Go Go Dragons! - Chunichi Dragons (OOTP2006 Patch 2)

[SirFozzie]

Konbanwa, dear reader. My name is Mirumoto Hohiro (or as you americans would say, Hohiro Mirumoto). I am the manager of the Chunichi Dragons, a team in the Central League, one of the two leagues at the highest level of Puro Yakyū or Japanese Professional Baseball.

I have kept this diary to track the Dragons progress towards winning the Central League title and then taking on the Pacific League champion in what you would call the Japan Series, our equivalent of the World Series. I hope you will enjoy.

[SirFozzie]

Opening Roster

As we are in the 2006 off season, let us look at the roster for the Dragons:

(Starting Pitching)

Kosaku Inao is the ace of the staff, but he's also the oldest pitcher on the staff, and at age 40, we have to carefully husband his strength for a full season. A good groundball pitcher.

Eisuke Wakebe is our #2 starter, and actually makes more then Inao (748,000 a year compared to Inao's $715,000 a year). He's fairly old himself, 36, and nowhere as good as Inao. He's decent, but I think our ownership would be better served in trying to pick up a cheaper player.

Hisashi Kawamura (31) is currently pegged at #3.. he's almost as good as Wakebe, but he does not give up many groundballs, a danger in some smaller Japanese ballparks. Also, with him only making $120,000 a year, it would not do for him to be in the rotation ahead of Wakebe.

Yoshihide Takuda (32) is our #4, and he's our most interesting pitcher. His pitches have a lot of movement, but that can be a negative as well as positive, if it moves into a place it shouldn't. He throws four pitches, (fastball, Slider, Screwball, Changeup)

Kosami Onishi (30), nicknamed the Munchkin (although he is relatively tall, at 6'1") is our #5 starter, and according to my scouts, could be a very good pitcher.

Hidetoshi Ikeyama (34) will spot start for us, and when I need a groundball in relief, will likely be called upon (60% ground balls)

Kazunari Wada (37) has been nicknamed the "Old Man of Chunichi" for his loyalty to the club throughout the years, and he leads the bullpen. Hopefully he can teach any youngsters that we call up.

Kanezane Matsushita (29) came to us from Fukoka Daiei Hawks, where he was nicknamed "Big Fly Matsushita" based off some long homeruns he gave up there. if we can keep his stuff in the park, he will be around for a few years to come.

Tsuneari Kuwabara (24) is a decent reliever. He's also good at bunting, which is important in the Japanese style of baseball where sacrifices are important.

Yoshida Omiya (34) Will be one of our first set up man out of the pen. Gave up a big homerun last year, and outfielders do have to play slightly deeper with the amount of fly balls he gives up.

Hidetoshi Ikeyama (34) is our other setup man. Only has two pitches (Fastball and Slider) but changes speeds well, and gets a lot of ground balls.

Sozui Torimoto (40) is our starting closer. Who knows if his arm, which is a live one (has some of the best movement on his pitches around) can last through a season in the closer's role.

[SirFozzie]

Position Players:

Catcher:

Masator "Rimfire" Kotara (31) makes the 2nd most money of anyone per year at over $820,000 a year. Has a good arm, and does everything well at bat. Will not steal any bases.

Kiyoshi Susui (24) is strictly a backup, and the strange thing.. will be used often as a pinch runner, as he is very quick.

First Base

Kazuki Kimura (37) is known as Godzilla amongst Chunichi fans, as he can hit the ball very hard. He's the only first baseman on the roster currently, but we will try to get him nights off to rest.

2nd Basemen

Yoshiki Ota (31) is penciled in to start at 2nd, but he is nothing special, and he makes a lot of money ($650,000). Will be moved if I can get value for him.

Hirobumi Harada (37) will fill in for Ota every so often. Is very smart defensively. also can play SS.

Takeichi Asano (29) Can also play 3b, and will see little action to start.

3rd Base

Toshikasu Nakayama (34) has decent power and gap power as well, and will start at 3rd

Tashiaki Horikawa (39) is just playing out the summer, and likely will end up with our minor league squad sometime this year.

SS

Rod Reaves (25) is from America, (we are allowed 4 foreigners max, 2 batters and 2 pitchers). Good contact, but will not hit many homeruns, if he hits any.

Left Field

Ryo Shibata (35) has been catching the eyes of scouts in America, but he will play out his career in Japan (and he is well compensated at $935,000 a year for the next three years). Does it all.

CF

Ietsuna Fukao (29) has the 2nd most money due to him of any player (as he has five years on his contract), but he is just as good as anyone on this team at just about anything, even bunt for hits. Wonderful player.

