May 13th Nohmi v Nelson - Amateurs and Professionals

The introductory commentary actually refers to the Tigers loss in both the games of the series but the game report for Kubo v Chen will be separate. Firstly, the Nelson game and Nelson pitched a blinder. He was sharp, in control and really had the Tigers batters totally fooled. Backed up by well positioned outfielders (Guzman in particular) he was supreme. That being said Tigers batting and tactical selection was totally inept in both games. Nelson was tired by the seventh innings on only 79 pitches. If Tigers had made him work more they could have done better. The approach of swinging at the first available pitch was not the wisest. Brazell was truely inept against Asao (though Asao was brilliant). So Tigers batters failed miserably against an inferior batting side.
Johjima has not been calling well either. Of course, one doesn't want to see the use of Fujii but quite honestly sometimes Johjima's pitch requests are totally at variance with the circumstances. No wonder Egusa couldn't get on with him. In this game he was faced with a runner on third and one out. Here a Nohmi fork would have been the appropriate choice but he went high and the run was scored. Mayumi sidelined the brilliant Kanoh and brought in the useless Fujii whom even he hesitates to use which means he has no reserve catcher and no means of improving Johjima. This moves us neatly on to the coaching team. Kubo (pitching coach) is worthless and totally unable to utilise the relief pitchers effectively. None of them have shone even though they are all very capable pitchers. Mayumi's inability to switch pitchers at the right time is embarassing. In the second game he let Kubo throw 120 pitches before replacing him. Contrast this with Chen's 85 pitches. It would be OK if the batting and the batting selections were working but they aren't. I have yet to see a reason why Kanemoto bats at six rather than eight if he plays and why he often plays ahead of Lin. To be honest the Hanshin front office (who were responsible for the lost decade) has reasserted itself and as ever shows it doesn't know anything about baseball. Tigers need real management but don't have any clue about how to bring it in. It is no use having talented players if you can't use them effectively or properly. Personally, I would have let Mayumi go last year despite the second place finish. His team could have delivered a first place finish but didn't and was only second because the Giants failed and failed in the post season.
So far the Tiges approach to the season has been amateur and inept. If a pitcher is unknown batters are unable to hit them even if they are mediocre. Most other sides are more flexible and relaxed. Tigers are not and their rigity is a big problem. For example catchers have to be older - they can't be young and innovative. Batters expect certain patterns and must swing at anything. Baseball is not an easy game but a rigid pattern is not the way to go about things. Management by numbers doesn't work. Mayumi is an idiot and needs to be fired. His coaching team also needs to go. Dragons constantly show what can be done with limited talent (and they are limited). Given Tigers superior talent they ought to be able to release it more frequently. But onto the score

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

Starting lineups

Dragons
1. Araki (Short)
2. Ibata (Second)
3. Morino (Third)
4. Wada (Left)
5. Blanco (First)
6. Nomoto (Centre)
7. Guzman (Right)
8. Tanishige (Catcher)
9. Nelson (Pitcher)

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. Nohmi (Pitcher)

Things started shakely for Nohmi with a two base lead off hit from Araki. Ibata then walked and things looked ominous, no outs and runners on first and second. Morino flew out to short but then a wild pitch took them to second and third. Maybe my memory is failing but I don't remember Yano or Kanoh having as many wild pitches as Johjima. He does seem to struggle with the ground balls sometimes. Wada struck out and then Blanco grounded out to Toritani to end the innings. So far no score but frankly the situation should never have arisen. Tigers first had all the batters flying out - Nelson was off to a blinding start. In Dragons second the batters fell in order. The same happened in Tigers second with all the batters flying out swinging at what seemed to be a hittable pitch. Nelson was pitching superbly but the batters were playing into his hands. The thired was quiet with both sides batters falling in order. So far Tigers batters had failed to generate a single base runner via a hit or a walk.

