games - didn't do anything.

1. Takahashi Toritani
Av: .288, HR: 20, RBI: 75
Toritani hit more for power this year but his RBI count was slightly down. He went through a mid-season slump but given the general team performance his hitting held up well. Fielding was first class.

2. Kohei Shibata
Av: .000, HR: 0, RBI: 1
Tigers No. 2 draft pick in 2009 he also got some playing time and looked good. Drove in his first career RBI, a sacrifice. He will likely have to give up his number if Johjima joins the Tigers.

3. Kentaro Sekimoto
Av: .271,HR: 3, RBI: 44
Not as good as last year but his season was interrupted by injury and he only played in 113 games. Fielding was so so with an increased mistake count. Power output was down but he did have the ability to hit for runs.

5. Keichi Hirano
Av: .270, HR: 0, RBI: 18
Full of energy as usual Hirano did not produce as much as last year, his figures being slightly down but his average was better. He was used as leadoff batter and settled into the role well.

6. Tomoaki Kanemoto
Av: .261, HR: 21, RBI: 91
On the face of it his production is still high but he suffered from a massive slump for a large portion of the season and most of his runs came in April and September with very little between. Struggled to hit with runners on and showed clear signs that he needed to be dropped down the order. Thankfully, there are signs that this is likely to happen next season.

7. Makoto Imaoka
Av: .133, HR: 0, RBI: 2
Another horrendous season for Imaoka. He rapidly disappeared to ni-gun and his career at Tigers is pretty much finished. Seibu have shown interest and this is where he will probably be traded.

8. Ryo Asai
Av: .313, HR: 4, RBI: 13
A much improved performance. Asai came in late season to cover centre field and showed considerable power and ability. A thigh strain cut short his season just as he was getting going but he is a useful addition to the outfield.

9. Atsushi Fujimoto
Av: .219, HR: 0, RBI: 1
Mayumi had high hopes for him and at the beginning of the season put him in in preference to Hirano. It didn't work and Fujimoto was poor and continued to be unable to hit effectively. He is a free agent now and so may want to consider another team. One cannot see a further role for him in Tigers.

15. Keisuke Mizuta
Av: .000, HR: 0, RBI: 0
Traded from Seibu in exchange for Taiyo, he was used mainly as a replacement second and pinch runner.

24. Shinjiro Hiyama
Av: .225, HR: 1, RBI: 9
He has settled into the pinch hitting role very nicely but had a quieter year. Still strikes out too much.

25 Takahiro Arai
Av: .260, HR: 15, RBI: 82
A much improved season but Arai still underperformed. He suffered from Kido and really did not look happy. The 82 RBIs showed how good a batter he is when he is motivated and sacking Kido would help this. Fielding at third was good but got tired towards the end of the season.

31. Lin Weichu
Av: .208, HR: 3, RBI: 11
Did not play much and did not really look comfortable. He struggled to recover from injury and the Tigers coaching team seemed unable to help. Kataoka hopes to improve his performance next season.

32. Kevin Mench
Av: .148, HR: 0, RBI: 2
Signed as Tigers foreign import Mench was completely out of his depth. He could not adjust to the pitching and was next to useless. A complete failure of Tigers scouting and management especially as the experienced Brazell was also available. He was let go mid-season.

33. Ikuro Katsuragi
Av: .250, HR: 2, RBI: 13
He was given much more playing time but did not justify the faith placed in him. Once again he suffered from inadequate batting coaching and failed to fulfil his promise.

35. Katsuhiko Saka
Av: .000, HR: 0, RBI: 0
Another of the 2007 stars he made a few appearances but didn't do anything.

39. Akihiro Yano
Av: .307, HR: 2, RBI: 8
Sat out the first part of the season due to injury. When he returned wasn't very good and particularly poor in his calling. He was fading last year and nothing had changed. Did hit a home run off Marc Kroon but this has to be considered a fluke. Needs to be pensioned off.

44. Toru Fujiwara
Av: .000, HR: 0, RBI: 0
Appeared in a couple of games and did nothing with the bat. He was let go at the end of the season as surplus to requirements.

45. Takashi Shimizu
Av: .176, HR: 0, RBI:0
One of Tigers reserve catchers, he needed more playing time and didn't get it as Mayumi went with the poor Okazaki. A prospect for the future.

50: Mitsunobu Takahashi
Av: ,250, HR: 1, RBI: 10
This season he was used mainly as a pinch hitter and did very well in the role. This role suits his temprement.

51: Kodai Sakurai
Av: .302, HR: 12, RBI: 42
After an abysmal 2008 Sakurai was much better and hit well and with power. His fielding was good though he did make some errors. He was an aggressive and powerful player.

52; Aarom Baldris
Av: .103, HR: 1, RBI: 1
After a promising 2008 he completely disintergrated and was a waste of space. This was all the more surprising as he was supreme in ni-gun. Showed no apptitude with the bat at all and seemed to have no ability to adapt to top team play. Will probably be traded to another team.

53. Norihiro Akahoshi
Av: .263, HR: 0, RBI: 8
Dogged by injuries Akahoshi had a quiet season. He did steal more this season (31 steals) but injury probelms prevented him from winning the steal crown for the season. In fact his season finished early with a slipped disk. He needs to rest his back and the over-training regime instituted by Kido and co will not help.

57. Taichi Okazaki
Av: .357, HR: 0, RBI: 1
He was another of Tigers reserve catchers and despite his high average didn't really do anythng with the bat. His calling was one dimensional and unimaginative and he was paired with Kubo for most of the first part of the season. This delayed Kubo's first victory considerably and Mayumi would have been better employed using Komiyama or Shimizu.

66. Yamato Maeda
Av: .177, HR: 0, RBI: 1
Another of Tigers young signings he finally made the top team. Fielded second and was secure. More work on his batting would help.

67. Craig Brazell
Av: .291, HR: 16, RBI: 49
Signed as an emergency replacement for Kevin Mench, Brazell energised the side with his aggressive and timely hitting. He was a revelation and one wonders why the Tigers didn't sign him at the beginning of the season. Did have some injury problems but did very well when he played, adding much needed power. He hit two runs in an innings against BayStars and will be asked back next season.

94. Yuya Nohara
Av: .267, HR: 0, RBI: 0
Tigers 2009 No. 1 draft pick he joined the team in July. His appearances were enough to show that he has a lot of potential.

99. Keisuke Kanoh
Av: .262, HR: 5, RBI: 35
He was given the chance to be the main catcher with Yano's injury and rose to the challenge superbly. His calling was perceptive and imaginative and he saved many games by his sharp play. Good with the bat and hit his first career grand slam. Two points he needs to work on - hitting impetuously and a weakness under the high foul ball. However, he is already a brilliant catcher and should get better given the playing time.

Shuta Tanaka (00) decided to retire this season.

Two infielders, Toru Fujiwara (44) and Tadatoki Maeda (55) were let go as surplus to requirements