Archived Weblog Entry - 09/11/2006: "Japanese Baseball News: Updated Standings"

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09/11/2006 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Updated Standings"

Japanese Baseball News: Updated Standings

Japanese Baseball News: The Monday Report By Glenn Davies,Tokyo Japan
　
Central League News
CLFLAG (2k image) The Hanshin Tigers clawed back to within 5 games of the Dragons over the past week. The Tigers are 5-1 this month and their pitching seems to have returned to form, giving up 3 runs or less each game. Kanemoto has been their hot hitter and the 3 game series against the Dragons this weekend will be the real test to see if there is any life in the pennant chase this year. The Dragons are 4-4 this month and veteran starter Masahiro Yamamoto became the eighteenth pitcher in Japanese Pro Yakyu history to record 2,000 strikeouts. The Giants continue to put a late run in for .500 and have been able to put some quality starts together, including new find for them in Taiwanese starter Chiang Chen-ming (3-0). The key stat in the papers on Chiang has been the one walk in 32 2/3 innings so far.

Pacific League News
PLFLAG (2k image) The Lions actually increased their lead over the Hawks this past week with both teams clinching playoff berths. Seibus's magic number is 10 and with 6 of their last 12 games coming up against Rakuten and Orix, the chances of them taking the pennant seem high.Yu Darvish of the Fighters continued his strong sophomore season by winning his 11th game on Sunday. Darvish is 11-5 with a 2.99 ERA this season after going 5-5 last year. The Fighters look like a tough draw for the playoffs as their top 3 are as good as any in Japan, Darvish (11-5) Yagi (10-8) and veteran Kanemoto (10-8) could upset the Hawks in the likely first round match-up. That said, Saito (17-4), Wada (14-5) and Arakaki(12-3) have been dominating for the Hawks.
Batting Leaders
　
Central
Team Avg. AB HR RBI 　
Pacific
Team
Avg. AB HR RBI
1 Fukudome Dragons .354 401 26 84 1 Matsunaga Hawks .329 419 19 76
2 Lee Giants .320 465 39 94 2 Nakajima Lions .319 360 16 62
3 Sheets Tigers .311 511 17 68 3 Short Eagles .319 373 4 33
4 Aoki Swallows .307 499 9 44 4 Cabrera Lions .319 417 27 90
5 Iwamura Swallows .306 467 29 64 5 Fukuura Marines .319 383 3 44
Pitching Leaders
　
Central
Team ERA W L Sv 　
Pacific
Team ERA W L Sv
1 Kuroda Carp 1.86 13 6 0 1 Saitoh Hawks 1.68 17 4 0
2 Fukuhara Tigers 2.03 11 3 0 2 Matsuzaka Lions 2.04 15 4 0
3 Sato Dragons 2.27 9 3 0 3 Yagi Fighters 2.54 10 8 0
4 Kawakami Dragons 2.62 14 5 0 4 Davey Buffaloes 2.66 9 7 0
5 Guttormson Swallows 2.76 7 9 0 5 Ono Marines 2.87 6 7 0
　
Central W L T Pct% GB
Pacific
W L T Pct% GB
Chunichi Dragons 68 45 5 .602 - Seibu Lions 74 47 2 .612 -
Hanshin Tigers 66 53 4 .555 5.0 Softbank Hawks 72 50 4 .590 2.5
Yakult Swallows 60 59 2 .504 11.0 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 73 51 0 .589 2.5
Yomiuri Giants 59 66 2 .472 15.0 Chiba Lotte Marines 59 62 1 .488 15.0
Hiroshima Carp 53 62 5 .461 16.0 Orix Buffaloes 47 75 3 .385 27.5
Yokohama Bay Stars 48 70 3 .407 22.5 Rakuten Eagles 40 79 3 .336 33.0

Central League News
		The Hanshin Tigers clawed back to within 5 games of the Dragons over the past week. The Tigers are 5-1 this month and their pitching seems to have returned to form, giving up 3 runs or less each game. Kanemoto has been their hot hitter and the 3 game series against the Dragons this weekend will be the real test to see if there is any life in the pennant chase this year. The Dragons are 4-4 this month and veteran starter Masahiro Yamamoto became the eighteenth pitcher in Japanese Pro Yakyu history to record 2,000 strikeouts. The Giants continue to put a late run in for .500 and have been able to put some quality starts together, including new find for them in Taiwanese starter Chiang Chen-ming (3-0). The key stat in the papers on Chiang has been the one walk in 32 2/3 innings so far.

Pacific League News
		The Lions actually increased their lead over the Hawks this past week with both teams clinching playoff berths. Seibus's magic number is 10 and with 6 of their last 12 games coming up against Rakuten and Orix, the chances of them taking the pennant seem high.Yu Darvish of the Fighters continued his strong sophomore season by winning his 11th game on Sunday. Darvish is 11-5 with a 2.99 ERA this season after going 5-5 last year. The Fighters look like a tough draw for the playoffs as their top 3 are as good as any in Japan, Darvish (11-5) Yagi (10-8) and veteran Kanemoto (10-8) could upset the Hawks in the likely first round match-up. That said, Saito (17-4), Wada (14-5) and Arakaki(12-3) have been dominating for the Hawks.

Batting Leaders
	Central	Team	Avg.	AB	HR	RBI		Pacific	Team	Avg.	AB	HR	RBI
1	Fukudome	Dragons	.354	401	26	84	1	Matsunaga	Hawks	.329	419	19	76
2	Lee	Giants	.320	465	39	94	2	Nakajima	Lions	.319	360	16	62
3	Sheets	Tigers	.311	511	17	68	3	Short	Eagles	.319	373	4	33
4	Aoki	Swallows	.307	499	9	44	4	Cabrera	Lions	.319	417	27	90
5	Iwamura	Swallows	.306	467	29	64	5	Fukuura	Marines	.319	383	3	44

Pitching Leaders
	Central	Team	ERA	W	L	Sv		Pacific	Team	ERA	W	L	Sv
1	Kuroda	Carp	1.86	13	6	0	1	Saitoh	Hawks	1.68	17	4	0
2	Fukuhara	Tigers	2.03	11	3	0	2	Matsuzaka	Lions	2.04	15	4	0
3	Sato	Dragons	2.27	9	3	0	3	Yagi	Fighters	2.54	10	8	0
4	Kawakami	Dragons	2.62	14	5	0	4	Davey	Buffaloes	2.66	9	7	0
5	Guttormson	Swallows	2.76	7	9	0	5	Ono	Marines	2.87	6	7	0

Central	W	L	T	Pct%	GB	Pacific	W	L	T	Pct%	GB
Chunichi Dragons	68	45	5	.602	-	Seibu Lions	74	47	2	.612	-
Hanshin Tigers	66	53	4	.555	5.0	Softbank Hawks	72	50	4	.590	2.5
Yakult Swallows	60	59	2	.504	11.0	Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters	73	51	0	.589	2.5
Yomiuri Giants	59	66	2	.472	15.0	Chiba Lotte Marines	59	62	1	.488	15.0
Hiroshima Carp	53	62	5	.461	16.0	Orix Buffaloes	47	75	3	.385	27.5
Yokohama Bay Stars	48	70	3	.407	22.5	Rakuten Eagles	40	79	3	.336	33.0