May 17th Messenger v Hoashi - It had to happen

Messenger's run of five victories in a row had to come to an end especially as he had been relying on run support in a lot of the games. He did not pitch well and lasted only six innings whilst throwing 135 pitches. A sign that he is possibly getting tired or that his catcher is abysmal or both? Now some Conrad news - he is almost certain to be dumped in June and replaced probably by a pitcher. Another failed foreign batter and maybe the management should have hung onto Brazell but we are dealing with some very limited people. Still their choices of pitchers have been considerably better than batters so there is hope we will pick up somone special. This would be a good thing as our pitching coaching rarely rises above the amateur level at the moment. But whoever is approached should have a word with Scott Atchison before they sign. They will at least get an idea of what they are in for. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Hawks   0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 10 0
Tigers  0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 10 0

Starting Lineups

Hawks
1. Hasegawa (Centre)
2. Fukumoto (Second)
3. Uchikawa (Left)
4. LaHair (First)
5. Matsuda (Third)
6. Yoshimura (Right)
7. Imamiya (Short)
8. Yamazaki (Catcher)
9. Hoashi (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Nishioka (Second)
2. Yamato (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Murton (Left)
5. Takahiro Arai (First)
6. Ryota Arai (Third)
7. Fujii (Catcher)
8. Shunsuke (Right)
9. Messenger (Pitcher)

Ryota and Arai switched places which was totally justified by their recent performance but also by the fact that Ryota is not capable at the moment of batting in a clean up position. So to the game. Messenger got the first out but then Fukumoto drove into centre. He tried to steal second but was thrown out - once again things rolling Fujii's way nicely. Uchikawa (remember him? Tigers could have signed him but preferred to stick with Kanemoto) doubled to left centre and then LaHair walked to set up runners on first and second. This was a poor sequence of pitching by Messenger and symptomatic of the issues that currently afflict Tigers. Matsuda struck out to end the innings and Tigers had escaped for the moment. Tigers start did not inspire - the batters fell 1-2-3 and the innings rapidly finished. It looked like a long evening was looming. This impression was rapidly confirmed as Yoshimura cracked a line drive to right to lead off Hawks second. Imamiya singled left to set up runners on first and second but a fumble and poor throw in allowed them to take second and third. Next was Yamazaki who doubled into the left corner bringing home both runners 2-0 Hawks, runner on second. Hoashi struck out and Hasegawa grounded out. The latter out took Yamazaki to third and then Fukumoto singled to bring in another run 3-0 Hawks, runner on first. Uchikawa couldn't convert and grounded out to the pitcher. With one out in Tigers second Arai drove nicely into centre. He stayed on first as first Ryota and then Fujii failed to move him round. Hawks third was quiet but Messenger's pitch count was already alarmingly high at 79 pitches. Fujii was his usual mediocre self and Messenger really needed a better set of calls. Things looked a little better for Tigers in the third. Shunsuke led off with a single. Messenger successfully bunted him to second but Nishioka as he so often does managed to fly out. Yamato though - who once again is having a really impressive season hit nicely to right to bring home Shunsuke 3-1 Hawks, runner on first. Yamato then got the signal to steal and off he went. Hawks were ready though and he was tagged out to end the innings. Yamato is no Akahoshi even though he is fast.

Hawks fourth saw a bit of relief for Messenger with the batters falling in order. His pitch count was now 91 and one couldn't see him pitching beyond the fifth. However, Wada would have other ideas. Murton singled to left - big deal, Tigers need runs from him. Arai tried to hit left but ended up grounding into a double play to end the innings. With two out in Hawks fifth, Uchikawa singled. LaHair though grounded out to Messenger - pitch count 105 now and time for the relief. Tigers fifth saw Ryota lead off with a single. Then Fujii hit to left and Tigers had runners on first and second. Shunsuke managed to ground out and the throw from Hoashi went to third to take out Ryota - runners on first and second. Messenger hit into a double play. It wasn't going Tigers way. Wada now had a great chance to rest Messenger and bring on a relief pitcher for the Hawks sixth. He blew it and instead Messenger struggled through the Hawks sixth innings. Matsuda flew out but battled. Yoshimura struck out looking but as is so often the case the third out proved elusive. Imamiya after a marathon at bat walked. So did Yamazaki. Next was Nakamura (pinch hitter) who flew out to centre to end the innings but what a pointless exhibition and one can almost see Messenger not accepting a new contract next season a la Atchison. This stupid over pitching accomplishes nothing and leaves Tigers vulnerable to problems late in the season. Wada and his cohorts don't seem to understand pitching limits and pacing. Tigers sixth was very encouraging though. Fujioka took over the pitching and with one out Yamato singled to second. Toritani singled to centre to put runners on first and second. This brought a change of pitcher - Iwasaki taking over. He struck out Murton looking but then Arai hit handily to right to bring home Yamato 3-2 Hawks. Toritani tried to go for third but was tagged out as he slid in ending the innings.

Katoh took over for Hawks seventh and was immediately in trouble with the lead off batter, Hasegawa who took nine pitches before taking a walk. Fukumoto bunted him to second - one of the few times a bunt could be justified. Uchikawa hit into right bringing in the runner 4-2 Hawks, runner on first. The next two batters flew out and that was the end of a successful innings. Hawks had restored the lead. Tigers seventh was incredibly dissapointing and even the use of Shibata as a pinch hitter did nothing to disturb the 1-2-3 progression of the batters getting out. Tsuru pitched Hawks eighth and Tigers do have a potential relief team in Tsuru and Tsutsui with Katoh but they need much better coaching than they are getting and a better catcher than Fujii. With one out Tsuru gave up a single to Imamiya who made second on Akashi's (pinch hitter) ground out. Then Yanagita (pinch hitter and replacement centre) flew out to end the innings. Tigers eighth saw Senga as the pitcher. Here Tigers blew a very good chance. Imanari (who Wada is apparently considering as a potential DH - God help us!) flew out to centre. Then Nishioka walked. Yamato singled to set up runners on first and second and then Toritani walked to load the bases with one out. A really good opportunity. Murton failed again striking out swinging. Then Arai did the same - too much desperation when a cool head was needed and the innings was over. These chances need to be taken. Tsutsui pitched Hawks ninth and with two outs gave up another double to Uchikawa. Once again LaHair failed and struck out swinging this time to end the innings. Tigers having blown their chance in the eighth faced Falkenborg for their ninth. They paid the price for their profligacy in the earlier innings. The batters tumbled in order to end the game. Hawks victory.

Tigers have now lost three games in a row and have looked unprepared and unable to respond. The loss of Fukudome is a very big problem but also the continuing use of sub-standard catchers and the inability to use the relief effectively. To be honest though Tigers are too strong a batting side to stay subdued for long and can bounce back. They should have beaten Orix but failed miserably. However there is still a chance to draw level in the Hawks series.

Really need to improve our overseas scouting. We seem to be obsessed with Americans with MLB experience, but Murton is the only foreign batter I can think of in the past 10 years who made an impact. Sheets was good, but we got him from Hiroshima.