Possible Climax Series starting rotation for the Nippon Ham Fighters, according to Sponichi.
| G | W | L | IP | H | HR | SO | BB | R | ER | ERA | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shohei Otani | 21 | 10 | 4 | 140.0 | 89 | 4 | 174 | 45 | 33 | 29 | 1.86 | 0.96 |
| Hirotoshi Masui | 30 | 10 | 3 | 81.0 | 71 | 5 | 71 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 2.44 | 1.20 |
| Kohei Arihara | 22 | 11 | 9 | 156.0 | 150 | 13 | 103 | 38 | 52 | 51 | 2.94 | 1.21 |
| Hirotoshi Takanashi | 37 | 10 | 2 | 109.2 | 79 | 6 | 86 | 36 | 30 | 29 | 2.38 | 1.05 |
| Luis Mendoza | 23 | 7 | 8 | 132.1 | 135 | 13 | 77 | 45 | 64 | 57 | 3.88 | 1.36 |
| Takayuki Kato | 30 | 7 | 3 | 91.1 | 91 | 4 | 64 | 31 | 37 | 35 | 3.45 | 1.34 |
Mitsuo Yoshikawa is also a possibility.
Source: Sponichi 10/7/2016
0 CommentsThe Softbank Hawks announced that HKT48 member Haruka Wakatabe will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the First Stage of the Pacific League Climax Series on October 8. Wakatabe is the daughter of former Daiei pitcher Kenichi Wakatabe.
Seiichi Kubo is set to sing the national anthem.
Source: Softbank announcement 10/6
0 CommentsPractice Game: JR Nishi Nihon vs Hiroshima Carp at Mazda Stadium on October 6
Hiroshima 10 – JR Nishi Nihon 2
Starting line-up: Kosuke Tanaka ss, Ryosuke Kikuchi 2b, Yoshihiro Maru cf, Takahiro Arai 1b, Seiya Suzuki rf, Hector Luna 3b, Brad Eldred lf, Yoshiyuki Ishihara c, Ryuhei Matsuyama dh, Kris Johnson sp
The Hiroshima offense scored ten runs on eighteen hits. Ryuhei Matsuyama hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Kris Johnson started the game for Hiroshima and gave up a run on two hits over four innings. Yusuke Nomura entered the game in the fifth inning and took a line drive off the right side of his throat. He was pulled after facing just one batter and throwing eight pitches. The Carp are going to wait and see how he is feeling tomorrow. Tetsuya Iida, Jay Jackson, Shota Nakazaki, and Oscar Nakaoshi each pitched an inning in relief. Nakazaki entered the game in the ninth inning and gave up a run on two hits and two walks. He topped out at 145km/h.
JR Nishi Nihon: Kisho Kagami started the game.
Source: Sports Hochi 10/6/2016, Nikkan Sports 10/6/2016, Nikkan Sports 10/7/2016, Daily Sports 10/6/2016, Daily Sports 10/6/2016, Daily Sports 10/6/2016, Daily Sports 10/6/2016, Daily Sports 10/7/2016
====
Intra-squad Game at Mazda Stadium on October 8
Whites 3 – Reds 5
Hiroki Kuroda started the game and faced six batters through the first two innings of the game. He allowed two runs to score in the third inning on three hits and a sac fly. He gave up two runs on three hits over three innings and threw forty pitches. He topped out at 141km/h.
Brad Eldred started in left and batted seventh for the Whites. He recorded two hits an RBI: a two-out solo home run off Bradin Hagens in the second inning and a single to center in the fourth inning.
Takahiro Arai recorded two hits and an RBI: single to right in the third inning and RBI to left in the fourth inning.
Source: Daily Sports 10/8/2016, Daily Sports 10/8/2016, Daily Sports 10/8/2016, Daily Sports 10/9/2016, Sports Hochi 10/8/2016, Sanspo 10/9/2016
====
Intra-squad Game at Mazda Stadium on October 9
Reds 3 – Whites 0
Takeru Imamura entered the game in the second for the Reds and tossed a shutout inning. He gave up one hit, a single to Hector Luna.
Shota Nakazaki pitched in relief for the Reds. He entered the game in the third, tossed a perfect inning, threw fourteen pitches, and topped out at 147km/h.
Masato Akamatsu, playing for the Reds, hit a two-out solo home run to left off Yuya Fukui in the second inning.
