October 2nd Standridge v Nomura - Strange days

The latest musing to emerge from the depths of Koshien is a plan to look into acquiring Kawakami. Given his age this one would have thought have been a non-starter but is indicative of the total at sea approach that Tigers seem to have at the moment. The front office and the team management are really out of their collective depths and the obvious solution - sack the management team and bring in a real manager doesn't seem to have made its way into the minds of the front office yet. So far in the make up games it has been interesting to see that both starting pitchers have had to have been pulled after three innings with Fujii calling. Nohmi it is true was supposed to have a cut finger but no excuse was offered for Standridge other than he gave up too many runs. The common link is Fujii though and he really has to deliver a victory to retain any (of the little remaining) credibility at all. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers  0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 10 0
Carp    0 2 1 0 4 0 0 0 X 7 11 0

Starting Lineups

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

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

Tigers didn't actually do well this game - their start needed more pop and they failed to take advantage of Nomura's vulnerability. With two out Toritani walked and then Murton singled. Tigers need more extra base hits and they aren't getting them. They are also not stringing together enough singles to make a difference. This innings was a case in point - runners on first and second and Fukudome next. He struck out and Tigers first chance had gone. Thankfully things were relatively quiet at the Carp end. Ka'aihue did single right with two outs but Matsuyama did nothing and honours were even at the end of the first. Arai led Tigers second off with a single and if any one thing is indicative of Tigers struggles it is Arai's inability to hit those extra-base hits. There was also a bit of inept play by Arai. Saka swung at a changeup and flew out to short. Arai allowed himself to be caught off base and was out being unable to get back to second in time. Fujii struck out to end the innings. If Standridge had been successful in the first innings he wasn't successful after as Fujii's calling proceeded to wreck the game. Soyogi singled to lead off the Carp's second and then made second on a wild pitch which Fujii should have stopped. With Iwamoto out Kimura whacked a high pitch into the stand for a two run home run 2-0 Carp. There was no way back for the Tigers - this was the point of defeat. Ishihara singled and was bunted to second by Nomura before Maru singled to second to put runners on first and third. Kikuchi grounded out to third to end the innings. With two out in Tigers third Shunsuke singled but nothing came of this as Toritani could only ground out to second. Standridge wasn't much better in Carp's third but managed to avoid too much damage. He walked Ka'aihue to lead off the innings and then struck out Matsuyama. His control wandered though and he dead balled Soyogi - runners on first and second. Iwamoto singled to right which loaded the bases but here luck helped Tigers. Kimura hit to Nishioka who fired the ball back to Fujii for the force out with Kimura making first safely - bases loaded. Standridge had nothing left though and walked Ishihara in five pitches throwing far too many in the lower outside corner and missing. It was abysmal calling as well - oshidashi 3-0 Carp, bases loaded. Nomura hit to right and it took a jumping catch from Nishioka to get the final out of the innings.

Tigers fourth was depressing and no one got on base. The fire and will to fight back wasn't there. Tsutsui took over the pitching duties for Carp's fourth and struck out Maru and Kikuchi before Ka'aihue singled to centre. Matsuyama once again failed to make an impact flying out to third in foul ground. With one out in Tigers fifth Fujii singled left. Then Morita (pinch hitter) singled right. Nishioka grounded out to second taking the runners to second and third. Shunsuke was next and he grounded out to short. See what I mean about extra base hits and not enough singles. For Carp's fifth Matsuda took over and he definitely does not get on with Fujii. The whole innings sunk Tigers hopes of winning the game for good. Soyogi led the innings off with a double to right bouncing the ball off the fence. Iwamoto flew out with Soyogi staying on second. Then Kimura singled right but could only move Soyogi round to third with himself on first. Ishihara swung wildly and popped up to Fujii - two outs and Nomura next. Here Tigers tried to overawe Nomura throwing straights at him. As the call was for the ball in the same place Nomura cracked his second pitch into centre to bring in the runner 4-0 Carp, runners on first and second. This rattled Matsuda and Fujii was no help here. Maru walked to load the bases and then Kikuchi hit his first pitch left over Murton for a bases clearing triple 7-0 Carp. Ka'aihue managed to strike out in three but Tigers were in dire straits. Still they did mount some form of response in their sixth. Toritani stung into action singled. Murton hit a double into left centre and things were instantly different - runners on second and third for a start. Fukudome hit to second which brought in a run 7-1 Carp, runner on third. Then Arai hit left which showed that with a bit more application Nomura had been vulnerable. Toritani was home 7-2 Carp, runner on first with one out. Saka grounded out to second forcing out Arai and then Fujii struck out to end the innings. Incredibly after giving up four runs in the Carp's fifth Matsuda was left in for Carp's sixth. It either shows great faith in your reliever or a kind of stupidity that is difficult to beat. Carp though weren't interested in any more runs or even base runners and the innings was quiet with no one reaching base.

Imai took over for Tigers seventh - Carp wanted to win this one and Nomura had already thrown 118 pitches. Uemoto (pinch hitter and replacement third with Saka moving to centre) singled to lead off the innings. A wild pitch took him to second and he made third on Shunsuke's one out ground out but then Toritani also grounded out to short. Tamaki took over for Carp's seventh and did walk Ishihara with one out. However, Carp's catcher stayed on first and the innings was quiet. Yokoyama took over for the Tigers eighth and it was clear that the game was winding down. Yokoyama got Murton to ground out and then struck out Fukudome looking. He was then replaced by Kikuchihara who was pitching in his last game for Carp. Arai also struck out looking to end the innings. Tamaki walked Ka'aihue with one out in Carp's eighth and the latter was pinch run for by Mukae who also took over the left field position from Iwamoto who moved over to first to replace Matsuyama. Akamatsu (replacement centre) flew out to second which kept Mukae on first and then Uemoto (replacement third) grounded out to end the innings. Tigers ninth was pitched by Nakagawa. He struck out Imanari (pinch hitter) and then got Hiyama (pinch hitter) to ground out to first. Uemoto singled left but then Nishioka grounded out to second to end the game. Carp victory.

Carp had outplayed Tigers as they have done when Fujii has been calling. The victory took them to 2.5 games behind Tigers in second with a slim chance of taking over second place. The season series between the two sides ended up being tied 12-12. It had been a disinterested performance by Tigers who seem to be coasting and hoping to pick up the odd victory to maintain their second place. With a totally bankrupt management and coaching team Tigers at the moment cannot look forward to the Climax Series with any particular conviction except that they have a failed strategy. Tigers now travel to Yokohama for a game against the BayStars.

Going after Kawakami makes no sense at this time. (But I know you know this!) One of the biggest faults of management in recent years is a lack of faith in young players, and it just seems to be getting worse. We are already stuck with the oft-injured and underperforming Fukudome. Maybe their idea is adding Kawakami will ignite some fire in the two of them as they recall their past glory with the Dragons?

I firmly believe that Tigers front office is structuring the team as a retirement home for distressed and useless players (witness Hidaka and Fujii). They did this in the 90's and seem to be doing the same thing again.