2003 Nippon Series Game 5

Just got back. Going to Tokyo is always so tiring. But it was a good meeting. Got a little bit of focus for future studies.

In the mean time, it appears that Niibu-yaa-san had some down time with his service provider, and Martin stepped in with the play-by-play. Thank you, Martin-san.

As I go through the log, I see that the transcript stopped in the 7th inning. Not being here, I don't know what happened. But the transcript appears to have merged with Game 4's transcript, so it looks like a memory error of some kind. I'll try to track down the problem tomorrow.

Nonetheless, all the scoring had been done by the time that the transcript got cut off, so other than the excitement of a close game, you didn't miss any scoring.

I'll be back on Sunday evening (Japan Standard Time) with play-by-play coverage of Game 6 from Fukuoka Dome.

TRANSCRIPT generated on: /24 23:25
CHATROOM: Nippon Series Game 5/Even Series - Last Night at Koshien/english//24 16:08
MODERATORS: westbaystars

16:09: westbaystars: - Wish I could join you all tonight. Welcome Niibu_yaa-san for play-by-play at 6:15 JST.
17:20: Goemon: - Go Hanshin Tigers!!!!!!!
18:32: Martin: - He Niibu were are you, the game allreayby begun
18:32: Martin: - Hawks just finished the top of first inning, no hits, Iguchi 4 balls
18:36: Martin: - Saito will start for the hawks
18:36: UMASS: - HT gambare!
18:36: UMASS: - akahoshi flyed out!
18:36: Martin: - Tigers at bat, 2 out Kanemoto at bat.
18:37: Martin: - Strike 1 for Kanemoto
18:38: Martin: - Unbelivable, Kanemoto hitd a HR
18:39: UMASS: - Great!
18:39: Martin: - Kanemoto has now 4 hits in the series: 4 Hr's
18:39: UMASS: - It seem to be a good start
18:39: Martin: - Tigers lead 1-0.
18:40: UMASS: - hi Martin, only u and me here?
18:40: UMASS: - Are you watching TV?
18:41: Martin: - I guess so. where is Nibu ?
18:41: Martin: - No I am at work and have yahoo play by play.
18:41: Martin: - Are you listening to the radio?
18:42: Martin: - Top of the second. Johjima at bat.
18:44: UMASS: - No, I am at office, like you
18:44: UMASS: - just see yahoo
18:45: UMASS: - I will go home soon
18:46: UMASS: - wow, valdes made 2 runs HR
18:48: Martin: - Starter for the Tigers is Shimoyanagi.
18:48: Martin: - Yes indeed, Valdes hits a 2 run HR
18:48: Martin: - Hawks lead 2-1
18:49: Martin: - At bat Saito. There are 2 outs, no one on base.
18:50: Martin: - I am watching yahoo, play by play.
18:50: Martin: - Saito grounds out for the 3rd out.
18:50: Martin: - ----
18:51: Martin: - Hawks lead 2-1. Bottom of the second.
18:51: Martin: - ----
18:53: Martin: - At bat for the Tigers: Arias
18:53: Martin: - 2 strikes for Arias.
18:54: Martin: - Arias hits the ba to left field.
18:54: Martin: - Base hit .................
18:55: Martin: - At bat the 3rd baseman Kataoka
18:55: Martin: - 3 ball, 1 strike.
18:56: Martin: - full count, no outs, Arias at first.
18:57: Martin: - And Kataoka strikes out !!!!!
18:58: Martin: - Looks like Arias is cought stealing.
18:58: Martin: - Two outs, no one on base.
18:59: Martin: - At bat Yano (C)
19:00: Martin: - Yano strikes out for the third out.
19:00: Martin: - -----------
19:01: Martin: - Top of the 3rd, Hawks lead 2-1.
19:01: Martin: - -----------
19:01: Martin: - Umass, are you still there?
19:02: Martin: - Shimoyanagi is still pitching for the tigers.
19:04: Martin: - At bat Deguchi.
19:04: Martin: - 2 strikes.
19:06: Martin: - Deguchi reaches first base.
19:07: Martin: - At bat Kawasaki.
19:08: UMASS: - Sorry, I have to go home now
19:08: Martin: - He will bunt.
19:08: UMASS: - You are root for Daei?
19:08: Martin: - I am for Daiei yes.
19:09: UMASS: - bye!
19:09: Martin: - The bunt is caught. One out, Deguchi at first.
19:10: Martin: - At bat Iguchi.
19:14: Martin: - Iguchi strikes out.
19:15: Martin: - At bat Matsunaka.
19:15: Martin: - There are 2 outs, Deguchi is at first (basehit)
19:16: Martin: - 1 strike, one ball. Iguchi steals and is out. 3 out.
19:16: Martin: - -----
19:17: Martin: - Bottom of the 3rd Hawks lead 2-1.
19:17: Martin: - -----
19:17: Martin: - At bat for the Tigers is Shimoyanagi.
19:21: Martin: - Sorry Fujimoto.
19:22: Martin: - He hits a fly ball to the CF, one out.
19:22: Martin: - At bat Shimoyanagi.
19:22: Martin: - 3 strike out, two outs.
19:22: Martin: - 2 outs, imaoka at bat.
19:23: Martin: - Imaoka hits a grounder to short and is out.
19:23: Martin: - -----------
19:23: Martin: - Top of the 4th Hawks lead 2-1
19:24: Martin: - -------------
19:26: Martin: - I have to work now, so I-ll be back later.
