April 23rd Nohmi v Yoshimi - Fire breathing dragons

In the Hobbit movie one sees the dwarf kingdom attacked by a dragon, Smaug. The dwarves are tough little buggers and fight hard but are always going to be totally outmatched and wiped out. I had that impression about yesterday's game with regard to Tigers. Tigers have an abysmal record at Nagado 60-127-5 (thanks to Gen at Yakyu Baka for that stat). For some reason it was considered appropriate to use Kubota who to put it basically stunk. Fujii of course couldn't cope with his pitcher and once again when things started to go wrong looked totally out of his depth. What is the point of starting a catcher who cannot react when his pitchers do not pitch well? Fujii had to be replaced by Hidaka who couldn't stem the flow and the latter was replaced by Komiyama. One also has to ask what was the point of leaving Kubota in to give up eight runs. After 3 runs he should have been pulled. This was pathetic management by Wada and co. The handling of the whole game was uninspired and Wada's head should roll after this debacle. Scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R  H E
Tigers   0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0  3 11 1
Dragons  2 1 0 1 8 0 3 0 X 15 13 0

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

Dragons
1. Ohshima (Centre)
2. Araki (Second)
3. Luna (Third)
4. Wada (Left)
5. Clark (First)
6. Ibata (Short)
7. Tanishige (Catcher)
8. Fujii (Right)
9. Yoshimi (Pitcher)

Things started poorly for Tigers with Yoshimi using a nice mix of pitches to dismiss the first three batters. We couldn't say that about Nohmi who wasn't on form and wasn't helped by Fujii. He was immediately in trouble walking Ohshima to lead off the Dragons first. Once again low outside pitches were the problem. Araki bunted Ohshima to second - what a waste and one thinks that the Dragons would have avoided that move if they had had any inkling of what was going to happen. Luna singled to Nishioka who fielded but couldn't get the throw away in time - runners on first and third. Wada hit a deep sacrifice fly to left as Nohmi drifted in and Ohshima was home 1-0 Dragons, runner on first. Then Clarke singled right to put runners on first and third again. Next was Ibata who picked on a low change up driving straight into centre 2-0 Dragons, runners on first and second. Tanishige flew out to end the innings but the Dragons now had the lead and at home would be difficult to dislodge. Murton flew out to start Tigers second but Fukudome using his local knowledge worked a walk. Arai singled right to put runners on first and second. Ryota struck out but Fujii singled to load the bases. Problem the next batter was Nohmi and you don't dump your pitcher that early in the game so the fly out to end the innings was inevitable. Tigers had shown that Yoshimi was vulnerable though. Nohmi really shouldn't have been throwing straights down the middle. In the first innings Clark had punished one and this time Fujii did so as well leading the Dragons second off with a solo home run to left 3-0 Dragons. Things were slipping away from the Tigers. Yoshimi flew out and Ohshima struck out swinging with Araki grounding out. Only one run this innings but the pitch count was alarmingly high after only two innings as well. Tigers third and we had Nishioka ground out to Yoshimi and Yamato fly out to third in foul ground before Toritani drove up the centre for a single. Murton managed to ground out to Yoshimi though and the innings was scoreless. Nohmi seemed to find some of his form in Dragons third. He got Luna and Wada to ground out to Toritani and then struck out Clark looking with a nice fork ball.

