2003 Nippon Series Game 2
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Re: 2003 Nippon Series Game 2
[ Author: niibu_yaa | Posted: Oct 19, 2003 4:52 PM
| FSH Fan
]
That makes sense having Wada start for the first game in Koshien. Seeing as he is a rookie, he should still be used to swing the bat some. So I'd suspect that would be a good time to see Arakaki do a little relief work.
Re: 2003 Nippon Series Game 2
[ Author: torakichi | Posted: Oct 19, 2003 9:40 PM
| HT Fan
]
What a hiding. 
You'd at least hope that both teams would put up a fight in a game of baseball, but that was just embarrassing.
The game finished about 10 minutes ago now... I'd imagine that Hoshino-kantoku will be cracking a few ribs right now.
You'd at least hope that both teams would put up a fight in a game of baseball, but that was just embarrassing.
The game finished about 10 minutes ago now... I'd imagine that Hoshino-kantoku will be cracking a few ribs right now.
Re: 2003 Nippon Series Game 2
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Oct 19, 2003 9:52 PM
| YBS Fan
]
Daiei blows out Hanshin 13-0 in Game 2 of the Series. Hanshin fans, beware of what you are about to read. It wasn't pretty.
The Series moves to Koshien for the next three games starting Tuesday. Feel free to join the chat if you're awake.
Transcript follows:
TRANSCRIPT generated on: /19 21:36
CHATROOM: Nippon Series Game 2/Nippon Series Game 2/english//19 18:10
MODERATORS: westbaystars
18:10: Manager - westbaystars
18:11: westbaystars - Iyo, iyo. It's just about time to start Game 2 of the 2003 Nippon Series.
18:13: westbaystars - The big news, of course, is Daiei's big geki-tekina sayonara victory in Game 1.
18:14: westbaystars - Hanshin is hoping that Irabu can fair better than Iguchi this evening.
18:14: westbaystars - Daiei sends Sugiuchi to the mound.
18:15: westbaystars - Irabu: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=530
18:15: westbaystars - Sugiuchi: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1468
18:16: westbaystars - The Hawks are now taking the field in preparation for the cerimonial first pitch.
18:16: Manager - niibu_yaa
18:16: westbaystars - Sugiuchi has been warming up in front of the first base dugout for a while.
18:17: westbaystars - Welcome back, niibu_yaa-san.
18:17: niibu_yaa - =) Thanks. Any luck finding an internet broadcast today?
18:17: westbaystars - The first pitch, by someone in a Daiei uniform with the number 100, is swung on, and Sugiuchi can take the mound for ...
18:18: westbaystars - ... for his warmup pitches.
18:18: westbaystars - Haven't checked today. Sorry.
18:18: westbaystars - Had too many other things to do.
18:18: niibu_yaa - I've looked for about 2 hours no luck yet.
18:19: westbaystars - Just got home about 15 minutes ago, made a sandwhich, and opened the chat room.
18:19: westbaystars - Bummer. Guess you have to live with my account.
18:19: westbaystars - Sugiuchi's first pitch to Imaoka is a curve, called strike one.
18:19: westbaystars - Game Two is now under way.
18:20: niibu_yaa - Yup.....hmmmm 5:16 AM and I have a sudden urge for Ramen.
18:21: westbaystars - After working the count even 2-2, Imaoka grounds the ball through the right side, and Hanshin has their lead-off ...
18:21: westbaystars - ... batter on.
18:21: westbaystars - But not ramen from Kyushu?
18:21: niibu_yaa - Instant Ramen....will do.
18:21: westbaystars - Akahoshi squares and bunts.
18:22: westbaystars - Sugiuchi fields the ball and throws to first - to just barely get the speedy Akahoshi.
18:25: westbaystars - Kanemoto, who went hitless in Game 1, watches strike three go by for the second out.
18:25: westbaystars - He looked at the course wondering, but it was a good pitch.
18:26: Manager - niibu_yaa
18:26: westbaystars - Irabu gets up and start throwing in front of the third base dugout.
18:27: westbaystars - Hiyama gives the ball a ride, but he got a little too much under it.
18:27: westbaystars - Shibahara is under it, and takes the ball in for the third out.
18:28: westbaystars - Hanshin got their lead-off runner on and over to second, but he was stranded there.
18:28: westbaystars - ---
18:28: westbaystars - Bottom of First
18:28: westbaystars - ---
18:29: westbaystars - Irabu's first pitch to Shibahara is in there, called strike one.
18:30: westbaystars - The next pitch is grounded to Hirosawa at first, who races to the bag to beat Shibahara by a step.
18:30: westbaystars - One down.
18:30: westbaystars - Kawasaki squres to bunt and takes strike one.
18:30: westbaystars - The next pitch, though is stroked into center in front of Akahoshi for a clean base hit.
18:30: westbaystars - Runner on first, one out.
18:32: westbaystars - Iguchi popped up a high pitch (out of the strike zone) that was fielded by Imaoka between the mound and second base.
18:32: westbaystars - Two down.
18:33: westbaystars - After Matsunaka took a ball, Kawasaki broke for second on the second pitch, and was into second easilly.
18:34: westbaystars - Stolen base.
18:34: westbaystars - However, Matsunaka grounded the next offering right to Hirosawa on the line behind the first base bag.
18:34: westbaystars - And Hirosawa had plenty of time to take it to the bag himself for the final out.
18:34: westbaystars - After the end of one complete inning, there is no score.
18:34: westbaystars - ---
18:35: westbaystars - Top of Second
18:35: westbaystars - ---
18:38: westbaystars - Hirosawa, who struck out three times in Game 1, goes down swinging late on four pitches.
18:38: westbaystars - One away.
18:38: westbaystars - Arias got handcuffed on his first pitch, grounding weakly to Torigoe at short.
18:39: westbaystars - The throw to first was in plenty of time - two down.
18:40: Manager - niibu_yaa
18:40: westbaystars - Hamanaka, DH for Hanshin this evening, grounds the ball just fair of third, ...
18:40: westbaystars - ... but Kawasaki dives, grabs, is up, and throws to first for the final out.
18:41: westbaystars - Three up, three down.
18:41: westbaystars - ---
18:41: westbaystars - Bottom of Second
18:41: westbaystars - ---
18:42: westbaystars - Johjima leads off the bottom of the second, while the camera turns to injurred team mate Kokubo in the stands.
18:43: westbaystars - Do you know what hit Kokubo?
18:43: niibu_yaa - ah..so that is why zuleta is playing.
18:44: westbaystars - Johjima lifts the ball up the right field line, and when the ball comes down, Hiyama is under it to make the catch.
18:44: niibu_yaa - I printed out an article about it...but haven't gotten around to reading it.
18:44: westbaystars - That would probably explain it.
18:44: westbaystars - Zuleta playing injurred himself, it appears. Right pinky finger.
18:45: westbaystars - Valdez rips Daiei's second hit of the night through the right side.
18:45: westbaystars - Two out rally again?
18:46: niibu_yaa - hehe
18:46: westbaystars - Zuleta grounds the ball through the left side.
18:46: westbaystars - Look familar?
18:47: niibu_yaa - reads familar.
18:47: westbaystars - Muramatsu, in the same scenario last night, drove Valdez home from secoond.
18:47: westbaystars -
18:48: westbaystars - And he's up again.
18:48: westbaystars - With just one out.
18:48: westbaystars - And he hits a high bounding ground ball in front of the plate.
18:48: westbaystars - By the time the ball comes back down, everyone is save.
18:48: westbaystars - No play anywhere.
18:49: westbaystars - Bases loaded, one out.
18:49: westbaystars - #9 batting Torigoe up to bat.
18:49: niibu_yaa - torigoe?
18:50: niibu_yaa -
18:50: westbaystars - He shows great patience, not swinging at two pitches as Irabu tries to nibble at the plate.
18:50: westbaystars - The third pitch is hit up the middle.
18:50: westbaystars - It gets past Akahoshi!
18:50: westbaystars - One run in!
18:50: westbaystars - Two runs in!
18:50: niibu_yaa - #6 isn't it?
18:51: westbaystars - And as Torigoe stands at second, Muramatsu rounds third and comes home.
18:51: westbaystars - Yes, Torigoe is #6: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=225
18:52: westbaystars - Shibahara lines a base hit to left, and Hanshin's pitching coach heads to the mound.
18:52: niibu_yaa - IC he is batting in the 9 spot.
18:53: westbaystars - Torigoe moves to third on the fifth Hawk base hit in a row.
18:53: westbaystars - Right.
18:53: westbaystars - Checking with Yahoo Sports?
18:53: westbaystars - They show position, back number, name.
18:53: niibu_yaa - nope....I just know that Shibahara is the top of the order.
18:54: westbaystars - Then refer to the runners by their back number above the base display.
18:54: westbaystars - Oh. No, Shibahara has batted first both games so far.
18:55: westbaystars - With Kawasaki up to bat, Shibahara broke for second.
18:55: westbaystars - The throw by Yano is right on the money, and Shibahara is out.
18:55: westbaystars - The next pitch is drilled into the left-center gap.
18:56: niibu_yaa - That's what I was saying. Shibahra came up after Torigoe...so that makes Torigoe 9.
18:56: westbaystars - Torigoe scores easilly from third.
18:56: westbaystars - The ball just got past Kanemoto.
18:56: westbaystars - With the ball coming back in, Kawasaki kept on going all the way to third.
18:57: westbaystars - And just beat the throw.
18:57: westbaystars - Iguchi grounds to Fujimoto at short. The throw to first bounces once, twice, three times,
18:58: westbaystars - and Hirosawa fields the grounded ball for the final out.
18:59: westbaystars - But after one out (sorry, I said two at one point), Daiei put together six hits in a row to score four runs.
18:59: westbaystars - At the end of two complete, Daiei leads 4-0.
18:59: westbaystars - ---
18:59: westbaystars - Top of Third
18:59: westbaystars - ---
19:00: westbaystars - Yano leads off the third inning.
19:01: westbaystars - Bench report says that Sugiuchi says that keeping Akahoshi off base and pitching carefully to Yano are his ...
19:01: westbaystars - ... two big points to concentrate on.
19:01: westbaystars - And he gets Yano looking at strike three for the first out with a change up.
19:03: westbaystars - #9 batting Fujimoto slaps the ball the other way, just in the third base line and over Kawasaki's head.
19:03: westbaystars - That's Hanshin's second hit of the night.
19:03: westbaystars - With Imaoka, who got their first hit, at the plate.
19:07: westbaystars - After fouling off a few pitches, Imaoka pops the ball up to the infield, and is out number two.
19:07: Manager - Fudge
19:07: Manager - Basebill
19:10: westbaystars - Akahoshi, who chokes up a lot on the bat, like Fujimoto, grounds to Iguchi at second after running the count full.
19:10: westbaystars - And he's out number three.
19:10: westbaystars - ---
19:10: westbaystars - Bottom of Third
19:10: westbaystars - ---
19:11: westbaystars - For those of you just joining, Daiei leads 4-0 after scoring four runs on six consecutive hits in the bottom of the 2nd.
19:11: westbaystars - Daiei's #4 batting Matsunaka leads off.
19:13: westbaystars - Matsunaka grounds the ball to Hirosawa at first, who gets the ball pulling back in his gut.
