Peta-chan: 4 Games, 4 HRs

Which begs the question: why put Peta in right? Is Saitoh so much better that he deserves to stay at first than making the switch to right? Or is Saitoh so much worse in RF? (These are not rhetorical questions, I would be interested in some feedback.)

Seems to me that your best batter should be comfortable in the field and given priority over Saitoh, who is average at best, and not close to sniffing Peta's production. Or is this simply a stupid Hara move so as not to disrupt "harmony" when Kiyohara (who can't sniff Peta's production anymore) returns, and isn't forced to make a difficult PR decision?

You hit the nail on the head, Saitoh is just a temporary replacement until Kiyohara gets back.

Saitoh is actually listed as an outfielder, and has been since 1997 when he figured his chances at the infield were close to nil. For the Giants, his chances of breaking in as an outfielder are equally low. Essentially, he's one of many career ni-gun players locked out due to the status quo of high profile players like Kiyohara.

Personally, I thought Saitoh deserved a chance back in the late 1990's after a great spring, but he was never given a chance. I didn't really follow his ni-gun career, so I can't say for sure if he really deserves the spot or not at this point.

As for keeping Peta-chan in right, that's apparently by Petagine's choice. He seems to know that first base belongs to Kiyohara and doesn't want to challenge him for it. At least, that's the meaning I've read into Peta's insistance to stay in right. Insightful to how the Giants work?

Nonetheless, with Hara in charge, the status quo within the Giant ranks will not change. Players like Saitoh are going to have short chances throughout the season to prove themselves while veterans are hurt. And they've got the added pressure that even if they do well, the veteran has job security -- for better or worse.

Going into play today (April 4) Saitoh is 4 for 17 (all four singles) with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored while striking out 3 times and not drawing a single walk. I really don't think that that's a good enough show to stay in the lineup after Kiyo returns.

The run production by Peta-chan makes his #5 spot in the batting order questionable to me. Seems like the best power hitter should be in the 3 or 4 slot, to get the occasional extra at-bat. Being gaijin plays in this somewhere, I'm sure, since it's the Giants & Watanabe. It may be the orange hair, too.

Anyway, as long as he drives in more on offense than he lets in on defense, he'll be earning those big yen.

I don't think his being gaijin has anything to do with it. It's just the Kyojin image thing. Matsui was the franchise player, CF, 4th in the lineup. Given Kiyohara's questionable reputation, being a FA signing, and frequent absence due to injury, the torch is passed to Yoshinobu, who has taken Matsui's spot in the field, and therefore why not his spot in the lineup, too? Peta is the new guy. He needs to "earn" it.

Realistically, with the lineup they have, it doesn't make a difference. Abe hits behind Peta so Peta will see good balls to hit. Yoshinobu has Peta behind him, so he'll see good balls to hit. The part I question is batting Etoh 3rd... or at all!! He's obviously washed up, and it will affect Yoshinobu's RBI chances. Yoshinobu, Peta, and Abe should move up one spot each, until Kiyohara returns and gets into the 5 spot, with Abe 6th. Until he does, however, Peta should be the 1B.

By the way, it's the same situation with Shimizu a few years ago. I questioned Nagashima's decision to platoon Shimizu and not bat him lead off. Hara listened to me (yes, he consults me from time to time. ) and look at where that lead them last year.

Peta-chan is batting 4th tonight, Kiyohara is 5th (4/18 vs. Dragons).

Speaking of Petagine being red-hot, looks like new cleanup hitter Alex Ramirez is even hotter. He now has home runs in five consecutive games, leads the league with 24 RBIS and 8 home runs, and although it is way too early to discuss batting average, he is second behind teammate Ken Suzuki at .396.

It's nice to see that someone has notice Ramirez' performance so far this year. Other players that are doing good have been mentioned. The expected and the not so expected, but Ramirez has not been mentioned except in news of games.