Ichiro on WBC.

The problem is no one really wants to take on the role of manager. None of them want to fail and they would happily have Hoshino as manager so that if he does fail they can all nod wisely and say "I told you so." The only really qualified candidate for the role is Hara of the Giants, but I suspect that the Japanese baseball establishment expects to lose the cup and so want someone they can safely blame.

Ichiro wants to win and is voicing this.

Very true what you say Christopher. You would have thought people would be eager to want to be the manager at WBC, but that is not the case. I can't believe how scared people are. I see no fighting spirit. Hoshino failed miserably in the Olympics and, at this level the game is competitive. If you can't live to up to expectations get a new manager in. Hoshino resigned, but because NPB could not find anyone else they asked Hoshino again?

I can understand Ichiro's outburst. But there is an another side to it. How wise is it as a player to be criticizing the manager and the NPB management? Ichiro is known to be quite arrogant. Coming with harsh criticism towards Hoshino in public is maybe not the best way to prepare for WBC?

Did not Oh also manage Hawks when he was a WBC manager? So why cannot someone who is currently managing manage WBC this time, too? I would have liked to see maybe Watanabe, the current Lions' skipper, or Ochiai, Hara, or Valentine. Valentine is known to be a very good motivator and fire up his squad. I think he could bring in the much needed Fighting Spirit to Japan, but I guess the people running the show are too conservative and want "one of them"?

Katsuya Nomura was at the recent WBC skipper meeting where the new commissioner Kato was present alongside Hoshino and Oh. But Nomura wasn't considered at all for the manager's job, according to the disgruntled Nomura after the meeting. For some reason, former Carp and current analyst Kenjiro Nomura did most of the talking at the meeting. There will be future editions of meetings to decide on the WBC manager, and I wonder how much weight Ichiro's words will have.

The only names under discussion are Oh, Nomura, and Hoshino? What's Tetsuharu Kawakami doing these days? I guess Osamu Mihara and Shigeru Mizuhara are unavailable.

I mean, if they're going to go old school, why not go all out?

- The only names under discussion are Oh, Nomura, and Hoshino? What's Tetsuharu Kawakami doing these days? I guess Osamu Mihara and Shigeru Mizuhara are unavailable. I mean, if they're going to go old school, why not go all out?

Very good! Nomura joked yesterday that perhaps Ichiro should be player manager.

I fear that they will decide not to decide - with a plan the avoids accountability: give it to the Japan Series-winning manager. Ochiai has said he doesn't want it publicly, Watanabe told me he had no interest and didn't expect to be asked at all.

Hoshino seems determined not to manage Japan in WBC according to this SanSpo article (via Yahoo! Japan).

• Hoshino quits after the failure in Beijing.
• NPB asks him to stay.
• Ichiro criticizes NPB and Hoshino.
• And now Hoshino reassures everyone that he is not going to manage the WBC team.

Great! This is turning into a fun soap opera.

Well, if they want a former Hanshin manager for the job (like they've been lobbying for Hoshino), why not ask the recently departed Okada if he wants to manage the team? I highly doubt they'd consider him even, but yeah, I just thought I'd chime in with my 2 cents on this matter.

Now there are talks about Hara getting the job. At this point, right before the Japan Series, the chances of a Hara Japan seems bigger than any other candidates. Hara has been quite successful and ended the Giants in a terrific fashion, so I think he would be qualified for the job. Though I would rather see Ochiai or Valentine.

Ochiai basically came out and said straightforward, "I won't do it."

Hara... well, Yomiuri is sponsoring part of the series, aren't they? And it's at the Tokyo Dome? I bet that's got a lot to do with it, but I'm also really behind on the news. I also think Bobby would have been a great choice!

Didn't Hara agreed to coach the team already? Or was that speculation on the newspaper that I saw a few days ago?

Nah, it's a done deal. Tatsunori Hara will be Japan's 2009 World Baseball Classic manager. And a fine choice indeed if I may say so myself.

Hara will be the manager and is thinking about Nomo as the pitching coach in WBC.

I agree, Deanna. All those things you mention I think played some kind of a role. Hara is in the Yomiuri organization and they have a lot of power, to say the least, and Hara is a good "front man" for the people pulling the strings. So the choice was not such a big surprise.

I have read Cromartie's book and he did not have very high thoughts about Hara as a person, though I get the impression through the media and journalists who I have talked with him on a personal level that Hara is a genuine guy and a good motivator as manager.

Well, Cromartie isn't that highly regarded either, from first and second hand accounts I've heard of meeting the man directly, so it's kinda like a pot and kettle. :P

Well, if Bobby Valentine were ever given the opportunity to manage Team Japan in the WBC, you can be sure he will go all out to win. He'd probably love nothing better than beating his old American buddies.