Month: October 2014

Article Translation – Gomez Goes for 11

Article Translation – Gomez Goes for 11

The original article can be found here もとのきじはこちら (by Keitaro Tsuji) Hanshin infielder Mauro Gomez (30) spoke enthusiastically on the 20th about setting a new record for RBIs in the Japan Series against SoftBank. In the final series of the Climax Series (CS) against the Giants (at Tokyo Dome) he broke out for 8 RBIs in…

Data Analysis – Why the Giants Got Swept

Data Analysis – Why the Giants Got Swept

Starting with manager Tatsunori Hara, I’m sure there are many Yomiuri Giants shaking their heads today, still wondering how and why they got swept in their home park against a seemingly weaker Hanshin Tigers team. I offer you three simple reasons, none of which really answer any questions but all of which show just how…

Game 4 Recap – The Sweep is Complete!

Game 4 Recap – The Sweep is Complete!

Before the Giants could even get out of the first inning, Tigers fans were partying like it was 1999 2005. If they keep this up, the party may turn into something circa 1985 in a week or so. The Tigers rode three early home runs to a 8-4 victory over the Giants, sweeping them for the…

Game 3 Recap – Tigers Take Stranglehold!

Game 3 Recap – Tigers Take Stranglehold!

The Tigers are just a win away from their first trip to the Japan Series in nine years. With tonight’s 4-2 win over the Giants, the series now sits at 3-1 in favor of the road team, which needs just one win in its next three to advance. Tonight’s win was slightly different from their…

Game 2 Recap – Advantage: TIGERS!

Game 2 Recap – Advantage: TIGERS!

On paper, the series leans in the Giants’ favor considerably. There’s a reason they take things to the diamond, though. The Hanshin Tigers stormed out to a 5-0 lead and never really looked back. With closer Seung-hwan Oh on the mound in the 9th, the atmosphere in Tokyo Dome was subdued, as fans were left to…

Game 1 Recap – Giants Toppled!

Game 1 Recap – Giants Toppled!

Eight pitches. That’s all it took to bring the Tigers bats out of their postseason slumber. A leadoff hit by Nishioka, sacrifice bunt by Uemoto, RBI double by Toritani and a 2-run HR by Gomez put the Tigers in the lead — one they would not relinquish all night as they cruised to a 4-1…

Series Preview: Tigers vs. Giants

Series Preview: Tigers vs. Giants

Scheduled Games & Possible Starters*: Wednesday, October 15, 6pm: Shintaro Fujinami (10-7) vs. Tetsuya Utsumi (7-9) Thursday, October 16, 6pm: Minoru Iwata (9-8) vs. Hirokazu Sawamura (5-3) Friday, October 17, 6pm:  Randy Messenger (13-10) vs. Toshiya Sugiuchi (10-6) Saturday, October 18, 6pm: Atsushi Nohmi (9-13) vs. Yuki Koyama (6-2) Sunday, October 19, 6pm:  Suguru Iwazaki (5-4) vs. Kan Otake (9-6) Monday, October 20, 6pm: Shintaro Fujinami…

Tigers Advance!

Tigers Advance!

Walkoff tie? Never heard of such a thing? You have now! Because the Hiroshima Carp failed to score in the top of the 12th inning, the bottom of the inning was not played and the score remained 0-0 as the game entered the record books. Why, you might ask? For those unaware of Japanese baseball…

Game 1 Recap – Tigers WIN!

Game 1 Recap – Tigers WIN!

Winning pitcher Randy Messenger said it all: “Any time I pitch a 1-0 game, it seems like he (Fukudome) is the one hitting the home run.” The big righty more than did his part too, shutting out the Carp hitters for eight innings, allowing just five base runners and retiring 21 of the last 23 batters…