From Opening Dash to Plunge – Ticking Time Bomb for Manager Kazuyoshi Tatsunami’s Central League Team

The fact that young players are emerging in a way that has not been seen in recent years is a positive factor. However, the Nakanichi reporter continues, “I also feel some frustration because of this.

Shigeya Hosokawa (25), who had a breakout season last season, has become the mainstay of the team, and Takaya Ishikawa (22) is showing signs of blossoming. Mikiya Tanaka and Yasuhiro Yamamoto (30), who was acquired from the Hanshin team, have been showing off their skills, and second-year player Kaito Muramatsu (23) is starting to show his hitting ability. Muramatsu, in particular, has fallen short of the batting average, but he has not won the trust of the manager, as he has been removed from the starting lineup in games where a left-handed pitcher starts, even though he has been hitting well. The use of Muramatsu and Ishikawa, who have good numbers, should be considered more carefully.

Another baseball team alumnus was also scathing.

In the past two years, there have been many questionable decisions by the manager. However, the criticism was concentrated on the team’s lack of reinforcements, and Tatsunami received sympathetic criticism. The problem was overlooked as one that preceded coaching. However, this season, for the first time since he took over, the team has a squad capable of aiming for Class A, and the manager’s hesitation has become conspicuous. There have already been a number of games in the early stages of the season in which the team seems to have lost because of his leadership. If you set out to play baseball that defends and wins, the center line should be solidified, and the daily order is not acceptable.

What do you think will be the key point in this season’s battle?

What is the key point in this season’s battle? That will be the key point. Until this season, the presence of Kataoka, who was reassigned from the position of manager of the second team, had been a “stabilizing agent” for manager Tachinami. With no other coach able to give his opinion to Mr. Dragons, and with Coach Kataoka taking on this role, each coach was able to concentrate on his own work. Coach Kataoka, a former classmate of Mr. Dragons from PL Gakuen, was putting the brakes on Mr. Tatsunami. If that balance is lost, the team could take an even steeper dive from here. Coach Kataoka is definitely the key man this season.

This is the last year of Tatsunami’s contract. With the support of his allies, can he become the dark horse of the mixed teams and change his reputation as a “lost general” to a “great general”?