toritani

Series Recap – September 23-25, 2014

Series Recap – September 23-25, 2014

Not another September meltdown. Not a repeat of last year. That’s all fans, players and management alike have talked about since the middle of this season, as the Tigers started to contend for first place. A six-game losing streak earlier this month gave everyone nightmares and it felt like the Tigers were simply going through…

Series Recap – September 19-21, 2014

Series Recap – September 19-21, 2014

They needed just one more run. In the last 5 1/3 innings they put nine guys on base, and only one needed to cross home plate. None did. The Tigers were aiming for their first three-game series sweep since their 8-game winning streak at the start of July, but fell short. Down 3-2 in the sixth, Yamato rapped…

Series Recap – September 15-17, 2014

Series Recap – September 15-17, 2014

They wanted a sweep. They needed a sweep. They didn’t get it. The basement-dwelling Yakult Swallows pulled off a come-from-behind win in the second game, 5-3. Starter Minoru Iwata looked to have this one under control, but with a one-run lead in the sixth, he gave up a hit to leadoff hitter Kawabata, then served…

Translation – Toritani to the Royals?

Translation – Toritani to the Royals?

Reports out of Kansas City yesterday (September 1) say the Royals are interested in acquiring the services of Hanshin Tigers infielder Takashi Toritani (33). Toritani became eligible for overseas free agency in 2012, but has elected to stay with the team the last two seasons. However, he also seems to have had his sights on moving over to the majors, as he has signed one-year contracts since then. It looks like the team will focus this off-season on getting him to commit to the team one more year.

Report – July 31, 2014 — Swallows 8, Tigers 1

Report – July 31, 2014 — Swallows 8, Tigers 1

There’s something special about being in attendance at a Tigers game. Arriving early on a train full of fellow Tigers fans, walking towards the stadium in great anticipation, checking out all the shops/vendors, buying the requisite meal for the evening (game time is typically 6pm), getting into the stadium nice and early to watch the…

Tigers’ Weekly Wrap-up – July 14-16, 2014

Tigers’ Weekly Wrap-up – July 14-16, 2014

This week was a short one because of the all-star break. The Tigers had just one 3-game series on the road against the Chunichi Dragons. It wasn’t long ago that they got humiliated by this very team and lost their tenuous hold on third place, falling out of the playoff picture for the first time…