19:13: westbaystars - And jogs to the bag unassisted.
19:13: westbaystars - Johjima gets all of Irabu's first offering to him.
19:14: westbaystars - Kanemoto and Akahoshi take a few steps toward each other, and look up.
19:14: westbaystars - That ball is gone! Over the high left-center fense into Hanshin's oendan.
19:14: westbaystars - Daiei now leads 5-0.
19:14: westbaystars - This is Johjima's second home run in two games this Series.
19:14: niibu_yaa - wow....jyojima second of the series.
19:15: westbaystars - Valdez came close to sending the ball out the other way, but Akahoshi pulled the ball in at the warning track.
19:15: westbaystars - For Johjima, that makes 7 home runs in 13 career Nippon Series games.
19:17: westbaystars - Zuleta goes down fishing at a low, outside pitch to become Irabu's first strike out victim of the evening.
19:17: westbaystars - And that retires the side.
19:17: westbaystars - But not before Johjima adds an insurance run, his second home run in two nights.
19:17: westbaystars - Daiei leads after three complete, 5-0.
19:17: westbaystars - ---
19:17: westbaystars - Top of Fourth
19:17: westbaystars - ---
19:19: Manager - Fudge
19:19: westbaystars - Hitless Kanemoto leads off the fourth for Hanshin.
19:20: westbaystars - And he gets his first hit of the Series, driving a line drive to right.
19:21: westbaystars - Hanshin has their lead-off runner on again.
19:23: westbaystars - Hiyama grounds the ball just fair, played right on top of the first base bag by Muramatsu.
19:23: westbaystars - Since he fielding the ball on the bag, it was a touch play at second.
19:24: westbaystars - And Kanemoto is touched out.
19:24: westbaystars - Double play.
19:24: westbaystars - Hanshin now has two down with nobody on.
19:24: westbaystars - Hirosawa at the bat.
19:26: westbaystars - And Mister K (Hirosawa) goes down swinging at a Sugiuchi pitch wa---y outside.
19:26: westbaystars - The side is retired.
19:27: westbaystars - Hanshin got a base runner, but nothing to show for it.
19:27: westbaystars - ---
19:27: westbaystars - Bottom of Fourth
19:27: westbaystars - ---
19:28: westbaystars - Muramatsu leads off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit up the middle on Irabu's first offering.
19:30: westbaystars - Torigoe looks like he's having trouble with a sign, and Oh-kantoku looks like the coach is sending out the wrong one.
19:30: westbaystars - Nothing was on on that pitch.
19:31: westbaystars - And Torigoe turns to show bunt on the no-strike, two ball count.
19:31: westbaystars - As well as the 0-3 count.
19:31: westbaystars - And he walks on four straight pitches.
19:31: westbaystars - Runners at first and second with nobody out.
19:31: westbaystars - And Hoshino-kantoku comes out of the third base dugout.
19:31: westbaystars - Irabu is through.
19:32: westbaystars - He threw 49 pitches, struck out 1, gave up 9 hits, and has 5 runs against him so far.
19:33: niibu_yaa - Game time running longer today it seems.
19:33: westbaystars - Yoshino is coming in.
19:33: westbaystars - http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1268
19:34: westbaystars - Yea, going to relief this early, it'll definitely be longer.
19:35: westbaystars - Shibahara bunts the runners up a base on Yoshino's first pitch to him.
19:35: westbaystars - That should help speed up the game.
19:35: westbaystars -
19:35: westbaystars - One out, runners at second and third. Kawasaki up to the plate.
19:36: niibu_yaa - sou dane.
19:38: westbaystars - Kawasaki, though, is a bit more patient. He strikes out after running the count to 2-2.
19:39: westbaystars - Two down, Iguchi at the plate.
19:40: westbaystars - Iguchi walks on four pitches to load the bases.
19:41: westbaystars - I guess it wasn't Yoshino who was helping the game speed up.
19:41: westbaystars - Matsunaka, 1 for 6 so far this Series, lines Yoshino's first pitch right back at him.
19:42: niibu_yaa - at leat Iguchi gets on.
19:42: westbaystars - After fielding the ball on a bounce, Yoshino jogs half way to first before tossing the ball over for the final out.
19:42: westbaystars - Daiei managed to load the bases, but come up empty this inning.
19:43: westbaystars - After four complete, Daiei continues to lead 5-0.
19:43: westbaystars - ---
19:43: westbaystars - Top of Fifth
19:43: westbaystars - ---
19:45: westbaystars - Arias lines a drive in front of Valdez in left, and Hanshin's lead off runner is on for (I think) the third time.
19:46: westbaystars - Hamanaka comes to the plate.
19:47: westbaystars - After having as strap problem with his elbow guard, he tosses it toward the third base dugout and steps back in for ...
19:47: westbaystars - ... the 1-1 pitch, which he fouls off.
19:48: westbaystars - After running the count to 2-2, Hamanaka grounds to third for a tailor made 5-4-3 double play.
19:49: westbaystars - Hanshin's lead-off runner is erased yet again.
19:49: westbaystars - Yano also grounds to Kawasaki at third, the throw to first is in plenty of time.
19:50: westbaystars - And the side is retired.
19:50: westbaystars - ---
19:50: westbaystars - Bottom of Fifth
19:50: westbaystars - ---
19:50: Manager - niibu_taa
19:50: Basebill - the tigersare showing no claws tonight
19:51: Manager - niibu_yaa
19:51: niibu_taa - hehe
19:51: Manager - niibu_taa
19:51: Manager - niibu_yaa
19:51: westbaystars - Lose your session?
19:51: westbaystars - Get your session back?
19:51: niibu_yaa - yeah.......clicked the wrong page off.
19:52: westbaystars - Hanshin sends former Giant and Buffaloe closer Ishige to the mound.
19:52: westbaystars - http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=192
19:52: niibu_yaa - basebill.....you listing to the game on the net?
19:53: westbaystars - And the first batter he faces is Johjima.
19:53: Basebill - barely awake and came straight here
19:53: westbaystars - And he fouls his first pitch off of Yano's thigh, just above the leg guard.
19:53: westbaystars - Ouch.
19:54: niibu_yaa - bet jyojima knows how that feels.
19:55: westbaystars - Johjima went with the pitch, but lined it right at Imaoka at second.
19:55: westbaystars - One out.
19:55: westbaystars - Yea, Johjima looked a little concerned for Yano.
19:56: niibu_yaa - what a nice johjima.
19:56: Basebill - westbay-san, did the umpire clean off homeplate after Yano was hit?
19:56: westbaystars - Yano just rubbed the spot and said that he was alright.
19:56: westbaystars - Oooo. I don't think so.
19:56: westbaystars - Now that you mention it.
19:57: westbaystars - Valdez draws a walk on five pitches. One out base runner.
19:57: niibu_yaa - hmm...the ump must not be fond of Yano.
19:57: Basebill - they always do in MLB.
19:57: westbaystars - I'm not sure that he didn't, but...
19:58: westbaystars - I'll be sure to pay more attention for that from now on.
19:58: niibu_yaa - Is it just me or is Sugiuchi a goofy looking fellar?
19:59: Basebill - it's just you haha
19:59: westbaystars - Looks a bit young, but that's about it.
20:00: westbaystars - At least he doesn't have that jerky motion to the plate.
20:00: westbaystars - Ishige now walks Zuleta after running the count full.
20:01: westbaystars - Not going to have a fast pace pitching like that.
20:01: westbaystars - Walks have always been Ishige's Achiles heal.
20:01: Basebill - westbay-san, does this Hawks team remind you of the BayStar "machine gun attack"?
20:01: westbaystars - Turning on for a while, yea.
20:01: niibu_yaa - yeah......he form is pretty good. And he interviews better than most.
20:02: westbaystars - Those six hits in a row in the second had that feel.
20:02: niibu_yaa - yup that's why he's bounced around a fair amount in the league.
20:02: westbaystars - Muramatsu pops out for out number two. No replay of the second inning, it looks like.
20:03: Basebill - i watched them play on the net versus the Lions a couple of times this year. they can score in a hurry
20:04: niibu_yaa - Basebill.......you in Japan?
20:04: Basebill - no, PA
20:05: niibu_yaa - un....you able to find somewhere to listen to the game...as I'm in MI and can't.
20:05: Basebill - no, i could find no site carrying it
20:06: niibu_yaa - hehe figures....pleanty of sites carrying MLB in japanese though.
20:06: westbaystars - Ishige does come back and get Torigoe striking out to retire the side.
20:06: Basebill - must be more money in it
20:07: westbaystars - The side is retired.
20:07: Basebill - Godzilla had 3 hits last night vs. the Marlins
20:07: niibu_yaa - maybe we can talk westbay into saying "Timely" more....make it feel like were hearing it.
20:07: westbaystars - I'd offer to give play by play by voice of what I'm watching, but I don't like the sound of my voice.
20:07: niibu_yaa - lot of good it did them.
20:07: westbaystars - I can do that, though.
20:08: Basebill - your typing is just fine
20:08: niibu_yaa - yeah...or you could attach your mic to there voices.
20:08: niibu_yaa - but yeah this works.
20:08: niibu_yaa - thanks
20:09: westbaystars - ---
20:09: westbaystars - Top of Sixth
20:09: westbaystars - ---
20:10: westbaystars - Fujimoto at the plate.
20:10: westbaystars - And he lines out to Iguchi at second. One out.
20:11: westbaystars - I wasn't sure before if I should say "haitta--" or "it's out of here." Now I know.
20:12: niibu_yaa - Pretty cool that Sugiuchi got the start in front of his home crowd.
20:12: westbaystars - Imaoka flies out to Shibahara running in up the first base line, two quick outs.
20:13: westbaystars - An intersting thing that Nikkan Sports did was compare how pitches did in domed vs. non-domed stadiums.
20:14: westbaystars - Iguchi and Irabu performed better in domed stadiums, if I remember correctly, which is why they were chosen for the ...
20:14: westbaystars - ... first two games.
20:14: niibu_yaa - that is pretty interesting never seen that before.
20:14: westbaystars - Akahoshi grounds out to third to retire the side in order.
20:14: Basebill - there are stats for everything
20:15: niibu_yaa - You think Wada gets the nod in Koshien because of his batting familiarity?
20:15: westbaystars - ---
20:15: westbaystars - Bottom of Sixth
20:15: westbaystars - ---
20:15: Basebill - slumping Tgers, losing drags-on
20:16: westbaystars - Hirosawa takes some bench and Yagi comes in to play first base for Hanshin.
20:16: westbaystars - That may be (Wada). I'm sure that that's a reason that Moore will get the start at Koshien.
20:17: westbaystars - If he's recovered.
20:17: Basebill - can't believe Hoshino had him wheeled out there in the first place
20:17: niibu_yaa - yeah i don't get that either.
20:18: westbaystars - Ishige strikes out Shibahara. Hey, Ishige's found his form.
20:18: Basebill - who's DHing for the Tigers?
20:18: westbaystars - You're referring to Hirosawa?
20:18: niibu_yaa - To bad arakaki broke himself....he got a double and a single when I saw him play the dragons pre-season.
20:18: westbaystars - Hamanaka is the DH this evening.
20:18: Basebill - ah
20:19: westbaystars - Arakaki is supposedly back in good health. At least, that's what he said last week when he worked out in the bullpen.
