August 30th Messenger v Takasaki - Musical catchers

For some reason Wada felt the need to use all three of his catchers in this game. He started with Komiyama whom he switched for Imanari - using Imanari as a futile pinch hitter. Then he went with Fujii which meant that Fujii was pitching the final stages and once again he blew it. There was an intense sense of deja vu about the whole affair. Like the first game of the series, Tigers had drawn level though this was as much by BayStars incompetence as by their own level. The innings was the eighth though the pitcher was different; Fukuhara not Enokida. Fukuhara found himself in exactly the same situation in the innings that he had in the previous game - one out (the first out, a strike out) and runners on. With Komiyama he had worked his way out of the bind, with Fujii he gave up the victory run. Certainly Komiyama has made late innings mistakes, the wild pitch against Hiroshima comes to mind but he is much better in these situations than Fujii. This is the sort of thing Wada should be thinking of. In another interesting side note Brazell hit a home run in the seventh tying the game. One would expect that the manager would be overjoyed but when the camera panned over to Wada he looked furious. One wonders why and what is going on in his mind. Scores

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

Starting lineups

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

BayStars
1. Uchimura (Second)
2. Aranami (Centre)
3. Kinjoh (Right)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Tsutsugoh (Third)
6. Gotoh (First)
7. Kajitani (Short)
8. Tsuruoka (Catcher)
9. Takasaki (Pitcher)

Another of those pointless lineup changes so beloved of Wada brought the doddering Kanemoto back into the lineup. He is so slow and weak in the field that BayStars batters do try and target the left if they can. Brazell was also brought back into the lineup and the big man had a good day - one wonders why Wada keeps him out of the lineup so often - stupidity maybe? Tigers first started with a one out Hirano single. Then Toritani hit into a double play which wasn't a very good way to go. Takasaki actually pitched rather well in the early stages of the game but Toritani's shot was still ill-advised. Messenger also started well and retired the batters in order. He looked comfortable and pitched well. Tigers second was quiet - no one reaching base. The fact that they managed to score so many runs on so few hits was actually a high point. Ramirez flew out to start BayStars second. Then Tsutsugoh grounded out to short but the next batter, Gotoh singled left. Still nothing to worry about with two outs and the next batter was Kajitani. Komiyama called for a curve but what he got was a 148 kph straight on an outside line in the middle of the zone. Still what happened next was a fluke - just one of those pieces of luck that just happen. Kajitani's swing was perfectly timed to plant the ball high in the BayStars oendan for a two run home run 2-0 BayStars. It was his first of the season and given that he is a non batter a complete surprise. Tsuruoka struck out swinging but the BayStars were in the lead. The question now was could they hold it. Tigers didn't respond immediately, the third saw Takasaki control things and one Brazell had gone Komiyama and Messenger weren't going to represent much challenge. Given how much better a catcher than Fujii, Komiyama is Tigers really do need to make an effort to work on his batting. He will never be a great batter but the potential for a useful contribution is there. Takasaki struck out and then Uchimura tried a bunt hit to third. This came off Ryota Arai being a bit slow and throwing a bit wild. Ryota Arai isn't as fast as his brother. Aranami grounded out to third and then Uchimura tried to steal second. A fine throw by Komiyama saw him tagged out and the innings was over.

