Your weekly guide to the Edo Battousai baseball organization

By Saruwatari Tsuyoshi, Kyoto Shimbun News

September 22, 2013: Seoul, South Korea – The club had a good week, going 4-2.  The losses were disappointing and back-to-back, causing Edo to drop the series against Naha Shisa.

On the pitching front, Masamichi Takaki has been admirably filling the closer position this year and  is having a career season with a 7-4 record, 24 saves and a 2.31 ERA.  His former best was all the way back in 2007 with the Magami Akos (now the Naha Shisa), when he was 5-4 with 22 saves and a 4.14 ERA.  Masamachi noted, “It’s been an incredible season so far.  The team is really in the groove and everyone is stepping up when we need them.  My fastball has been moving well and I’ve been having good control over it, which has really set up my splitter.”

Manabu Tsuchiya continues to dominate, going 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA over his last four games.  “I’ve been struggling a bit with my control.  A lot of my stuff seems to be missing the plate, but my velocity is still good, so guys are guessing at my hard slider, which seems to be working out this year.  You have to give credit to the defense – batters have been popping me up, and they’ve been saving me when my stuff gets up in the zone.”

In the box, LF Morihiro Nakamura was selected as the BGG Player of the Week after a 28 AB, 11 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, .393 AVG, 1.235 OPS effort.  He was quoted as saying, “I’m feeling good, seeing the ball well.  With Shimpei backing me up, I’ve been seeing a lot more fastballs, which is helping.”  C Seiichi Okamato has been miming him, going .409 with 3 HR over the last six games.  His effort has been timely with starter Kenko Nakamura still out with and injury.  Okamato crowed, “Now that I have the opportunity to play, I’ve been able to show my ability.  I always knew I was capable of hitting like this – I just needed the chance.”

Counting down: Three weeks until 1B “Wheels” Chien returns.  Two weeks until SP Koto Sekiguchi is back on the mound.  One week until Kenko Nakamura gets back behind the plate.  14 wins to go for a 100-win season.  The Dragons of Kuwana come to town this week and kick off a 10-game home stand.