Tigers season - pitching

The standard division of pitching, starting and relief

STARTERS

14. Atsushi Nohmi
Games: 12, Wins: 8, Losses: 0, ERA: 2.60
Nohmi started the season well but then broke a bone in his foot as he touched third base. He was out for most of the season and didn't return until September. Once he returned he still had the ability to win and also pitched superbly in relief. One of Tigers stars.

16. Yuya Andoh
Games: 19, Wins: 2, Losses 3, ERA: 7.27
Andoh had a dismal season and pitched very poorly. He could not locate and late season complained of shoulder trouble. He was in and out of ni-gun constantly and should have stayed in ni-gun for a longer period.

27. Takumi Akiyama
Games: 7, Wins: 4, Losses: 3, ERA: 3.35
Brought in through desperation - Tigers didn't have anyone else he did very well. His first game was a loss because Mayumi pitched him too long and then his final game he received no batting support and only gave up one run. He can be reckoned to be unlucky in the extreme. A talent for the future as long as Kubo doesn't screw things up.

29. Tatsuya Kojima
Games: 4, Wins: 0, Losses: 3, ERA: 12.46
Could not be said to be a success. He returned from injury and was dropped into one of the most difficult games Tigers play, a Tigers/Giants clash at Tokyo Dome. Of course he failed but really he had no support from Kubo pitching coach. Sack Kubo and you have an answer to Tigers pitching problems.

34. Yasutomo Kubo
Games: 29, Wins: 14, Losses: 5. ERA:3.20
Tigers ace he once again exhibited smartness and brilliance in his pitching. Mayumi over-pitched him some games and some victories he set up were wasted by the relief but Kubo was awesome most of the time.

41. Keji Uezono
Games: 25, Wins: 3, Losses: 4, ERA: 4.75
With a better ERA than some of the favoured pitchers he was still discriminated against though his prolonged sulk didn't help him. He needs to pick up his pitching and show that he is the talented pitcher that we all know he is.

42. Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi
Games: 19, Wins: 7, Losses: 8, ERA: 4.32
More proof if proof were needed that Shimoyanagi is fading. He rapidly found it difficult to complete even five innings without giving up runs. For a while having him pitch inside the zone worked but this didn't last. He had a preference for pitching with Yano but this option wasn't available and he needed to adapt to this. Even trips to ni-gun didn't help his pitching and eventually ni-gun was where he stayed.

46. Naoto Tsuru
Games: 21, Wins: 2, Losses: 4, ERA: 3.77
A pitcher with potential he seems to be another Nohmi in the making. This means he needs time to develop but if perservered with will produce stunning rewards.

54. Randy Messenger
Games: 26, Wins: 5, Losses: 6, ERA: 4.93
A work in progress when he was good he was very, very good but when he was bad he was....Messenger has a lot of potential and some of his wins were blown by the relief. Expect him to shine if Tigers replace their pitching coach.

55. Jason Standridge
Games: 23, Wins: 11, Losses: 5, ERA: 3.49
Despite his ERA a very good addition to Tigers. He frequently pitched well and was sometimes untouchable. He used his first strike very intelligently and often fooled opposition batters. He should be asked back for next season.

58. Casey Fossum
Games: 12, Wins: 2, Losses: 5, ERA: 5.72
Rapidly found himself out of his depth and unable to deliver even five innings. Fossum tried hard but seemed to lack the ability to deal effectively with opposition batters.

RELIEF

12. Ryo Watanabe
Games: 61, Wins: 2, Losses: 2, ERA: 2.65
A nervy pitcher he did reasonably well. When he was good he was smooth and in control. When he was nervy he was hopeless. Okada seemed to have the key and generally did quite well with Watanbe but Mayumi had no clue and thus had some spectacular failures. As usual with relief pitchers he suffered from Mayumi's useless punishment regime.

13. Satoru Kanemura
Games: 1, Wins: 0 Losses: 0, ERA: 22.50
Played in one game and stunk. Will not be asked back for next season

15. Masanori Fujihara
Games: 24, Wins: 1, Losses: 0, ERA: 5.12
Pitched in relief but can't have said to have prospered. With better coaching one can see him becoming quite a useful relief pitcher.

