Come Back Shane!

Considering who he's playing behind it's not a joke at all. I think Hanshin is just riding the hot hand at the moment. If Hamanaka cools down Spencer will probably see more action. But I agree that he could help a number of teams in MLB.

- You are far too talented to be a pinch hitter for Hanshin and see 1 or 2 ABs per week. The way they are using you is a joke.

Oh boy. First off, it's not like Spencer is batting all that great. Second off, outfielder Osamu Hamanaka is off to a red-hot start, batting .355 with 10 HRs and 22 RBIs [Hanshin Team Stats - Borisov's Pro Yakyu]. You start the player who is hotter, and Hamanaka is way hotter than Spencer. Then closing out, Hanshin showed Spencer a whole lot more respect than many other teams, as they re-signed him despite the struggles he had last year (which isn't a thing many other teams have done - re-signing players who struggled highly), as Spencer batted .243 with 9 HRs and 33 RBI.

So in conclusion, I find no fault with how Hanshin is using Spencer, as it would be even the way I would use him.

I was also surprised that the Tigers re-signed Spencer after a fairly mediocre first year. It sounded like he had gotten himself into great shape in the off-season, so I was hoping for a breakout season this year. Although he was platooning with Hiyama last year, Hiyama is very average and it would have been nice to see Spencer in the line-up more.

Unfortunately, Spencer's injury in Spring training seems to have doomed his whole season, as of course he won't see many chances with the start Hamanaka is off to. So even though I like the way Shane plays, at this point he isn't being misused by Hanshin.

I agree he is being misused. He came into Spring training noticebly bulked up and in the best shape of his life. You have to give your reserves a start every now and then to keep them game ready. You can't bench a guy for 2 weeks and then expect him to come through with a big pinch hit when you need one. Evey manager knows this. Maybe they could trade Shane.

No he isn't being misused. You play the man in the best form or who best suits your team plans, which in this case is Hamanaka. The Tigers are currently spoiled with choices in right field, and there are other deserving candidates as well.

- Maybe they could trade Shane.

I have a feeling this is going to happen. Hanshin just has too many qualified people for RF. Hamanaka has deservedly regained the spot; then there's Hiyama and Lin, and then Spencer and Nakamura.

I think everyone agrees Spencer is not a fourth-string player and he could be much better used at a team that needs a quality right fielder. I have a suspicion we might see him traded to another team soon.

There's a team in the Bronx who could really use Shane back right now!

I liked Shane when he played in NY, but he burnt a lot of bridges with his off-the-field activities while in the majors. He became a distrction due to his drinking and fighting. I'm not too sure that he would be welcomed back with open arms, although it would be nice for him to get another chance.

Shane could be the starting right fielder for the New York Yankees right now. If I were Shane, I would give Brian Cashman a call and hop on the next available flight to New York.

That's not saying much about the Yankees.

Well apparently Shane just needed to bat lead-off. Glad we got that straightened out.

Once again, Shane gets the start and produces a HR and 3 RBI. Imagine what he could be doing if he got more than 3 at-bats per week. Hanshin must have something personal against Shane to keep him on the bench.

- Hanshin must have something personal against Shane to keep him on the bench.

I find that highly unlikely. Hanshin has an embarrassment of good players to play right field: Hamanaka, Hiyama, Spencer, Lin, Nakamura, et al. If they had anything personal against a player - esp. a foreigner - wouldn't they just trade him?

On the other hand, given that Hanshin now sits atop the Ce League, doesn't that indicate their rostering - including their use of Spencer - is on the right track? If Hamanaka wasn't hitting .324 with 27 RBI and 11 HRs, and if right field was a hotbed of fielding errors, then there might be a stronger case for more playing time for Spencer. But as it stands, if it ain't broke ....

Another HR for Spencer tonight. The guy's doing really well.

Yes they like him. If Hanshin had something against Shane Spencer he would be on the farm team or back on the plane to the U.S. Quite simply, Hanshin is spoilt for choice at right field. Anyone going for that position has to outperform Hamanaka or Hiyama. Hiyama is also hitting well, but more importantly, is hitting match winning runs in tight games. A lot of competition for that position is what is keeping Shane Spencer from playing more regularly.

