Opinion Pieces

New Batting Order?

New Batting Order?

The Tigers’ batting order has remained mostly unchanged this season, as long as all the players were healthy. On a typical night, it looked something like this: 1 – Uemoto (2B) 2 – Yamato (CF) 3 – Toritani (SS) 4 – Gomez (1B) 5 – Murton (LF) 6 – Fukudome (RF) 7 – Imanari / T…

Series Preview: Tigers vs. Carp

Series Preview: Tigers vs. Carp

Scheduled Games & Probable Starters: Saturday, October 11, 2pm: Randy Messenger (13-10) vs. Kenta Maeda (11-9) Sunday, October 12, 2pm: Atsushi Nohmi (9-13) vs. Daichi Ohsera (10-8) (?) Monday, October 13, 2pm: Shintaro Fujinami (10-7) vs. Bryan Bullington (9-8) (?) Record This Season: @ Koshien Stadium: Tigers 7, Carp 2 @ Mazda Stadium: Tigers 4,…

Tigers Win! Now what?

Tigers Win! Now what?

Last week I broke down the final few days remaining on the schedule, as well as the importance of finishing first (or at least second). The Tigers’ regular season is now over, and it ended on a positive note, as they defeated the second-place Hiroshima Carp, 4-2. Since I didn’t see the game, I will…

The Race for Second is ON!

The Race for Second is ON!

With the Hiroshima Carp’s loss to the Swallows tonight, the Central League Standings look like this: That’s right, the Tigers are tied for second place! Keep in mind the importance of second over third: that team gets to host the entire best-of-three “1st Stage” playoff series. With that in mind, here is the schedule for…

Giants Win Central League Title: So what?

Last night the Yomiuri Giants won the Central League title for the third consecutive year and thirty-sixth time overall. Unlike major league baseball, where the division championship means a slight home-field advantage, the NPB playoff rules tilt things heavily in the league champion’s favour. Here’s a look at the NPB playoff format. Sorry the graphic…

Article Translation – Ryota Arai Update

Article Translation – Ryota Arai Update

The original article can be found here 元の記事はこちらです Hanshin’s Ryota Arai had an outdoor batting practice session at Naruohama (where the farm team plays) on the 22nd, his first since injuring his lower back. “I hope to keep making progress, little by little. I’m not just thinking about the Climax Series, I want to get back…

Tigers to Pursue Free Agent Kaneko?

Tigers to Pursue Free Agent Kaneko?

According to Sanspo.com, there are reliable sources saying the Tigers are making the acquisition of Orix Buffaloes ace pitcher Chihiro Kaneko their top priority this off-season. While they cannot make this intention public (under tampering regulations), they have said that they want to strengthen the pitching staff. And with good reason, too. Last off-season, they…

Sputtering, stalling, spiralling downward…

Sputtering, stalling, spiralling downward…

Anyone out there who is following the Tigers knows that this is the worst stretch they have been through all season, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. When they need runs and wins the most, they are falling short. Well short. The pitching has not been great of late. Messenger uncharacteristically tanked against…