20:19: westbaystars - Kawasaki lines out to Fujimoto at short. Two down.
20:20: westbaystars - Iguchi then pops out to Yano in foul territory up the third base side, and the side is retired in order.
20:20: westbaystars - That hasn't happened often.
20:20: westbaystars - ---
20:20: westbaystars - Top of Seventh
20:20: westbaystars - ---
20:20: niibu_yaa - yeah, I saw him and Wada on Fuji TV's b ball report.
20:21: Basebill - Hanshin needs to wake up in this frame and make a game of it
20:21: westbaystars - Hanshin fans release their Fukuoka Dome approved balloons for their half of the Lucky Seven.
20:21: niibu_yaa - any contra band ballons today?
20:21: westbaystars - The announcer is saying that just under 40% of the crowd is Hanshin fans.
20:22: westbaystars - Couldn't tell. But the oendan heads all vow that they made is very well known that nobody in their group was to ...
20:22: westbaystars - ... bring any.
20:22: Basebill - SOME HAVE ACCUSED iRABU OF BALLOONING...
20:23: westbaystars - Kanemoto lines his first pitch to right, but Shibahara is able to get there in time for the first out.
20:24: westbaystars - Hiyama lifts a high fly to center, which Muramatsu has plenty of time to get under and take in.
20:24: westbaystars - Two quick outs.
20:24: westbaystars - Now Yagi comes to bat for his first at bat this Series.
20:25: westbaystars - To me, that switch shows that Hoshino-kantoku is getting desparate.
20:25: niibu_yaa - I agree....he can't seem to get anything going.
20:26: Basebill - it's remakable that Muramatsu is playing
20:26: westbaystars - Yagi grounds out to Torigoe at short, and the side is retired.
20:26: Manager - ninitata
20:27: niibu_yaa - 鳥越 not been playing to bad.
20:27: westbaystars - Muramatsu hasn't had to make any desparate throws to the plate, so his shoulders haven't been put to the test.
20:27: westbaystars - But his legs and batting are fine.
20:28: niibu_yaa - yeah he's made a few dashs for some plays it sounds like.
20:28: westbaystars - ---
20:28: westbaystars - Bottom of Seventh
20:28: westbaystars - ---
20:29: westbaystars - Yes, Muramatsu has had to run out there.
20:29: westbaystars - Kanezawa is in to pitch for Hanshin.
20:29: westbaystars - Sorry, Kanasawa http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1096
20:30: niibu_yaa - any idea on Kanasawa pitch selection?
20:30: niibu_yaa - not familiar with him.
20:30: westbaystars - Matsunaka, who definitely looks like his legs are hurting, leads off. He's the one I'm surprized is starting.
20:31: westbaystars - And he lines a base hit up the middle, off of Kanazawa's glove. Base hit.
20:31: westbaystars - Johjima up to bat.
20:33: Manager - ninitata
20:33: westbaystars - But he lifts the ball up to Akahoshi in straight away center for the first out of the inning.
20:35: westbaystars - Valzez hits the ball up the middle, nuketa!
20:35: westbaystars - Just past the two converging middle infielders.
20:36: westbaystars - Akahoshi is up with it, and Matsunaka holds at second. (Not like his legs could challenge Akahoshi.)
20:36: westbaystars - Runners at first and second, one out.
20:37: westbaystars - Zuleta gets all of that one!
20:37: westbaystars - No doubt about it.
20:37: westbaystars - Utta shunkan, haitaaaaaa!
20:37: westbaystars - Three run home run.
20:37: niibu_yaa -
20:38: westbaystars - Daiei now leads 8-0 as Zuleta delivers the ball to the highest of Hanshin fans in left.
20:38: Basebill - it's remakable that Muramatsu is playing
20:38: niibu_yaa - wow....they're gonna have to find a place to work Zuleta in in the next series.
20:39: westbaystars - Murmatsu got a big cheer as the ball left his bat, but it's right at Akahoshi in center. Two down.
20:39: Basebill - perhaps the Tigers will have better luck in Koshien
20:40: niibu_yaa - can't see them having it any worse.
20:40: westbaystars - Torigoe draws a walk to keep the inning alive. Hoshino-kantoku's face is gavitating toward the ground.
20:40: westbaystars - I take it you're sticking with the Central League, Basebill?
20:42: westbaystars - The camera panned Hanshin's oendan, and they aren't looking too pleased.
20:42: Basebill - when I have no favorie(Swallows) playing in a series I root for 7
20:42: westbaystars - And Shinohara drills a double off the top of the fense in right center, scoring Torigoe from first.
20:42: westbaystars - Daiei now leads 9-0.
20:43: westbaystars - That's always a good team to root for.
20:43: westbaystars - I thought you were a 'Stars' fan.
20:43: niibu_yaa -
20:44: Basebill - the Hawks scored 10 or more runs in 25 games this year, including the four 20-spots they laid on Orix
20:44: niibu_yaa - yeah.....didn't the hawks score 28 something year?
20:44: Basebill - no, I love Furuta, so I follow the Swallows
20:45: westbaystars - Kawasaki, who hit a triple earlier, does it again!
20:45: westbaystars - One bounder off the wall in right-center, scoring Shinohara from second for Daiei's 10th run.
20:45: Basebill - bingo!
20:46: westbaystars - That's Daiei's 14th hit of the night, for those keeping track at home.
20:46: niibu_yaa - No it was 29 against Orix on the 1st of august
20:46: westbaystars - They've really made all of their hits count.
20:46: Basebill - 31 of them
20:47: westbaystars - Daiei's bench has a lot of smiling faces.
20:47: Basebill - they had just beaten Orix26-7 on 32 hits on July 27
20:47: westbaystars - Iguchi grounds to Arias behind the bag at third, and the inning is finally over.
20:48: Basebill - what an offense
20:48: Manager - Srini
20:48: westbaystars - Oh-kantoku comes out, and ... who's he changing? Sugiuchi is still on the mound.
20:48: westbaystars - ---
20:48: westbaystars - Top of Eighth
20:48: westbaystars - ---
20:48: niibu_yaa - no joking. When the get going they are hard to stop.
20:49: Basebill - Oh just wants some TV time
20:49: westbaystars - Like you said, similar to the 1998 BayStars' Machine Gun offense.
20:49: Srini - Seems to be a reverse of last year's CL dominance in the J-Series..
20:50: westbaystars - Arias leads off for Hanshin. They need to get something going. But barring some really poor play, I don't see it ...
20:50: westbaystars - ... happening.
20:50: Basebill - there doesn't seem to be a real soft spot in the line-up
20:50: niibu_yaa - So Oh didn't change anything up?
20:50: Srini - Westbay san, I missed the start of the game, could you please let me know the starters for both the teams?
20:51: Basebill - stranger things have happened, but I doubt it
20:51: westbaystars - He lifts a high fly ball back of third. Kawasaki goes into foul territory, now fair, and pulls it in.
20:51: westbaystars - One out.
20:52: westbaystars - Starters were Sugiuchi for Daiei and Irabu for Hanshin.
20:52: Basebill - Irabu for Hanshin
20:52: westbaystars - Irabu got tagged for four runs when Daiei put together six hits in a row in the second inning with two outs.
20:52: niibu_yaa - 伊良部 vs. 杉内
20:52: westbaystars - A home run by Johjima, his second in two games, spelled the end for Irabu.
20:53: Srini - Oh..I guess..this was expected for Irabu because of his fade-out in the late seasonal games
20:53: westbaystars - Hamanaka drives a base hit to left to give Hanshin a base runner.
20:53: Basebill - 伊良部 vs. 杉内, cool...
20:54: Srini - Thank you for the update . Really Appreciate your effort
20:54: westbaystars - Sugiuchi is still on the mound for Daiei. Quietly pitching a nice game.
20:54: niibu_yaa - 杉内's pitch count has to be nearing 100 by now.
20:54: westbaystars - My pleasure. It's good to have more people tonight.
20:54: Basebill - spent most of his season in the bullpen last year
20:55: westbaystars - Sugiuchi strikes Yano out swinging way too early on a high pitch. Two down.
20:55: niibu_yaa - Yup......nice to see him get the start.
20:55: Basebill - unless this series goes 7 this will be the opnly time I can check in
20:55: Srini - One more question? Is this youngest starting pitcher combination ever in a J-series?Sugiuchi,Saitoh,Terahara,Arakaki..!
20:55: westbaystars - And the next pitch to Fujimoto is grounded to short, who could have touched second, but threw to first for the final out
20:56: westbaystars - 5 hits to 14 so far.
20:57: westbaystars - I don't have that data with me, but it very well may be.
20:57: westbaystars - Daiei's young pitchers are doing the job.
20:57: westbaystars - ---
20:57: westbaystars - Bottom of Eighth
20:57: westbaystars - ---
20:58: niibu_yaa - From what I've read that is the case.....if not the youngest in years...the youngest in experience.
20:58: Basebill - nothig like a powerhouse offense to give a pitcher confidence
20:59: westbaystars - Matsunaka lines the ball into the gap in right-center (uchi-kan).
20:59: Srini - Interesting indeed...The MLB World Series is also on and the Marlins have a comparable young pitching staff too..
20:59: westbaystars - And he limps into second with a standup double.
20:59: westbaystars - To be replaced by Honma as a pinch runner.
21:00: niibu_yaa - yup....and it doesn't hurt to have Johjima behind the plate pulling pitches up to make them look better.
21:00: Srini - Geez..the hits just keep coming!
21:00: westbaystars - I think Yokohama set a record for hits in the Nippon Series in 1998.
21:01: westbaystars - Didn't they have 20 one game, or did they stop at 19?
21:01: Basebill - that's what good catchers are for...
21:01: Srini - thats correct.. I read Johjima played every minute for Daiei this season and he said he did it 'cos of the young stafff
21:01: westbaystars - Johjima grounds the ball right back to the pitcher, Kanazawa.
21:02: westbaystars - He turns and fires the ball to second to get Honma caught in the middle.
21:02: niibu_yaa - exactly basebill.
21:02: westbaystars - But the ball goes through into center!
21:02: Basebill - i don't have my stats available but i think you are right
21:02: westbaystars - Honma gets up and heads to third, Johjima is safe at first.
21:02: westbaystars - E-1.
21:03: Srini - Uh-oh brace up for more RBIs..
21:03: Basebill - rally!!
21:03: niibu_yaa - Amazing the first error of the night.
21:04: Srini - HOME RUN
21:04: niibu_yaa - with Valdez up next that very well could be the case.
21:04: Basebill - both teams played pretty good "D" all year
21:05: westbaystars - Yes, Valdez hits the ball into the 10th row of seats over the right-center field fense. Three run home run.
21:05: niibu_yaa - yoshi!!!!!!!!!
21:05: Basebill - unbelievable....
21:05: westbaystars - Daiei now leads 13-0.
21:06: westbaystars - I think you mean, yosshaaaaaaa!
21:06: Basebill - like the Baystars, with more power
21:06: Basebill - and speed
21:06: westbaystars - They certainly did have more power this year. But without pitching, it didn't do them much good.
21:06: niibu_yaa - yeah.......but gotta be nice to the other teams fans.