- ... hitting match winning runs in tight games.

Yes indeed. He did it again tonight in the Tigers' 5-3 victory over the Eagles. Spencer hit a pinch-hit solo home run to tie the game in the 8th.

By the way, Hiyama is hitting .196. I would hardly call that "batting well." The fact that he gets any AB's over Shane is a complete joke.

Furthermore, another HR for Shane last night as a pinch hitter.

- The fact that he gets any AB's over Shane is a complete joke.

A very good joke, too, because Hanshin are now clear at the top of the pile.

Why can't it be that Spencer's role is pinch hitter, and he's doing his job really well?

Yes, but his hits won two vital and close matches for Tigers. Average isn't everything. The nice thing about Spencer's home run yesterday was that it was a vital run at a vital time. Switching between Spencer and Hiyama is a very good option to have.

Yet another home run for Spencer tonight (June 8) - a grand slam, no less.

Over the past few nights (tonight included), the Tigers have made a habit of ending their inning with two and three runners on base, but Spencer showed the way with his 2-out kapow into the stands. Great shot.

Sorry to keep adding to this somewhat finished thread, but Spencer is in good form again tonight (June 9) against Seibu.

Regular Tigers' center fielder Norihiro Akahoshi is out injured, so Spencer started in that position. He made a fantastic catch to save a certain 1 and probable 2 runs. A deep, deeeeeep hit to CF had Spencer scuttling backwards, but he got a glove to the ball, and kept a hold of it when he slammed into the wall. The Lions' two runners on base assumed it was a hit and had already taken off, so no touch-up RBI eventuated.

As this thread points out, Spencer probably isn't getting the chances he might otherwise get, but he's certainly doing what he can to make every appearance count.

I just watched Shane hit a pinch hit homer against Rakuten. My impression of him is that he can hit 30 homers in Japan as a regular, much like Alex Ramirez. His body type reminds me of Kevin Mench of the Texas Rangers. His forearms are huge.

I'm hoping Hanshin lets him sign with another team. I wouldn't mind it if the Marines dropped Val Pascucci and got Shane Spencer.

Shane could be an everyday player on most other teams, but with Hamanaka and Hiyama working right field, it's probably time to think about trading Shane for a good starting pitcher while he's hot. I think there's a hole in the Tigers' rotation, and and I'd love to see Shane get the everyday role he deserves. WIN-WIN.

Hiyama should be sent to the minors. Hitting .184 over 76 ABs is disgraceful. Shane Spencer should get all Hiyama's ABs. Hanshin is totally wasting Shane's talent by keeping him on the bench so much.

That's the obvious thing to do, but Hiyama is pretty popular with the fans. I think he's received the biggest cheer of a Mendoza line batter I've ever heard.

The difference between Hanshin fans and normal baseball fans is that normal baseball fans are loyal but have the "what have you done for me lately?" mentality. That is magnified if a player is hitting with such a low average. Hanshin fans stick by certain players no matter what. That's very apparent with Hiyama this year and Fujimoto getting so many all star votes last year.

As a Marines fan, I have loyalty to results only. Makoto Kosaka is one of my favorite players, but if he were still a Marine, batting .200, with a low number of stolen bases, I wouldn't want to see him getting 4 or 5 at bats every game. Sure, he's been the face of the franchise in past seasons, but what have you done for me lately?

There's a point when blind loyalty starts costing you games. I haven't seen Hiyama enough this year to see whether he's an example of this, but Saeki of the BayStars constantly batting #4 definitely costs his team runs.

- There's a point when blind loyalty starts costing you games.

That's right. I'd guess that's why Imaoka was dropped and Hiyama is still given game time: Imaoka had several chances to get the Tigers out of a hole with multiple runners in scoring positions but couldn't make it happen, while Hiyama has come up with clutch hits when it counted.

Plus - and I apologise for saying the same thing again and again - the Tigers are winning, so if it ain't broken ....

- Hanshin fans stick by certain players no matter what.

You're certainly right there. Hiyama's a club stalwart who's always given his best. That's why they love him I suppose.

How could anyone with half a brain justify continuing to give at-bats to a .186 hitter. So what if he had 1 or 2 big hits. A monkey could get a few hits if you run him up there enough times. Shane Spencer is "The Home Run DeSpencer."

