August 30th Messenger v Nomura - The return home

This game was always going to be difficult to win what with the travel from Tokyo to Osaka on the same day and coming off a tough losing series. However, we really have to question our management and their rather stupid decisions. Murton was finally switched from the No. 4 slot. That in itself was good as his RBI count in that essential RBI position was too low. However, his replacement had fans scratching their heads in amazement - Toritani. Even though Murton hasn't exactly shone there has been no indication from Toritani of any aptitude for the No. 4 slot at all. He hasn't been hitting with power and he hasn't been driving in the runs. In addition he doesn't look well at all. The natural replacement for Murton, Takahiro Arai was ignored which put him into a sulk. One can only hope that it isn't prolonged. Another of Wada's obsessions is playing the worthless Uemoto come what may. As Uemoto failed miserably at third Wada transferred him to second where he also failed miserably and transferred his highly competent second over to third for the first time in his career. It was a predictable disaster. If Wada really doesn't want to play either Ryota or Sekimoto at third then once again he has the option of Takahiro Arai who was very reasonable in the positon and has upteen experience. So we had a team of lightweights (Shunsuke again) with no Fukudome to make things happen and players playing out of position on the whims of a manager who has no clue. Is it surprising that Carp won? Though actually they had a good performance from their pitcher, as usual unfamiliar to the Tigers, who fully deserved his hero interview. That being said it was a poor performance by the Tigers. Scores

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

Starting Lineups

Carp
1. Amaya (Left)
2. Kikuchi (Second)
3. Maru (Centre)
4. Ka'aihue (First)
5. Soyogi (Short)
6. Matsuyama (Right)
7. Kimura (Third)
8. Ishihara (Catcher)
9. Nomura (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Nishioka (Third)
2. Uemoto (Second)
3. Murton (Left)
4. Toritani (Short)
5. Takahiro Arai (First)
6. Imanari (Right)
7. Shunsuke (Centre)
8. Fujii (Catcher)
9. Messenger (Pitcher)

Messenger looks tired and his pitching wasn't good. He struggled through the game and of course Fujii was no help at all in this situation. Still Carp needed a fair amount of luck to score their runs. The first followed Messenger's usual pattern and once again he was able to get a couple of strike outs which he likes. Nomura kept things low and this seemed to disconcert the Tigers batters. His first innings was very much feeling his way and took longer than some of the later stages. Still he kept the runners off base. Carp's second saw all the runs and started off with a huge piece of luck for Ka'aihue. He swung and mishit his fifth pitch which looped up and well over third landing just the fair side of the left baseline. Of course, Murton had to come round a long way to get it and this enabled Ka'aihue to slide into second just before Toritani took the ball. Then because Carp are stupid
Soyogi (the No. 5 batter) bunted Ka'aihue to third. Matsuyama hit left to bring in the runner 1-0 Carp, runner on first and there the scoring should have stopped. Next was Kimura who bunted to third - like I said Carp are stupid. Unfotunately, so is Wada and Nishioka coming in tripped up over his own feet and did a somersault which put Kimura safely on first. For some reason this was not called an error though it looked like a pretty spectacular one. Messenger wasn't pitching well and Fujii hadn't a clue what to do. Ishihara walked which was surprising and can only be attributed to poor pitching but it loaded the bases. Nomura was next - an easy out you thought but Messenger couldn't even manage this and Nomura managed a little single into right. This might even have been no run but Imanari bent down to field and missed the take - the ball bouncing off his wrist. Two runners made home from this error 3-0 Carp, runners on first and second with just one out. This disaster seemed to galvanize Messenger who suddenly picked things up and struck out Amaya and Kikuchi to end the innings. So through no fault of their own Carp were now in the lead and needed Nomura to hold it. At least he proved to be competent. In Tigers second he got Toritani, in his first bat at No. 4 to line out to short. Then Arai grounded out. Imanari hit left and Amaya ran round to field. The ball bounced in front of Amaya who jumped up to trap the ball on his chest. The ball hit is chest and Amaya carried on running leaving the ball behind. This enabled Imanari to reach second and as fielding goes wasn't the sort of thing you want to remember if you're the fielder. Shunsuke then struck out with a wild swing which showed great credit to Nomura for inducing it. Carp's third was quick - five pitches in all and the batters tumbled out one after another. They had used up all their luck but they held the lead. Tigers third was also quiet with the batters falling in order. No one seemed able to cope with Nomura's low pitches and control.

