Why we have “nothing but high expectations” for new manager Fumiya Nishiguchi of Seibu, who has been successful in the open season… A glimpse of the “ALL ONE” spirit as seen by this magazine

Three “outsider coaches” were brought in at the team’s initiative for the fielders’ division.

Last year, the Saitama Seibu Lions suffered a team-worst 91 losses, a season that fans would rather not remember. Kazuo Matsui took a leave of absence midway through the season, and GM Hisanobu Watanabe, who took over for him, all left the team at the end of the season.

Starting this season, Fumiya Nishiguchi, 52, was appointed manager of the first team. He will be in charge of rebuilding the Lions, who had been an “all-time winning team.

The slogan of the new manager for this year’s team is “ALL ONE. The slogan reads as follows

The slogan “Each individual must improve his or her ability and give back to the team in order to win” is the motto of the new manager.

This slogan expresses the team’s desire to win by improving each individual’s ability and giving back to the team.

As new players, the team acquired Cedeño from Orix, who is expected to be a candidate for the No. 4 position, and Nevin from the majors. Nevin, in particular, has shown a strong batting ability to take chances, hitting first in three consecutive games in open games, and has secured a spot in the cleanup lineup. In addition, current draft pick Taiga Hirasawa (formerly of Lotte), second overall pick Seiya Watanabe, and free agent Keisuke Nakata, who was brought up from SoftBank, have all shown success in open games, giving the batting lineup more depth than last year. Unlike last year, the batting lineup has more depth.

The Nishiguchi Lions are doing well in open games, with a record of 7 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws (as of the 21st). The batting lineup, which has been considered a problem, scored six and ten runs in the two games in a row in Hiroshima.

The team has brought in three “outsiders” to the fielders’ division, which has been a problem for the Lions: head coach Yusuke Torigoe, hitting coach Toshihisa Hitoshi, and defensive base running coach Keiji Ohiki. Manager Nishiguchi is doing a good job of keeping the coaches together. He is the perfect manager to bring together and rebuild a team that had hit rock bottom and was on the verge of falling apart,” said a sports reporter.

There was one scene that clearly showed the “ALL ONE” attitude of Director Nishiguchi.

It was 17 years ago, on November 9, 2008. It was the night the Leos defeated the Yomiuri Giants in Game 7 of the Japan Series to win their first Japan championship in four years.

After the Leos had celebrated by raising their arms in jubilation, the customary beer reception, and television appearances by manager Hisanobu Watanabe and the main players, the Seibu Nine gathered at a restaurant in Nishiazabu, Tokyo, around 1:00 am. A victory party was held under the auspices of the players’ association.

The shy “second helping” of Nakamura is ……

It was after 4:00 a.m. when the party was over and the players came out of the restaurant in droves. I asked Nishiguchi (36 at the time), the oldest of the pitchers at the time and a starter in Game 7, if he would be willing to be interviewed,

He said, “A picture?　Oh, sure.

He responded in a friendly manner,

Hey, Mr. Friday wants to take your picture,” he said to the nine players in the store.

He even led the way to the other nine in the restaurant.

Friday?　Wow, you are surprisingly polite!

(laugh), the players lined up smiling, shoulder to shoulder, as Nishiguchi called out to them.

The lineup included veteran players Nishiguchi and Kazuhisa Ishii, Japan Series MVP Takayuki Kishi, Hideaki Wakui, Hiroyuki Nakajima, and Takumi Kuriyama, as well as Seibu’s proud lineup of handsome men. Yosuke (retired) can also be seen.

Wentz is known to be a big Seibu fan and was invited by team officials to attend the victory celebration. Both Suehiro and Matsuo were also invited, as was Wentz.

I didn’t win, but thank you very much (laughs). I am very happy!

When Wentz exclaimed, “I’m so happy!

Thanks to all of you, we won the MVP award.

I’m fine (with the left side of my stomach that I hurt during the series). (Kishi) “I’m fine (in my left side, which I hurt during the Series). I’m really happy to be number one in Japan (laughs). Thank you very much! (Nakajima)

(Nakajima) “Thank you very much!” All of them commented with their best smiles.

Incidentally, the No. 4 hitter, Takeya Nakamura, aka “Okawari-kun,” seems to be considerably shyer than he appears to be,

I’m a little embarrassed about ……,” he said.

He did not join the group for a commemorative photo with the Nine. Instead, he stood alongside his teammate Kuriyama and showed us his “winning smile,” as if he were about to be beheaded.

Nishiguchi was well-liked by his teammates. I was truly grateful to the reporter for giving me such a great opportunity to interview him.

Later, when I was on a stakeout for another case, Nishiguchi happened to be living in the same apartment building. I also witnessed him inviting young players, regardless of whether they were pitchers or fielders, to his home.

Incidentally, in 2008, the team rose from fifth place the previous year to become the number one team in Japan under new manager Hisanobu Watanabe. Nishiguchi, who has been leading the team as “all one” since his playing days, should be able to pull off such a comeback.