It would be hard to blame Hanshin fans for taking the entire week off after last weekend’s drubbing at Koshien, during which the team scored just 3 runs (and just one run batted in) versus 24 against. But this matchup, unlike the last one, was against a comparable opponent. Formidable at the plate, mind you,…
There seem to be no favorites this year – except the BayStars. There seem to be no weaknesses this year – except the power hitting and the bullpen. There seems to be no preference between home and away games – except that our record at Koshien so far is a pedestrian 10-12-1. So as the…
The Tigers were looking for just their second three-game winning streak of the year, and needed a strong series to distance themselves from the defending Central League champions, who have shown signs of waking out of their early spring slumber. Game 35 – Friday, 5/6: The last time the Tigers’ starting nine’s average age was…
Host T-Ray and co-host Joe talk about the three two at Koshien (vs. Swallows) and three in Hiroshima (@ Carp). For the latter three, we are joined by Stuart, a Carp fan/follower. We choose our players of the week, discuss the Toritani ironman streak, and predict the week to come as well. Opening song – 君は君だけ – Kimi wa…
Host T-Ray welcomes 2015 regular co-host WhizOh back to the show as the two talk about the first full week of baseball – three games in Tokyo against the Swallows and three in Yokohama against the BayStars. We choose our players of the week and predict the week to come as well. Opening song – 君は君だけ –…
Game 4, Tuesday 3/29: Riding a two-game winning streak and bringing their best pitcher from last season to the mound, the Tigers hoped to keep the defending Central League champion Yakult Swallows winless on the season on Tuesday. Shintaro Fujinami gave up a hit and walk in the bottom of the first, but held the…
WARNING: This post will be LONG and will likely not contain many visuals. If you are serious about knowing all you need to know about the upcoming season, keep reading. If you just want to know which team I pick to win it all, scroll down to the bottom of the post. For a look…
Host T-Ray holds a special interview with Kozo of tokyoswallows.com to talk about Yakult’s 2015 and 2016 seasons. After that, he talks about the exhibition games that have taken place in March, and which players have stood out and made a case to make the Opening Day roster. Read Kozo’s story here: http://tokyoswallows.com/2010/05/a-baseball-journey-from-montreal-to-tokyo/ Opening song – 君は君だけ – Kimi…
The week started well for the Tigers, though first and second place fell out of reach before September came to an end. Still, one more win in their final two games would all but punch their ticket to the postseason. Unfortunately for them, they would face a Yakult Swallows team that could clinch the pennant…
In a nutshell our problem is this: the Hanshin Tigers can’t beat other teams’ best pitchers. The chart below lists the Central League’s ten best qualified (enough innings played to win individual awards) pitchers by ERA. Keep in mind this chart does not look at our record in games in which their aces got no-decisions. Pitcher…