Daisuke Katoh as Closer?

Wait a minute, tonight he gives up his first runs of the year and suddenly you want to kill the guy?

I think he's pretty good considering what you have on that Orix staff. I ask two questions:

1. Can you back up your claim with actual numbers, since I don't think he's blown anywhere near that many saves, and
2. who do you suggest replacing him with?

I'm not talking only about this year. I'm talking about his career. Maybe the runners weren't always his responsibility, but nevertheless he lets them score. I have watched every Orix game for years. Believe me, I wish I could find the stat for blowing one run games. Just off hand I can think of at least 5. When the pressure is on he doesn't come through. They don't have anyone better. That's one of the reasons why they are in last place.

Another thing is the hitting. It's frightening the strikeout rate with runners in scoring position. Orix almost never moves runners up. They can't even make contact.

With regard to driving in runs, they're doing much better than Hiroshima or Yokohama. After the end of play on April 24, Yokohama has the highest team batting average of all 12 teams at .272. Yet they have the second least number of runs scored at 67 (compared to 111 runs allowed). At least Hiroshima's 57 runs scored isn't such a big gap from their 75 runs allowed.

Orix, on the other hand, has managed to score 91 runs while batting just .223. That tells me that when they do get a hit, they score. (24 home runs also help out quite a bit, compared to Yokohama's 15. And Yokohama plays in a park that sees a lot of home runs. They just happen to be for the other team more often than not.)

The way I see it, Orix is making the most of their few opportunities. The BayStars have been choking with runners in scoring position so much more.

Ok, you've just compared Orix with the 2 worst teams. So Orix is the third worst team in Japanese baseball according to your stats.

Anyway what ever anyone has to say, they are still the worst team in the Pacific League. They don't get the job done, pure and simple. If they did they would be winning.

Oh, I will wholeheartedly agree that Orix is pretty terrible.

I just don't think it's Daisuke Katoh's fault.

I agree. It's not all his fault. It's the pathetic front office. I feel sorry for Collins having to put up with Nakamura and company's mismanagement.