19:27: Martin: - I hope that Nibu will be here soon to cover the game.
19:28: Martin: - At the moment there are 2 outs, no one on base and Valdes is at bat.
19:28: Martin: - Valdes hit a 2 run HR in the 2nd. What will he do now?
19:29: Martin: - He gets a base hit!!!
19:29: Martin: - At bat Shibahara.
19:29: Martin: - He hits to short for the third out.
19:30: Martin: - Is someone of you whatching the game or listening to the radio?
19:31: Martin: - I am following yahoo sports, play by play.
19:31: Martin: - -----
19:31: Matenz: - i'm just following your words
19:31: Martin: - bottom of the 4th, Hawks still lead 2-1
19:31: Martin: - -----
19:33: Martin: - If you want to follows the play by play please go to http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/baseball/
19:33: Martin: - and click on [ ライブ ] live
19:34: Martin: - There are allready 2 outs, Hiyama is at bat.
19:34: Martin: - No one on base
19:35: Martin: - He hits a grounder to matsunaka for the 3rd out.
19:35: Martin: - --------------
19:36: Martin: - Top of the 5th, Hawks lead 2-1.
19:36: Martin: - -------------
19:37: niibu_yaa: - thanks martin
19:37: niibu_yaa: - I was supposed to listen to the game and try to help out with play by play.
19:38: Martin: - At bat for the Hawks is the catcher Torigoe
19:38: Martin: - Well you can help me. I am at work and have lunchbreak now.
19:39: Martin: - full count for Torigoe.
19:39: Martin: - A walk to first for Torigoe.
19:39: niibu_yaa: - ok...my internet connection got shut down for "maint."
19:40: Martin: - At bat Saito...........will he lay doen a bunt?
19:41: Martin: - ball one.
19:42: Martin: - Saito hits the ball in a double play !!!! Why not bunt !!!!
19:42: niibu_yaa: - Saito watches the second pitch for strike 2
19:43: Jimbob: - we are in the classroom, whats the score?
19:43: Martin: - Hawks lead 2-1 top of the 5th
19:44: Jimbob: - Thanks
19:44: Martin: - Two outs, no one on base, at bat Deguchi.
19:44: Martin: - the count is 2-2
19:45: Martin: - He hits a fly ball to the shortstop for the 3rd out.
19:45: Martin: - -----------
19:45: Martin: - bottom of the 5th : Hawks 2 - Tigers 1
19:45: Martin: - ----------
19:46: Martin: - summary: Kanemoto HR (1 run ,1st)
19:46: Jimbob: - We are studying english and sometimes checking this chat for news. thanks
19:46: Martin: - Valdes Hr (2 run, 2nd)
19:47: Martin: - I am at work, and having lunch now.
19:47: Martin: - At bat for the Tigers is Arias.
19:48: Martin: - The count is 2 stikes one ball
19:48: Martin: - 2-2
19:50: niibu-yaa: - arias flys to second for the second out by the hand of Deguchi
19:50: Martin: - This play by play does not work very well.
19:51: Martin: - There are two outs now, Katoa hits a fly ball to CF.
19:51: Martin: - At bat Yano.
19:52: Martin: - 1 strikes 3 balls
19:52: Martin: - full counts
19:53: Martin: - Yano hits a fly ball to rightfield for the 3th out.
19:54: Martin: - ----------
19:54: Martin: - Top of the 6. Hawks lead 2-1
19:54: Martin: - -------------
19:54: niibu-yaa: - marrtin any luck getting into yahoo chat to hear the game? none for me.
19:54: Martin: - I am not listenning to the radio
19:55: Martin: - I am at my work so I am followinf play by play.
19:55: Martin: - I cannot disturb my collegues at work.
19:55: niibu-yaa: - top of the sixth brings up the heart of the hawks order lead off by Kawasaki
19:56: Martin: - This game is going quite fast.
19:57: niibu-yaa: - kawasaki hit the first offering foul
19:57: Martin: - 1 strike for Kawasaki.
19:58: niibu-yaa: - takes strike 2 swinging.
19:58: Martin: - The pitcher is still Shimoyanagi
19:58: Martin: - He hits a grounder to first base for the 1st out.
19:59: niibu-yaa: - Iguchi comes to the plate.
19:59: Martin: - Iguchi is now at bat.
19:59: Martin: - strike 1
20:00: niibu-yaa: - count is 1 -1
20:00: Martin: - 2 strikes, one ball
20:00: Martin: - 2-2
20:01: Martin: - He niibu, is it working now?
20:01: Martin: - full count fir Iguchi
20:01: niibu-yaa: - full count as Iguchi draw 3 foul
20:02: Martin: - and a walk to 1st base.
20:02: niibu-yaa: - sorry 2 fou;
20:03: Martin: - At bat is now Matsunaka, Iguchi is at 1st, one out.
20:03: niibu-yaa: - and takes ball four a high fastball for the walk
20:04: Martin: - Strike one for Matsunaka.
20:04: niibu-yaa: - 1 - 1 for matsunaka
20:04: Martin: - The count is 1-1
20:06: Martin: - OK, i'll leave it up to you now Niibu, my lunch time is over.
20:06: niibu-yaa: - 2 -2 as Matsunaka takes an out of course slider.
20:06: niibu-yaa: - ok