21:07: westbaystars -
21:07: Srini - I find it refreshing in a sense that the low profile PL team hogs the limelight over the early celebrating high profile
21:07: Srini - CL Team
21:07: westbaystars - Ohmichi is up to bat now. I guess that was the change Oh-kantoku had made, but he's the DH, so it didn't matter, then.
21:08: westbaystars - And Ohmichi flies out to center for the first out of the inning.
21:08: niibu_yaa - Ah.......I was wanting to see Zuleta again.
21:08: Basebill - I can't imagine any team with Oh-kantoku as low profile
21:08: niibu_yaa - but you can't fault him for putting the big road in.
21:08: westbaystars - Daiei is up to 16 hits, for those of you keeping track.
21:10: Srini - I think Daiei are now pinching off from the bench..so the hit record won't be broken, I guess..
21:10: westbaystars - Deguchi comes up to bat for his first time. Hmm. It looks like he came in defensively at center before this half ...
21:10: niibu_yaa - when did he put in Deguchi?
21:10: westbaystars - ... inning.
21:10: niibu_yaa - ah..that covers that.
21:10: westbaystars - And he grounds out to short for the second out.
21:10: Basebill - use the roster Oh-san
21:10: westbaystars - Must have been the top of the inning, because he wasn't a pinch hitter.
21:11: westbaystars - Torigoe gets a called second strike by the first base umpire who said he swung, when he didn't.
21:11: Basebill - all the help the Tigers can get
21:12: westbaystars - With the game this much of a blow-out this late in the game, Oh-kantoku wants to give everyone a chance to say they ...
21:12: westbaystars - ... played.
21:12: westbaystars - And Torigoe goes down swinging this time. Three down.
21:12: Basebill - makes sense to me
21:12: westbaystars - Oh-kantoku is now signalling that Sugiuchi is done for the night.
21:13: westbaystars - Arakaki comes in!
21:13: Basebill - pich count?
21:13: westbaystars - ---
21:13: niibu_yaa - He better get a standing ovation.
21:13: westbaystars - Top of Ninth
21:13: westbaystars - ---
21:13: niibu_yaa - yeah yeah yeah yeah
21:14: westbaystars - The oen-dan fans were on their feet, but I wouldn't quite call it a standing ovation by MLB standards.
21:14: Srini - So its upto Moore and Shimoyanagi..are they upto against the power offense? Maybe Shimo being a leftie,
21:14: Srini - he could be a factor..
21:14: westbaystars - I'm hoping they show the pitch count for Sugiuchi soon.
21:14: westbaystars - All I can say for sure is he only gave up 5 hits and no runs.
21:15: Srini - why is Arakaki doing relief? I thought he would start the next game!
21:15: niibu_yaa - Nope Wada is starting in Koshien.
21:15: westbaystars - Imaoka reaches first when the ground ball to third makes a strange bounce.
21:16: westbaystars - Akahoshi layed a beautiful bunt down the third base line.
21:16: niibu_yaa - I imagine Arakaki's out there to see what he's got.
21:16: westbaystars - And he's out by a hair at first.
21:17: Basebill - an inning of work and he could still go in game 4
21:17: westbaystars - While it's rules a sacrifice bunt, he was doing anything but sacrificing himself.
21:18: westbaystars - Kanamoto drives Arakaki's first pitch to him to straight away center, and with two pitches, we have two outs.
21:18: westbaystars - Runner still on second.
21:18: niibu_yaa - Looks like 新垣's got his velocity still.
21:19: westbaystars - Hiyama drives a good hit toward right, but Shinohara has him played perfectly, and the game is over.
21:19: westbaystars - ---
21:19: westbaystars - Game Final
21:19: westbaystars - ---
21:19: Basebill - been over for a while
21:19: westbaystars - Hanshin Tigers 0 - 13 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
21:19: westbaystars - ---
21:20: Srini - Before you sign out, a question ( Maybe it would have been covered in Westbaysan's site's discussion forums..yet)
21:20: Basebill - Westbay-san, thank you very much, this was great
21:20: westbaystars - Niibu_yaa-san is right, Sugiuchi does look kind of funny.
21:20: westbaystars - He just looks so young.
21:20: Srini - why are there two leagues in Japan, when there are only 12 teams? I mean...
21:21: niibu_yaa - yeah...well Arakaki's like an adonis compared to him.
21:21: Srini - it would be more interesting to watch the Tigers fight the Hawks 18 times a season..
21:21: Srini - instead of them thrashing the Baystars 30 times out of 36
21:21: westbaystars - That's something that was decided on in 1950.
21:22: Basebill - no it wouldn't, 2 is better than 1, and i don't like inter-league play...
21:22: niibu_yaa - Personally I think Interleague play is horrid.
21:22: Srini - any valuable reason, Basebill san?..to reduce competition?
21:23: westbaystars - There were 8 teams before that, so with expansion came two leagues.
21:23: Basebill - it was different before everythimg got to be televised
21:23: Srini - I understand the history..but yet..isn't it time to be a bit iconoclastic and get practical?
21:23: niibu_yaa - I see the Basebill agrees with me on this one. It takes the fun out of the WS.
21:24: Basebill - it loses it's unique-ness...
21:25: westbaystars - The Pacific League wants interleague play, the Central League teams won't give up games agains the Giants.
21:25: Srini - I feel that it would be more pleasurable to have more competition throughout the year instead of just 7 games..
21:25: niibu_yaa - Besides who wants to see 横浜 get the snot beat out of them by ダイエー.
21:26: Srini - aah..WB san, thats unfortunate..competition reduced because of a matter of money.
21:26: westbaystars - Rrrr.
21:26: niibu_yaa - that makes sense westbay......more money involed if you play the GIants.
21:26: Basebill - it's always money to someone or it wouldn't happen at all
21:27: Manager - sraser
21:27: niibu_yaa - Well Japanese baseball is already having financial troubles...I think interleague play would worsen that.
21:27: Manager - bb
21:27: Manager - sagamiwara
21:27: sagamiwara - hi
21:27: Srini - well..we would have to live with more one-sided games every year then
21:28: Manager - bb
21:28: westbaystars - Welcome, you missed Daiei kill some Tigers 13-0.
21:28: Basebill - two for the pot game ....
21:28: Srini - Thank you so much WB san...Your site is a blessing for us non-Japanese who have an interest in the Japanese pastime..
21:28: sagamiwara - hosino have serious problem with short series
21:29: sagamiwara - and Arai hawks batting coach is important for hawks
21:30: Basebill - Srini, contact me at basebill@yahoo.com and we can continue the inter-league debate, if you wish..
21:30: sagamiwara - arai make ichiro that level
21:30: westbaystars - My pleasure.
21:30: westbaystars - It's about time to wrap this up and post it.
21:30: sagamiwara - and this year,Daiei make big deal
21:31: niibu_yaa - alright thanks westbay
21:31: Srini - Yes sir.. you can reach my id at vrs_cecri@yahoo.com
21:31: Basebill - I'll have to hit the site for the transcripts from here on in
21:31: niibu_yaa - hey sagamiwara......know any place to listen to the series on the internet?
21:32: sagamiwara - yahoo japan chat have japanese radio
21:32: sagamiwara - someone broad radio in chatroom
21:33: niibu_yaa - Yeah but through the Yahoo bb site you couldn't access it?
21:33: sagamiwara - daiei show all good things
21:34: westbaystars - Do you have a URL?
21:34: Manager - sraser
21:34: Basebill - Westbay-san, who is the "hero' interview?
21:34: sagamiwara - http://chat.yahoo.co.jp/
21:35: sagamiwara - sugi and torigoe
21:35: Basebill - thank you
21:36: westbaystars - Good night all.
Kanemoto and Akahoshi are on the run!
22:04: westbaystars - It clears a diving Akahoshi!
22:05: niibu_yaa - hehe
22:05: westbaystars - Ohkoshi scores from second - sayonara!
22:05: niibu_yaa - brb phone.
22:05: westbaystars - Akahoshi looks like he might have lost a tooth on that dive. But he's up and walking now.
22:06: westbaystars - BRB phone? I don't understand that one.
22:06: niibu_yaa - be right back
22:06: westbaystars - Andoh is hanging his head down in the dugout. He threw well.
22:07: westbaystars - Ah.
22:07: niibu_yaa - yeah, my freind says that akahoshi hit hard.
22:07: niibu_yaa - the rest of the stufff I can't understand.
22:07: niibu_yaa -
22:07: westbaystars - Zuleta is being called out for the Hero of the Game. Right after the Kantoku Interview.
22:08: niibu_yaa - hehe.....I bet they interview him in broken english and he replies in broken english...just like valdez does.
22:08: westbaystars - Oh is being questioned about having Muramatsu and Zuleta start.
22:09: westbaystars - And how well it payed off.
22:09: niibu_yaa - Yeah...he looks the gnius now.
22:09: westbaystars - Muramatsu does look like he's having trouble with his knees.
22:09: westbaystars - Yes, he does.
22:10: westbaystars - Now, Zurleta, today's hero.
22:10: niibu_yaa - can't see why they are questioning him on muramatsu though...he has the experience.
22:10: niibu_yaa - ah...the knees.......
22:10: westbaystars - This is a great experience for me. ... I'm so excited. I love it.
22:11: niibu_yaa - well thanks for helping me out here...when I couldn't see it.
22:11: niibu_yaa - or hear it I appriecitate it.
22:11: westbaystars - What were you thinking after hitting the ball?
22:11: westbaystars - It was unbelievable. ... Give credit to team mates for bringing him to home plate. (Sorry, I can't type 55 wpm any ..
22:11: westbaystars - ... more).
22:12: niibu_yaa - god...he hit a 143 straighto
22:12: westbaystars - This is your first trip to the Japan Series, How do you feel?
22:12: westbaystars - Can't explain it. Doing what I like to do, play baseball. This will always be in my heart.
22:13: westbaystars - (These are not direct quotes. I can't type that fast any more.)
22:13: westbaystars - ---
22:13: westbaystars - ---
22:13: westbaystars - ---
22:13: niibu_yaa - no problem.....are they talking to him in english or spanish?
22:13: westbaystars - Daiei Hawks win Game 1 on a sayonara hit by Zuleta.
22:14: westbaystars - English.
22:14: westbaystars - *** Hanshin Tigers 4 - 5 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks ***
22:14: westbaystars - ***
22:14: niibu_yaa - wow....Zuleta's a big guy,
22:14: westbaystars - He sounded pretty good.
22:15: westbaystars - Much better than Cabrera and a few others I've heard.
22:15: westbaystars - ---
22:15: niibu_yaa - cool, I heard Valdez and he wasn't impressive either.
22:16: westbaystars - Hanshin had 6 hits, Daiei 13.
22:17: westbaystars - The dome is closed, the lights are off, and they're shooting off fireworks at the top.
22:17: niibu_yaa - wow.....big difference.
22:17: niibu_yaa - alright then.....thanks for everything.
22:18: westbaystars - Hanshin did what they did all year, score on their opponents' mistakes, like walks and errors.
22:18: niibu_yaa - hehe......wonder if they will like Zuleta win to the "Boston CUrse" now?
22:18: niibu_yaa - link zuleta's game winner rather.
22:18: westbaystars - I've heard of the Cub curse. Similar?
22:19: niibu_yaa - yeah...Boston let go of Ruth...and haven't won a WS since.
