July 12th Standridge v Greisinger - By the skins of their teeth

This one was very tight and close. Giants certainly had their chances but Tigers somehow managed to survive. Once again Mayumi made a questionable decision to pitch Standridge into the eighth. He had pitched seven good innings but with 102 pitches it was a good point to go to the relief. Instead Standridge returned and had to work hard to hold the lead. It was a fine innings but unnecessary. Enokida or Kobayashi would have been a wiser choice here and Mayumi really does need to learn how to use his relief. He seems to be avoiding any use of them because he doesn't understand how to handle them. On a related note Gen included a translation of an interview with Wada (on Yakyu Baka) about the batting lineup and moving Arai back to fourth from Sanspo (not one I read). The translation was "This is something I'll discuss carefully with the manager". The nuance suggested calls to mind a simpleton who needs things explained in easy language. I am certain that Wada did not mean it that way but the image seems rather appropriate. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Giants  1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0
Tigers  0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 X 2 9 0

Starting lineups

Giants
1. Sakamoto (Short)
2. Takahashi (Right)
3. Chono (Centre)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Abe (Catcher)
6. Fields (Third)
7. Ogasawara (First)
8. Fujimura (Second)
9. Greisinger (Pitcher)

Tigers
1, Hirano (Centre)
2. Sekimoto (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Murton (Right)
5. Brazell (First)
6. Arai (Third)
7. Kanemoto (Left)
8. Fujii (Catcher)
9. Standridge (PItcher)

Standridge has been pitching well and picked up his first MVP in Japan for June. This has been very welcome with Kubo out of action and has definitely helped Tigers maintain third place. He started Giants first retiring the first two batters and striking out Takahashi looking but then got a bit careless with Chono. The Giants centre hammered a loose pitch nicely into the left stand for a solo home run 1-0 Giants. Ramirez swung too soon and flew out to Fujii to end the innings but Giants had a good start. Hara had gone with Greisinger who isn't the force he was but is still a formidable pitcher. He showed this retiring the three Tigers he faced in the bottom of the first. Standridge was less perfect in Giants second issuing a lead off walk to Abe. Fields struck out swinging (he had faced Standridge when they both played in triple A in the USA) and then Ogasawara hit into a double play. This required a bit of neat fielding to bring off but Tigers did this very nicely. Murton led off Tigers second with a single to left. Despite batting fourth and having three hits this game, he looked like a lead off batter not a number four. All his hits were what you would expect from a lead off. Brazell hit into a double play and then Arai drove into centre. Kanemoto walked as Greisinger's control wavered but Fujii hit to short to end the innings. Giants third was quiet as Standridge successfully turned the screws. With one out in Tigers third Hirano hit to Sakamoto who did well to dive and snag the ball. However, he did look a bit slow - not the same level of speed as Toritani for example. Sekimoto then hit into an innings ending double play which was another neat piece of work by the fielders.

Takahashi led off Giants fourth with a walk. This time it was Chono's turn to hit to Sekimoto for the double play - this was more straightforward. However, Ramirez hit to centre but Abe was induced to fly out to left - Kanemoto being fairly secure with this one. Greisinger walked Brazell with two out in Tigers fourth and Arai hit nicely to centre but it didn't have the legs. Chono took a comfortable catch to end the innings. Giants fifth was quiet with the batters falling in order. Greisinger then cleared Tigers fifth just as easily - his strike out of Kanemoto was a gem catching the Tigers left looking. Giants sixth saw Takahashi collect another walk - this one a two out but Chono could only ground out to Sekimoto and the innings was over. Tigers sixth and Giants were beginning to feel a bit comfortable. Greisinger was in control and Tigers batters weren't able to get beyond second. Hirano grounded out but then Sekimoto hit to short and beat Sakamoto to first. He was forced out by Toritani who was able to beat the double play. Next was Murton and the steal was signaled. Giants were aware of this and waiting. Toritani set off and Abe was ready to jump up and throw. Greisinger was aware of what was afoot but allowed himself to be distracted. Murton jammed the ball into centre for a single as Toritani took off the latter reaching second just after the ball. This meant that Toritani could race round and take third - a very nice situation for Tigers. Brazell then banged his second pitch fairly deeply into right where it fell just in front of Takahashi. Toritani was home 1-1 Tigers and Murton took third with Brazell on first. Arai followed and coolly drove his first pitch past Greisinger (it may have hit Greisinger on the leg) for another timely single 2-1 Tigers, runners on first and second. This was the type of shot you expect from a number four batter. It was also the end of Greisinger, Hara judging that he wouldn't be able to get out of the innings without damage. He was replaced by Takagi who faced Kanemoto. Kanemoto grounded out to end the innings but this had been a successful innings for Tigers.

Standridge pitched the Giants seventh and had to work quite hard with Abe and Fields. Abe lined out to Toritani - a nice sharp take this and Fields struck out swinging but you didn't expect him to pitch the eighth - it had been a fine display. Takagi returned for Tigers seventh and retired the batters in order including Standridge - he was going to pitch the eighth after all. This was risky but it started out well. Ogasawara grounded out off his second pitch but Fujimura hit a nice two base to left centre. Kamei (pinch hitter) worked the count full and then swung at a high pitch he should have left. Sakamoto struck out looking to a superb pitch down the middle - Standridge had done it. It was unnecessary but he had responded well and pitched very nicely to get out of danger. Kubo pitched Tigers eighth and struck out Sekimoto. Toritani flew out to Abe but Murton hit. Brazell hit to left and Mayumi replaced him with Shibata. Shibata stole second but Arai couldn't convert this time and struck out to a nicely thrown inside pitch. Giants ninth was of course Fujikawa who was not really on form. Takahashi flew out of the first pitch but then Chono hit the ball at Fujikawa. It bounced off his right shoe and rolled safely into the infield for a hit. Next batter was Ramirez who punched the ball into centre and Giants had runners on first and second with one out. This became runners on second and third when Kyuji let fly a wild pitch though Fujii should have stopped this one. Abe struck out swinging and then Fujikawa got Fields in three, all outsiders shaving the zone. Tigers victory.

Tigers had done well and had won a well earned victory. Fujikawa now has 18 saves. Standridge recorded his 6th victory and shared a well earned hero interview with Arai. Mayumi had done his usual trick though and left him in too long. This is poor management and on related lines Tigers are planning to bring up Cheng. This is not bad in itself but they are thinking about dropping Messenger down to do so. Dropping a winning pitcher to the second team to bring up a new pitcher? Let's hope wiser councils prevail. Mayumiland is alive and well.