May 7th Messenger v Suda - And Kobayashi pitches the eighth

Certainly Kobayashi blew a victory in this game but the real responsibility lies with Mayumi and his stupid rigidity. As I have noted and others have seen Kobayashi still doesn't look secure on the mound. However, he and Enokida are the apples of Mayumi's eye. At the moment neither can do no wrong. Enokida isn't doing badly but one needs to reserve judgement as once batters get used to him things might change. Kubota though - now Kubota is old Tigers. It doesn't matter that he is the best set up man the Tigers have got he is old. Thus he isn't used when he should be. Mayumi's prejudices betray a certain amateurishness. Kobayashi hasn't settled so maybe relying on Kubota would be better but no... Kobayashi always pitches the eighth. Mayumi has determined this and this is how it shall be. Unfortunately, the aforesaid favourite blew the game in the eighth and Mayumi had to call on the disregarded Kubota. He blew both of the batters still left away without reaching full speed. Mayumi needs to recognise who are his quality players. Like Kanoh - his best catcher after Johjima. Instead Mayumi brings in an old washed out crony who is worthless and tries to convert the good catcher to an outfielder. The realistic solution to Tigers problems is to remove Mayumi who in his third year of management still does not understand his pitching. Kobayashi will develop into a fine relief but needs time to adjust to the Central League. Mayumi doesn't give him the time and as a result matches start to be lost. This has a knock on effect on the batting. Let's be honest BayStars whatever their efforts are distinctly second class. Tigers aren't but given the way their idiot management perfoms they are playing second class. The performance against Yamamoto - an Orix discard shows just how poorly they are playing. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers    2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 4 10 0
BayStars  0 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 X 5  9 0

Starting lineups

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

BayStars
1. Ishikawa (Short)
2. Watanabe (Second)
3. Sledge (Left)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Harper (First)
6. Yoshimura (Centre)
7. Naito (Right)
8. Hosoyamada (Catcher)
9. Suda (Pitcher)

Finally Brazell is hitting and hitting with runners on. Suda's start was abysmal. Murton hit and then he walked HIrano - runners on first and second with no outs. A wild pitch took the runners to second and third and then Suda walked Toritani to load the bases. Arai who started so well seems to have gone to sleep now and struck out swinging. Brazell though hit to right bringing home two runners 2-0 Tigers runners on first and third. Here the worthless Kanemoto intervened hitting into a double play to end the innings. Kanemoto was a great servant for the Tigers but has passed his best and is now a liability. Sentiment is all very well but he needs to be benched for someone who will hit more frequently. In fact putting him out to pasture might be the best option. Messenger only really had trouble with Ishikawa in the BayStars first retiring the batters in order but Watanabe and Sledge went on the first pitch. Tigers second was quiet. In BayStars second the useless Murata led off with a hit. Harper walked in four and BayStars had runners on first and second with no outs. Yoshimura bunted the batters round to second and third - your No. 6 bunts! Come off it!. Saito and Hosoyamada both struck out swinging to end the innings. A limited response from a limited team is the only conclusion - really the No. 6 batters should not be bunting. Hirano hit in Tigers third and with two outs Arai hit a two base to set up runners on second and third. This time Brazell failed to convert and grounded out to second. BayStars third was much better - with one out Ishikawa hit a good two base. Watanabe followed with a left hit which brought Ishikawa home 2-1 Tigers runner on first. Sledge struck out swinging and then Murata hit to set up runners on first and second. No threat - Harper grounded out to short to end the innings.

Tigers fourth and after Kanemoto failed Johjima slammed a solo home run to left 3-1 Tigers. The next two batters did nothing but if Kanemoto had managed to get on base the leaed would have been comfortable. Currently, he is just a waste of space and is not justifying his place in the team. BayStars fourth was quiet with the batters falling in order. Tigers fifth saw Hirano hit with one out but then Toritani hit into a double play and the innings was over. Currently, Tigers batters are queueing up to fall into the most simple double plays imaginable. In BayStars fifth Watanabe hit with two outs but then tried to steal second and was thrown out to end the innings. Shinohara pitched Tigers sixthy and was secure retiring the batters in order. Messenger continued into BayStars sixth and gave up a lead off two base hit to Sledge. Murata grounded out to second but then Harper hit to centre bringing home the run 3-2 Tigers, runner on first. Both the following batters were unable to convert and that was the end of the scoring. Tigers had remained in control.

For Tigers seventh Kaga was the pitcher and with one out gave up a hit to Shunsuke. Hiyama (pinch hitter) flew out but then Murton hit to set up runners on first and second. Ohara took the mound and released a wild pitch which took the runners to second and third. Hirano hit to left (finally) driving in a run 4-2 Tigers, runners on first and third. Toritani though swung wildly and flew out to second to end the innings. Enokida pitched BayStars seventh and though the initial thoughts were why not Kubota but Mayumi has to use his favourites. He struck out two but then gave up a hit to Ishikawa. However, he struck out Watanabe and the innings was scoreless. Ejiri pitched Tigers eighth and retired the batters in order Tigers having gone into lead preservation mode not scoring mode. And so to Kobayashi. He started by walking Sledge but then got Murata to fly out to short. That was the end of the good news. Harper also walked and Kobayashi dead balled Yoshimura of all people to load the bases. A wild pitch brought a runner home 4-3 Tigers runners on second and third. Then Kobayashi served up a nice pitch for Naitoh (who isn't exactly the best batter in the world) to hit to right for a timely two base 5-4 BayStars runner on second. Here Bakayumi saw the light and switched pitchers. Kubota retired the next two batters to end the innings but Tigers were as good as beaten. Tigers ninth was pitched by Yamaguchi and saw some very inept batting but this has been the general performance of the Tigers this season. Led by idiots, they bat like idiots. With two outs Lin did hit and was replaced by Yamato (pinch runner) who stole second. However, Murton grounded out to second to end the game and a second rate performance by the Tigers. BayStars victory.

Whatever Tigers handing victory to BayStars on a plate the latter deserved it. Quite frankly, the incompetent mismanagement of the team by Mayumi and co means that we have no right to expect any victories. Messenger had had a familiar experience, a nice pitching performance thrown away by the idiocy of the management. This must be demoralising to the players dealing with people clearly incapable of managing a game.