22:20: niibu_yaa - They also let go a Zuleta....so why not add that to it.
22:20: westbaystars - Ah. Sounds good. If only they'd have had Zuleta, ...
22:21: westbaystars - Well, time to get the transcript of this and post it.
22:21: westbaystars - Thanks for showing up.
The Series moves to Koshien for the next three games starting Tuesday. Feel free to join the chat if you're awake.
Transcript follows:
TRANSCRIPT generated on: /19 21:36
CHATROOM: Nippon Series Game 2/Nippon Series Game 2/english//19 18:10
MODERATORS: westbaystars
18:10: Manager - westbaystars
18:11: westbaystars - Iyo, iyo. It's just about time to start Game 2 of the 2003 Nippon Series.
18:13: westbaystars - The big news, of course, is Daiei's big geki-tekina sayonara victory in Game 1.
18:14: westbaystars - Hanshin is hoping that Irabu can fair better than Iguchi this evening.
18:14: westbaystars - Daiei sends Sugiuchi to the mound.
18:15: westbaystars - Irabu: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=530
18:15: westbaystars - Sugiuchi: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1468
18:16: westbaystars - The Hawks are now taking the field in preparation for the cerimonial first pitch.
18:16: Manager - niibu_yaa
18:16: westbaystars - Sugiuchi has been warming up in front of the first base dugout for a while.
18:17: westbaystars - Welcome back, niibu_yaa-san.
18:17: niibu_yaa - =) Thanks. Any luck finding an internet broadcast today?
18:17: westbaystars - The first pitch, by someone in a Daiei uniform with the number 100, is swung on, and Sugiuchi can take the mound for ...
18:18: westbaystars - ... for his warmup pitches.
18:18: westbaystars - Haven't checked today. Sorry.
18:18: westbaystars - Had too many other things to do.
18:18: niibu_yaa - I've looked for about 2 hours no luck yet.
18:19: westbaystars - Just got home about 15 minutes ago, made a sandwhich, and opened the chat room.
18:19: westbaystars - Bummer. Guess you have to live with my account.
18:19: westbaystars - Sugiuchi's first pitch to Imaoka is a curve, called strike one.
18:19: westbaystars - Game Two is now under way.
18:20: niibu_yaa - Yup.....hmmmm 5:16 AM and I have a sudden urge for Ramen.
18:21: westbaystars - After working the count even 2-2, Imaoka grounds the ball through the right side, and Hanshin has their lead-off ...
18:21: westbaystars - ... batter on.
18:21: westbaystars - But not ramen from Kyushu?
18:21: niibu_yaa - Instant Ramen....will do.
18:21: westbaystars - Akahoshi squares and bunts.
18:22: westbaystars - Sugiuchi fields the ball and throws to first - to just barely get the speedy Akahoshi.
18:25: westbaystars - Kanemoto, who went hitless in Game 1, watches strike three go by for the second out.
18:25: westbaystars - He looked at the course wondering, but it was a good pitch.
18:26: Manager - niibu_yaa
18:26: westbaystars - Irabu gets up and start throwing in front of the third base dugout.
18:27: westbaystars - Hiyama gives the ball a ride, but he got a little too much under it.
18:27: westbaystars - Shibahara is under it, and takes the ball in for the third out.
18:28: westbaystars - Hanshin got their lead-off runner on and over to second, but he was stranded there.
18:28: westbaystars - ---
18:28: westbaystars - Bottom of First
18:28: westbaystars - ---
18:29: westbaystars - Irabu's first pitch to Shibahara is in there, called strike one.
18:30: westbaystars - The next pitch is grounded to Hirosawa at first, who races to the bag to beat Shibahara by a step.
18:30: westbaystars - One down.
18:30: westbaystars - Kawasaki squres to bunt and takes strike one.
18:30: westbaystars - The next pitch, though is stroked into center in front of Akahoshi for a clean base hit.
18:30: westbaystars - Runner on first, one out.
18:32: westbaystars - Iguchi popped up a high pitch (out of the strike zone) that was fielded by Imaoka between the mound and second base.
18:32: westbaystars - Two down.
18:33: westbaystars - After Matsunaka took a ball, Kawasaki broke for second on the second pitch, and was into second easilly.
18:34: westbaystars - Stolen base.
18:34: westbaystars - However, Matsunaka grounded the next offering right to Hirosawa on the line behind the first base bag.
18:34: westbaystars - And Hirosawa had plenty of time to take it to the bag himself for the final out.
18:34: westbaystars - After the end of one complete inning, there is no score.
18:34: westbaystars - ---
18:35: westbaystars - Top of Second
18:35: westbaystars - ---
18:38: westbaystars - Hirosawa, who struck out three times in Game 1, goes down swinging late on four pitches.
18:38: westbaystars - One away.
18:38: westbaystars - Arias got handcuffed on his first pitch, grounding weakly to Torigoe at short.
18:39: westbaystars - The throw to first was in plenty of time - two down.
18:40: Manager - niibu_yaa
18:40: westbaystars - Hamanaka, DH for Hanshin this evening, grounds the ball just fair of third, ...
18:40: westbaystars - ... but Kawasaki dives, grabs, is up, and throws to first for the final out.
18:41: westbaystars - Three up, three down.
18:41: westbaystars - ---
18:41: westbaystars - Bottom of Second
18:41: westbaystars - ---
18:42: westbaystars - Johjima leads off the bottom of the second, while the camera turns to injurred team mate Kokubo in the stands.
18:43: westbaystars - Do you know what hit Kokubo?
18:43: niibu_yaa - ah..so that is why zuleta is playing.
18:44: westbaystars - Johjima lifts the ball up the right field line, and when the ball comes down, Hiyama is under it to make the catch.
18:44: niibu_yaa - I printed out an article about it...but haven't gotten around to reading it.
18:44: westbaystars - That would probably explain it.
18:44: westbaystars - Zuleta playing injurred himself, it appears. Right pinky finger.
18:45: westbaystars - Valdez rips Daiei's second hit of the night through the right side.
18:45: westbaystars - Two out rally again?
18:46: niibu_yaa - hehe
18:46: westbaystars - Zuleta grounds the ball through the left side.
18:46: westbaystars - Look familar?
18:47: niibu_yaa - reads familar.
18:47: westbaystars - Muramatsu, in the same scenario last night, drove Valdez home from secoond.
18:47: westbaystars -
18:48: westbaystars - And he's up again.
18:48: westbaystars - With just one out.
18:48: westbaystars - And he hits a high bounding ground ball in front of the plate.
18:48: westbaystars - By the time the ball comes back down, everyone is save.
18:48: westbaystars - No play anywhere.
18:49: westbaystars - Bases loaded, one out.
18:49: westbaystars - #9 batting Torigoe up to bat.
18:49: niibu_yaa - torigoe?
18:50: niibu_yaa -
18:50: westbaystars - He shows great patience, not swinging at two pitches as Irabu tries to nibble at the plate.
18:50: westbaystars - The third pitch is hit up the middle.
18:50: westbaystars - It gets past Akahoshi!
18:50: westbaystars - One run in!
18:50: westbaystars - Two runs in!
18:50: niibu_yaa - #6 isn't it?
18:51: westbaystars - And as Torigoe stands at second, Muramatsu rounds third and comes home.
18:51: westbaystars - Yes, Torigoe is #6: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=225
18:52: westbaystars - Shibahara lines a base hit to left, and Hanshin's pitching coach heads to the mound.
18:52: niibu_yaa - IC he is batting in the 9 spot.
18:53: westbaystars - Torigoe moves to third on the fifth Hawk base hit in a row.
18:53: westbaystars - Right.
18:53: westbaystars - Checking with Yahoo Sports?
18:53: westbaystars - They show position, back number, name.
18:53: niibu_yaa - nope....I just know that Shibahara is the top of the order.
18:54: westbaystars - Then refer to the runners by their back number above the base display.
18:54: westbaystars - Oh. No, Shibahara has batted first both games so far.
18:55: westbaystars - With Kawasaki up to bat, Shibahara broke for second.
18:55: westbaystars - The throw by Yano is right on the money, and Shibahara is out.
18:55: westbaystars - The next pitch is drilled into the left-center gap.
18:56: niibu_yaa - That's what I was saying. Shibahra came up after Torigoe...so that makes Torigoe 9.
18:56: westbaystars - Torigoe scores easilly from third.
18:56: westbaystars - The ball just got past Kanemoto.
18:56: westbaystars - With the ball coming back in, Kawasaki kept on going all the way to third.
18:57: westbaystars - And just beat the throw.
18:57: westbaystars - Iguchi grounds to Fujimoto at short. The throw to first bounces once, twice, three times,
18:58: westbaystars - and Hirosawa fields the grounded ball for the final out.
18:59: westbaystars - But after one out (sorry, I said two at one point), Daiei put together six hits in a row to score four runs.
18:59: westbaystars - At the end of two complete, Daiei leads 4-0.
18:59: westbaystars - ---
18:59: westbaystars - Top of Third
18:59: westbaystars - ---
19:00: westbaystars - Yano leads off the third inning.
19:01: westbaystars - Bench report says that Sugiuchi says that keeping Akahoshi off base and pitching carefully to Yano are his ...
19:01: westbaystars - ... two big points to concentrate on.
19:01: westbaystars - And he gets Yano looking at strike three for the first out with a change up.
19:03: westbaystars - #9 batting Fujimoto slaps the ball the other way, just in the third base line and over Kawasaki's head.
19:03: westbaystars - That's Hanshin's second hit of the night.
19:03: westbaystars - With Imaoka, who got their first hit, at the plate.
19:07: westbaystars - After fouling off a few pitches, Imaoka pops the ball up to the infield, and is out number two.
19:07: Manager - Fudge
19:07: Manager - Basebill
19:10: westbaystars - Akahoshi, who chokes up a lot on the bat, like Fujimoto, grounds to Iguchi at second after running the count full.
19:10: westbaystars - And he's out number three.
19:10: westbaystars - ---
19:10: westbaystars - Bottom of Third
19:10: westbaystars - ---
19:11: westbaystars - For those of you just joining, Daiei leads 4-0 after scoring four runs on six consecutive hits in the bottom of the 2nd.
19:11: westbaystars - Daiei's #4 batting Matsunaka leads off.
19:13: westbaystars - Matsunaka grounds the ball to Hirosawa at first, who gets the ball pulling back in his gut.
19:13: westbaystars - And jogs to the bag unassisted.
19:13: westbaystars - Johjima gets all of Irabu's first offering to him.
19:14: westbaystars - Kanemoto and Akahoshi take a few steps toward each other, and look up.
19:14: westbaystars - That ball is gone! Over the high left-center fense into Hanshin's oendan.
19:14: westbaystars - Daiei now leads 5-0.
19:14: westbaystars - This is Johjima's second home run in two games this Series.
19:14: niibu_yaa - wow....jyojima second of the series.
19:15: westbaystars - Valdez came close to sending the ball out the other way, but Akahoshi pulled the ball in at the warning track.
19:15: westbaystars - For Johjima, that makes 7 home runs in 13 career Nippon Series games.
19:17: westbaystars - Zuleta goes down fishing at a low, outside pitch to become Irabu's first strike out victim of the evening.
19:17: westbaystars - And that retires the side.