However, Tigers were still not able to get going. This time Fukudome grounded out and neither of the Arai's were able to get on base either. The fourth was quiet. Nohmi's quiet period was over though and the Dragons fourth started with an Ibata single to right. Tanishige hit to Toritani who threw poorly to Nishioka at second. The umpire judged that Nishioka's foot was off the sack and that Ibata was safe on second. Wada protested the decision which was credited as an error to Toritani but to no avail. One recalls the earlier game this season when the umpire at Koshien missed such a situation and ruled the runner out - runners on first and second. Two outs followed before Ohshima latched onto a high slider and singled left. Ibata raced home 4-0 Dragons, runners on first and second. Finally Araki flew out. Nohmi would be pulled at the end of the innings but surprisingly the other culprit, Fujii was left in. It is unlikely that a different catcher could have stopped Kubota giving up runs but he would have given up less. Tigers fifth saw Tagami (pinch hitter for Nohmi) single with one out. Tigers were still in the game but needed more application from the batters. However, Nishioka lining out to third was not needed but this is what happened. It did take Tagami to second but even that bonus was negated when Yamato grounded out to Yoshimi for the final out. Now to Dragons fifth and the killer innings. It is indeed difficult to understand why Kubota was thought able and he was in trouble from his first pitch with Luna doubling off a straight in the zone. Kubota used to have superb placement and be very quick but the former of those attributes was not on display today. Fujii's calling was so unintelligent as to be a joke and the situation was set for a massacre. Wada walked as Kubota's nerve rapidly went - runners on first and second. Then Clark walked to load the bases with no outs. Ibata singled right off a 147 kph straight bringing in two runs 6-0 Dragons, runners on first and third. Tanishige hit deep to right for the sacrifice fly 7-0 Dragons, runner on first. Here was the moment to remove Kubota. He wasn't ready and had already given up three runs. Wada - the incompetent - kept him in and Fujii couldn't cope either. Dragons Fujii singled to put runners on first and second. Yoshimi bunted the runners to second and third and here was another opportunity to switch pitchers. Kubota walked Ohshima to load the bases again. The situation was farcical but still Wada refused to act. Kubota was by now totally useless and Araki single into left bringing in another two runs 9-0 Dragons, runners on first and second. Another point where Kubota should have been removed. Luna coming round again walked to load the bases. Wada was next and he hit hard and high into left centre - a bases clearing double 12-0, runner on second. Finally Clark struck out swinging to end the humiliation. I recall when Okada first took over Tigers a game against BayStars. The first series it was and one relief pitcher was left in to be hit again and again even though he begged to be taken off. This was a similar situation and my contempt for Wada is complete. His stupid mismanagement cost the Tigers any chance of a victory and humiliated one of his pitchers for no gain. This is abysmal management. It also exposed Fujii's total incapacity to deal with a struggling pitcher. Tigers had to come out fighting and they did with Toritani doubling off Yoshimi. Murton and Fukudome both failed but Fukudome's deep fly did take Toritani to third. Arai walked and then Ryota hit into right field for a timely single 12-1 Dragons, runners on first and third. Fujii singled right as well as Yoshimi tired but he had runs to play with. Still Fujii's single brought in another run 12-2 Dragons, runners on first and third. Hidaka (pinch hitter and replacement catcher) was next but he grounded out to end the innings. Hidaka was paired with Saiuchi and started reasonably well getting Ibata to ground out to lead off the Dragons sixth. Tanishige flew out and so did Dragons Fujii and this was a rare scoreless innings.

Tigers seventh was pitched by Yoshimi. He got Nishioka to ground out but then Yamato singled. Toritani walked to set up runners on first and second. Murton flew out to right but Yamato couldn't move round to third. It didn't matter, Fukudome hit nicely to right to bring in Yamato 12-3 Dragons. Toritani tried to take home as well but was tagged out. It was worth the try though given the margin. Saiuchi returned for Dragons seventh and here ran into problems. Morino (pinch hitter and replacement first) led off and dug a low pitch out with considerable power. So much power in fact that it was a solo home run 13-3 Dragons. Ohshima flew out but Araki walked on eight pitches. Hidaka wasn't doing well in helping his pitcher. Yanagida (replacement third) flew out and then Wada blasted a two run home run to left 15-3 Dragons. Finally Clark flew out to centre but the Dragons seventh had been further humiliation for Tigers. Tigers eighth was pitched by Mise who walked Arai. Ryota struck out but Sekimoto (pinch hitter and replacement second) singled - his first single of the season - runners on first and second. Komiyama (replacement catcher) though struck out looking. Finally, Nishioka managed to fly out. Dragons eighth saw Katoh pitching to Komiyama as Wada tried to stem the run hemorrhage. This worked with Ibata leading off the Dragons eighth by grounding out to Katoh. Oda (replacement catcher) flew out in foul ground. Finally Fujii struck out swinging to end the innings. Tigers ninth was pitched by Inoue and Tigers were never going to win this game. Yamato and Toritani did nothing but Murton singled. There was hope that Fukudome would do something but he struck out swinging to end the game. Dragons victory.

Tigers had been crushed. The irony was that they had managed only two less hits than the Dragons. The Dragons hits had counted and the number of hittable pitches thrown by Tigers pitchers was far too high. The mismanagement of the fifth though was beyond belief. Wada should have removed Kubota as rapidly as possible and was totally wrong to leave him in. Fujii couldn't cope with the pitcher's problems and was exposed in all his mediocrity. Kubota is no longer top team material and it should have been obvious to the coaches that this was the case. There is a silver lining in this mess. Dragons could be hit out and Tigers have a good chance to bounce back and take the series. However, Komiyama needs to call tonight and Hidaka with Enokida.