August 6th Tsuru v Yoshimi - Dragons win through

This game was almost certain to be a Dragons win - they were winless over the previous six games and were desperate. A lot of their hits had that quality about them - wild swings which somehow stayed in and scored. Tsuru was better than before but not really impressive. Dragons pitcher Yoshimi was much more impressive and was able to hold the line very well. Tigers batting was not impressive and until Brazell's home run they didn't generate a hit. Of interest is Jim Allen's interview with Standridge (Daily Yomiuri 4th August). What I found especially fascinating were his comments on playing under Oh. Not an enjoyable experience for many players apparently. Asahi Shimbun (sports 5th August) also has a illuminating interview with Kuwata who gives his opinions on various aspects of both Japanese and American baseball. Both articles worth a careful read. On a different note Hirano picked up the MVP award for July - his first ever. On to the game - scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tigers   0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 0
Dragons  0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 X 4 9 0

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Toritani (Short)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Murton (Right)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Brazell (First)
6. Kanemoto (Left)
7. Johjima (Catcher)
8. Asai (Centre)
9. Tsuru (Pitcher)

Dragons
1. Araki (Short)
2. Hidenori (Centre)
3. Wada (Left)
4. Morino (Third)
5. Blanco (First)
6. T. Donoue (Right)
7. N. Donoue (Second)
8. Oda (Catcher)
9. Yoshimi (Pitcher)

Tigers started poorly with their batters falling in order - shot selection wasn't that impressive and Yoshimi was pitching well. Tsuru also started well striking out two of the first three Dragons in the first. Tigers second was more of the same but Dragons second was different. Morino led off with a hit - there was a time when Morino was a guaranteed strike out for a Tigers pitcher but no longer. Tsuru as is his wont let this get to him. Blanco grounded out to second which moved Morino to second base. T. Donoue took a wild swing and the ball just stayed fair for a two base hit 1-0 Dragons, runner on second. N. Donoue flew out and Oda walked to get at Yoshimi. He grounded out to end the innings. Tigers third was also disappointing with all three batters falling in order. In Dragons third Hidenori hit after a really wild swing at a pitch that made him look like a complete chump. Still, his hit was competent enough. Wada hit into a double play to end that innings.

Tigers fourth was a continuation of the third - everyone got out and no one made base. No hits, no walks - it wasn't very inspiring. Morino hit to centre again - the same place as before but Blanco lined out. T. Donoue hit and Dragons had runners on first and third. This was dangerous but Tsuru struck out N. Donoue to prevent the sacrifice and then got Oda to fly out to left. This was nice pitching. Arai grounded out rapidly in Tigers fifth - too rapidly but Brazell stayed and then got a hittable pitch which he sent into the right centre stand 1-1 scores tied. Kanemoto hit a two base which bounced off the wall. If proof were needed that he is old and fading this was it. In his prime that would have been a Kanemoto home run but he no longer has the power. When will he be dropped to a level more suitable for his current ability? Yoshimi was panicking by now but did get Johjima to ground out. Asai was deliberately walked after Yoshimi's control really went west to get at Tsuru. He struck out looking to end the innings and Yoshimi breathed a huge sigh of relief. Tigers were level but could have done more against a nervous pitcher. Tsuru then immediately gave up the lead again. With one out Araki hit. Hidenori grounded out forcing out Araki but the double play did not come off. This was to have serious consequences. Wada hit to left, the ball just bouncing fair - however, unlike Donoue, Wada knew exactly what he was doing. Hidenori rounded the bases for home 2-1 Dragons runner on second. Kanemoto throwing weakly again which makes one wonder about his arm. Tsuru deliberately walked Morino and then faced Blanco who flew out to short. Still Dragons were back in the lead. Hirano hit to second and beat the throw with his usual head sliding trick. Murton then hit into a double play - his shot selection was awful and the innings was over. Dragons sixth was quiet with both Donoue brothers falling easily and Oda doing nothing.

Tigers seventh saw more poor batting and this is when Yoshimi if he has pitched well (and he had) tires. Once again poor shot selection didn't help. Dragons seventh was pitched by Nishimura - Tsuru having done enough over six innings. He got the three batters comfortably. Johjima led off Tigers eighth with a hit. He was pinch run for by Uemoto as Mayumi decided to use Shimizu again. Asai bunted Yamato to second and then Sekimoto (pinch hitter) walked - runners on first and second. Ochiai quickly changed his pitchers and Asao took the mound. He proved the equal of both Toritani and Hirano and the innings was scoreless. Mayumi's choice of Shimizu as replacement catcher was rapidly shown to be an act of the greatest folly. His calling was poor and like his previous outing he gave up runs. Kanoh is the better catcher and certainly should be put in before Shimizu. Once again Mayumi blew a game just to exercise his prejudices. Up until the Dragons eighth the game was still winable. The pitcher was Watanabe who started with a hit to left to Wada. Morino walked as Watanabe struggled to interpret Shimizu's calls. Iwasake (pinch hitter) bunted the runners to second and third and Mayumi decided to change pitchers putting Fujihara on the mound. Koike (pinch hitter) was deliberately walked to load the bases and get at N. Donoue. He hit to centre and brought a runner home 3-1 Dragons, bases loaded. Oda grounded out but another runner was home 4-1 Dragons, runners on first and third. Finally, Hirata (pinch hitter) flew out to Hirano in foul ground. Not very encouraging and Mayumi should learn - go with the better catcher not the favourite. For Tigers ninth, the pitcher was, of course, Iwase. He too is not as good as he was and gave up back to back hits to Murton and Arai.4 runners on first and second Brazell flew out to centre which gave Iwasa a little bit of leverage. He used it well striking out Kanoh (pinch hitter) and then Yamato to end the game. Dragons victory.

Why Mayumi thought that Yamato was a suitable choice as a pinch hitter is difficult to understand. He is an accomplished fielder but lacks any batting ability. Hiyama or Lin would both have been much better choices. Either of them has more ability to hit and hit long. Until, Mayumi switched Johjima for Shimizu the game was winnable. After he did so the game was lost - if he wants to win the pennant he needs to use his best players and he needs to know who these are. Giants also lost so the gap between the teams remains at 0.5 games but Mayumi needs to get his act together.