19:17: westbaystars - But not before Johjima adds an insurance run, his second home run in two nights.
19:17: westbaystars - Daiei leads after three complete, 5-0.
19:17: westbaystars - ---
19:17: westbaystars - Top of Fourth
19:17: westbaystars - ---
19:19: Manager - Fudge
19:19: westbaystars - Hitless Kanemoto leads off the fourth for Hanshin.
19:20: westbaystars - And he gets his first hit of the Series, driving a line drive to right.
19:21: westbaystars - Hanshin has their lead-off runner on again.
19:23: westbaystars - Hiyama grounds the ball just fair, played right on top of the first base bag by Muramatsu.
19:23: westbaystars - Since he fielding the ball on the bag, it was a touch play at second.
19:24: westbaystars - And Kanemoto is touched out.
19:24: westbaystars - Double play.
19:24: westbaystars - Hanshin now has two down with nobody on.
19:24: westbaystars - Hirosawa at the bat.
19:26: westbaystars - And Mister K (Hirosawa) goes down swinging at a Sugiuchi pitch wa---y outside.
19:26: westbaystars - The side is retired.
19:27: westbaystars - Hanshin got a base runner, but nothing to show for it.
19:27: westbaystars - ---
19:27: westbaystars - Bottom of Fourth
19:27: westbaystars - ---
19:28: westbaystars - Muramatsu leads off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit up the middle on Irabu's first offering.
19:30: westbaystars - Torigoe looks like he's having trouble with a sign, and Oh-kantoku looks like the coach is sending out the wrong one.
19:30: westbaystars - Nothing was on on that pitch.
19:31: westbaystars - And Torigoe turns to show bunt on the no-strike, two ball count.
19:31: westbaystars - As well as the 0-3 count.
19:31: westbaystars - And he walks on four straight pitches.
19:31: westbaystars - Runners at first and second with nobody out.
19:31: westbaystars - And Hoshino-kantoku comes out of the third base dugout.
19:31: westbaystars - Irabu is through.
19:32: westbaystars - He threw 49 pitches, struck out 1, gave up 9 hits, and has 5 runs against him so far.
19:33: niibu_yaa - Game time running longer today it seems.
19:33: westbaystars - Yoshino is coming in.
19:33: westbaystars - http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1268
19:34: westbaystars - Yea, going to relief this early, it'll definitely be longer.
19:35: westbaystars - Shibahara bunts the runners up a base on Yoshino's first pitch to him.
19:35: westbaystars - That should help speed up the game.
19:35: westbaystars -
19:35: westbaystars - One out, runners at second and third. Kawasaki up to the plate.
19:36: niibu_yaa - sou dane.
19:38: westbaystars - Kawasaki, though, is a bit more patient. He strikes out after running the count to 2-2.
19:39: westbaystars - Two down, Iguchi at the plate.
19:40: westbaystars - Iguchi walks on four pitches to load the bases.
19:41: westbaystars - I guess it wasn't Yoshino who was helping the game speed up.
19:41: westbaystars - Matsunaka, 1 for 6 so far this Series, lines Yoshino's first pitch right back at him.
19:42: niibu_yaa - at leat Iguchi gets on.
19:42: westbaystars - After fielding the ball on a bounce, Yoshino jogs half way to first before tossing the ball over for the final out.
19:42: westbaystars - Daiei managed to load the bases, but come up empty this inning.
19:43: westbaystars - After four complete, Daiei continues to lead 5-0.
19:43: westbaystars - ---
19:43: westbaystars - Top of Fifth
19:43: westbaystars - ---
19:45: westbaystars - Arias lines a drive in front of Valdez in left, and Hanshin's lead off runner is on for (I think) the third time.
19:46: westbaystars - Hamanaka comes to the plate.
19:47: westbaystars - After having as strap problem with his elbow guard, he tosses it toward the third base dugout and steps back in for ...
19:47: westbaystars - ... the 1-1 pitch, which he fouls off.
19:48: westbaystars - After running the count to 2-2, Hamanaka grounds to third for a tailor made 5-4-3 double play.
19:49: westbaystars - Hanshin's lead-off runner is erased yet again.
19:49: westbaystars - Yano also grounds to Kawasaki at third, the throw to first is in plenty of time.
19:50: westbaystars - And the side is retired.
19:50: westbaystars - ---
19:50: westbaystars - Bottom of Fifth
19:50: westbaystars - ---
19:50: Manager - niibu_taa
19:50: Basebill - the tigersare showing no claws tonight
19:51: Manager - niibu_yaa
19:51: niibu_taa - hehe
19:51: Manager - niibu_taa
19:51: Manager - niibu_yaa
19:51: westbaystars - Lose your session?
19:51: westbaystars - Get your session back?
19:51: niibu_yaa - yeah.......clicked the wrong page off.
19:52: westbaystars - Hanshin sends former Giant and Buffaloe closer Ishige to the mound.
19:52: westbaystars - http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=192
19:52: niibu_yaa - basebill.....you listing to the game on the net?
19:53: westbaystars - And the first batter he faces is Johjima.
19:53: Basebill - barely awake and came straight here
19:53: westbaystars - And he fouls his first pitch off of Yano's thigh, just above the leg guard.
19:53: westbaystars - Ouch.
19:54: niibu_yaa - bet jyojima knows how that feels.
19:55: westbaystars - Johjima went with the pitch, but lined it right at Imaoka at second.
19:55: westbaystars - One out.
19:55: westbaystars - Yea, Johjima looked a little concerned for Yano.
19:56: niibu_yaa - what a nice johjima.
19:56: Basebill - westbay-san, did the umpire clean off homeplate after Yano was hit?
19:56: westbaystars - Yano just rubbed the spot and said that he was alright.
19:56: westbaystars - Oooo. I don't think so.
19:56: westbaystars - Now that you mention it.
19:57: westbaystars - Valdez draws a walk on five pitches. One out base runner.
19:57: niibu_yaa - hmm...the ump must not be fond of Yano.
19:57: Basebill - they always do in MLB.
19:57: westbaystars - I'm not sure that he didn't, but...
19:58: westbaystars - I'll be sure to pay more attention for that from now on.
19:58: niibu_yaa - Is it just me or is Sugiuchi a goofy looking fellar?
19:59: Basebill - it's just you haha
19:59: westbaystars - Looks a bit young, but that's about it.
20:00: westbaystars - At least he doesn't have that jerky motion to the plate.
20:00: westbaystars - Ishige now walks Zuleta after running the count full.
20:01: westbaystars - Not going to have a fast pace pitching like that.
20:01: westbaystars - Walks have always been Ishige's Achiles heal.
20:01: Basebill - westbay-san, does this Hawks team remind you of the BayStar "machine gun attack"?
20:01: westbaystars - Turning on for a while, yea.
20:01: niibu_yaa - yeah......he form is pretty good. And he interviews better than most.
20:02: westbaystars - Those six hits in a row in the second had that feel.
20:02: niibu_yaa - yup that's why he's bounced around a fair amount in the league.
20:02: westbaystars - Muramatsu pops out for out number two. No replay of the second inning, it looks like.
20:03: Basebill - i watched them play on the net versus the Lions a couple of times this year. they can score in a hurry
20:04: niibu_yaa - Basebill.......you in Japan?
20:04: Basebill - no, PA
20:05: niibu_yaa - un....you able to find somewhere to listen to the game...as I'm in MI and can't.
20:05: Basebill - no, i could find no site carrying it
20:06: niibu_yaa - hehe figures....pleanty of sites carrying MLB in japanese though.
20:06: westbaystars - Ishige does come back and get Torigoe striking out to retire the side.
20:06: Basebill - must be more money in it
20:07: westbaystars - The side is retired.
20:07: Basebill - Godzilla had 3 hits last night vs. the Marlins
20:07: niibu_yaa - maybe we can talk westbay into saying "Timely" more....make it feel like were hearing it.
20:07: westbaystars - I'd offer to give play by play by voice of what I'm watching, but I don't like the sound of my voice.
20:07: niibu_yaa - lot of good it did them.
20:07: westbaystars - I can do that, though.
20:08: Basebill - your typing is just fine
20:08: niibu_yaa - yeah...or you could attach your mic to there voices.
20:08: niibu_yaa - but yeah this works.
20:08: niibu_yaa - thanks
20:09: westbaystars - ---
20:09: westbaystars - Top of Sixth
20:09: westbaystars - ---
20:10: westbaystars - Fujimoto at the plate.
20:10: westbaystars - And he lines out to Iguchi at second. One out.
20:11: westbaystars - I wasn't sure before if I should say "haitta--" or "it's out of here." Now I know.
20:12: niibu_yaa - Pretty cool that Sugiuchi got the start in front of his home crowd.
20:12: westbaystars - Imaoka flies out to Shibahara running in up the first base line, two quick outs.
20:13: westbaystars - An intersting thing that Nikkan Sports did was compare how pitches did in domed vs. non-domed stadiums.
20:14: westbaystars - Iguchi and Irabu performed better in domed stadiums, if I remember correctly, which is why they were chosen for the ...
20:14: westbaystars - ... first two games.
20:14: niibu_yaa - that is pretty interesting never seen that before.
20:14: westbaystars - Akahoshi grounds out to third to retire the side in order.
20:14: Basebill - there are stats for everything
20:15: niibu_yaa - You think Wada gets the nod in Koshien because of his batting familiarity?
20:15: westbaystars - ---
20:15: westbaystars - Bottom of Sixth
20:15: westbaystars - ---
20:15: Basebill - slumping Tgers, losing drags-on
20:16: westbaystars - Hirosawa takes some bench and Yagi comes in to play first base for Hanshin.
20:16: westbaystars - That may be (Wada). I'm sure that that's a reason that Moore will get the start at Koshien.
20:17: westbaystars - If he's recovered.
20:17: Basebill - can't believe Hoshino had him wheeled out there in the first place
20:17: niibu_yaa - yeah i don't get that either.
20:18: westbaystars - Ishige strikes out Shibahara. Hey, Ishige's found his form.
20:18: Basebill - who's DHing for the Tigers?
20:18: westbaystars - You're referring to Hirosawa?
20:18: niibu_yaa - To bad arakaki broke himself....he got a double and a single when I saw him play the dragons pre-season.
20:18: westbaystars - Hamanaka is the DH this evening.
20:18: Basebill - ah
20:19: westbaystars - Arakaki is supposedly back in good health. At least, that's what he said last week when he worked out in the bullpen.
20:19: westbaystars - Kawasaki lines out to Fujimoto at short. Two down.
20:20: westbaystars - Iguchi then pops out to Yano in foul territory up the third base side, and the side is retired in order.
20:20: westbaystars - That hasn't happened often.
20:20: westbaystars - ---
20:20: westbaystars - Top of Seventh
20:20: westbaystars - ---
20:20: niibu_yaa - yeah, I saw him and Wada on Fuji TV's b ball report.
20:21: Basebill - Hanshin needs to wake up in this frame and make a game of it
20:21: westbaystars - Hanshin fans release their Fukuoka Dome approved balloons for their half of the Lucky Seven.
20:21: niibu_yaa - any contra band ballons today?
20:21: westbaystars - The announcer is saying that just under 40% of the crowd is Hanshin fans.