Tigers fourth might as well not happened. No one got on base or showed any ability to do so. Takasaki reigned supreme. BayStars fourth was a bit different. Messenger usually pitches on curves and was on his downward curve. Kinjoh led the innings off with a single to right - a rather wild swing. Ramirez and Tsutsugoh both flew out - the take by Kanemoto of Ramirez's hit being a nice competent slide. Then Gotoh hit to left where Kanemoto was poorly positioned and with his weak throw BayStars were able to put runners on second and third. Still just one out to go and the next batter Kajitani. Lightning doesn't strike twice with his level of skill but Messenger went to pieces and threw a full count being all over the place. He wasn't listening to Komiyama at all and in the end Komiyama walked Kajitani to load the bases. Messenger was really pathetic here - this was a lightweight who had just been lucky. Next was Tsuruoka and once again Messenger was all over the place. Tsuruoka also walked - oshidashi 3-0 Baystars, bases loaded. Very poor pitching from the Tigers starter. Still a three run lead is overturnable particularly with the BayStars. The final out was Takasaki who flew out to centre. The TBS commentators got really excited here but quite frankly it was always an out. The BayStars seemed almost embarrassed by this surfeit of riches - a three run lead. Takasaki walked Ryota Arai on a full count and then got Kanemoto to fly out to centre. This is another of his specialities. Next was Saka who hit towards first where Gotoh spread his legs and dropped his glove to take the ball. He missed and the ball rolled happily away to right where Kinjoh fielded. Tigers had runners on second and third. Brazell followed and swung but as he did so the contact broke his bat. The ball rolled away to second with a runner home and Brazell out 3-1 BayStars, runner on third. Here, Wada brought on Imanari to pinch hit for Komiyama, a useless gesture as it turned out because Imanari struck out looking to end the innings. Imanari, now being the designated catcher experienced the joys of Messenger. Uchimura flew out to start the BayStars fifth but then Aranami hit to left centre - a double. Kinjoh flew out to left but then a wild pitch took Aranami to third. This time Messenger didn't panic and was able to collect a weak swing by Ramirez and throw to first for the out. BayStars continued to make mistakes. Kanoh (pinch hitter and replacement left) singled. He looked a lot more comfortable this game and seemed to be playing with some spirit. Then Uemoto singled to short. Kajitani managed to leave the ball behind him and both Tigers were safe on base. Hirano was asked to bunt and produced one which forced out Uemoto but left runners on first and third. Toritani then singled right to bring in another run 3-2 BayStars, runners on first and third, Hirano having run well to reach third. Here Tigers folded. Instead of Ryota Arai hitting he struck out - a sacrifice fly was all that was needed but Ryota Arai's batting was spectacularly poor this at bat. Kanemoto who was still in as a batter walked to load the bases and then Saka hit a flyer to left to end the innings. Katoh replaced Messenger for BayStars sixth. He was in a mood to prove himself against his old team and pitched with aggression and plenty of fire. Tsutsugoh struck out, Gotoh grounded out to short and the home run batter Kajitani was dealt with as he should have been by Messenger. Unceremoniously bundled out.

Tigers seventh was pitched by Kikuchi. Takasaki had pitched well enough and had had to contend with errors but had exited with the lead. Kikuchi blew it with the first batter he faced, Brazell. He got a nice fat pitch and blasted it into the right stand for a solo home run 3-3 scores tied. The next three batters did nothing and the score stayed tied. Still you felt that Tigers would win this one having fought their way back into the game. Here though Wada made his big mistake bringing on Fujii to pitch the BayStars seventh. The reasoning behind this is obscure - possibly he felt that Fujii would be a better pitcher in the end game but then one has to say why given the evidence of the game before last. Still Fujii was paired with Katoh who was in aggressive mode and the innings passed with no one getting on base. Fujie pitched Tigers eighth and started well, getting Hirano to ground out to short. Then Toritani struck out swinging - a really appalling swing and miss. Next was Ryota Arai who was able to hit his second pitch to left centre for a two base hit. This was just a double as Ryota isn't that fast. Wada sent Hiyama to the plate and BayStars promptly deliberately walked him. Wada had Shunsuke pinch run for him. This was incomprehensible as Shunsuke is not exactly a reliable runner. It was all down to Saka who struck out to end the innings. So to BayStars eighth and the pitcher being Fukuhara. He started well like the night before striking out his first batter, this one being Aranami. Then Kinjoh hit to left. Ramirez singled right to set up runners on first and second with one out. Things were just like the night before. Here though the denouement was different. Tsutsugoh hit weakly and forced out Morimoto pinch running for Ramirez - runners on first and third. Shimozono was brought in to pinch hit and singled right bringing in the run 4-3 BayStars, runners on first and second. Once again Fujii had blown a game. The final out was Kajitani who hit to first. Tigers of course could have come back in the ninth but couldn't get past Yamaguchi. He struck out all three batters he faced, Fujii compounding his dreadful evening by striking out looking to one he should have played. BayStars victory.

Tigers return to Koshien for the last game of the month. They had showed some nice spirit but once again failed to drive in RBIs when needed. The use of Fujii to replace Komiyama twice proved to be a significant failure and really he must be on his way out. However, the danger exists that like the now useless Kanemoto he is asked back.