10/8/2011: Kawaguchi, Japan – The big news out of the Hyakujuu Shinkansen camp today is that manager Takanibu Miura has been fired.  While his departure is not surprising news, it is a move that came sooner than expected.  Sources say that Miura was escorted off property today by security personnel.  Several calls by the Chugoku Shimbun to Miura have not been returned.  General Manager John Leonard has released a statement regarding the firing and the incident that took place this morning.

“Manger Takanibu Miura has been released by the Hyakujuu organization.  We thank him for his time and dedication, but we needed to go another route and certain personnel were not fit for the rebuilding process we are going through.  We need individuals here that can face the challenges and adversity of professional baseball while maintaining their composure.  We are facing a long process to get Hyakujuu back to a winning team.  We don’t want a quick fix to our problem.  We have the resources to get this team to the top and keep it there for many years.  We will shed whatever baggage that is necessary to fine tune the organization.”

Some reports indicate that Miura stormed into Leonard’s office this morning, upset about the downward spiral the team has been going through.  Tempers flared and team security was called to separate the two.  Broken chairs have been seen coming out of the team building and window repair servicemen have been here today.

This year was Takanibu Miura’s first with the organization.  Expectations that the Shinkansen could compete in the Shining Star Group were dashed by the inconsistency of the team and the domination by Shin Seiki Evas and Niihama-shi Ghosts, with Hyakujuu compiling a 10-35 record against the two teams.  As mid-season approached, with the team falling farther out of contention, payroll was slashed and many star players were shipped off for prospects and draft picks.

Pitching coach Seung-hwan Chin has also been dismissed by the team.  He has been replaced by Shotaro Ishikawa of the Ruukii Kyuugi (A) Sentai Mighty Mecha.