20:22: westbaystars - Couldn't tell. But the oendan heads all vow that they made is very well known that nobody in their group was to ...
20:22: westbaystars - ... bring any.
20:22: Basebill - SOME HAVE ACCUSED iRABU OF BALLOONING...
20:23: westbaystars - Kanemoto lines his first pitch to right, but Shibahara is able to get there in time for the first out.
20:24: westbaystars - Hiyama lifts a high fly to center, which Muramatsu has plenty of time to get under and take in.
20:24: westbaystars - Two quick outs.
20:24: westbaystars - Now Yagi comes to bat for his first at bat this Series.
20:25: westbaystars - To me, that switch shows that Hoshino-kantoku is getting desparate.
20:25: niibu_yaa - I agree....he can't seem to get anything going.
20:26: Basebill - it's remakable that Muramatsu is playing
20:26: westbaystars - Yagi grounds out to Torigoe at short, and the side is retired.
20:26: Manager - ninitata
20:27: niibu_yaa - 鳥越 not been playing to bad.
20:27: westbaystars - Muramatsu hasn't had to make any desparate throws to the plate, so his shoulders haven't been put to the test.
20:27: westbaystars - But his legs and batting are fine.
20:28: niibu_yaa - yeah he's made a few dashs for some plays it sounds like.
20:28: westbaystars - ---
20:28: westbaystars - Bottom of Seventh
20:28: westbaystars - ---
20:29: westbaystars - Yes, Muramatsu has had to run out there.
20:29: westbaystars - Kanezawa is in to pitch for Hanshin.
20:29: westbaystars - Sorry, Kanasawa http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1096
20:30: niibu_yaa - any idea on Kanasawa pitch selection?
20:30: niibu_yaa - not familiar with him.
20:30: westbaystars - Matsunaka, who definitely looks like his legs are hurting, leads off. He's the one I'm surprized is starting.
20:31: westbaystars - And he lines a base hit up the middle, off of Kanazawa's glove. Base hit.
20:31: westbaystars - Johjima up to bat.
20:33: Manager - ninitata
20:33: westbaystars - But he lifts the ball up to Akahoshi in straight away center for the first out of the inning.
20:35: westbaystars - Valzez hits the ball up the middle, nuketa!
20:35: westbaystars - Just past the two converging middle infielders.
20:36: westbaystars - Akahoshi is up with it, and Matsunaka holds at second. (Not like his legs could challenge Akahoshi.)
20:36: westbaystars - Runners at first and second, one out.
20:37: westbaystars - Zuleta gets all of that one!
20:37: westbaystars - No doubt about it.
20:37: westbaystars - Utta shunkan, haitaaaaaa!
20:37: westbaystars - Three run home run.
20:37: niibu_yaa -
20:38: westbaystars - Daiei now leads 8-0 as Zuleta delivers the ball to the highest of Hanshin fans in left.
20:38: Basebill - it's remakable that Muramatsu is playing
20:38: niibu_yaa - wow....they're gonna have to find a place to work Zuleta in in the next series.
20:39: westbaystars - Murmatsu got a big cheer as the ball left his bat, but it's right at Akahoshi in center. Two down.
20:39: Basebill - perhaps the Tigers will have better luck in Koshien
20:40: niibu_yaa - can't see them having it any worse.
20:40: westbaystars - Torigoe draws a walk to keep the inning alive. Hoshino-kantoku's face is gavitating toward the ground.
20:40: westbaystars - I take it you're sticking with the Central League, Basebill?
20:42: westbaystars - The camera panned Hanshin's oendan, and they aren't looking too pleased.
20:42: Basebill - when I have no favorie(Swallows) playing in a series I root for 7
20:42: westbaystars - And Shinohara drills a double off the top of the fense in right center, scoring Torigoe from first.
20:42: westbaystars - Daiei now leads 9-0.
20:43: westbaystars - That's always a good team to root for.
20:43: westbaystars - I thought you were a 'Stars' fan.
20:43: niibu_yaa -
20:44: Basebill - the Hawks scored 10 or more runs in 25 games this year, including the four 20-spots they laid on Orix
20:44: niibu_yaa - yeah.....didn't the hawks score 28 something year?
20:44: Basebill - no, I love Furuta, so I follow the Swallows
20:45: westbaystars - Kawasaki, who hit a triple earlier, does it again!
20:45: westbaystars - One bounder off the wall in right-center, scoring Shinohara from second for Daiei's 10th run.
20:45: Basebill - bingo!
20:46: westbaystars - That's Daiei's 14th hit of the night, for those keeping track at home.
20:46: niibu_yaa - No it was 29 against Orix on the 1st of august
20:46: westbaystars - They've really made all of their hits count.
20:46: Basebill - 31 of them
20:47: westbaystars - Daiei's bench has a lot of smiling faces.
20:47: Basebill - they had just beaten Orix26-7 on 32 hits on July 27
20:47: westbaystars - Iguchi grounds to Arias behind the bag at third, and the inning is finally over.
20:48: Basebill - what an offense
20:48: Manager - Srini
20:48: westbaystars - Oh-kantoku comes out, and ... who's he changing? Sugiuchi is still on the mound.
20:48: westbaystars - ---
20:48: westbaystars - Top of Eighth
20:48: westbaystars - ---
20:48: niibu_yaa - no joking. When the get going they are hard to stop.
20:49: Basebill - Oh just wants some TV time
20:49: westbaystars - Like you said, similar to the 1998 BayStars' Machine Gun offense.
20:49: Srini - Seems to be a reverse of last year's CL dominance in the J-Series..
20:50: westbaystars - Arias leads off for Hanshin. They need to get something going. But barring some really poor play, I don't see it ...
20:50: westbaystars - ... happening.
20:50: Basebill - there doesn't seem to be a real soft spot in the line-up
20:50: niibu_yaa - So Oh didn't change anything up?
20:50: Srini - Westbay san, I missed the start of the game, could you please let me know the starters for both the teams?
20:51: Basebill - stranger things have happened, but I doubt it
20:51: westbaystars - He lifts a high fly ball back of third. Kawasaki goes into foul territory, now fair, and pulls it in.
20:51: westbaystars - One out.
20:52: westbaystars - Starters were Sugiuchi for Daiei and Irabu for Hanshin.
20:52: Basebill - Irabu for Hanshin
20:52: westbaystars - Irabu got tagged for four runs when Daiei put together six hits in a row in the second inning with two outs.
20:52: niibu_yaa - 伊良部 vs. 杉内
20:52: westbaystars - A home run by Johjima, his second in two games, spelled the end for Irabu.
20:53: Srini - Oh..I guess..this was expected for Irabu because of his fade-out in the late seasonal games
20:53: westbaystars - Hamanaka drives a base hit to left to give Hanshin a base runner.
20:53: Basebill - 伊良部 vs. 杉内, cool...
20:54: Srini - Thank you for the update . Really Appreciate your effort
20:54: westbaystars - Sugiuchi is still on the mound for Daiei. Quietly pitching a nice game.
20:54: niibu_yaa - 杉内's pitch count has to be nearing 100 by now.
20:54: westbaystars - My pleasure. It's good to have more people tonight.
20:54: Basebill - spent most of his season in the bullpen last year
20:55: westbaystars - Sugiuchi strikes Yano out swinging way too early on a high pitch. Two down.
20:55: niibu_yaa - Yup......nice to see him get the start.
20:55: Basebill - unless this series goes 7 this will be the opnly time I can check in
20:55: Srini - One more question? Is this youngest starting pitcher combination ever in a J-series?Sugiuchi,Saitoh,Terahara,Arakaki..!
20:55: westbaystars - And the next pitch to Fujimoto is grounded to short, who could have touched second, but threw to first for the final out
20:56: westbaystars - 5 hits to 14 so far.
20:57: westbaystars - I don't have that data with me, but it very well may be.
20:57: westbaystars - Daiei's young pitchers are doing the job.
20:57: westbaystars - ---
20:57: westbaystars - Bottom of Eighth
20:57: westbaystars - ---
20:58: niibu_yaa - From what I've read that is the case.....if not the youngest in years...the youngest in experience.
20:58: Basebill - nothig like a powerhouse offense to give a pitcher confidence
20:59: westbaystars - Matsunaka lines the ball into the gap in right-center (uchi-kan).
20:59: Srini - Interesting indeed...The MLB World Series is also on and the Marlins have a comparable young pitching staff too..
20:59: westbaystars - And he limps into second with a standup double.
20:59: westbaystars - To be replaced by Honma as a pinch runner.
21:00: niibu_yaa - yup....and it doesn't hurt to have Johjima behind the plate pulling pitches up to make them look better.
21:00: Srini - Geez..the hits just keep coming!
21:00: westbaystars - I think Yokohama set a record for hits in the Nippon Series in 1998.
21:01: westbaystars - Didn't they have 20 one game, or did they stop at 19?
21:01: Basebill - that's what good catchers are for...
21:01: Srini - thats correct.. I read Johjima played every minute for Daiei this season and he said he did it 'cos of the young stafff
21:01: westbaystars - Johjima grounds the ball right back to the pitcher, Kanazawa.
21:02: westbaystars - He turns and fires the ball to second to get Honma caught in the middle.
21:02: niibu_yaa - exactly basebill.
21:02: westbaystars - But the ball goes through into center!
21:02: Basebill - i don't have my stats available but i think you are right
21:02: westbaystars - Honma gets up and heads to third, Johjima is safe at first.
21:02: westbaystars - E-1.
21:03: Srini - Uh-oh brace up for more RBIs..
21:03: Basebill - rally!!
21:03: niibu_yaa - Amazing the first error of the night.
21:04: Srini - HOME RUN
21:04: niibu_yaa - with Valdez up next that very well could be the case.
21:04: Basebill - both teams played pretty good "D" all year
21:05: westbaystars - Yes, Valdez hits the ball into the 10th row of seats over the right-center field fense. Three run home run.
21:05: niibu_yaa - yoshi!!!!!!!!!
21:05: Basebill - unbelievable....
21:05: westbaystars - Daiei now leads 13-0.
21:06: westbaystars - I think you mean, yosshaaaaaaa!
21:06: Basebill - like the Baystars, with more power
21:06: Basebill - and speed
21:06: westbaystars - They certainly did have more power this year. But without pitching, it didn't do them much good.
21:06: niibu_yaa - yeah.......but gotta be nice to the other teams fans.
21:07: westbaystars -
21:07: Srini - I find it refreshing in a sense that the low profile PL team hogs the limelight over the early celebrating high profile
21:07: Srini - CL Team
21:07: westbaystars - Ohmichi is up to bat now. I guess that was the change Oh-kantoku had made, but he's the DH, so it didn't matter, then.
21:08: westbaystars - And Ohmichi flies out to center for the first out of the inning.
21:08: niibu_yaa - Ah.......I was wanting to see Zuleta again.
21:08: Basebill - I can't imagine any team with Oh-kantoku as low profile
21:08: niibu_yaa - but you can't fault him for putting the big road in.
21:08: westbaystars - Daiei is up to 16 hits, for those of you keeping track.
21:10: Srini - I think Daiei are now pinching off from the bench..so the hit record won't be broken, I guess..
21:10: westbaystars - Deguchi comes up to bat for his first time. Hmm. It looks like he came in defensively at center before this half ...
