May 12, 2019, Toyama — A famous American ballplayer once said that pitching is 90% of baseball.  If this is true, Cliff Hanger fans across the nation have to be slavering after this opening week in the LRS.  While Shinobu Takeuchi gave up four runs in five innings on opening day, the bullpen came in and shut down the Celestial Warriors.  Then in each of the next four games, the staff as a whole seven runs total.  The bullpen, which was maligned in some circles during pre-season prognostication, served up a 1.38 ERA (best in the BBG).  The starter’s ERA is a sparkling 2.31, just a tick behind Fushigi Yugi’s 2.18 for best in the division.

On top of this, the team received the much anticipated news that bullpen ace Tadao Harada is now healthy enough to contribute after losing nearly a year with “Tommy John” surgery.  The team will certainly be able to find a place for the 1.55 ERA Harada posted last season.   “We’re not sure where we’re going to put Tadao,” said GM Ron Collins, “but we’re sure it will work out to where we’ll see him in a Cliff Hanger uniform very soon.”

Fans of the team were admittedly a bit concerned at the team’s “Stand Pat” frame of mind this off-season.  “We were expecting more than a journeyman second baseman, a gaijin third baseman, and some dilly-dallying with the fences,” said longtime fan Haruji Tiamato.  “But maybe it will work out.  If we had not dogged so many chances to score at Seoul Friday we might be 4-1.  Not too shabby, though, I guess.  We’ll see.”

“It’s good to be playing ball again,” said shortstop Shiro Adachi.  The sure-handed fielder has led the team’s offense by hitting .381, and getting on base multiple times in four of the team’s five games.  He’s been spectacular in the field, also, already posting a +1.1 ZR.  “If we can avoid injuries, this team could be pretty good before it’s all over.”

How good?

Well, fans will have to wait to see for sure, but it’s been ten seasons since the franchise’s last post season game.  Some are already whispering about lucky number 11.