October 19th Iwata v Kagami - Iwata wobbles

BayStars were embarrassing last time they faced Tigers so it was good to see them play at a much higher level than before and redeem themselves. Tigers batting went to sleep but we also saw several players getting a try out. This was annoying and insulting to the fans who had paid money to watch the game - they wanted to see a victory and Mayumi's experiments with the lineup were both inappropriate and not necessary. He should be concentrating on ensuring victory for the fans. Scores

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

Starting lineups

BayStars
1. Shimozono (Left)
2. Aranami (Centre)
3. Tsutsugoh (First)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Watanabe (Short)
6. Matsumoto (Right)
7. Yamazaki (Second)
8. Kurobane (Catcher)
9. Kagami (Pitcher)

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

Putting Shibata as lead off seemed to be the type of pointless change favoured by Mayumi but it didn't do much damage. Komiyama was back behind the plate which was better than Fujii. However, now would be the ideal time to ease Kanoh back into full time catching duties but this is something that Mayumi is not going to do. Instead we have to put up with the useless Fujii and the marginally less useless Shimizu. Kanoh is not even in the top team anymore having made little effort to adapt to left field. One can hope a new manager will restore him to catching duties next season as it would be a waste of very fine talent otherwise. For this reason (among others) Tigers do need to select a manager from outside. The game started with Iwata being unable to snag a Shimozono drive. Shimozono made second on Aranami's ground out but got no further as the next two batters were quickly out. Shibata's first at bat as lead off was inauspicious, he struck out. Hirano grounded out but then Toritani hit to second and was able to make first safely. Arai drove powerfully into left centre and Toritani motored around the bases to reach home 1-0 Tigers, runner on second. Brazell hit deep but flew out to left to end the innings. BayStars second was quiet and the batters fell in order. Murton led off Tigers with a single to centre - he, however, stayed on first as the next three batters failed to move him around. BayStars generated another hit in their third with Kurobane leading off with a single. Kagami bunted him to second but then he got no further as Shimozono grounded out to short and Aranami grounded out to second. Tigers third was quiet and Kagami struck out both Hirano and Toritani.

The three BayStars batters in the fourth all grounded out with only Watanabe putting up any resistance. Arai and Brazell did nothing in the Tigers fourth but then Murata messed up a Murton grounder. Murton stole second, always a risky proposition but it worked. However, Shunsuke struck out swinging. He really does need to do better with the bat. BayStars fifth and we saw Morita on for Brazell. This would be a significant mistake later in the game. The innings was another 1-2-3 innings. Komiyama was calling well and Iwata was pitching nicely. BayStars weren't able to get any runners on and were struggling. Kagami was also doing quite well and apart from the first had produced a creditable outing. He retired the batters in order in the Tigers fifth. Kagami led off BayStars sixth in fact and here Iwata wobbled. There was no need for him to make a mess but this is just what he did. Kagami hit his second pitch nicely into left centre for a two base hit. A welcome stroke of luck for the BayStars. Iwata got Shimozono to ground out but then lost it with Aranami who hit right into the corner. This brought Kagami home 1-1 scores tied, runner on second. Then with Iwata like jelly Tsutsugoh actually hit - driving into centre which brought Aranami home 2-1 BayStars, runner on first. A surprising turn of events especially as Murata hit his first pitch into a double play to end the innings. Carelessness by Iwata had been punished. Tigers then wasted a great chance to get back into the lead or just draw level. Hirano led the bottom of the sixth off with a single. Kagami then balked and Hirano was on second with no outs. Here Tigers execution was not what it should have been. Toritani struck out swinging. Arai grounded out to short and then Morita grounded out to second to end the innings. Here we saw the mistake in bringing Morita on - a lesser batter he decreased the chance of a run. Kagami had held his lead.

With one out in BayStars seventh Matsumoto hit but was unable to get off first. Tigers tried again in the seventh. BayStars pitcher was Ejiri who with one out gave up a single to Tagami (pinch hitter). He was replaced by Ohhara who faced Kanemoto (pinch hitter) and Sekimoto (pinch hitter). Both struck out and the innings was scoreless. Having had Kanemoto pinch hit for Komiyama, Mayumi brought on Shimizu. This was an unnecessary move. Komiyama is the better catcher and it would be wiser to give him more game time but at least it wasn't Fujii. Enokida pitched the BayStars eighth and had no problems this game disposing of the batters comfortably. Shinohara started Tigers eighth and gave a lead off hit to Shibata. Hirano grounded out but moved Shibata to second. Toritani walked and this brought another change of pitcher. Tigers were certainly getting chances. Fujie took over and got Arai to swing and fly out in foul ground. He should have waited. Morita struck out swinging in an unmemorable game for him. He really shouldn't have been playing. Fukuhara pitched BayStars ninth and had no problems with the batters striking out two. Tigers ninth was pitched by Yamaguchi who was secure and motored through the Tigers batters without any problem. BayStars victory.

Tigers had had their chances particularly in the later stages of the game and had failed to take them. Poor batting had let them down at vital stages. BayStars had played with pride and deserved their victory narrow though it was. There are five games left in the season and only five more examples of Mayumi's incompetent lineups to go. This alone makes the defeat bearable. Once again the attendance was really low and it is a goot thing that Mayumi is leaving otherwise the stadium would be empty.