Tora (虎) = Tiger
Kichi (キチ) = short for kichigai (気違い) = lunatic
We are…
Episode 004: Are You Feelin’ the 2020 Tigers?
This is our first chat like this since the season started, am I right, my good man? Your CTBC Brothers are on the verge of a first-half pennant, and both Kansai teams are on the rise after they defecated in their collective pants for most of June. How are you feeling on this fine Sunday evening?
That’s right my friend. Brothers didn’t clinch today but a win on Tuesday will grant them a ticket to the Taiwan Series. The Kansai teams have finally risen from their graves and they’re hitting the speed pedal somehow. I’m feeling good. Tigers are playing better, despite the loss yesterday but still better than their very first games. Although not being the topic here, the Buffaloes also doing better which makes my Kansai heart warm again. Overall, everything seems to be on track right now.
You know something funny about the Tigers doing better? I find it hard to know who to cheer for in other games. The season is still young and it is 120 games long, but if Yakult keeps beating other teams, then we have to contend with them, too! I was counting on them to sink to the bottom and take our place when we got tired of the cellar. Now who’s gonna be down there if not us? Hiroshima sucks lately (19-run Saturday win aside), and Chunichi is pretty bad as well, but… really, who’s the right team to cheer for? Obvious answer: Tigers first, anyone facing the Giants second, and after that, I don’t know anymore, bro.
That’s one of the reasons I never know where to place Yakult on my predictions’ standings ’cause I just don’t know what they’ll pull out of their sleeves. They’re one of the hardest teams to actually predict but you’re right, tables are turning and they will eventually turn again. I think our support will always shift during the season towards the teams that need to catch up to those that are running away with the pennant. I know that it sounds strange but if/when Tigers get out of contention for the pennant, the one team that I want to succeed is Yokohama but it’ll all come down to where Hanshin stands by the end of the season.
Yeah, I’m definitely in the same camp as you as far as the fallback on the BayStars if our guys don’t make something of this season. So anyways, I thought we could talk about some of the things that have impressed (or not impressed) you so far this season. Are you digging this team so far? Let’s start with Akihiro Yano, the manager. The honeymoon phase is over. Are you still in love?
Hard to say but I guess I have mixed feelings about it. Of course we all love when this team wins but at the same time when it doesn’t, I’m not sure if it’s lack of leadership, tough love or what. But at the same time we had Kanemoto a few years back and it was the exact opposite. He was a guy that would show a lotta intensity in his actions and the team wouldn’t perform either so it’s really hard to tell. I still think that Yano has this little magic in him that makes the whole team come together once they need to deliver. We saw that last year and I still think they have some of that this year.
Yeah, it’s so easy to say that Yano has too soft a spot for Kyuji, but honestly, Kanemoto had the same for Toritani, and it really is hard to pull the rug out from under veterans who have come so far. They deserve the benefit of the doubt, in my opinion. Fans have the benefit of 20-20 vision in the rearview mirror, or at the very least, no personal attachment to the guys themselves. They’re just pawns on a chessboard to the fans. Also, fans do not see the day-to-day practice, how they look in the bullpen, and all that stuff. For a fan to arrogantly say they know Kyuji sucks, how come Yano can’t see it, well, that’s just nonsense. (But doesn’t Kyuji suck this year? Really!)
Yeah, you’re right. It’s hard to say anything without actually seeing through the actual action and by that, I mean the games. We don’t know what happens inside the clubhouse, the way the managers deal with players, the actual routine, etc. Kyuji has been reliable for years if not forever so Yano knows (and that’s me being the manager) that he needs time to adjust. I get it. Just like every struggling player, he will eventually come through.
My take is this, and I kind of alluded to it on the podcast once. Yano definitely has a vision for how he sees the season unfolding (or ending, at least). He said, “Kyuji will strike out Yuki Yanagita for the final out of the Nippon Series.” I have a feeling that will not be the case (especially given Kyuji’s farming today), but he will probably want to give Kyuji the benefit of the doubt in the long run. The farming and removal from the closer’s role will probably not be permanent, but we cannot drop any more close games like this. So have any players really caught your eye, either for better or for worse, so far?