There is merit in your argument, but you do need to realise that Japanese teams for the most part are very loyal to their players. I am surprised to see Hiyama being used in the right field in replacement for Hamanaka at times. I would much prefer to see Tigers developing the younger players and using Lin as back up, but he is being used as a pinch hitter. However, using Hiyama as a DH or pinch hitter with Spencer is a very good move as it gives more options. Spencer as a right fielder was not mobile enough but as a DH/pinch hitter is very useful.

I have never understood Hiyama's popularity either. I think one of my students summed it up best: "I like his song."

Unfortunately, it's not a good song or Hiyama that is keeping Spencer from playing time now. It's Hamanaka. Last year Spencer and Hiyama platooned against lefties and righties. Hamanaka stepped into Spencer's job when Spencer started the season on the disabled list, so it was common sense that kept Spencer on the bench after Hamanaka's torrid start. Although Hamanaka's power numbers have been pretty dismal since that start, he's still hitting for average. I wish there were room for both Spencer and Hamanaka, but there doesn't seem to be right now.

What did surprise me is how few starts Spencer has gotten even when the Tigers have used a DH during inter-league games. I don't see Spencer making it back into a starting role this season, but hopefully he'll make up for it with some big pinch hit home runs in what will appear to be a tight pennant race down the stretch.

On a final note, hopefully Spencer could also be used to teach Sheets how to bowl over catchers. Last night at Koshien, Sheets tried to half-heartedly tiptoe around the catcher when he was thrown out at home. It's hard to argue with his great stats this year, but hopefully Okada gave him an earful for such an out-of-character lack of effort on that one!

Just came to check in on Shane. Glad to see he's doing well.

To the previous posts, Shane being benched (previously) doesn't mean much. Japanese teams are biased against foreign players. Sorry but it's true. They absolutely do not give the same opportunities to foreign players as they do to Japanese players.

Japanese teams are so quick to send foreigners to the minors whereas they will keep Japanese with the same records on the big team because of the fans. Bad baseball!

The Japanese need to get over this Japanese tradition and learn now to play real baseball. Many of their players think the same.

I'm sorry, but I'm just not sold on Spencer. He didn't do much of anything last season, and considering that the Tigers are looking to develop younger players like Hamanaka who can supplant Kanemoto when he finally goes downhill/retires, I can understand how they would give Osamu the at bats. If Spencer came in and began playing like Randy Bass they would find a spot for him, believe me. I don't think it's much of a racial thing. Otherwise, they would bung Andy Sheets on the bench, too.

On the Shinjiro Hiyama thing, they are pushing him out the door. He is like the cockroach you just can't seem to kill. It could be that Okada doesn't want to anger Hiyama's fans by just trading him or releasing him. He is there more or less as injury insurance, just as Spencer is. His days of playing regularly are over.

Hanshin, and for good reason, doesn't really trust Shane's health and doesn't think he has proven enough abilitywise to be named the starting right fielder from day one. I was suprised when they kept him. But on the other hand, they may have felt that Spencer did well enough his first season that maybe he might be serviceable this season because he is more acclimated to Japanese baseball and it becomes the devil you know kind of thing. They didn't really know how much Lin was going to develop, either, so Spencer was kind of a default option.

Personally, if I were in Okada's shoes, I would go with Hamanaka or Lin as the 1-2 from a developmental standpoint and have Shane play regularly down in the Western League until the other two prove they needed more seasoning. Lin only proved that he needed more at bats.

Now if only they can just find a catcher they can actually use when Yano hits the wall.

- Many of their players think the same.

What are their many names?

What's the deal with Shane? Was he cut loose by the Tigers? Hopefully he's on his way back to the Bronx!

Does anyone know if Spencer still plays for Hanshin? I have not seen his name in the box scores for a while.

Last I heard, Spencer has been sent down to the farm team. Can anyone confirm this?

Shane Spencer played yesterday in the first team as a pinch hitter. He was in the farm team for a while but was brought up when Nohmi was sent down.

Good that he's back. Doesn't look like Okada has much faith in him yet, though, as he actually let Fujikawa hit in extra innings tonight instead of give someone like Spencer a shot. Of course you want Fujikawa in there, but they also should have gone for the win with a runner in scoring position.

