Archived Weblog Entry - 07/31/2006: "Japanese Baseball News:Update"

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07/31/2006 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News:Update"

Japanese Baseball News:Update

Central League News
CLFLAG (2k image) No changes in the standings of the CL over the past week. The Dragons continue their hot form and are fast running away with the central league pennant. They have now won 6 straight after the All-star series and both pitching and hitting have been awesome. Dragons pitchers have a measly 0.14 ERA in the six game stretch while scoring 5.6 runs per game. The only other headline has been the Giants as they sink further by going 6-14 in the month of July. Giants fans will be expecting to see manager Hara step down at the end of the season. The Tigers are hanging in there but have been too inconsistent at the plate or on the mound for anyone to predict that they will catch the Dragons.

Pacific League News
PLFLAG (2k image) Status quo for the Pacific League too with Seibu continuing to hold a small lead over the Hawks. Both teams are a lock for the playoffs and will be feeling less pressure to actually push on and win the PL title as each of the last PL champs haven't made it out of the playoffs. The Fighters continue to push on for the third and last playoff spot and with Chiba continuing to struggle they have the looks of the likely third contender come playoff time.It will be interesting to see Fighters manager Trey Hillman in the papers over much loved Bobby Valentine for a change.
Batting Leaders
　
Central
Team Avg. AB HR RBI 　
Pacific
Team
Avg. AB HR RBI
1 Fukudome Dragons .353 278 16 56 1 Matsunaga Hawks .361 310 17 62
2 Lee Giants .330 358 31 66 2 Matsumura Buffaloes .327 269 3 19
3 Aoki Swallows .318 362 6 38 3 Fukuura Marines .326 307 3 33
4 Abe Giants .314 280 5 37 4 Nakajima Lions .319 360 16 62
5 Iwamura Swallows .310 339 15 40 5 Cabrera Lions .324 287 20 59
Pitching Leaders
　
Central
Team ERA W L Sv 　
Pacific
Team ERA W L Sv
1 Sato Dragons 1.33 8 0 0 1 Saitoh Hawks 1.91 11 4 0
2 Kawakami Dragons 1.80 11 2 0 2 Matsuzaka Lions 1.92 11 3 0
3 Kuroda Carp 2.06 9 6 0 3 Yagi Fighters 2.41 9 4 0
4 Guttormson Swallows 2.29 6 4 0 4 Wakui Lions 2.42 8 1 0
5 Shimonoyagi Tigers 2.99 8 7 0 5 Ono Marines 2.48 6 5 0
　
Central W L T Pct% GB
Pacific
W L T Pct% GB
Chunichi Dragons 53 30 4 .639 - Seibu Lions 54 37 2 .593 -
Hanshin Tigers 50 39 3 .562 6.0 Softbank Hawks 54 39 2 .581 1.0
Yakult Swallows 44 44 1 .500 11.5 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 52 41 0 .559 3.0
Hiroshima Carp 40 48 4 .455 15.5 Chiba Lotte Marines 48 45 0 .516 7.0
Yomiuri Giants 40 53 2 .430 18.0 Orix Buffaloes 39 55 1 .415 16.5
Yokohama Bay Stars 36 50 3 .419 18.5 Rakuten Eagles 31 60 0 .341 23.0

Central League News
		No changes in the standings of the CL over the past week. The Dragons continue their hot form and are fast running away with the central league pennant. They have now won 6 straight after the All-star series and both pitching and hitting have been awesome. Dragons pitchers have a measly 0.14 ERA in the six game stretch while scoring 5.6 runs per game. The only other headline has been the Giants as they sink further by going 6-14 in the month of July. Giants fans will be expecting to see manager Hara step down at the end of the season. The Tigers are hanging in there but have been too inconsistent at the plate or on the mound for anyone to predict that they will catch the Dragons.

Pacific League News
		Status quo for the Pacific League too with Seibu continuing to hold a small lead over the Hawks. Both teams are a lock for the playoffs and will be feeling less pressure to actually push on and win the PL title as each of the last PL champs haven't made it out of the playoffs. The Fighters continue to push on for the third and last playoff spot and with Chiba continuing to struggle they have the looks of the likely third contender come playoff time.It will be interesting to see Fighters manager Trey Hillman in the papers over much loved Bobby Valentine for a change.

Batting Leaders
	Central	Team	Avg.	AB	HR	RBI		Pacific	Team	Avg.	AB	HR	RBI
1	Fukudome	Dragons	.353	278	16	56	1	Matsunaga	Hawks	.361	310	17	62
2	Lee	Giants	.330	358	31	66	2	Matsumura	Buffaloes	.327	269	3	19
3	Aoki	Swallows	.318	362	6	38	3	Fukuura	Marines	.326	307	3	33
4	Abe	Giants	.314	280	5	37	4	Nakajima	Lions	.319	360	16	62
5	Iwamura	Swallows	.310	339	15	40	5	Cabrera	Lions	.324	287	20	59

Pitching Leaders
	Central	Team	ERA	W	L	Sv		Pacific	Team	ERA	W	L	Sv
1	Sato	Dragons	1.33	8	0	0	1	Saitoh	Hawks	1.91	11	4	0
2	Kawakami	Dragons	1.80	11	2	0	2	Matsuzaka	Lions	1.92	11	3	0
3	Kuroda	Carp	2.06	9	6	0	3	Yagi	Fighters	2.41	9	4	0
4	Guttormson	Swallows	2.29	6	4	0	4	Wakui	Lions	2.42	8	1	0
5	Shimonoyagi	Tigers	2.99	8	7	0	5	Ono	Marines	2.48	6	5	0

Central	W	L	T	Pct%	GB	Pacific	W	L	T	Pct%	GB
Chunichi Dragons	53	30	4	.639	-	Seibu Lions	54	37	2	.593	-
Hanshin Tigers	50	39	3	.562	6.0	Softbank Hawks	54	39	2	.581	1.0
Yakult Swallows	44	44	1	.500	11.5	Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters	52	41	0	.559	3.0
Hiroshima Carp	40	48	4	.455	15.5	Chiba Lotte Marines	48	45	0	.516	7.0
Yomiuri Giants	40	53	2	.430	18.0	Orix Buffaloes	39	55	1	.415	16.5
Yokohama Bay Stars	36	50	3	.419	18.5	Rakuten Eagles	31	60	0	.341	23.0