Sorry for the innuendo in the title… just that our playoffs here in NPB are called the “Climax Series” though more often than not, they are anti-climactic. Anyhow, T and Ray sat down and hashed out whether a playoff berth is best for the 2022 Hanshin Tigers or not. Here’s how the discussion went down:…
Sources: Daily / Sponichi / Sponichi With the 2020 Amateur Draft coming in less than a week, the Hanshin Tigers have started to declare their intentions concerning players’ contracts for 2021. Among the players not being offered new deals in 2021 are veterans and fan-favourites Kosuke Fukudome (OF, 43) and Atsushi Nohmi (LHP, 41). Fukudome…
Tora (虎) = Tiger Kichi (キチ) = short for kichigai (気違い) = lunatic We are… Episode 008: Gaijin (Un-)Employment Center Hard to believe the season is coming to an end here real quick… and yet, given that it’s already past the midway point of October, it’s a wonder (and a joy) to be able to…
Source: Sports Hochi Reports that came out on the 2nd indicate that the Tigers are strongly considering moving their farm facilities from Naruohama (bottom red dot, Nishinomiya) to Odaminami Park (far right dot, Amagasaki). Koshien Stadium is the dot on the far left of this map. Preliminary planning has already begun as last week, the…
From T-Ray’s Daily Sports Column (Japanese) / トレバーの虎場（デイリースポーツ）から I can’t remember the exact day it dawned on me that I would never be a professional athlete, but I clearly recall my ambitions changing very quickly from athletic to journalistic. Like, if I could not be in that locker room celebrating a Stanley Cup with my…
Host T-Ray is joined by co-host Sanjay to discuss the news, the past 15 games of action, and why this team is still worth watching the rest of the way despite being all but eliminated from the postseason. Let us know which player(s) you will pay attention to the rest of the way! After you…
Source: Daily Sports NPB held an emergency meeting on the 12th and reached the decision to loosen the limitations placed on fan attendance at games starting on September 19. A government branch meeting on the 11th determined that it was safe to allow stadiums to be filled to a maximum of 50% of their capacities….
Source: Sponichi 1 / Sponichi 2 / Sponichi 3 Hanshin Tigers pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa (40) announced on August 31st his intention to retire at season’s end. On September 1, he held a press conference in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo. (Click here for Part 1) Your thoughts on being part of the Matsuzaka Generation? KF: Matsuzaka is…
Tora (虎) = Tiger Kichi (キチ) = short for kichigai (気違い) = lunatic We are… Episode 006: Midseason Report Card We are at exactly the midway point of this season, Zorny! It’s been a fun one, filled with ups and downs, drama, and of course, losses to the Giants. How are you holding up, man?…
Originally tweeted by 阪神タイガース (@TigersDreamlink) on August 31, 2020. Multiple sources, including the Hanshin Tigers official social media accounts, are reporting that longtime ace closer Kyuji Fujikawa (40) has expressed his desire to retire at season’s end. He has a 1-3 record on the season with 2 saves and a 7.20 ERA. Fujikawa has twice…