Dominican from AAA Named Interim Skipper

Other Changes, but GM Spared – For Now

By Nakashima Kaito, ESPN-Japan.com

September 30, 2013: Tokyo, Japan – Longtime Ghosts manager Hisashi Fujii, who led the team to two straight appearances in the Neo-Tokyo Cup, was fired today by team owner Akane Kenkyusham.  Andrés Quiñones of the Dominican Republican, manager of the AAA Namuko Puckmen the past two seasons, was named interim manager of the Ghosts and will be considered for the permanent post in 2014.

Kenkyusham, joined by his son and heir apparent Hamano “Hank” Kenkyusham, announced the changes at a hastily called news conference this morning.  Fujii, 51, did not appear.  “We wish Hisashi nothing but the best in his baseball career,” said the elder Kenkyusham.  “But it is clear that change is needed, and we chose not to wait.”

Only the timing of the firing is a surprise; the team had not tendered Fujii a contract extension and it was widely expected that he would leave the organization at the conclusion of the 2013 season.  Sources indicate that the owners had become increasingly disheartened with the team’s lackadaisical play, and 43-83 record.  Also, Fujii seemed increasingly disinterested, disappearing between innings into the tunnel to the clubhouse for a cigarette, and often mumbling to himself.

Odd moves by Fujii on the field also provoked the owners’ irritation.  Most prominently, he abruptly shifted 1B Joji Takeuchi to second in a game against Kure, resulting in injury and an end to Takeuchi’s storybook season.  Even staunch supporters of Fujii questioned the manager’s rationale in that move.  “For the family, that was the final straw,” said one clubhouse source.

Nonetheless, Fujii was beloved by Ghosts fans for having captained the team to two straight Shining Star Group titles and Neo-Tokyo Cup appearances in 2010 and 2011.  Fujii’s record those two seasons was 190-98.  His record in 2012 and this season totals 97-173.

Radio talk show switchboards and Ghost-related websites have been flooded since word of his firing surfaced.  “Fujii is being made the scapegoat for a bunch of overpaid, underperforming prima donnas,” was one such comment.  Many fans voiced dismay that the team’s general manager, Mike Dunn, was retained.  “Dunn drove this team into the ground,” said one.  “Why is that gaijin still around?  Does he have pictures of Hank with a sheep?”  The fans also questioned promoting a young gaijin to helm the Ghosts, even on an interim basis.

Quiñones, 39, led the AAA Puckmen to two straight second place finishes in 2012 and 2013, compiling a record of 144-96.  Prior to that, Quiñones spent five seasons managing in the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Invernal.  There, his team, the Baní Depredadores del Peravia, won one championship and had two other playoff appearances.

Moreover, scouts consider his ability to handle rookies, veterans and players in general to be beyond outstanding – “legendary” as one put it.  “I look forward to being with the Ghosts as they close out the 2013 season,” said Quiñones.  “I have nothing but the utmost respect for Fujii and am honored to succeed him.”

“He’s so young,” complained one blogger, “He’s barely older than some of the players.  Will they listen to him?”

Apparently to ease those concerns, the owners placed 65-year-old Ramón Duarte at Quiñones’ side.  Duarte, also a Dominican, has been the manager of Ghosts’ Single-A affiliate Gakidou Onryou and has an equally legendary reputation for handling rookies and for teaching hitting.  He will become the Ghosts’ hitting coach, but more importantly will serve as a veteran advisor.

The shake-up also caused these ripple effects:

– Ghosts hitting coach Yuji Nakayama was demoted to AAA Namuko, displaced by Duarte.
– Puckmen pitching coach Shigekazu Kobayashi will replace Duarte as Onryou manager for the remainder of the season.