- Of course you want Fujikawa in there, but they also should have gone for the win with a runner in scoring position.

I agree, although I wouldn't have gone with Spencer. They needed a lefty at that point, and thought Lin would have been a better choice.

That's true. I forgot about the pitching match-up at the time. Lin is a player who deserves more chances, though. Every time they send Hiyama in instead I grimace.

To be fair, however, Hiyama did have a quality at bat last night. Unfortunately, a quality at bat for Hiyama means fouling off a few pitches before striking out!

- Unfortunately, a quality at bat for Hiyama means fouling off a few pitches before striking out!

Indeed. When I saw Hiyama on deck, I almost screamed at the TV: "No! Not Hiyama - he'll strike out." And he did.

Yeah, couldn't decide which made me angrier tonight - seeing Hiyama in the on-deck circle again or seeing Okada let Igawa bat after they tied the game? That's too much leeway to Igawa. He was pitching a great game at the time, but got to go for the lead when you have Fujikawa in the bullpen.

Hiyama is OK - the fans like him and he doesn't stand out too much in an under-performing team.

Pitching Igawa too long is something that Okada does from time to time. Whether he did so last night is a moot point as Igawa was pitching well.

However, Okada is under-using his top relief team. Both Williams and Fujikawa should be used more often and there was a big case for bringing them on last night. The Giants are sinking fast and there is no reason to hand them a rope. Like Chunichi, the Tigers should be sweeping them.

That was a particularly tough game last night. My fave pitcher out there doing a great job, but that is far from the first time I thought, "My goodness, he looks tired. Time for relief. Wake up, Okada-kantoku!" I just do not understand Okada's thinking with his pitchers much of the time. There are times when I feel he's overused Darwin and Egusa, past their tiring points. And it seems Igawa, who is a real artist, gets infrequent starts. And last night, Okada left him in one inning too many.

Last night they needed a big bopper when Hiyama got that sac fly. Seemed like too much joy in just tying the score at that point. Surely that was the time to pinch-hit for Igawa. Where was Shane Spencer? What gives? Help me! I'm frustrated watching the Tigers sink and sink. They're too good for this!

Yeah, I'm still perplexed at that decision to leave Igawa in, even though I believe he had pitched perfectly from the 4th inning on. Still, you think the reason to leave him in is to give him a chance to get the win, but having only tied the score, he wasn't in a position to get the win anyway. With Chunichi so hot this year, we'll never catch them with this kind of decision-making. (With the team playing so horribly in clutch situations, Okada of course is just part of the problem, but I've been surprised at some of his moves.)

- I just do not understand Okada's thinking with his pitchers much of the time.

Why a lot of times we may question why a manager won't put a reliever in, Igawa did seem to pitch well throughout the game, and it's also part of a game to have confidence in the pitchers you have.

- Okada of course is just part of the problem.

I wouldn't say Okada is the problem. Remember that a player has to play in the clutch, and in this situation, Igawa was pitching a great game.

There seems to be too much consensus that Okada is the problem with Hanshin, to the level it boggles my mind.

It's great to have confidence in your pitchers, but Igawa had already thrown 113 pitches. There was no need for him to go out and have to pitch the 9th. With Uehara already out of the game, the result of the game would be decided based on the bullpens of both teams. 9 out of 10 times, the Hanshin bullpen will be the successful side, resulting in a Hanshin victory.

It was just irrational there to have Igawa pitch in the 9th. A good manager has to (pardon my language) have the b@lls to take his ace out of the game after he has pitched well but still isn't in line to get the win. Okada didn't do that. He left Igawa in there, pretty much just so that Igawa could get a win.

I remember having a long debate with Mijow and others about this very issue (leaving Igawa in too long) one or two years ago. The question of whether to leave someone in is difficult, and I can only suppose that Okada wanted to preserve his relief team for the extra innings. Otherwise there is no reason for allowing Igawa to pitch the whole match.

Whilst it is true that the Tigers' batting is under-performing, and the players bear a lot of responsibility for this, it is also the job of the coach and the management to take action if this continues. If Okada has a fault it is his reactive style of management and inability to treat an individual series as individual events needing individual approaches. This was most manifest in the Japan Series where Tigers had no strategy to counter Valentine's tatics.

