August 6th Messenger v Yoshinori - Return to Mayumiland

One doesn't want to criticise a nice victory but having written how pitch counts were down Mayumi goes and pushes one up again. This time it was Messenger and he threw 136 pitches and didn't even get the complete game shutout. It was too much and totally irresponsible by Mayumi who doesn't seem to learn (though this is a feature of a lot of Japanese management). I recall a game with Andoh pitching, once again against the Swallows. At that time Andoh was a fine starter with a very precise and devastating inside pitch. Okada the then coach decided he should have a complete game shutout and Andoh kept on throwing and throwing but couldn't get out of the eighth innings. All this with an 8-0 lead. He threw about 158 pitches IIRC and after that was never the same. Part of the reason Atchison refused to return to Japan was the number of innings he was asked to pitch and Okada worked Jerrod Riggan into the ground.
We don't want this sort of things to happen to Messenger and Sakai-owner needs to have a very sharp word with Mayumi (well actually he needs to sack him but we have to settle for the lesser) and stop him over-pitching Messenger for no purpose other than these pointless complete game shutouts. One image I will always cherish is Hara explaining to Utsumi that he wasn't going to get a complete game shutout. It's something that Mayumi could learn from but this assumes Mayumi is capable of learning. Messenger is wanted back next year and easily has the potential to become even better, that's assuming his arm hasn't been wrecked by our idiot kantoku's posturing. Murton's problem was hypertension but he is likely to return to the lineup today. As they want him back next year, Tigers management are showing very great concern and are going to sit down with him and find out if there's anything bothering him. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Swallows
1. Aoki (Centre)
2. Tanaka (Second)
3. Kawabata (Short)
4. Hatakeyama (Left)
5. Whitesell (First)
6. Miyamoto (Third)
7. Iihara (Right)
8. Aikawa (Catcher)
9. Yoshinori (Pitcher)

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

Shibata at seven did not fill one with confidence but with Murton returning we can relax a bit. Messenger started impressively getting the top of the Swallows order to ground out in order. Yoshinori was in trouble immediately. He did get Hirano to ground out but then walked Uemoto. Toritani banged a two base hit into right bringing home Uemoto - at last his speed was actually used 1-0 Tigers. Arai hit to right but Toritani stopped on third with Arai on first. Brazell hit a grounder to short and Swallows went for a double play which didn't come off. Arai was forced out but Toritani was home and crucially Brazell was safe on first 2-0 Tigers. Finally, Kanemoto flew out to second to end the innings. A nice start. Messenger then held the lead with some superb pitching striking out both Whitesell and Miyamoto looking. Tigers second saw Yoshinori struggle even more. With one out he walked Fujii - the second batter seemed to be an issue for him. Messenger successfully bunted Fujii to second and then Hirano hit to right. Fujii charged home 3-0 Tigers, runner on first. Uemoto walked to set up runners on first and second but this time Toritani grounded out to second to end the innings. Once again Messenger held the line - he retired the Swallows batters in order and Tigers were sitting prettily on a nice lead. Arai led off Tigers third with a nice two base hit. It was looking like Yoshinori would soon be consigned to the showers. Brazell flew out but Kanemoto's ground out took Arai to third but we had the useless Shibata next and he grounded out to third to end the innings.

Swallows were still struggling and their fourth saw the top of the order all ground out again. So far Messenger was perfect. Tigers fourth and Messenger hit with one out. This didn't work out as this time Hirano hit into a double play to end the innings. Finally, in the fifth Swallows managed to get a base runner. This was Hatakeyama who picked up a lead off walk. It didn't help Swallows though - the next three batters fell in order and Hatakeyama remained marooned on first. Uemoto led Tigers fifth off with a two base hit to left. This time there was no mistake - Toritani grounded out to second which took Uemoto to third and then Arai drove neatly into centre bringing the runner home 4-0 Tigers, runner on first. Brazell flew out and then Kanemoto grounded out to second but Tigers were dominant. Swallows first credible challenge came in their sixth. With two out Aoki walked. Tanaka hit to centre and Aoki's speed to him to third, runners on the corners. Kawabata though banged his first pitch straight to Uemoto for the final out of the innings. Yoshinori didn't return for Tigers sixth. He hadn't really prospered and was replaced by Akagawa. Akagawa faced the bottom of Tigers batting order and as much as I know Fujii is a lightweight batter I am still puzzled why Shibata bats above him at seven. Whatever Fujii's failings he is a better batter than Shibata. Anyway Akagawa retired the batters in order and the innings was quiet.

Swallows seventh saw a typical Uemoto error at second. These will disappear with experience but with two out he dropped the ball from a Miyamoto hit. Miyamoto was safe on first and it didn't matter as the very next pitch Iihara banged into left where Shunsuke (replacement left) took the catch to end the innings. Hirano led off Tigers seventh by grounding out but then Uemoto hit to centre. He then stole second and was joined on base by Arai who walked. However, Brazell grounded out to first and the chance was missed. Still with a 4-0 lead it wasn't such a big deal. Tigers relief would keep things tight one thought. By now Messenger had thrown 106 pitches and kept Swallows tightly under control. This was enough - he had done well and with Tigers comfortably in control wasn't really needed. However, Bakayumi decided that Messenger should continue. The first out was Aikawa but then Kawashima (pinch hitter) hit to centre - runner on first. It took a full count to winkle out Aoki and then five more pitches to dismiss Tanaka and get out of the innings safely. Surely, Messenger would be finished this innings. This would look more likely after Tigers eighth. Fernandes took the mound and was very rapidly out of his depth. Shunsuke drew a lead off walk but Shibata flew out in foul ground. Fujii hit to centre to set up runners on first and second. This became runners on second and third with one out after a wild pitch. Then Messenger walked to load the bases. Fernandes was in a lot of trouble and he made it worse by dead balling Hirano - oshidashi 5-0 Tigers, bases loaded. Asai pinch ran for Hirano but it was also the end of Fernandes who was replaced by Matsuoka. It didn't help as a sacrifice fly was also on and Uemoto did exactly that, hitting his third pitch to left. Fujii was home 6-0 Tigers, runners on first and second. Finally, Toritani flew out to left to end the innings. There really was no need to bring a tired Messnger back for Swallows ninth - a 6-0 lead was comfortable and thinking of the pitch count, it was time to rest him. Instead Mayumi sent Messenger to the mound in pursuit of that complete game. Kawabata led off the innings hitting to second and beating the fielder - not only that but he was able to make second. Hatakeyama lined out to second and Whitesell struck out - the final and most difficult out was next. It wasn't to be, Messenger was just too tired and Morioka (replacement third) hit to centre. Matsuoka was home 6-1 Tigers, runner on first. Iihara snatched at his first pitch and flew out to first to end the game. Tigers victory.

Messenger had pitched superbly and picked up his eighth win. However, the over pitching and the unnecessary eighth and ninth innings in pursuit of a side issue were disappointing. Mayumi had once again shown his inability to manage pitching properly and it looks like he'll never learn. Unable to understand he is totally unsuitable but because he has the name 'Mayumi' and is an OB he is considered suitable. Tigers do need to move beyond this limited concept of what a manager is and bring in people with experience and knowledge. The victory was nice and in the end rather easy. The batters performed and people got on base and home. All in all a good victory apart from Mayumi's involvement.