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Game 6 vs. Dragons: We Beat Ourselves

Game 6 vs. Dragons: We Beat Ourselves

For the third straight year, Fujinami got the home opener at Kyocera Dome. For the third straight year, he threw himself into all sorts of trouble. Starting Pitchers: Shintaro Fujinami (0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs. Shinnosuke Ogasawara (0-1, 7.50 ERA)  1 Leadoff walk. Stolen base. Fujinami throwing error on sacrifice bunt. Wild pitch. He showed three…

Game 5 @ BayStars: They Never Got to Second Base

Game 5 @ BayStars: They Never Got to Second Base

If you like strikeouts, then this was a great game for you to watch. Both pitchers brought their A games, but there was just no beating our ace today. Starting PItchers: Randy Messenger (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Katsuki Azuma (0-0)  4 Our lads gave Azuma a great start to his pro career, letting him strike…

Opening Day 2018 @ Giants: Homers + Ace = WIN!

Opening Day 2018 @ Giants: Homers + Ace = WIN!

After what has to be the worst preseason in history, the Tigers looked lifeless, and that all the February talk about a pennant was smoke and mirrors. And heading into Tokyo Dome to face the reigning Eiji Sawamura Award winner surely wouldn’t be an encouraging start to the regular season, would it? Starting Pitchers: Randy…

Preseason in Tokai (@ Eagles, @ Dragons x 2)

Preseason in Tokai (@ Eagles, @ Dragons x 2)

March 16: Stomping on the Eagles in Shizuoka This game started quite slowly, as the two aces showed off their repertoires before helpless bats. Our guys finally got to Takahiro Norimoto in the fifth, when Kento Itohara smacked a 2-run double to the left field corner. T 2-0 E Randy Messenger is just getting warmed…

Toritani – Hall of Famer? Retired Number?

Toritani – Hall of Famer? Retired Number?

Most of us are aware of the fact that Takashi Toritani reached the 2000 career hit mark last September. He became just the second homegrown talent in club history (after Taira Fujita) to  reach the mark while still a member of the club. Other guys have done it in a Tigers uniform, but they started their…

Spring Training 2018 – Le Deuxieme Cours

Spring Training 2018 – Le Deuxieme Cours

It’s still just the beginning of spring training. And it’s still cold in mainland Japan. So because of the frozen nature of my fingers, and the lack of heaviness concerning any and all headlines, here’s what you missed, in short spurts: Minoru Iwata threw a 200-pitch bullpen… in case Kanemoto gets really, REALLY mad at…