May 31st Messenger v Wolfe - Shadows

Both sides are shadows of their former selves. Nippon Ham are on a downward curve and are nothing like the outfit they were under Hillman. Tigers are nothing like the team they were last year - it was interesting watching the players. Demotivated, often not interested and with no support from the kantoku or coaching at all. Lin in particular looked in a thoroughly foul mood. Once again Tigers performance was full of basic errors and despite some good chances no one could manage to drive the runners in. It was indicative of the sheer desperation of the loyal fans who had travelled to Hokkaido that they started the 'washoi' chance march with a runner on first. As for Mayumi he sat in his seat interacting with no one and really you do ask the question, how much longer? Once again the management of the pitching can only be said to be bizarre and the eighth was an object lesson in how to screw up. Scores

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

Starting lineups

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

Starting pitcher: Messenger

Fighters
1. Tanaka (Second)
2. Yoh (Right)
3. Itoi (Centre)
4. Nakata (Left)
5. Inaba (DH)
6. Hoffpauir (First)
7. Imanami (Third)
8. Ohno (Catcher)
9. Iiyama (Short)

Starting pitcher: Wolfe

Tigers first looked bright but soon clouded over. Murton grounded out to third but then Hirano hit nicely into right for a single. Toritani was next and went for his first ball which Nakata took in the left corner near the foul line. Arai drew a walk and then Wolfe threw a wild pitch to advance the runners to second and third. This was a very promising position especially as Wolfe looked nothing like a pitcher who had already won four. Next, unfortunately, was Kanemoto and all he needed to do was drive to right but he accepted the temptation of a curve and tried to hit into centre. Of course he flew out giving an easy catch which ended a promising situation. Messenger's start was good if a little high on the pitch count but he struck out two in retiring all three batters. Tigers second and Johjima hit his first pitch straight to third for a ground out - too impetuous by far. Brazell took a swing and also hit to third but the ball bobbled and Brazell was able to beat the throw by a long margin - a rather fortunate hit but there was a runner on. Lin was dreadful and struck out in three and then Shibata managed to ground out to end the innings. Nakata led off Fighters second and launched into his first pitch which flew high into centre into Shibata's glove. Shibata had positioned himself right at the wall and timed his jump perfectly for a fine catch. Inaba struck out but Hoffpauir walked. However, Imanami flew out to
Arai and the innings was over. Tigers third was quiet as Wolfe established control and was effective in retiring the batters in order. Likewise Nippon Ham's third - so far they had had only one base runner whilst Tigers had managed three.

The fourth saw Arai lead off with a strike out - like Lin's this had the air of someone not trying. Kanemoto also struck out and then Johjima swung at his first pitch yet again flying out to second. With one out in Fighters fourth, Itoi had their first hit a single to right. With Nakata at the plate Messenger threw a low pitch which bounced and went under Johjima, between his legs. Itoi was able to take second easily. This was terrible catching by Johjima - a catcher of his level should never miss those. This seemed to unsettle Messenger and he walked Nakata to set up runners on first and second. Inaba hit to right to load the bases and things looked really dangerous. Messenger responded superbly and struck out Hoffpauir looking - a quite magnificent piece of pitching. Hopes of escaping the innings were dashed the very next ball though. Messenger had been throwing mostly low trying to get Fighters batters to swing but they had been showing a lot of intelligence and leaving the pitches. Itoi though had hit a low curve at the beginning of the innings and taking his cue from this, the next batter, Imanami went after his first pitch a low straight driving it into right for a two run timely hit 2-0 Fighters, runners on first and third. To be honest, it wasn't the most intelligent pitch to throw after all the hard work had been done but pitchers often relax a little with only one out to go and Messenger seemed to have done this. He did persuade Ohno to strike out swinging but Fighters were in the lead. Tigers response was instructive - they blew it again. Brazell led off with a fine two base hit. Next was Lin who's shot was terrible, his first pitch hit straight back to Wolfe for the out. Shibata grounded out to short which took Brazell to third and Tigers were in with a chance. It really needed Murton to hit but he seemed totally unable to do so and struck out looking to an admittedly good straight from Wolfe to end the innings. But what a wasted opportunity and Tigers really only have themselves to blame. Fighters fifth saw an instructive incident. With one out Tanaka hit into left. Lin ran towards it and went to take the ball - a straightforward fly but missed it. This was so strange that you had to ask - 'are they trying to lose this game deliberately? '. With the general level of play it is not a strange question. There is a rift between Mayumi and the team and the front office have had to express support for Mayumi. Tanaka made second on the error and third on Yoh's fly out to right. However, Itoi grounded out to first to end the innings. Tigers sixth saw Toritani work that count full but then fly out to left but that was all. Nakata led off Fighters sixth with a hit to centre. He then stole second in a strange way. Tigers were aware that the steal was on and with Nakata far off first Messenger fired the ball to Brazell. Nakata set off for second and Brazell threw to Toritani who was standing on the left side of the sack. As Nakata slid in Toritani applied the tag but too late and Nakata was safe. This was all a bit strange - why wasn't Toritani on the right side of the sack to sandwich the runner? Johjima decided to deliberately walk Hoffpauir and Fighters had runners on first and second. This time Messenger struck out Imanami and then Ohno grounded out to short to end the innings.

