Archived Weblog Entry - 07/17/2006: "Japanese Baseball Update"

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07/17/2006 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball Update"

Japanese Baseball Update

Japanese Baseball News: The Monday Report By Glenn Davies,Tokyo Japan
Central League News
CLFLAG (2k image) The Giants continued to implode, going on a 7 game losing streak these past weeks and losing yet another player to injury in closer Kiyoshi Toyoda. The Dragons continue to roll, Tyrone Woods hit his 21st HR on Sunday as the Dragons came back to win 4-2 over the Tigers. The Tigers have played themselves into a good position though, taking 2 of 3 from each of their last 2 series.Kanemoto has been hitting well for the Tigers and leads the team in HRs with 13 (.297 13 49).The Swallows have battled well to get to third but find themselves out of the race along with the Giants, Carp and Baystars. Former Major league closer Shingo Takatsu (1-2 3.65 3sv)gave up a solo shot to Kenji Yano of the Giants last night and took a heartbreaking loss for the Swallows who had battled back to tie the game.

Pacific League News
PLFLAG (2k image) Seibu continue to swing the hot bats and built upon their lead in the Pacific. The ability to win bad games may be the difference between them and the Hawks as Lions starter Chris Gissell had a shocker, giving up 4 runs and seven hits in four innings on Sunday, but still getting the win (5-0 3.23). Hayato Terahara helped the Hawks cause by pitching a 2-hit shutout against the Fighters.Terahara who has struggled with injuries each of the past 2 years received congratulations from Sadaharu Oh by phone as the team manager and legendary hitter in hospital undergoing stomach surgery. Fighters rookie Yagi pitched in the loss but Fighters hot play has continued and they have looked more convincing than the Marines over the past week and may snatch the playoff spot away from Bobby Valentines championship team. Jose Fernandez's great season continues and he remains tied with Alex Cabrera in the HR race at 20. He's also only 2 off the RBI lead and will likely be the only Rakuten footnote as the season winds down.
Batting Leaders
　
Central
Team Avg. AB HR RBI 　
Pacific
Team
Avg. AB HR RBI
1 Fukudome Dragons .349 255 15 49 1 Matsunaga Hawks .362 290 17 59
2 Lee Giants .326 334 29 64 2 Fukuura Marines .326 307 3 33
3 Aoki Swallows .325 335 6 35 3 Cabrera Lions .324 287 20 59
4 Sheets Tigers .310 348 12 47 4 Fernandez Eagles .314 309 20 60
5 Abe Giants .308 260 4 35 5 Short Eagles .311 254 0 20
Pitching Leaders
　
Central
Team ERA W L Sv 　
Pacific
Team ERA W L Sv
1 Kawakami Dragons 1.81 10 2 0 1 Saitoh Hawks 1.95 10 3 0
2 Kuroda Carp 2.18 8 6 0 2 Matsuzaka Lions 1.95 11 4 0
3 Guttormson Swallows 2.65 5 4 0 3 Wakui Lions 2.04 7 1 0
4 Shimonoyagi Tigers 2.67 8 6 0 4 Yagi Fighters 2.51 8 4 0
5 Uehara Giants 2.91 3 5 0 5 Ono Marines 2.68 6 5 0
　
2006 Standings
Central W L T Pct% GB
Pacific
W L T Pct% GB
Chunichi Dragons 47 30 3 .610 - Seibu Lions 50 34 2 .595 -
Hanshin Tigers 48 35 2 .578 2.0 Softbank Hawks 49 36 2 .576 1.5
Yakult Swallows 41 42 0 .494 9.0 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 48 39 0 .552 3.5
Hiroshima Carp 37 44 4 .457 12.0 Chiba Lotte Marines 46 40 0 .535 5.0
Yomiuri Giants 38 48 2 .442 13.5 Orix Buffaloes 36 51 1 .414 15.5
Yokohama Bay Stars 34 47 2 .420 15.0 Rakuten Eagles 29 57 0 .337 22.0