Tomohiro Abe hit a one-out solo home run off Fukui in the third inning.
Source: Sports Hochi 10/9/2016, Daily Sports 10/9/2016, Daily Sports 10/9/2016, Daily Sports 10/10/2016, Daily Sports 10/10/2016, Daily Sports 10/10/2016, Sponichi 10/6/2016
0 CommentsPossible starting pitchers for the First Stage of the Climax Series:
| vs Lotte 2016 | GS | W | L | IP | H | SO | BB | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senga, Kodai | 7 | 4 | 0 | 49.2 | 32 | 50 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 2.36 | 0.95 |
| van den Hurk, Rick | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15.0 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.20 | 0.60 |
| Takeda, Shota | 4 | 2 | 1 | 21.2 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 5.40 | 1.71 |
Source: Nikkan Sports 10/6/2016, Daily Sports 10/6/2016
In other rotation-related news, Tsuyoshi Wada (left elbow) might not be ready for the Climax Series (First or Final). He is making progress, but he does not want to push too hard and has not yet tossed a bullpen session.
Source: Sanspo 10/6/2016
Shota Takeda will be saved for the First Game of the Final Stage. Kenichi Nakata will be waiting in the wings if the First Stage goes to three games.
Source: Nikkan Sports 10/7/2016
0 Comments
The Yomiuri Giants announced today that Miliyah Kato is scheduled to sing the national anthem before the start of the first game of the First Stage of the Central League Climax Series on October 8.
Judo Olympic Gold Medalist Haruka Tachimoto is set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Source: Yomiuri announcement 10/4, Yomiuri announcement 10/5
0 CommentsPossible starting pitchers for the First Stage of the Climax Series:
| vs Softbank 2016 | GS | W | L | IP | H | SO | BB | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wakui, Hideaki | 8 | 2 | 2 | 60.0 | 66 | 38 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 3.60 | 1.47 |
| Ishikawa, Ayumu | 4 | 1 | 3 | 27.1 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 3.95 | 1.10 |
| Karakawa, Yuki | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10.2 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4.22 | 1.78 |
Source: Sports Hochi 10/5/2016
0 CommentsThe Yomiuri Giants First Stage Climax Series starting rotation could include the following three pitchers:
| vs Yokohama 2016 | GS | W | L | IP | H | SO | BB | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomoyuki Sugano | 5 | 1 | 1 | 33.1 | 33 | 35 | 2 | 16 | 15 | 4.05 | 1.05 |
| Miles Mikolas | 4 | 4 | 0 | 21.0 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 3.86 | 1.48 |
| Kazuto Taguchi | 3 | 1 | 2 | 21.2 | 20 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 3.74 | 1.11 |
Source: Nikkan Sports 10/3/2016
[UPDATE 10/7 @ 5:15pm]
If Sugano is unable to start game one of the Climax Series, Mikolas will most up a day. If Sugano is not ready for game two, Taguchi will also move up a day and Tetsuya Utsumi could slide in if the series goes to three games.
Source: Nikkan Sports 10/7/2016, Sponichi 10/7/2016
0 CommentsThe Nippon Ham Fighters will prepare for the Final Stage of the Climax Series at Sapporo Dome. They are scheduled to play three intra-squad games. Two of the games, on October 7 and 9 (start time 15:00), will be open to the public. There will be no set admission price for the games, fans will be able to pay what they want. Money from admission will go toward paying for operating expenses (like security).
UPDATE: The Fighters later announced that instead of accepting money for admission, they will be accepting donations for their Typhoon Relief Fund.
Source: Nikkan Sports 10/3/2016, Sponichi 10/3/2016, Nippon Ham announcement 10/5/2016
0 CommentsThe Yokohama Bay Stars are going to prepare for the First Stage of the Climax Series by playing four exhibition games against Industrial League teams. None of the games will be open to the public.
Source: Sports Hochi 10/1/2016, Sponichi 10/1/2016
0 CommentsIf Shota Nakazaki is not ready to pitch in the Final Stage of the Climax Series, the Hiroshima Carp may turn to Bradin Hagens and Takeru Imamura for the eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Yuya Fukui could then move into the starting rotation.
Source: Sports Hochi 10/1/2016, Sponichi 10/1/2016, Daily Sports 10/1/2016
0 Comments