Eijiro Kumatani (33) is on the major league team to be a pinch runner, and defensive replacement, and that's about it. VERY fast though.

RF

Toshikuni Tenshin (28), Otherwise known as Tosh, one of the most powerful players in the league. Could lead the league in homeruns.

Toyokazu Nakashima (28) has potential, but he just arrived on the team, and I can't tell if his homerun power is their, or as yet a mirage.

[SirFozzie]

This is our lineup entering the first Spring Training game:

1)Kumatani (CF)
2) Ota (2B)
3) Tenshin (DH)
4) Shibata (RF)
5) Fukao (LF)
6) Kotara (C)
7) Kimura (1B)
8) Nakayama (3B)
9) Reaves (SS)

P Inao

[SirFozzie]

We have a decent spring training, going 14-10 and finishing tied for 2nd with the Hiroshima Carp, one game behind the Yokohama Baystars.

We hit a lot of long balls in spring, as Kimura led all players with 13 Home Runs and Tosh Tenshin hit 11 to f inish 2nd

[SirFozzie]

Opening Day is here, and the owner, Jojiro Hashimoto informs us that we should make the playoffs this year. How much of that is morale building and how much is true expectation, I cannot say.

[SirFozzie]

The Pacific League gets a jump start, but finally it's time for the Central League to kick off and we start with a three game set at home against the Carp:

Game 1: We are unable to hold on to a 6-2 lead after five, and the Carp get two in the sixth and two in the 8th to send the game to extra innings. Tomimoto gets stretched out, coming in the 8th once the Carp had tied the game, and getting out of the jam without further harm, then pitching a scoreless ninth. He did tire and give up a run in the 10th, however, and it looked bad for the Dragons.

However, in the bottom of the 10th, Kimura got his third hit of the game, and we pinch ran for him with Wakebe, Nakayama was up next, and on a 3-2 fastball he singled into right, and Wakebe alertly tried to take the extra base. The throw from Right field was wild, into the Carp dugout and Wakebe trotted home with the tying run, and Nakayama moved to 3rd (he was taking 2nd on the throw)

Reaves was semi-intentionally walked, and it was up to Kumatani, who singled past the drawn in infield into center, and the Dragons had opened their season up with an 8-7 win in extra innings!

Dragons Player of the Game: Kazuki Kimura: 3-5, and sparked the winning rally in the 10th with a leadoff single

[SirFozzie]

4/1/06 Game 2 vs Hiroshima Carp

Wakebe is less then brilliant to start, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits in the first two innings, and we're down 3-0 after an inning and a half. However, we are patient and work the count well, getting seven walks on the day, and combined with 3 Carp errrors, when we got hits, usually they were in a position to knock runs in.

We added two in the 2nd, two in the fourth, and an insurance run that we didn't need in the sixth as Wakebe only allowed two more hits and no more runs through the seventh, and Omiya pitched two scoreless innings to get the save. We move to 2-0 with an 5-3 win

Dragons Player Of the Game: Eisuke Wakebe (7 innings, 8 Hits, 2 Walks, 6 strikeouts, 3 runs allowed)

[SirFozzie]

4/2 - Game 3 vs Hiroshima

We blow a 5-1 lead after 4, with the Carp getting 3 in the fifth and 2 in the sixth. The single run they add in the 8th seems to be just a clincher.

However, in the bottom of the ninth, Kotara cuts the lead to 7-6 with a solo homer to lead off the inning. Kimura flies out for the first out of the inning. Nakayama becomes the tying run by walking on four pitches. Reaves nearly ends the game with a comebacker to the pitcher, but while they get Nakayama at second, Reaves beats the relay throw.

Kumatani singles to center, with Reaves beating the throw to third, and Kumatani taking 2nd on the throw.

Ota is up next, and for a half second we think he's won the game for us with a grounder past the pitcher, but just before it sneaks into the outfield, the Carp's replacement second baseman, Ikina blocks the ball and keeps it in the infield. Reaves scores the tying run, and Nakayama moves to third!

Tosh Tenshin hits a flyball into RF, apparently ending our rally, but their right fielder, Toiguchi, loses it in the lights, and his frantic last second attempt to catch the ball by stabbing out his glove only touches it for a split second, and as it falls to the ground, Nakayama crosses the plate, and the Dragons score 3 in the ninth to win, 8-7.

Manager's Report: Well, we are lucky. Two 8-7 wins, and a 5-3 win, the offense was there, the pitching, not so much. We got lucky as well, the Carp defense is horrid They had 5 errors in the three game series.