Central League News
		The Giants continued to implode, going on a 7 game losing streak these past weeks and losing yet another player to injury in closer Kiyoshi Toyoda. The Dragons continue to roll, Tyrone Woods hit his 21st HR on Sunday as the Dragons came back to win 4-2 over the Tigers. The Tigers have played themselves into a good position though, taking 2 of 3 from each of their last 2 series.Kanemoto has been hitting well for the Tigers and leads the team in HRs with 13 (.297 13 49).The Swallows have battled well to get to third but find themselves out of the race along with the Giants, Carp and Baystars. Former Major league closer Shingo Takatsu (1-2 3.65 3sv)gave up a solo shot to Kenji Yano of the Giants last night and took a heartbreaking loss for the Swallows who had battled back to tie the game.

Pacific League News
		Seibu continue to swing the hot bats and built upon their lead in the Pacific. The ability to win bad games may be the difference between them and the Hawks as Lions starter Chris Gissell had a shocker, giving up 4 runs and seven hits in four innings on Sunday, but still getting the win (5-0 3.23). Hayato Terahara helped the Hawks cause by pitching a 2-hit shutout against the Fighters.Terahara who has struggled with injuries each of the past 2 years received congratulations from Sadaharu Oh by phone as the team manager and legendary hitter in hospital undergoing stomach surgery. Fighters rookie Yagi pitched in the loss but Fighters hot play has continued and they have looked more convincing than the Marines over the past week and may snatch the playoff spot away from Bobby Valentines championship team. Jose Fernandez's great season continues and he remains tied with Alex Cabrera in the HR race at 20. He's also only 2 off the RBI lead and will likely be the only Rakuten footnote as the season winds down.

Batting Leaders
	Central	Team	Avg.	AB	HR	RBI		Pacific	Team	Avg.	AB	HR	RBI
1	Fukudome	Dragons	.349	255	15	49	1	Matsunaga	Hawks	.362	290	17	59
2	Lee	Giants	.326	334	29	64	2	Fukuura	Marines	.326	307	3	33
3	Aoki	Swallows	.325	335	6	35	3	Cabrera	Lions	.324	287	20	59
4	Sheets	Tigers	.310	348	12	47	4	Fernandez	Eagles	.314	309	20	60
5	Abe	Giants	.308	260	4	35	5	Short	Eagles	.311	254	0	20

Pitching Leaders
	Central	Team	ERA	W	L	Sv		Pacific	Team	ERA	W	L	Sv
1	Kawakami	Dragons	1.81	10	2	0	1	Saitoh	Hawks	1.95	10	3	0
2	Kuroda	Carp	2.18	8	6	0	2	Matsuzaka	Lions	1.95	11	4	0
3	Guttormson	Swallows	2.65	5	4	0	3	Wakui	Lions	2.04	7	1	0
4	Shimonoyagi	Tigers	2.67	8	6	0	4	Yagi	Fighters	2.51	8	4	0
5	Uehara	Giants	2.91	3	5	0	5	Ono	Marines	2.68	6	5	0

Central	W	L	T	Pct%	GB	Pacific	W	L	T	Pct%	GB
Chunichi Dragons	47	30	3	.610	-	Seibu Lions	50	34	2	.595	-
Hanshin Tigers	48	35	2	.578	2.0	Softbank Hawks	49	36	2	.576	1.5
Yakult Swallows	41	42	0	.494	9.0	Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters	48	39	0	.552	3.5
Hiroshima Carp	37	44	4	.457	12.0	Chiba Lotte Marines	46	40	0	.535	5.0
Yomiuri Giants	38	48	2	.442	13.5	Orix Buffaloes	36	51	1	.414	15.5
Yokohama Bay Stars	34	47	2	.420	15.0	Rakuten Eagles	29	57	0	.337	22.0