17. Naohisa Sugiyama
Games: 7, Wins: 0, Losses: 0, ERA: 2.84
Still as useless as ever he was brought up late season and alarmingly paired with Komiyama at times. This combination fully matched the expectations that anyone with any knowledge of the pair would have.

20. Kazuya Tsutsui
Games: 23, Wins: 0, Losses: 2, ERA: 6.65
Didn't deliver his performance of the previous year and looked out of sorts. Tigers relief struggled and this was a general phenomenan. Erratic relief pitching was not helpful to the pennant race.

22. Kyuji Fujikawa
Games: 58, Wins: 3, Losses: 4, ERA: 2.01
Was a bit too arrogant in his pitching and failed to treat his opposition with respect. Unlike Tyronne Woods they did not dominate him but he was careless. This led to him blowing another game in a vital situation and Tigers failed to gain the momentum to take the pennant. He needs to tighten up considerably if he is to be considered in the same class as Iwase.

26. Hirotaka Egusa
Games: 21, Wins: 1, Losses: 0, ERA: 5.12
Couldn't get on with Johjima which was basically Johjima's fault. He needed to adapt to Egusa's style and couldn't at all. Egusa suffered and ended up unuseable. This was a big loss as it left a huge hole in Tigers middle relief. A failure of catching and management.

28: Shinobu Fukuhara
Games: 19, Wins: 0. Losses: 0, ERA: 5.18
Used mainly in relief he was just as washed out as ever. Neither he nor Sugiyama exhibited any ability or aptitude. The horrifying thing is that both are likely to be retained whilst others go.

30. Tomoyuki Kubota
Games: 71, Wins: 6, Losses: 3, ERA: 3.20
Tigers star reliever - at the beginning of the season he was a bit flakey but settled down and delivered in spades. His pitching was often brilliant and his desire to get the out rather than the strike out was the difference between him and Kyuji Fujikawa. His top speed was an awesome 156 kmh and his placement was such that these pitches were very effective.

40. Masashi Sajikihara
Games: 6, Wins: 0, Losses: 1, ERA: 6.43
A poor season for him. He failed to pitch effectively and looked to be unprepared. In fact, a lot of relievers brought up to the first team seemed to be in this state. They were brought up without any preparation or attempt to adjust them.

43. Ken Nishimura
Games: 65, Wins: 7, Losses: 3, ERA: 3.89
A bit of a curates egg, Nishimura often failed against lesser teams being unable to generate the intensity he did against, say, the Giants. He needs to work harder to become a pitcher of Kubota's level.

48. Shunsuke Ishikawa
Games: 4, Wins: 0, Losses: 0, ERA: 5.79
Was not happy in relief and gave up runs. Another pitcher who the coaches need to put more work into.

49. Ryuji Wakatake
Games: 4, Wins: 0, Losses:, 0, ERA: 7.50
Totally out of his depth and despite not losing any games did not impress.

62. Yusuke Kawasaki
Games: 22, Wins: 0, Losses: 1, ERA: 6.75
A left handed reliever bought from Lotte he was immediately misused by Mayumi. As a consequence he ended up totally ineffective. Mayumi and Kubo combined to misuse a useful purchase.

64. Cheng Kai-Wen
Games: 1, Wins: 0, Losses: 0, ERA: 0.00
Walked one in his only appearance of the season but otherwise was secure. Tigers pitching coaches still can't seem to use him and his development is taking far too long. Getting rid of Kubo would also help his progress.

68. Ryunosuke Yokoyama
Games: 2, Wins: 0, Losses: 0, ERA: 18.00
Tried as a relief pitcher but did not prosper at all. He lasted only two games. More development is needed

The following pitcher was let go at the end of the season: Daiyu Kanemura (117)

[Edited by: Christopher on Nov 20, 2010 1:42 PM] Kenta Abe after all was retained by Tigers