New management faces dilemma on team’s future

By Maisake Ito, The Hiroshima Times
4/10/2011

Yesterday around midnight, the American investment group that spearheaded the sale of the Hyakuju Shinkansen finalized the deal as the needed signatures were written on the dotted line, completing the acquisition.  For some, jubilation was felt, as well as hope that the new owners would lead the team to the Promised Land and change the attitude of a team satisfied with mediocrity.  But anger and resentment resided on the face of many of Hyakujuu’s die hard fans.

The uncertainty of a team without clear direction has Hiroshima up in arms, and support is divided down the middle.

“Who knows which players are going to run on the field for us this year?” bitter fan Akinori Matsuka says.  “We are stuck on a track as a train is coming.  I have no idea where this team is going.”

The Shinkansen are led by aging superstars Alonso Arteaga and Masujiro Inoue, who are both now 35 and may have a few seasons left.  But can they put this team on their backs and win the division?  It is highly unlikely.  And with their minor league system depleted of any rising stars to help push this team over the top, a fire sale may be looming as  the trade deadline approaches.

We expect that in the next day or two we will be introduced to new GM John Leonard, a career scout who as a player was a once rising star before being derailed by injury.  All we know is that he will be in the hot seat his first day, as he is expected to put the Shinkansen back on track.