So at the start of Tigers seventh, Fighters were still holding a two run lead and here Nashida made a pitching change bringing Miyanishi to replace Wolfe. Wolfe had only thrown 88 pitches but obviously it was felt he had thrown enough. Miyanashi had a quiet seventh as Tigers batters failed to get on base. On Tigers side things started to get strange with the pitching. Messenger had already thrown 102 pitches which is surely enough. He had done very well and it would be logical to preserve his arm for another game. Not to Mayumi who wanted Messenger to throw the Fighters seventh as well. Two outs followed quickly and it began to look as if maybe Mayumi's thoughtlessness would not be too much. Then Yoh hit his first pitch to third. Arai's throw was non too good and pulled Brazell off first. He tried to tag Yoh as he ran past but missed and the runner was safe. Itoi hit into centre but Shibata took the catch to register the final out. Masui pitched Tigers eighth and here Tigers once again wasted the opportunity. With one out, Shibata drew a walk, Masui's pitching being all over the place. Then Murton walked and Tigers had runners on first and second. It needed a double play which is exactly what Fighters got - the culprit being Hirano who hit to Tanaka at second. Finally, Mayumi switched pitchers for Fighters eighth and sent Kojima to the mound. At this stage the game was still winnable with only a two run lead. After this innings it would be all but over. Kojima started poorly and in fact his first seven pitches were balls as he sprayed straights all round the edge of the zone. In fact Johjima had to have a word with him (something like 'yes, we are trying to lose this game but let's not make it too obvious). So Kojima walked Nakata and then struck out Inaba. As Inaba struck out Nakata went for the steal. He would have been well out but Johjima's throw was too high and Toritani couldn't even apply a tag - runner on second. Hoffpauir flew out but Nakata stayed on second and then Kubo came out to chat to Kojima. What happened next defies explanation - Nioka (pinch hitter) was deliberately walked to set up runners on first and second and then Fukuhara was brought on to replace Kojima. Fukuhara faced Ohno who hit one straight back at him. It cannoned off Fukuhara's right leg giving the runners time to advance and the bases were loaded. Iiyama got a cut ball in the middle of the zone which he slammed deep to centre - a really stupid pitch this - over the head of Shibata for a bases clearing triple 5-0 Fighters, runner on third. Finally Tanaka struck out swinging but the Fighters were in a commanding position. Takeda pitched Tigers ninth and faced Toritani. He led off with a hit. Then Arai hit and Tigers had runners on first and second with no outs. Kanemoto (why was he still there) swung too soon in his typical way and flew out in foul ground off his first pitch. Next Johjima and Fighters needed a double play which the Tigers catcher dutifully supplied. In fact he seemed to go out of his way to hit to second - end of game. Fighters victory.

It is difficult to know what to make of this performance. Taking nothing away from the Fighters who did play well and deserve the victory Tigers hadn't performed. There are serious problems with Mayumi's regime and it is affecting the team. It does look like the players want a change and are working to lose games. This is not the first time Arai has struck out swinging in such a casual way and Johjima did seem to be angling for a double play in the ninth. Players are quite capable of working together to eject an unpopular or ineffective management team. However, this could also be just a demotivated team for which nothing goes right. Murton throwing away the ball is not a deliberate move. Either way there is a management issue which isn't being addressed and needs to be dealt with quickly if Tigers are to retain the chance to win the pennant and reach the playoffs.