20:06: Martin: - I still have to work a bit but will stay online.
20:06: niibu-yaa: - another slider creeps by foul.
20:07: niibu-yaa: - 2 -3
20:08: Jimbob: - we just finished so whats the score now?
20:08: niibu-yaa: - hit to the pitcher for the 2 out
20:08: niibu-yaa: - Jyojima takes he third ball.
20:08: niibu-yaa: - 2 outs runners on 1
20:08: Martin: - Hawks lead 2-1
20:09: niibu-yaa: - shimouanagi throws he first strike in the count 1-3
20:09: niibu-yaa: - Jyojima fould the next one off...Full COunt
20:09: niibu-yaa: - with 2 outs Igushi takes a large lead.
20:10: Martin: - 2 outs, runner on 2nd.
20:10: niibu-yaa: - jojima hits
20:11: niibu-yaa: - rather gets struck out
20:11: niibu-yaa: - --
20:12: niibu-yaa: - bottom of the 6th
20:12: niibu-yaa: - --
20:13: niibu-yaa: - count 1 - 1
20:14: niibu-yaa: - Fujimoto becomes the Tigers first out.
20:14: MHtrStevie: - Greetings again... another close one, I see.
20:14: niibu-yaa: - This should bring up Shimuyangi barring any pitching change.
20:15: niibu-yaa: - out 2
20:15: niibu-yaa: - Imaoka is up.
20:15: niibu-yaa: - count 2 strike 3 ball
20:16: niibu-yaa: - Imaoka takes first.
20:16: niibu-yaa: - and Akahoishi steps to the palte.
20:17: niibu-yaa: - fouls off the second offering 1 - 1
20:17: niibu-yaa: - takes ball 2
20:18: MHtrStevie: - Anyone know who's pitching for Hawks now?
20:18: niibu-yaa: - take a good cut at the 4th offering.
20:19: Martin: - Saito is still pitching for the Hawks.
20:19: MHtrStevie: - Thanks!
20:19: niibu-yaa: - and gets a base hit bringing up yesterdays hero Knemoto
20:20: niibu-yaa: - Kanemoto.... who takes a ball 1
20:20: Martin: - Imaoka hits the ball trough the middle for a base hit
20:20: niibu-yaa: - out of course fastball for ball2
20:20: Martin: - 2 outs, one on first and Akahoshi at bat.
20:21: niibu-yaa: - Kanemoto takes yet another ball for 0 -3 count
20:21: Martin: - Akahoshi hits (or bunts?) to 3rd base for a hit.
20:22: niibu-yaa: - hey martin.....he hit a base hit..kanemoto is now up.
20:22: Martin: - At bat the Hr king Kanemoto. runners on 1st and 2nd.
20:22: niibu-yaa: - with an 0 - 3 coutn
20:22: Martin: - 2 balls in a row.
20:23: niibu-yaa: - ball 4 which brings up Hiayama.
20:24: Martin: - base loaded !!!!! 2 outs.
20:24: niibu-yaa: - count 1 -1 on hiyama. bases loaded.....
20:24: Martin: - The score is 2-1 for the Hawks. Bottom of the 6th.
20:25: niibu-yaa: - hiayama gets a base hit home
20:25: Martin: - Wow
20:25: niibu-yaa: - 2 in.......Hanshin takes the lead.
20:26: niibu-yaa: - Koshien goes crazy.
20:26: MHtrStevie: - Wow... aside from the Game 2 blowout, these teams seem very evenly matched!
20:26: niibu-yaa: - Yabu is up and takes strike 1
20:27: niibu-yaa: - faouls.....2 strikes one ball.
20:27: Martin: - Isn't Arias at bat?
20:28: niibu-yaa: - ah my bad..that's right.
20:31: niibu-yaa: - and he makes the third out.
20:31: niibu-yaa: - --
20:31: niibu-yaa: - top of the 7th
20:31: niibu-yaa: - Hanshin Makes a pitching Change.
20:32: niibu-yaa: - Valdez will be Daiei's first batter.
20:33: Martin: - Time for Valdez to hit another HR, haha
20:33: niibu-yaa: - not sure who's pictching for hanshin....but Valdez has 2 -2 count
20:33: niibu-yaa: - and falls to a slider.
20:33: niibu-yaa: - for the first out.
20:33: niibu-yaa: - Shibahara is up
20:34: niibu-yaa: - hit an out of course slider to take first.
20:34: Martin: - The pitcher for the Tigers is Yoshino.
20:34: niibu-yaa: - 1 out runner on 1st
20:34: niibu-yaa: - THis should bring up Torigoe.
20:35: niibu-yaa: - and it sounds like Hanshin is changing pitchers again.
20:37: Martin: - Again? Yoshino is just starting?
20:37: niibu-yaa: - Yup.
20:38: niibu-yaa: - they bring riggan in
20:38: niibu-yaa: - He first offering is a ball near the ground.
20:39: niibu-yaa: - ball 2
20:39: niibu-yaa: - Daiei has a golden chance.
20:40: Martin: - Ah, at bat Zuleta !!!!!!!!!!1
20:40: niibu-yaa: - riggan throws his first strike of the night... count 1 - 2
20:40: niibu-yaa: - zuleta hits....arias fields for.....
20:41: niibu-yaa: - out 2
20:42: niibu-yaa: - sounds like Daiei has put in a pinch for Saitoh
20:43: Martin: - Where is the runner? at 1st or 2nd
20:43: niibu-yaa: - yes honma is in for Saitoh
20:44: niibu-yaa: - after a failed bunt....runners still on first.
20:44: niibu-yaa: - and Honma makes out three.
20:44: niibu-yaa: - --
20:45: niibu-yaa: - bottom of the 7th
20:45: niibu-yaa: - --
20:45: niibu-yaa: - looks like lucky 7 wasn't so for the Hawks.
20:46: niibu-yaa: - Shinohara Takes the mound.

