October 15th Standridge v Bullington - Losing a called game

Tigers need to keep winning to reach the Climax Series or .500 and to retain Mayumi (though that isn't certain). The front office have already confirmed that the process for chosing a replacement for Mayumi is in train and significantly that they can also afford to wait for an outsider should they decide to select one. Tigers did what they so often do after a big victory - dry up. Bullington was pitching well and we had Fujii behind the plate again. The Giants and Swallows also both won. For the Giants they want to secure their Climax Series place and they don't want Dragons to celebrate the pennant victory at Tokyo Dome. Swallows need to salvage their season by retaining second place and home advantage for the CS so they need to start winning again. Of Tigers opponents, Carp want to finish fourth not fifth so they are still going to compete. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Carp
1. Akamatsu (Centre)
2. Higashide (Second)
3. Barden (Third)
4. Kurihara (First)
5. Matsuyama (Left)
6. Maru (Right)
7. Aizawa (Catcher)
8. Kimura (Short)
9. Bullington (Pitcher)

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

Standridge would start well - all three batters went down in order with the last two striking out. Bullington also started well - his three batters all grounding out. In Carp's second though, the hits started to come. With one out Matsuyama singled to centre. Then with two out Aizawa also singled and Carp had runners on first and second. Kimura was the final batter and he struck out swinging to end the innings. Tigers second was quiet as well - the trio of Arai, Brazell and Murton making no impression and falling one after the other. Bullington led off Carp's third and hit his second pitch to left centre for a two base hit. There is no way to describe the pitch but as purely dreadful. Akamatsu bunted Bullington to third - this sort of thing is a Carp speciality. Higashide hit deep into centre for the sacrifice fly 1-0 Carp. Bardon was next and singled to centre but Kurihara flew out to right to end the innings. Kanemoto led off Tigers third grounding out. Fujii managed to single to centre and was bunted to second by Standridge. Hirano took a dead ball - what is it about Carp that makes them dead ball Hirano? It hasn't been as prevalent as last season but it is a strange phenomena. Tigers had runners on first and second now but Shibata grounded out and the innings was over.

Matsuyama led off the fourth with a single. The next batter was Maru who walked and Tigers were in a bit of bother. However, Carp found it as difficult to score as Tigers did. Aizawa hit into a double play which did however take Matsuyama to third but eliminated the chance of a sacrifice. Kimura was deliberately walked to get at Bullington. Rather a high risk strategy one would have thought given his double in the previous at bat but this time Standridge was in control and struck the Carp pitcher out swinging. Bullington wasn't pitching particularly well but Tigers didn't have the will to take advantage of it. Toritani and Arai both singled left to start Tigers fourth. Runners on first and second with no outs. Brazell struck out swinging and then a wild pitch took the runners to second and third. The sacrifice was on but Murton could only fly out to short. Kanemoto was deliberately walked to load the bases and to get at Fujii (which tells you all you need to know about his value as a batter) who struck out swinging to end the innings. Carp's fifth was quiet with the batters falling in order. In Tigers fifth Hirano hit with one out but was forced to stay on first as no one moved him round. Kurihara led off Carp's sixth with a single. Matsuyama also singled - runners on first and second with no outs. Maru bunted the runners to second and third and then Aizawa singled left bringing in a run 2-0 Carp, runners on first and third. This brought a change of pitcher and Fujihara took over. He got Kimura to pop one up to him and then struck out Bullington swinging to end the innings. Tigers sixth proved to be the last innings. It started well for Carp with Arai striking out looking. Brazell singled to left and then Murton hit a two base. Tigers had runners on second and third, Brazell not possessing the speed to take three bases. Kanemoto again walked to load the bases and here Mayumi went to the pinch hitters. Hiyama replaced Fujii and flew out to short. Then Sekimoto (replacing Fujihara) struck out swinging. Tigers had blown another bases loaded situation and were indeed played out. The Carp's batter for the seventh was to have been Akamatsu. He would have faced Watanabe pitching to Komiyama but the rain started. After a long wait the umpires decided to call the game. Carp victory.

One feels that one is in the end game of Mayumi's reigh as Tigers coach. Very few fans are disappointed to see him go and in fact most welcome it. It is embarrassing to lose to such an inferior side (the Carp) but if it helps rid Tigers of the Mayumi regime then it is important. What Tigers do need to avoid is a return to the lost decade. They have too much talent and too many potential good players to squander. There is talk that Wada would be a good kantoku because he would continue Mayumi's work with the younger players. Ochiai though or even Nashida are much better in recognising and using talent. Tigers need an outsider to take over and to be allowed to establish the team on a solid basis.