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02/20/2008 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball Season Preview 2008: Chunichi Dragons"

Japanese Baseball Team Preview 2008: Chunichi Dragons
Glenn Davies, Tokyo Japan

CHUNICHI DRAGONS TEAM PREVIEW 2008 SEASON

Hiromitsu Ochiai returns to manage the 2008 Dragons after winning it all in 2007. Ochiai led the Dragons to their first Japan championship in 53 years by finishing 2nd in the Central League and advancing through the new Central League playoff format. The 2008 incarnation of the Dragons sees them saying goodbye to free agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (Cubs) and welcoming Seibu Lions veteran slugger Kazuhiro Wada as a replacement.Fukudome was injured for most of 07 and Wada's average of 20-30 HRs a season and a healthy .317 avg over the last five years can only strengthen the club. Then again he will face new pitchers in the Central league and will turn 37 this year. 

Araki and Ibata top the order and provide good speed with 50-60SBs between them each year. Araki saw his batting average decline 37 points in 07 and will need to bounce back to keep his spot. Morino had a career year for HRs (18) and RBIs(97) helping to power the Dragons past more favored opponents, it will be interesting to see if this is a one year blip or the start of new power numbers for the number 3 man. The resurgent Nakamura is back for one more go around after a very surprising Japan series  MVP season in 2007. If he can stay healthy he provides a solid power punch in the middle of the order with newly acquired Wada. Both should provide 30HRs or so this year. Tanishige and Tatsunami will provide the veteran leadership but at 38 and 39respectively they don't provide the power or the average they once did. The Dragons don't seem to have much of a bench built up to replace these players however and it will be interesting to see which rookies/bench players step up in 2008.

Kawakami returns as the staff ace and had 145SOs in 167IP last year, showing no signs of slowing down and will likely record his 5th straight year of 11+ wins. Asakura and Nakata both broke through last year and double previous career high totals for wins. A repeat of this will bode well for the Dragons chances of repeating in 08. The one concern will be the number of innings they pitched in 07, both reaching around 170IP and pitching in the playoffs, the first time they had gone anywhere near that high. Should
they falter or get injured the pressure will be on Yamai and Ogasawara to be more successful at their on the job training as new starters last year. Iwase returns as perhaps the most reliable closer in Japan, 153 saves in the past 4 years with an 1.97 ERA, one t watch for a future move to the majors?