But a sweep is a sweep, and we'll take it.

[SirFozzie]

Game 4 at Yokohama Baystars

Yokohama took 2 out of three from the Giants to start, so we're hoping that our fast start continues.

It jumps out as we get a homerun from Tosh Tenshin in the first (absolutely crushed it, 452 feet to dead center field), and then with the bases loaded in the 2nd, our slender lead gets jacked up severely, as Rod Reaves hits a grand slam to right that puts us up 5-0. That's all the runs we would need, and in the space of four pitches in the fifth, we stretch the lead with back to back to back Homeruns, from Shibata, Fukao and Kotara.

Our pitching lets up a few runs late, but it's a 9-4 final and we're four and 0 on the year.

Dragons Player of the Game: Rod Reaves: Broke the game with the grand slam

[SirFozzie]

Game 5 At Yokohama

The Baystar pitchers are nearly unhittable. We strike out 9 times on the day. But our patience pays off, and we also draw NINE walks, and that, combined with some good hitting , led to a 6-4 win. Tosh Tenshin had his 2nd homer of the year ( a bit worrying, he's only hitting .217 so far).. Tomimoto, fully rested after three nights off, pitched the last two innings for the save.

Dragon Player of the Game: Kosaku Inao. After a rough first start, came back with seven strong innings, allowing three runs on 5 hits

[SirFozzie]

Game 6 At Yokohama

This is a good game, back and forth, with the lead changing several times, we're down 3-2 entering the seventh, but Kimura gives us the lead back with a Homerun that just got out down the right field line, and that was just enough. Wakebe gives up three runs on six hits and just one walk, and Tomimoto pitches two innings for the 2nd straight night, getting his 2nd save.

Dragon Player of the Game: Kazuki Kimura.. 3-4, HR, 3 RBI.

[SirFozzie]

Manager's Note: Well, we're winning the close ones, and coming back which is good, but we can't depend on it forever. Six straight wins is nice. We lead the Central League by one game over the Yakult Swallows. Up next is quite possibly the most famous team in Japan, the Yomiuri Giants. This Tokyo-based team has won more Central League titles (30) and Japan Series (20) then any other team in Japan. They've started 2-4 I'd like to continue our hot streak

[SirFozzie]

Game 7: 4/7/06 vs Yomiuri

We're back at home, and it's a pitchers duel, for most of the game. Kawamura bounced back from a bad first outing, and did really well, 7 and a third innings, 8 hits, 2 Runs, striking out 6. We had a lot going on at the plate, Shibata went four for four, Kimura had a two run double, and Tosh Tenshin continues to climb out of his early slump with his third homer. With Tomimoto exhausted, Matsuhita came in the seventh when the tying run at the plate, up 4-2, and simply set down all five Yomiuri batters he faced for the save. We won 5-2, and extend our winning streak to seven.

[SirFozzie]

Here's our stats so far (I hope SI or someone makes it printable to text)

Name	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Ietsuna Fukao CF	7	31	8	12	3	0	1	4	18	2	3	0	0	.387	.424	.581	1.005
Toshikuni Tenshin RF	7	30	4	7	0	0	3	7	16	2	3	0	1	.233	.324	.533	.857
Yoshiki Ota 2B	7	28	3	8	2	0	0	5	10	6	3	0	0	.286	.412	.357	.769
Eijiro Kumatani CF	6	27	2	6	0	0	0	1	6	2	5	1	0	.222	.276	.222	.498
Rod Reaves SS	7	26	4	8	2	0	1	8	13	2	4	0	0	.308	.345	.500	.845
Ryo Shibata LF	7	26	4	7	0	0	2	3	13	7	5	0	0	.269	.424	.500	.924
Kazuki Kimura 1B	7	25	5	8	2	1	1	9	15	4	5	0	0	.320	.433	.600	1.033
Masato Kotara C	7	22	7	7	2	0	2	5	15	10	3	0	0	.318	.545	.682	1.227
Toshikasu Nakayama 3B	6	19	6	4	1	0	0	1	5	6	6	0	0	.211	.423	.263	.686
Tashiaki Horikawa 3B	1	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	.200	.200	.200	.400
Kiyoshi Susui C	1	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	.000	.250	.000	.250
Takeichi Asano 2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Hirobumi Harada 2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Masahiro Kondo LF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Eisuke Wakebe SP	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000

[SirFozzie]

