DeNA Owner Tomoko Namba Is Furious Over the BayStars’ Slump—Can an Emergency Shake-Up Turn Things Around?

“What’s going on?”

DeNA owner Tomoko Namba (64), whose team has sunk into the Central League’s B class alongside Hiroshima and Chunichi, is reportedly cracking the whip behind the scenes.

In 2024, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars made it through the Climax Series and won the Japan Series for the first time since the team’s parent company changed.

“The factors behind their rise were said to be data-driven game management and team building. Although these methods are now becoming established at other clubs as well, DeNA has sought new approaches that differ from conventional coaching, such as placing analysts in the dugout so they can communicate closely with the players. The club also began prioritizing personnel who were more receptive to the front office’s wishes. The search for a successor to former manager Daisuke Miura (52) therefore dragged on, eventually settling on current manager Ryoji Aikawa (50), who had reportedly been considered the fifth-choice candidate.” (Former team official)

However, Ryudai Hagiwara, the former head of the team’s Baseball Operations Headquarters who had built the foundation for this system, left the club at the end of last year. The person now said to hold overall authority over the organization is president Yota Kimura (44).

“Kimura, who was the club’s executive vice president until last year, reportedly criticized Hagiwara and held him responsible after pitcher Trevor Bauer (35), whom Hagiwara had brought back to the team, won only four games and was found to have received a salary higher than the amount publicly announced. After Kimura himself became the club’s top executive and took full control of both management and team building, he decided to make Shion Matsuo (22) the team’s primary catcher. He also traded Yudai Yamamoto (27) to the SoftBank Hawks, reportedly because Yamamoto had made numerous demands during contract negotiations and other matters.

There was also reportedly a dispute involving veteran pitcher Yasuaki Yamasaki (33), who was just four saves away from reaching 250 career saves. The club had prepared commemorative merchandise well in advance, intending to celebrate the homegrown closer’s achievement on a grand scale. He was originally expected to reach the milestone in May or early June, but suffered a major setback with three losses in June alone. The club’s upper management reportedly kept Yamasaki on the roster until July in order to sell the merchandise and lock in the profits.” (Same source)

The person reportedly furious about all this is owner Tomoko Namba.

“With the team’s performance deteriorating and empty seats becoming increasingly noticeable at Yokohama Stadium, she reportedly checked in with club executives, asking, ‘What’s going on?’ The rattled front office responded by reshuffling the coaching staff on July 2 in an effort to rebuild the batting lineup. Takanori Suzuki (54), who had primarily worked with the farm team as a batting development and traveling batting development assistant coach, was reassigned as the first-team batting strategy and development coach. Iwao Omura (57) was moved from batting development coach to first-team batting development coach and scorer.

Then, on the 6th, the club announced that pitching coordinator Shinji Ohara (41) would also serve as a scorer. However, game strategy and other matters continue to be handled by bench coach Kenjiro Tsuruoka (39), who is said to be acting in accordance with the wishes of the club’s front office. Manager Aikawa can voice his opinions, but he continues to have limited real authority.” (Team insider)

Can DeNA put its internal structure in order and pull off a comeback to finish in the A class—the Central League’s top three?