July 27th Standridge v Takasaki - It just gets better and better

The good news is that the light is finally dawning on the Tigers management and Kanemoto is gradually being sidelined. This means opportunities for others and maybe someone with a good throw. Still Tigers need to do something about their management. However, their GM, Tanako is on record saying that they don't plan to make any changes to the coaching lineup at the moment. This does rather indicate that pressure is begining to become noticeable. As for the game, once again Tigers failed to perform against Takasaki despite having him on the ropes in the third and taking nine hits off him. Despite the win Takasaki isn't a good pitcher but against Tigers he doesn't need to be. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
BayStars  0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 5  9 1
Tigers    0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 1

Starting lineups

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

Tigers
1. Toritani (Short)
2. Yamato (Centre)
3. Ryota Arai (Third)
4. Takahiro Arai (First)
5. Murton (Right)
6. Hirano (Second)
7. Itoh (Left)
8. Komiyama (Catcher)
9. Standridge (Pitcher)

Standridge started by getting Aranami to fly out but then Uchimura tried a bunt hit. To everyone's surprise this piece of folly actually worked and BayStars had a runner on first. Nakamura then spoiled it all by driving straight at Takahiro Arai who had time to catch Uchimura off base. Toritani started Tigers first by drawing a lead off walk and then Wada spoiled it all. Yamato bunted Toritani to second and the Arai brothers proceeded to both ground out to short. Inept play which didn't bode well for the rest of the game. Standridge then managed to get himself into trouble in the BayStars second. Ramirez singled right and then the generally ineffective Kinjoh singled to centre - runners on first and second with no outs. Watanabe grounded out to Standridge who threw to third for the out but the double play didn't come off. BayStars still had runners on first and second. Tsutsugoh singled to load the bases and then BayStars wasted the chance. Kurobane struck out swinging and the last batter was the pitcher Takasaki who grounded out to Standridge. Tigers had survived. Tigers then failed to convert their chance in the second. With Murton out, Hirano singled. Itoh drove a two base to left centre to set up runners on second and third. Komiyama hit to short and Hirano went for home but the throw was good and he was out at the plate. Tigers still had runners on first and third but with Standridge the next batter even Takasaki couldn't mess this up and he didn't. Standridge was out. Standridge walked Nakamura with two out in BayStars third but Ramirez grounded out to the pitcher and ended the innings. Takasaki was still hittable and Toritani did so leading off Tigers third with a three base to right centre in the sweet spot. Next was Yamato who drove left along the line for a two base hit 1-0 Tigers. With no outs Ryota Arai tried a bunt - what a waste. In a truely inept display, Kurobane couldn't field and the Tigers had runners on first and third. Then things went wrong. Takahiro Arai struck out looking - very poor batting and Murton hit into a double play. One wonders why Murton is in the side and Brazell not as neither of them are having inspiring seasons but Brazell does drive in more runs. Tigers despite the lead had wasted the opportunity.

Standridge deadballed Watanabe with one out in BayStars fourth and then walked Tsustugoh in four. Kurobane came to the rescue, hitting into a double play to end the innings. In the bottom Itoh singled right but nothing came of this. Takasaki started BayStars fifth by striking out looking but Aranami managed a very workmanlike two base hit. He stayed on second though, neither Uchimura nor Nakamura could move him round. For Tigers fifth the second batter Yamato hit to Watanabe who fluffed the chance allowing Yamato to get to second. One out later Wada signaled the steal which Yamato tried but was tagged out to end the innings. So far Standridge had survived - his luck had held and he hadn't been punished for his waywardness. This was about to change. Ramirez flew out to left to start BayStars sixthbut Kinjoh hit a two base to right. Watanabe flew out to right and things looked good but then Tigers decided to deliberately walk Tsutsugoh to get at Kurobane. This was stupid and deserved punishment which is what it got. Nakahata sent a pinch hitter to the plate, Koike who hit left and even though it was a lucky hit it was a home run 3-1 BayStars. Poor tactical management by Tigers. Takasaki struck out swinging but now BayStars had a really useable lead. Tigers failed to respond in their sixth. The stuffing had been knocked out of them. True, Hirano singled but with two out Itoh struck out swinging to end the innings.

Things got even worse in BayStars seventh. Watanabe took over and he hasn't been pitching well of late. Aranami grounded out but Uchimura walked. Nakamura hit to third where Ryota Arai once again messed up and BayStars had runners on first and second. Ramirez flew out but Watanabe was by now totally rattled and walked Kinjoh in four to load the bases. Watanabe (BayStars version) singled left bringing in another run 4-1 BayStars, bases loaded. This brought a pitching change, Katoh taking over. He faced Tsutsugoh who struck out swinging to end the innings. Imanari (replacement catcher) led off Tigers seventh with a single. Then Kanemoto (pinch hitter) singled to right and Tigers had runners on first and second. Once again they wasted the opportunity. Toritani popped out to second, Yamato flew out to cente and Ryota Arai grounded out to second. BayStars could begin to think about cruising to victory. Kojima pitched the BayStars eighth and started by walking Tsuruoka (replacement catcher). Takasaki surprised everyone by usefully hitting into a double play and then Aranami struck out looking. Tigers eighth was dispiriting rubbish with no one trying at all and the batters falling in order to a tiring Takasaki. I have written about Imanari's ability to add runs to an oppositions score when he takes over from Komiyama and this game was no exception. With two outs in BayStars ninth Morimoto (replacement left) singled to Toritani who couldn't get the throw away in time. Then Kojima and Imanari contrived to walk Kinjoh and Watanabe to load the bases. The next batter was Tsutsugoh who Kojima kindly deadballed for an oshidashi 5-1 BayStars, bases loaded. Tsuru took over after this debacle and got Tsuruoka to fly out in foul ground to end the innings. Yamaguchi pitched Tigers ninth and had no real problems. Itoh grounded out to the pitcher but Imanari singled. This brought on Hiyama (pinch hitter) who hit into a double play to end the game. BayStars victory.

Despite the good start Tigers had once again shown an inability to drive in runs when it mattered. BayStars had taken their chances particularly later in the game. What was disturbing for Tigers fans is the way Tigers had given up so easily after they lost the lead. Wada might talk about spirit but he and his team are failing to instill this in Tigers players and this is a very demotivated outfit.

Why is Brazill out of the Line Up? He is one of the RBI leaders on the team. Why do they have to pick former Tigers to Coach the team, and are allways poor managers. Seems to be a culture on this team, everyong has given up do to no faith in the Coaching Staff and Management. Shame, the best baseball fans in the WORLD, have to see this product on the field. You could get a hint from Hero Interviews with Brazill and Murton something was not right with the team and inside and out.

Yes, definitely something wrong with this team. I was at Koshien on Friday and it was the most negative atmosphere I've ever experienced there. Lots of grumbling, disappointed fans. Of course the most suiting remark was the guy behind me who yelled "Arai kyodai iranai!" ("We don't need the Arai brothers.") Spot on there.

Brazell is a mystery. Sure his numbers are down, but just about everyone on the team is having a below average year. At least Brazell still has some power, unlike big Arai, who is still batting 4th. I think Brazell is the better first baseman too.

I usually average 10-15 games a year, but Friday was just my 5th of the year, and most likely my last. I like a lot of the individual players, but ownership is just taking advantage of the fans' dedication.