And the pitchers

Name	W	L	SV	ERA	G	GS	IP	HA	R	ER	HR	BB	K	WHIP	OAVG	BABIP
Kazunari Wada MR	0	0	0	0.00	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	.000	.000
Kosami Onishi SP	0	0	0	0.00	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	.000	.000
Yoshida Omiya MR	0	0	1	0.00	1	0	2.0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.00	.000	.000
Kanezane Matsushita MR	0	0	1	0.00	1	0	1.2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.00	.000	.000
Hidetoshi Ikeyama MR	0	0	0	0.00	1	0	1.2	2	0	0	0	0	1	1.20	.333	.400
Sozui Tomimoto CL	1	0	2	1.29	3	0	7.0	5	1	1	1	1	4	0.86	.250	.267
Yoshihide Takuda SP	1	0	0	3.68	1	1	7.1	3	4	3	0	4	3	0.95	.115	.130
Eisuke Wakebe SP	2	0	0	3.86	2	2	14.0	14	6	6	0	3	15	1.21	.259	.359
Kosaku Inao SP	1	0	0	4.85	2	2	13.0	11	7	7	0	4	9	1.15	.234	.289
Hisashi Kawamura SP	1	0	0	5.02	2	2	14.1	18	8	8	4	2	8	1.40	.310	.304
Tsuneari Kuwabara MR	1	0	0	6.00	2	0	3.0	3	3	2	1	3	1	2.00	.250	.200

[SirFozzie]

Game 8 Vs Yomiuri

We have 12 hits on the day, and are constantly threatening to score. We only score on two Homers by Kazuki Kimura, however, it's just enough, as he hits a solo homer in the 3rd and a three-run homer in the sixth, and a tired Matsushita comes in and gets the final four outs for his 2nd save, and we stretch the winning streak to 8 with a 4-3 win.

Player of the Game: Kazuki Kimura again, 2 Homers, on a 4-4 day... and now he's hitting .414

[SirFozzie]

Game 9 Vs Yomiuri:

We're going for our third straight sweep, and we grab the game by the scruff of it's neck with two in the first and two in the third, and while that's all it turned out we need, we add one in the seventh and three in the 8th on way to a 8-1 win over Yomiuri. Tosh Tenshin hits his fourth homer of the year.

Dragons Player of the Game: Takuda scattered seven hits and one run in his complete game, striking out 6 for his 2nd win.

[SirFozzie]

We have a day off, and our next series is on the road, against the Hanshin Tigers, and it's a study of extremes. We've run the table in our 9 games.. so have they.. well.. except that winning part. They're 0-9 on the year, 9 games out already. Have a feeling its going to be a long season for the Tigers.

During the off day, it is announced that Kazuki Kimura won player of the week honors for the Central League. good for him..

[SirFozzie]

Game 10: at Hanshin

I can understand why Hanshin is not a good team this year... they have horrible hitting, hitting somewhere around .230 as a team so far, but entering the sixth, we're down 2-0, but tie it up on a Kotara home run in the sixth, and in the 8th what would prove to be the winning run scored on a bases loaded wild pitch, and we tack on another run. Inao pitched 7 and a third strong innings, and Matsushita and Tomimoto (3rd save) took it from there. The streaks have hit 10 each, as we win 4-2.

Player of the Game: Inao Great pitching

[SirFozzie]

Game 11:

Well, not only was their batting horrible.. (2 hits), their pitching stunk up the joint too, and we get a rare laugher, as we score 5 runs twice (in the 2nd, and the 8th) and slam 5 homers in our 16 hits as we take a 13-1 Laugher

Player of the game: Wish I could give it to the whole team, but my choice is Tosh Tenshin, 3-4, 2 walks, 3 RBI, and his fifth HR of the year.

[SirFozzie]

We try to make it four straight sweeps, and this one is over quickly, as Fukao homers in the first and Kumatani homers in the 2nd, and that's all we'd really need, but Tosh Tenshin continues his hot streak with a Grand Slam later in the game, and Kawamura only allows two solo homers in his three hit complete game, and it's 12 in a row.. 12-2.

Player of the Game: Kawamura

Wow. 12 straight wins to start the year. Hanshin is an AWFUL team, and probably will be in the basement at the end of the year. It's good to win the games big.

[SirFozzie]

Game 13: at Yakult Swallows

This is a pitcher's duel, again our pitcher does well, as Takuda goes 7 and a third innings, giving up 4 hits and just one unearned run. it's 1-1 entering the seventh, and Kumatani hits his 2nd home run of the year with one on to break the tie, and Matsuhita retires the five batters he faces (up to 4 and 2/3'rds innings without letting up a hit) to preserve the 3-1 win. We're 13-0!