[Previous entry: "Korea Baseball News: Beer On Sale Now at Chamsil; Choi named NL's Rookie of the Month"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Korea Baseball News: Lions Reclaim Sole Possession of First Place"]
05/06/2003 Archived Entry: "Japan Baseball News: Tigers Widen Central Lead; Pacific Standings Tighten"
Japan Baseball News: Tigers Widen Central Lead; Pacific Standings Tighten
by Robert Kiyoshi Shadlow
Source: Japan Times (May 7, 2003)
Hanshin Tigers 10 - Chunichi Dragons 2:
Makoto Imaoka drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the seventh inning RBI single to help the Tigers crush the Dragons at Nagoya Dome.
Kei Igawa (4-3) threw 114 pitches in seven innings yielding two runs, three hits, and three walks while striking out five batters for the win.
Yakult Swallows 13 - Yomiuri Giants 2:
Ken Suzuki hit 4-for-4 and four RBIs to lead the Swallows' ambush of the Giants at Jingu Stadium. Suzuki blasted his 150th career home run off of Masumi Kuwata.
Jason Beverlin (4-0) won the game allowing only two runs, eight hits, and striking out five batters in six innings.
Yokohama BayStars 5 - Hiroshima Carp 2:
Takeo Kawamura (1-0) gave up only two runs in six innings to claim the victory over the Carp at Yokohama Stadium.
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 8 - Orix BlueWave 4:
Tsuyoshi Wada struck out 12 batters giving up four runs, seven hits, and one walk for a complete game win over the Bluewave.
Tadahito Iguchi hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh for the Hawks.
Orix slugger Jose Ortiz hit a solo home run in the fourth and another in the sixth innings.
Kazuhiko Shiotani blasted a two-run homer for the BlueWave in the ninth.
Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes 4 - Chiba Lotte Marines 2:
Norihiro Nakamura had all four RBIs for the Buffaloes including a home run and hit 3-for-4 to beat the Marines at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Seibu Lions 7 - Nippon Ham Fighters 2:
Taiwan's Chang Chih-chia (3-2) struck out eight batters allowed two runs, six hits, and walked four in six innings to get the victory over the Fighters at Sapporo Dome.
Ichiro Hitting Slump:
Larry Larue in the May 6, 2003 Tacoma News Tribune
http://www.tribnet.com/sports/story/3072586p-3095787c.html
writes about the speculation and different theories on the reason for the decline in Ichiro's numbers.
Larue divides up people into two basic groups:
1. Fans and media who cling onto and give too much
emphasis to changing numbers. This group believes
that a cure has to be found- now!
2. Players, coaches, and scouts who say that
numbers don't tell all. This group says that all
players have ups and downs, just have patience.
The fans and media have come up with many three theories on Ichiro's slump. The article offers three main theories:
1. Ichiro Is Exhausted.
2. Pitchers Have Figured Ichiro Out.
3. Ichiro's Strike Zone Has Come Back To Haunt Him.
Larry Larue seems to agree with the players and coaches. This article has some interesting quotes particularly from Ichiro himself,
"I can learn from this. I will remember this, how it feels, what I'm going through, and when I go through something similar I will be more familiar with it. This could be nurturing for me."
Nippon Professional Baseball
May 7, 2003
Central League
W L T Pct GB
21 11 1 .656 Hanshin Tigers
17 15 0 .531 4.0 Yakult Swallows
15 14 1 .517 4.5 Yomiuri Giants
14 14 0 .500 5.0 Hiroshima Carp
16 17 0 .485 5.5 Chunichi Dragons
9 21 0 .300 11.0 Yokohama BayStars
Pacific League
W L T Pct GB
19 13 0 .594 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
18 14 0 .563 1.0 Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
18 14 1 .563 1.0 Seibu Lions
13 17 0 .433 5.0 Chiba Lotte Marines
13 17 1 .433 5.0 Nippon Ham Fighters
11 17 2 .393 6.0 Orix Blue Wave
Replies: 2 comments
Where can I get stats in English on American baseball players playing in Japan?
Posted by Mickey Weston @ 05/07/2003 12:44 PM EST
Does Anyone know what Alex Ochoa is batting and how many RBI's he has?
Posted by danny @ 05/06/2003 03:10 PM EST
