by Midorikawa Michiyo, Niihama-shi Chronicle
Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012

(Editor’s note: Amid what is perhaps the biggest decline in the history of the League of the Rising Sun – the precipitous freefall of the Niihama-Shi Ghosts – our intrepid reporter sat down for a chat with the Ghosts’ top player, third baseman Nobuhito Hasegawa.)

MM: Obviously, this is not what you expected this season…
NH: We knew returning to the Neo-Tokyo Cup would be difficult.  We knew other teams in the SSG would be much stronger this season, but we fully expected to be in contention.  We expected to be in the thick of things.
MM: So what has gone wrong?
NH: Oh, I suppose a combination of things.  I don’t care to get into an analysis.  That’s for you guys to do.
MM: The contract for Shiggy was widely criticized. [ED: The Ghosts awarded 40-year-old DH Shigochiyo Memoto a two-year, $22 million dollar extension at the end of last season.  Memoto has performed poorly and been injured this season, prompting many ‘I told you so’s.]
NH: Yes, I’m aware of that.  I don’t question that contract one bit.  Shiggy is hugely popular among players.  I know it meant a lot to them that he finish out his career here in Niihama-shi.
MM: But it prevented other moves that could have plugged holes and kept the team younger…
NH: Like I said, the fans love him.
MM: But the fans are leaving in droves.  Attendance is down more than 25%.
NH:  I doubt that.
MM: Yes, here, look. (shows data to Hasegawa)
NH: (Studies figures) Yea, wow.  I thought they were more loyal.
MM: Are you saying fans are at fault?
NH: I said nothing of the sort.  Don’t bait me.  Don’t put words in my mouth.
MM: …
NH: (angered) Look, the simple truth… the problem with the Ghosts is that we’re just not hitting.  Last year we hit .279 as a team.  As a team!  Now our team average is .248.  A thirty-point drop.  You lose a lot of ball games with that kind of drop.  It’s not the fans.  It’s not the pitchers. [ED: Ghosts pitching has also declined from a 3.30 ERA in 2011 to a current 4.44 ERA.]
MM: So now what for the Ghosts?
NH: I expect a rebuild in the offseason.  We will see turnover of the roster.  We hope the fans will return.
MM: And what about Nobu Hasegawa?  You’re 28, still among the elite in the league, and these are your prime years.  Will be among those turned over?  Will you demand a trade?  Would you accept a trade?
NH: I still love it here in Niihama-shi.  I have no plans for leaving.
MM: And if the team tried trading you to a contender for a huge package?
NH: I’m not going to comment on that.  I don’t want to fuel rumors.  We’re done.

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