The “Abe Pilgrimage” has already begun in the Giants! Tatsunori Hara, who was effectively dismissed from the post, “Will he be appointed GM or WBC manager?

Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara, 65, will step down at the end of the season. The de facto dismissal of Hara has left the field in turmoil, as he still has one year left on his contract, although it is believed that head and battery coach Shinnosuke Abe (44) will be promoted to take his place.

Hara reigned as manager for 17 years, the longest reign in Giants history. This year, despite being under strict orders to win the championship, the team failed to advance even to the Climax Series (CS), and for the first time in their history, they suffered the humiliation of being in the “B” class for two consecutive years as manager.

At the 12-team owners’ meeting on September 29, Giants owner Juichi Yamaguchi (66) declined to say whether Hara would continue as manager next year, saying, “I think we have to think seriously about the next season. I think we will have to think seriously about the next season, including how we will think about the contract.

The reporter in charge of the project, who thought that the basic line of the project was to continue the appointment, froze at the unexpected turn of events. The team did not want to cut Hara, who has been the team’s signature player since his playing days and has won many championships as a manager, because he is a very important person. Even so, I think they decided that they could not turn their backs on him.

(A baseball team alumnus) “Pilgrimages to Abe” are said to have begun as soon as they heard the news of the demise of the Hara administration. A Giants reporter on the Giants beat him to the punch.

One Giants alumnus who has experience winning titles was quick to grasp the information that Abe would soon become the new manager, and he was making frequent visits to the stadium to make his appeal. I heard that he has been having financial difficulties recently due to a decrease in TV commentary and other jobs.

An alumnus who had worked as a manager for another team also visited Abe at the Tokyo Dome and showed his friendly relationship to those around him. People around me felt coldly that he was probably trying to get me to join his cabinet.

The question is whether or not Hara will have the authority to appoint a new manager when Abe takes over.

If Hara remains with the baseball team as GM and rules the board of governors, the “Hara faction” will remain. If Abe is in charge of the cabinet, the Chuo University faction, which is his alma mater, may solidify the leadership.

Eventually, coach Yoshiyuki Kamei (41), a junior at the university, will be promoted to the head position. Takuichi Sawamura, 35, who was traded to Lotte in September 2008, is also a Chuo University graduate and a close friend of Abe’s. If the Abe administration comes to power, there is a good chance he will be brought back to the Giants.

On the other hand, there are some alumni who will leave the Giants if Abe’s administration comes to power.

Masumi Kuwata, 55, who became general farm manager because he did not get along with Mr. Hara, will probably return as first-arm coach. Dave Okubo, 56, the izakaya bar owner who was invited to become hitting coach, will likely step down at the end of this season if Mr. Hara leaves.

Coach Daisuke Motoki (51), whose talent business has also been prominent, may also take off his uniform. The team’s plans will probably change, so the timing of the notice of withdrawal will be delayed, which may affect the players’ ability to find new jobs. The timing of the notice of withdrawal will be delayed, which may affect the players’ reemployment. (A former Giants alumnus)

While the Giants are in turmoil, Hara’s dismissal is also good news for the NPB.

Hirokazu Ibata, 48, who will take charge of the Asian Professional Baseball Championship to be held on November 16, is said to be just a “fill-in” and will leave before the WBC tournament in 2014. It is said that Hirokazu Ibata, 48, who will lead the team in the “Asian Professional Baseball Championship,” which will be held on November 16, is said to be just a “fill-in.

Since Hideki Kuriyama (62), his predecessor, was not expected to return, the NPB had a hard time selecting a replacement and approached Mr. Hara early in the season. Mr. Hara was positive, but he had not clearly expressed his intention to fulfill his responsibilities as manager of the Giants. If he were to step down at the end of the season, it would be a real possibility that he would be asked to return as manager of the Samurai Japan team in the WBC.

Will the “dismissal” of a great general be a good thing for Japanese professional baseball or not?