Indeed. I was thinking about Suarez taking the role but he was also unrecognizable on the mound yesterday but that was the first out of his recent performances and it’s totally understandable. Let’s start with the worse, shall we? Kinami and Itohara are pretty much a disappointment so far. I just don’t feel the energy. Besides one or two games that they had some clutch hitting, overall it’s a big let down. Itohara is the captain and I’m still to see some more fire in him and Kinami got the job from Hojoh for a reason so I’m expecting more from our SS.
You know, for all the competition that they provided for each other this spring, Kinami and Hojoh have cooled off big-time since the start of the season. I honestly think, despite Kai Ueda’s CF blunder last night, he should get a start at short. With Kumagai on the top squad right now (replaces an injured Jefry Marte), we have our late-inning pinch-runner in place, so Ueda can be used from the start of the game. I am completely with you… the middle of the infield has been awful. Itohara is heating up a little, though, and I like that he is a tough out most of the time, even if he is not barreling anything these days.
Yeah, Ueda should have more playing time. He has the speed and has shown some more power too whenever he’s needed. Now let’s come down to the good things. Marte is definitely a surprise defensively and Bour is clicking every single game. His average has risen considerably and he’s seeing the ball way better. Another surprise has been Ohyama. The kid wants more playing time and that shows.
Three of Bour’s four homers came against lefties, his supposed kryptonite. Love it. Ohyama was my prediction for most homers on the team, and at the present pace, he and Bour will both be among league leaders by season’s end! Of course, we know players have hot and cold spells, so this cannot continue all season long.
I wonder what’s gonna happen to Ohyama once Marte comes back to the lineup. Will Sands start sharing some time with him on RF or will it be the opposite with Ohyama shifting with Marte? I believe the first makes more sense though. Although Sands is heating up, it’s still taking some time and I believe Yano doesn’t want to waste any of Ohyama’s current momentum so we might see more of Ohyama’s defensive skills down on the RF than on 3B.
It’s going to come down to the health and performance of all the imports, though. You’re right – no way to keep Ohyama out of the lineup. But with Gunkel now in the bullpen, and Garcia pinning down a spot in the rotation for a while too (6 IP 0 R vs. Giants last Thursday), that leaves room for 3 more: Suarez, Bour and _______. Right? And what happens when Edwards gets healthy?
No idea. It’s a tricky puzzle to assemble.
Yeah. Not an enviable position Mr. Yano is in, that is for sure. The looser import roster rule (5 registered, 4 on bench) should make things easier, but it’s not. And since I have met Jerry & Jon’s families, I want both of them to excel that much more! But yeah, I have lots of love for Bour, Marte and Suarez, too. And Joe Gunkel gets the nod for his name alone! That leaves only li’l Lu on the farm, and of course, I have a love for Taiwan just like you do, so it’d be great to see him at Koshien sometime as well!
I mean, it is indeed a tough position to be in. All these guys have the tools to make this team successful. As long as the right choices are made and the team gives these players enough chances to perform and show their value (which hasn’t happened much in previous seasons), I’m all for it.
So we can agree that while we don’t always like every move Yano makes, his job is a lot harder than ours is. Anyhow, I cannot say I completely dig the 2020 Tigers just yet (who loves a 7-11 team?) but they still have given me lots of reason to be excited whenever a game is on.
Without a doubt man. They still have a long way to go but I still want to believe they will make it.
Man, fun as always chatting with you in this way. Any parting words for the H-TEN community?
Same to you man. The one thing to say is that Bour is not the second coming of Randy Bass lol. He is his own legend. In the future, we’ll be talking about the second coming of Justin Bour! That’s what it is! Enjoy history as it unfolds ;)
I am 100% with you on that. I love the intensity of fans here, but they definitely tend to heap too many of their expectations on players. Bour is his own man, and it is awesome seeing him being himself at the park. OK man, let’s wrap things up for today, but definitely do this again soon! Perhaps at the all-star break? Hahaha.
Can’t wait to breakdown some highlights of the ASG, that’s for sure LOL. Catch you later man.
Peace out.