A very gripping game I must say. I logged in when the Hawks were 1 up over Tigers, and amazed to see the Tigers add 2 into thier tally in one of the innings. Very grateful for the commentary, especially since on Yahoo! it's pretty darn slow in refreshing.

Having gotten a mail message from Niibu-yaa-san, I investigated the problem a little earlier. He said that he rebooted his machine in the 7th inning (the last one recorded) and was unable to reach the site again. Looking at the HTTPD logs, I see that the last access before I got home and accessed the site was timestamped 20:49, three minutes after Niibu-yaa-san supposedly rebooted his machine.

My server didn't lose power, or I wouldn't have been able to save the log. Was the site unreachable by everyone? Were there any error messages displayed on your end(s)?

The problem doesn't appear to have been on this server. But it may have been upstream. I definitely don't want a repeat of this during the next two (if necessary) games.

More on the problem.

I checked the logs again this morning (JST), and it appears that I'm the only one able to access the system. I logged into a remote host I administer, and was unable to access the site from there, while I had no problem from home.

I shutdown the web service and database, then brought them both back up, and can now login from a remote host.

I'm still baffled as to why I had no trouble accessing the site from home, but not from anywhere else. I do only login from home via a secure connection (HTTPS). Might the standard HTTP channel have been the problem? I don't know, and since it's working now, can't experiment any further.

Well, all I can say is, sorry for the inconvienience. I'll try to make it up to you on Sunday and Monday nights.

There were indeed server troubles. After the 7th inning I could not refresh anything. I tried to go back to your homepage, but in vain. I tried the rest of the day. Till 19:00 European time. That is about until 2:00 in the morning Japanese time.

Eveything seem to work now.

Inconvienience? Are you nuts (no offence intended), the information that you provide is great! I thoroughly enjoy the information and feel deprived that ESPN is not televising this event. Thanks again.

My only request is that, if possible, someone provide a box score of the series. Looking forward to Sunday and Monday nights.