Author: T-Ray

Episode 194: Looking at the Rest of the CL

Episode 194: Looking at the Rest of the CL

Hosts T-Ray and Sanjay go over the latest team news, recap the preseason games from the first half of the month, and then listen to five guest contributors who share their thoughts on one of the other Central League teams. Follow Scott (https://chunichisoul.blogspot.com/), Heather (@ysbaseball2896), Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@YakyuCosmo), Brian (@RiouxBM), and Lucas (@lucasborjaNPB) on X…

Toreba no Toraba: JapanBall Debuts in Okinawa!

Toreba no Toraba: JapanBall Debuts in Okinawa!

From the Daily Sports Online column / デイリースポーツオンラインの連載コラムから You know you’ve found the perfect job when you find yourself shaking your head going, “I can’t believe I get paid to do this. Honestly, I’d do it for free.” At the end of February, I found myself in exactly that situation. (Don’t tell my boss what…

Why Can’t the Hanshin Tigers Win?

Why Can’t the Hanshin Tigers Win?

I picked this book up after having read Why Orix was Able to Win the Pennant, written by Masanori Kise at the end of the 2021 season. I read it in the fall of 2023, but it gave me an incredible education about the team across the river that honestly does not get the attention…

Episode 193: Okinawa Camp & JapanBall Tour Recap

Episode 193: Okinawa Camp & JapanBall Tour Recap

Hosts T-Ray and Sanjay give you the latest news, focusing on the foreigners a little, recap the spring training exhibition games, and then recount the awesome week that T-Ray had down in Okinawa being a tour guide for JapanBall (www.japanball.com)! Recorded on: February 29, 2024 Become a Patron and receive rewards! patreon.com/thehanshintigers Contact us at:…

Tigers Sign Two Young Dominican Pitchers

Tigers Sign Two Young Dominican Pitchers

Source: Sankei Sports The Hanshin Tigers announced on February 29 that they have signed two young pitchers from the Dominican Republic to development player contracts. Under these rules, they will not be permitted to play in top squad games until they are deemed worthy of having their contracts restructured and they become one of the…

Episode 192: Why the Tigers WILL Repeat in 2024

Episode 192: Why the Tigers WILL Repeat in 2024

Hosts T-Ray and Sanjay give you the latest team news and then give you a multitude of reasons to be hopeful that the 2024 Hanshin Tigers will repeat as Central League champions. Start thinking about your CL standings predictions, as that contest will be announced in a week or so! Recorded on: February 19, 2024…

Spring Training Midway Report

Spring Training Midway Report

The Hanshin Tigers have been hard at work down in Okinawa. Camp started on February 1, and runs through the 27th. Starting this weekend, practice games will become more frequent, and we will see which players are going to get more playing time during the March exhibition games, and which will end up in the…

Episode 191: Why the Tigers Won’t Repeat in 2024

Episode 191: Why the Tigers Won’t Repeat in 2024

Hosts T-Ray and Sanjay share the team’s latest news, including the scoop on the four import players, and Shintaro Fujinami’s signing, and then discuss some of the factors that might result in the team not repeating as CL champs this year. Don’t worry – Episode 192 will look at the flip side of this issue!…

Gone in 2023, New in 2024

Gone in 2023, New in 2024

Last year saw our team win its first pennant in 18 years and just its second Nippon Series ever (and first since 1985). But the thing is, no team can stay the same from year to year. This team did relatively little to alter the magic formula that was so successful in 2023, but here…