With one out in Carp's fourth Kimura singled to right. Then Ishihara hit left - he was having a good game for him. Instead of trying to hit Nomura bunted the runners to second and third which of course if Messenger kept his head meant no run. Messenger did keep his head and got Amaya to ground out to him to end the innings. Tigers fourth was quiet and once again we saw the questionable nature of making Toritani No. 4 - he didn't look anything like the batter for that position. With one out in Carp's fifth Maru hit to short and was able to get to first before the throw. Ka'aihue walked to set up runners on first and second. Soyogi grounded out to short but all Tigers could manage was the force out at second - the double play not coming off. Runners on first and third. Matsuyama hit to second where Uemoto dropped the ball but recovered just in time to make the throw for the final out. Arai grounded out to start Tigers fifth and then Imanari singled to centre. Shunsuke singled left - not far enough for Imanari to reach third - runners on first and second. Fujii grounded out producing the force out of Shunsuke who as he slid in upended Soyogi preventing the double play. Here Wada had a dilema and you could see the steam rising from his ears as he actually tried to think. Should he put Messenger in and pitch him more (Messenger had thrown 83 pitches) or should he go for the runs and put a pinch hitter in. The runs won and Fukudome was sent to the plate. He fell to a superb inside pitch from Nomura; striking out looking to end the innings. It all meant that Messenger got a well deserved rest and Kubo took over for Carp's sixth. Kimura lined out and then Ishihara singled again. Nomura went to bunt - but the bunt landed just in front of him and Fujii seized the ball and threw to second for the double play. It was nice work by Tigers for a change. Tigers sixth was quiet and once again Nomura's control impressed.

Kubo returned for Carp's seventh and retired the batters in order without much trouble. As long as he isn't used as closer he seems quite reliable. Tigers seventh started with Toritani working a walk. Arai struck out swinging - lured by an outside pitch he could have left and then Imanari to cap a dismal day for him (hits not withstanding) hit back to Nomura who was able to whip round and throw to second for the innings ending double play. Boyer pitched Carp's eighth and retired the batters in order finishing with Matsuyama striking out. Tigers eighth was to be Nomura's last innings - he was visibly tiring but still had enough to get the batters to all ground out. Hidaka pinch hit for Fujii which didn't produce any benefit and merely introduced a worse catcher into the mix though the side chosen by Wada wasn't one to fill the observer with enthusiasm either. Kubota pitched Carp's ninth and got flyouts from both Kimura and Ishihara. Now the question was would Nomura return to pitch Tigers ninth and get a complete game shutout. Nomura-kantoku said no and gently explained to his pitcher and namesake why not. Undoubtedly the right decision and something Wada could learn from. Mickolio pitched Tigers ninth and got the dispirited Nishioka and the useless Uemoto before Murton singled. Now was the chance for Toritani to do something but all he could do was ground out to first to end the game. Carp victory.

Tigers had had no answer to Nomura who had controlled the game with some fine pitching. Messenger really does look tired and as a pitcher looks more and more ineffective. He does need rest and at least this start was short. Tigers batting failed but Wada had chosen a side which lacked the ability to hit and gone with his non-entity favourites. He may have gotten the decision to pinch hit Messenger right but once again his choice of pinch hitter was strange - still if Fukudome is fit enough to rejoin the side that is a very good thing. And please - no more Toritani at four.