The Tigers are dead, long live the Tigers

Well faithful readers Hanshin didn’t quite make it; close but not close enough and as we say in the U.S. of A. - “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades” but Baseball was the game and this year the Dragons were just a little too tough so it’s wait until next year for the Boys in the pinstripes. Ochiai’s cool rockin’ Blue Crew Dragons will start the Japan Series this weekend vs. the red hot Nippon Hamsters (from Hokkaido no less, so REPRESENT all you Northside Fighters!) and I fully expect it to go 7 hard fought games with all the J-land baseball fans getting their moneys worth and then some.
I want to weep for the Tigers but their final run was valiant indeed and they definitely demonstrated Samurai Spirit so, to a man, they have no need to hang their heads and every reason to walk proudly. The Dragons were just too ornery to go down and with the Buddha of Baseball, Hiromitsu Ochia, calling the shots and spreading the serenity like butter their club slid triumphantly into the finals with finesse and more than a little class. Congrats.
The Hamsters, on the other hand, did it the hard way- kicking, screaming, scratching, clowning and generally enjoying themselves and their raucous circus atmosphere. Fighting amongst themselves and with everybody else the Hamsters are simply one of the most entertaining teams in J-land with Bad-ass 1st/3rd Baseman Ogasawara at one end of the spectrum- All business and all mean, all the time, and Clown-ass Shinjo (or should I write SHINJO) at the other- All Show Biz, glow-in-the-dark smiles and skin tight leotard, I mean, uniform. They’ve got the gai-jin Hillman at the helm and he’s done a splendid job getting the Hokkaido bunch to the top of the PL, past Fukuoka and into the Series. Well done and good luck.
Having said that I have to admit that my heart is crushed and I cannot truly invest myself in the outcome of the series. It’s like a bad breakup, I just don’t care what happens anymore…. But………but……… life and baseball must go on and so here are a few random thoughts about the NPB season ’06.

Were my eyes deceiving me or was that Ochia-san actually CRYING last week? During and after Chunichi’s pulse pounding extra innings pennant clinching victory it would seem that the Buddha displayed real, raw emotion and the tears did flow. I never thought that I’d live to see the day when Ochia looked anything other than calm, cool, collected and beatific but miracles and CL pennants do happen, I guess. The funny part was that it made him look cooler than ever which I certainly did not think possible but, well, I suppose even rebels cry.

It’s a damn shame that Daisuke Matsuzaka will most likely emigrate to the Majors next year. His presence and power will be sorely missed by Seibu and this Baseball fan. He is a total credit to Japanese Baseball and all it stands for and I’m sure he (and his bank account) will prosper in the Majors but it will be sad to see him go. Hanshins’ Igawa on the other hand…….well, let’s just hope the quirky Lefty isn’t hurt too badly by Major League hitting and that he is able to come home in one piece, with or without a haircut.

Is it me or is Shinjo’s skin bright orange? Does he ever stop mugging for the camera? Will somebody please kick his ass before he retires to TV land? Please?

I believe that Hara-san is the right man for the job in Tokyo but his Giants displayed less than adequate fighting spirit this year. In short they folded up like a chair about halfway into the season and never bothered to fight back into the race. I can’t guess who is at fault but……Memo to the players- Either play hard or take off the uniform and GO HOME!

I’ve said it before but I have to say it again. Shimoyanagi has got the best damn smile of any J-land ballplayer period! His cat-swallowed-the-canary grin is worth at least a new contract or something. HOLLA!

There’s no place like Koshien. Nothing else even comes close.

Hanshin skipper Okada-san called for the bunt a little too much down the stretch. I won’t argue his record but I’d like to see the Tigers gamble and swing away more and play it safe less. Having said that I’m still glad he’s on the job and hope he’s got some tricks up his sleeve for next season.

]Nice ending to a long career for Kataoka-san at Koshien. After a long year of ineffectiveness the cagey veteran got a chance to shine in his final game in a Tiger uniform. He cracked a couple of solid hits (one of which was suspiciously ignored by the center fielder) and gave a great speech at the Hero interview then got the triumphant ride from his jubilant teammates. A fitting end to a fine career and well deserved.

　　　You know you love the game of Baseball when you sign on to manage the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Arguably the worst professional Baseball team on the planet it is nothing short of miraculous that Nomura-san has stayed and led them over their many hurdles. Well past retirement age and not in need of the money it is surely only his love for the game that keeps him in that God-awful Eagles uniform. Without him there would be no argument about their “worst team on the Planet” status and whatever they’re paying him, IT AIN’T ENOUGH. Somebody give the man a Nobel Prize or something.

Here’s the News-
The Hamsters are hot but I’m betting that the Dragons will cool them off in 7. You heard it here first. Go Chunichi!