Shin Seiki Post
Thursday, October 27, 2011

It’s fitting that it should come down to this.  Again.

• Niihama-shi and Shin Seiki dominated the SSG in 2011, just like 2010.
• They had the best records in the LRS in 2011, just like 2010.
• There was a massive divisional lead lost by one of them, just like 2010.
• The division was settled in the final week of the season in 2011, just like 2010.
• Their playoff season in 2011 has come down to Game 7, just like 2010.

Last time, Niihama-shi took Game 7 and the SSG pennant.  This time it looks to be a doozey.  Let’s take a look at the slated SP matchup:

The Ghosts will be going with trade deadline acquisition Yasuhiro Noda.  Noda has been a very solid contributor for Niihama-shi since the trade, but was knocked around for 6 earned runs in 5.2 IP in Game 3 of the series.  Noda gives up a good amount of home runs in general.  The Evas are not fooled by him, as evidenced by Ton Nakamura and Hisashi Wada taking him deep for a combined three knocks in Game 3.  Wada is on fire and absolutely crushed righties this year, taking them deep for 29 of his 35 homers.  This looks to be the key matchup for Noda.

The Evas, on the other hand, will be sending Sawamura Award favorite Tsumemasa Abe to the mound.  Abe has struggled in his past five starts, going 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA.  His last start was against Noda in Game 3, where he gave up 6 ER in 7.2 IP.  Despite his recent struggles, the Evas have faith in “Muscles”.  After all, he went 5-1 against the Ghosts this year with a 3.47 ERA.  Rumor has it he will be kept on a short leash, though.  No need to let him get himself in to too much danger when you have just about every member of the best staff in the LRS available to pitch in Game 7.

We’re not going to predict a winner, but we are going to predict a classic.  Enjoy this one while you can.  LRS baseball doesn’t get any better than this.