Morino led off Dragons fourth with a two base hit to right centre. This was not such a problem but Nohmi panicked and threw a wild pitch. Normally, he is much more secure and the Mayumi regime must be getting to him. With Morino now on third he walked Wada - Johjima:s calls being totally nappropriate. Next batter was Blanco and with the count on 1 and 2 a low fork was the logical next ball. Instead Johjima called for a high straight. This gave Blanco the opportunity to drive the ball into centre. It was caught by Shunsuke who threw to Toritani. Toritani's throw was poor to a poorly positioned Johjima and Morino was home 1-0 Dragons, runner on first. Fans hearts sank - the Dragons were ahead and the way they were playing were likely to remain that way. Actually, if the throw had been good Morino would have been tagged out at the plate. Wada then tried to steal second but a cannon ball from Johjima ensured that he was tagged out. Johjima's throwing to break up steals was very good if nothing else was. Nomoto struck out swinging to end the innings. The first Tigers hit came in the fourth - with Murton out, Hirano hit to centre. He at least was thinking. Toritani's swing was stupid and Hirano was forced out but the double play didn't come off. Toritani stole second, Tanishige not having the arm of Johjima and Arai hit to right. This was a very nice hit but the Koshien wind (which blew right to left all match) caught it and the ball died. Guzman made a fine catch near the fence to end the innings. Dragons fifth was a quiet innings with the batters falling in order. In the Tigers fifth Kanemoto followed Hirano's example and hit to centre just past Nelson. Here thought Nelson was sublime strikng out both Johjima and Shunsuke to ensure that the innings was scoreless. Araki led off Dragons sixth with a hit. Ibata bunted him to second, Ochiai yawned. The bunt is indeed a boring move. Morino struck out but once again Johjima interviened and called for an inside pitch which Wada drove to left for a timely hit 2-0 Dragons, runner on first. Blanco grounded out to end the innings but Tigers were beaten. With one out in Tigers sixth (Lin pinch hitting) Murton hit. In an absolutely moronic move, Mayumi had Hirano bunt him to second. Toritani hit to right and Murton went for home. Once again Guzman was vital here throwing a laser to a perfectly positioned Tanishige who tagged Murton as he tried to run past and reach home for the final out.

Mayumi decided that Nohmi didn't need to pitch the seventh and brought on Kubota. He gave up a lead off hit to Nomoto. Guzman flew out which brought up Tanishge who was lucky. Taking a swing at a low straight he got a contact and the wind carried it over the fence for a two run home run 4-0 Dragons. One can't say it was a good hit just a bit of luck for a poor batter. Araki hit to centre with two outs and then tried to steal second but once again Johjima's arm was the winner and the innings was over. Nelson returned for Tigers seventh and by now was tiring. With Kanemoto out Brazell's second pitch was dispatched over the right centre fence for a solo home run 4-1 Dragons. No one else did anything though and the innings finished with just that run. Kubota returned for Dragons eighth - a Mayumi punishment, you don't pitch your top relievers so long but Mayumi doesn't realise this. This time he retired the batters in order. Ochiai switched pitchers and Asao took the mound. He ran into trouble. Shibata (pinch hitter) led off with a hit on his first professional at bat. Then Hiyama (pinch hitter) also hit to set up runners on first and second. He was pinch run for by Okazaki but why? Murton hit to left and Shibata tore round the bases to reach home 4-2 Dragons, runners on first and second and if Okazaki was to be used as a pinch runner he should have reached third otherwise stick with Hiyama. Shibata though impressed. Neither Hirano nor Toritani who struck out stupidly could move the runners round. Asao faced Arai and wisely walked him to load the bases and get at Brazell. Brazell is not good in a bases loaded situation and Asao made full use of this. Two inside balls which were tempting but just not hittable provided the first two strikes then Asao let go a superb outside pitch. Brazell went for this but checked his swing - not soon enough and went too far. Strike out. End of innings and the chance gone. Kojima pitched the Dragons ninth and retired the batters in order. Tigers ninth was pitched by Iwase who was secure and made sure no runner reached base. Dragons victory.

Tigers had been outplayed. The Dragons pitching had been brilliant and on a level higher than the Tigers. Tigers batting, calling and management had been inept and amateurish. Dragons new how to deal with the Tigers but Tigers still don't have a clue how to deal with the Dragons.