Okada does have blind spots - his reliance on Hiyama rather than Machida for example. He also doesn't put his top relievers in if the opposition has a 2 run lead. This is tantamount to throwing the match as Williams and Fujikawa cause a drop in opposition morale once they appear out of the bullpen.

Turning back to the players, they do not seem interested or focused. Games are lost through a too casual attitude and lack of application. The recent series against the Dragons demonstrated this clearly. Sheets and Kanemoto are perhaps the two biggest culprits with regard to batting and Toritani in respect of fielding. Pitchers pick up on this - they pitch their hearts out and don't get the support from the offense so their performance suffers in later matches. This is also the responsibility of the manager/coaches to rectify. So whilst you cannot pin the blame for a slump on Okada, and Tigers are still in clear second, it is the manager's responsibility to ensure that the slump doesn't continue. This sometimes involves luck, but if you are proactive, you are more likely to generate the momentum to get out of the slump.

Looks like Shane hit a big home run yesterday after finally getting a start. Seems to me that Shane needs to play in order to be effective. He is not a very good pinch hitter. When given consistent ABs he almost always produces. I have no doubt that if he was an everyday starter, he would produce 20-30 HRs.

Okada is just plain clueless on how to use his players. The fact that Hiyama is still on the club and still gets called on to pinch hit proves this point.

- Shane needs to play in order to be effective. He is not a very good pinch hitter.

True enough, but remember Hiyama isn't the one keeping him out of the lineup - it's Hamanaka. So are you saying Okada should be using Spencer in the lineup instead of Hamanaka?

And if Spencer is "not a very good pinch hitter" (your words), then what's the problem using Hiyama off the bench instead? I know Hiyama's bad, but if Spencer is bad as well, what's a manager to do?

- When given consistent ABs he almost always produces. I have no doubt that if he was an everyday starter, he would produce 20-30 HRs.

You can't prove this, Spencer platooned with Hiyama last year and plain out didn't produce. He batted .244/.326/.399 with 9 HRs and 33 RBI.

Given, Spencer's production last year, Okada's use of Spencer is well justified.

[2005 Hanshin Stats] (Borisov Pro Yakyu 2005)

Hiyama just plain can't hit, whether it be starting, pinch hitting, or in any other situation. Shane just need more consistent ABs. He can play first base and all three outfield positions, so there is no reason Okada couldn't find him a couple of starts per week and rest some other guys.

The outfield positions are Kanemoto, Akahoshi and Hamanaka. First base is Sheets. These four outperform Spencer I'm afraid. Of the outfield positions only right field and and center field are available, and only when Akahoshi and Hamanaka are injured. Left field is always Kanemoto. Spencer also has to compete with Lin and Nakamura for the other two positions.

Last year Spencer didn't outperform any of the regulars but did enough to be asked back. He has shown good team spirit and good application to be included in the top team for most of the season, and has not complained if he has gone down to the farm team. However, he has not shown that little bit extra you need to be put in ahead of the regular starters. He really does need this extra to get a regular slot.

- Shane just need more consistent ABs.

While Hiyama might not be any more consistent than Spencer, Spencer isn't better of an option than Hiyama either.

Spencer plain out just doesn't produce well enough to start, given his performance last year when he was outperformed by even Hiyama in a platoon. It's amazing he even returned as he struggled so badly last year.

- He can play first base and all three outfield positions, so there is no reason Okada couldn't find him a couple of starts per week and rest some other guys.

Hanshin isn't going to play Spencer over Kanemoto, Akahoshi, or Sheets, and I know you're not trying to tell me that you would either? There is no way Spencer is more reliable than either of those three as a starter, even if it is just spotting one of them on occasion.

Also, with the way Hamanaka is playing, there is no reason to use Spencer at all. I know you're not telling me that Spencer would be a more useful player than Hamanaka. Plus, Spencer has never played at first base, so that be a adventure in itself.

In conclusion, many here need to realize that Spencer's 2005 season was a disaster, in which he platooned with Hiyama. Spencer is not as good an option as some are making him out to be.