21:10: niibu_yaa - when did he put in Deguchi?
21:10: westbaystars - ... inning.
21:10: niibu_yaa - ah..that covers that.
21:10: westbaystars - And he grounds out to short for the second out.
21:10: Basebill - use the roster Oh-san
21:10: westbaystars - Must have been the top of the inning, because he wasn't a pinch hitter.
21:11: westbaystars - Torigoe gets a called second strike by the first base umpire who said he swung, when he didn't.
21:11: Basebill - all the help the Tigers can get
21:12: westbaystars - With the game this much of a blow-out this late in the game, Oh-kantoku wants to give everyone a chance to say they ...
21:12: westbaystars - ... played.
21:12: westbaystars - And Torigoe goes down swinging this time. Three down.
21:12: Basebill - makes sense to me
21:12: westbaystars - Oh-kantoku is now signalling that Sugiuchi is done for the night.
21:13: westbaystars - Arakaki comes in!
21:13: Basebill - pich count?
21:13: westbaystars - ---
21:13: niibu_yaa - He better get a standing ovation.
21:13: westbaystars - Top of Ninth
21:13: westbaystars - ---
21:13: niibu_yaa - yeah yeah yeah yeah
21:14: westbaystars - The oen-dan fans were on their feet, but I wouldn't quite call it a standing ovation by MLB standards.
21:14: Srini - So its upto Moore and Shimoyanagi..are they upto against the power offense? Maybe Shimo being a leftie,
21:14: Srini - he could be a factor..
21:14: westbaystars - I'm hoping they show the pitch count for Sugiuchi soon.
21:14: westbaystars - All I can say for sure is he only gave up 5 hits and no runs.
21:15: Srini - why is Arakaki doing relief? I thought he would start the next game!
21:15: niibu_yaa - Nope Wada is starting in Koshien.
21:15: westbaystars - Imaoka reaches first when the ground ball to third makes a strange bounce.
21:16: westbaystars - Akahoshi layed a beautiful bunt down the third base line.
21:16: niibu_yaa - I imagine Arakaki's out there to see what he's got.
21:16: westbaystars - And he's out by a hair at first.
21:17: Basebill - an inning of work and he could still go in game 4
21:17: westbaystars - While it's rules a sacrifice bunt, he was doing anything but sacrificing himself.
21:18: westbaystars - Kanamoto drives Arakaki's first pitch to him to straight away center, and with two pitches, we have two outs.
21:18: westbaystars - Runner still on second.
21:18: niibu_yaa - Looks like 新垣's got his velocity still.
21:19: westbaystars - Hiyama drives a good hit toward right, but Shinohara has him played perfectly, and the game is over.
21:19: westbaystars - ---
21:19: westbaystars - Game Final
21:19: westbaystars - ---
21:19: Basebill - been over for a while
21:19: westbaystars - Hanshin Tigers 0 - 13 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
21:19: westbaystars - ---
21:20: Srini - Before you sign out, a question ( Maybe it would have been covered in Westbaysan's site's discussion forums..yet)
21:20: Basebill - Westbay-san, thank you very much, this was great
21:20: westbaystars - Niibu_yaa-san is right, Sugiuchi does look kind of funny.
21:20: westbaystars - He just looks so young.
21:20: Srini - why are there two leagues in Japan, when there are only 12 teams? I mean...
21:21: niibu_yaa - yeah...well Arakaki's like an adonis compared to him.
21:21: Srini - it would be more interesting to watch the Tigers fight the Hawks 18 times a season..
21:21: Srini - instead of them thrashing the Baystars 30 times out of 36
21:21: westbaystars - That's something that was decided on in 1950.
21:22: Basebill - no it wouldn't, 2 is better than 1, and i don't like inter-league play...
21:22: niibu_yaa - Personally I think Interleague play is horrid.
21:22: Srini - any valuable reason, Basebill san?..to reduce competition?
21:23: westbaystars - There were 8 teams before that, so with expansion came two leagues.
21:23: Basebill - it was different before everythimg got to be televised
21:23: Srini - I understand the history..but yet..isn't it time to be a bit iconoclastic and get practical?
21:23: niibu_yaa - I see the Basebill agrees with me on this one. It takes the fun out of the WS.
21:24: Basebill - it loses it's unique-ness...
21:25: westbaystars - The Pacific League wants interleague play, the Central League teams won't give up games agains the Giants.
21:25: Srini - I feel that it would be more pleasurable to have more competition throughout the year instead of just 7 games..
21:25: niibu_yaa - Besides who wants to see 横浜 get the snot beat out of them by ダイエー.
21:26: Srini - aah..WB san, thats unfortunate..competition reduced because of a matter of money.
21:26: westbaystars - Rrrr.
21:26: niibu_yaa - that makes sense westbay......more money involed if you play the GIants.
21:26: Basebill - it's always money to someone or it wouldn't happen at all
21:27: Manager - sraser
21:27: niibu_yaa - Well Japanese baseball is already having financial troubles...I think interleague play would worsen that.
21:27: Manager - bb
21:27: Manager - sagamiwara
21:27: sagamiwara - hi
21:27: Srini - well..we would have to live with more one-sided games every year then
21:28: Manager - bb
21:28: westbaystars - Welcome, you missed Daiei kill some Tigers 13-0.
21:28: Basebill - two for the pot game ....
21:28: Srini - Thank you so much WB san...Your site is a blessing for us non-Japanese who have an interest in the Japanese pastime..
21:28: sagamiwara - hosino have serious problem with short series
21:29: sagamiwara - and Arai hawks batting coach is important for hawks
21:30: Basebill - Srini, contact me at basebill@yahoo.com and we can continue the inter-league debate, if you wish..
21:30: sagamiwara - arai make ichiro that level
21:30: westbaystars - My pleasure.
21:30: westbaystars - It's about time to wrap this up and post it.
21:30: sagamiwara - and this year,Daiei make big deal
21:31: niibu_yaa - alright thanks westbay
21:31: Srini - Yes sir.. you can reach my id at vrs_cecri@yahoo.com
21:31: Basebill - I'll have to hit the site for the transcripts from here on in
21:31: niibu_yaa - hey sagamiwara......know any place to listen to the series on the internet?
21:32: sagamiwara - yahoo japan chat have japanese radio
21:32: sagamiwara - someone broad radio in chatroom
21:33: niibu_yaa - Yeah but through the Yahoo bb site you couldn't access it?
21:33: sagamiwara - daiei show all good things
21:34: westbaystars - Do you have a URL?
21:34: Manager - sraser
21:34: Basebill - Westbay-san, who is the "hero' interview?
21:34: sagamiwara - http://chat.yahoo.co.jp/
21:35: sagamiwara - sugi and torigoe
21:35: Basebill - thank you
21:36: westbaystars - Good night all.
Kanemoto and Akahoshi are on the run!
22:04: westbaystars - It clears a diving Akahoshi!
22:05: niibu_yaa - hehe
22:05: westbaystars - Ohkoshi scores from second - sayonara!
22:05: niibu_yaa - brb phone.
22:05: westbaystars - Akahoshi looks like he might have lost a tooth on that dive. But he's up and walking now.
22:06: westbaystars - BRB phone? I don't understand that one.
22:06: niibu_yaa - be right back
22:06: westbaystars - Andoh is hanging his head down in the dugout. He threw well.
22:07: westbaystars - Ah.
22:07: niibu_yaa - yeah, my freind says that akahoshi hit hard.
22:07: niibu_yaa - the rest of the stufff I can't understand.
22:07: niibu_yaa -
22:07: westbaystars - Zuleta is being called out for the Hero of the Game. Right after the Kantoku Interview.
22:08: niibu_yaa - hehe.....I bet they interview him in broken english and he replies in broken english...just like valdez does.
22:08: westbaystars - Oh is being questioned about having Muramatsu and Zuleta start.
22:09: westbaystars - And how well it payed off.
22:09: niibu_yaa - Yeah...he looks the gnius now.
22:09: westbaystars - Muramatsu does look like he's having trouble with his knees.
22:09: westbaystars - Yes, he does.
22:10: westbaystars - Now, Zurleta, today's hero.
22:10: niibu_yaa - can't see why they are questioning him on muramatsu though...he has the experience.
22:10: niibu_yaa - ah...the knees.......
22:10: westbaystars - This is a great experience for me. ... I'm so excited. I love it.
22:11: niibu_yaa - well thanks for helping me out here...when I couldn't see it.
22:11: niibu_yaa - or hear it I appriecitate it.
22:11: westbaystars - What were you thinking after hitting the ball?
22:11: westbaystars - It was unbelievable. ... Give credit to team mates for bringing him to home plate. (Sorry, I can't type 55 wpm any ..
22:11: westbaystars - ... more).
22:12: niibu_yaa - god...he hit a 143 straighto
22:12: westbaystars - This is your first trip to the Japan Series, How do you feel?
22:12: westbaystars - Can't explain it. Doing what I like to do, play baseball. This will always be in my heart.
22:13: westbaystars - (These are not direct quotes. I can't type that fast any more.)
22:13: westbaystars - ---
22:13: westbaystars - ---
22:13: westbaystars - ---
22:13: niibu_yaa - no problem.....are they talking to him in english or spanish?
22:13: westbaystars - Daiei Hawks win Game 1 on a sayonara hit by Zuleta.
22:14: westbaystars - English.
22:14: westbaystars - *** Hanshin Tigers 4 - 5 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks ***
22:14: westbaystars - ***
22:14: niibu_yaa - wow....Zuleta's a big guy,
22:14: westbaystars - He sounded pretty good.
22:15: westbaystars - Much better than Cabrera and a few others I've heard.
22:15: westbaystars - ---
22:15: niibu_yaa - cool, I heard Valdez and he wasn't impressive either.
22:16: westbaystars - Hanshin had 6 hits, Daiei 13.
22:17: westbaystars - The dome is closed, the lights are off, and they're shooting off fireworks at the top.
22:17: niibu_yaa - wow.....big difference.
22:17: niibu_yaa - alright then.....thanks for everything.
22:18: westbaystars - Hanshin did what they did all year, score on their opponents' mistakes, like walks and errors.
22:18: niibu_yaa - hehe......wonder if they will like Zuleta win to the "Boston CUrse" now?
22:18: niibu_yaa - link zuleta's game winner rather.
22:18: westbaystars - I've heard of the Cub curse. Similar?
22:19: niibu_yaa - yeah...Boston let go of Ruth...and haven't won a WS since.
22:20: niibu_yaa - They also let go a Zuleta....so why not add that to it.
22:20: westbaystars - Ah. Sounds good. If only they'd have had Zuleta, ...
22:21: westbaystars - Well, time to get the transcript of this and post it.
22:21: westbaystars - Thanks for showing up.
![Topic: 2003 Pacific League Concludes [Correction]](/images/prev.gif){kind=small}
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Some rights reserved.
Tonight's starting match-up is listed as Sugiuchi for Daiei vs. Irabu for Hanshin.
It was asked last night if the Series starters had been announced. While this schedule (from Shukan Baseball) is subject to change without notice, below is a list of probable starters for each game:
Actually, Moore and Terahara are both still question marks. Fukuhara may take Moore's place in the rotation. Hoshino or Tanoue may replace Terahara. So, as I said, it's probable that the above rotation may change.