1962 Mets?!?  That’s Nothing… by 2012, We’re Looking at the LRS Version of the 1899 Cleveland Spiders

By Naha Shisa correspondent Koukyo Juunin

Now for a proper conclusion of my report of the Naha Shisa spring fiasco without any interruption by some delinquent self-described know-it-all.

While the Naha Shisa won their last three games, they still finished the spring with the second-worst in the league with a record of 9-15.  That projects out to a 54-90 regular season record, and that sounds about right.

The pitiful condition of the infield and outfield positions has already been covered, so next up is catching.

What can I say… Masamune Matsui finishes his swan song with Naha… but I look for some kind of deal to send him to a contender by midseason, with the Shisa picking up most of his salary.  Once Matsui departs, the suckage at this position will be reminiscent of a black hole, with balsa bat Yoshimitsu Agano on board and nobody else of note on the horizon.  Look for a catcher to be drafted early in the amateur draft.

The pitching as a whole is horrible.  Let me just put it in a nutshell… these guys couldn’t throw a strike even if the plate were four feet wide.  I watched with utter dismay as the “staff” walked 114 batters in only 209 innings pitched.  That is not a misprint.  I think Tetsunori Koike has a chance to be a mediocre starter, but our so-called ace would be a 4^th or 5^th starter for most other teams.  The relief pitching is most unimpressive… Toshikuni Watanabe is a decent reliever but hardly closer material.

Did I say this team would win 54 games?  Must be the sake talking… make that 44, tops.

The prospects for the future?!?  Empty stadiums and record-breaking futility.  It has been written elsewhere that the upcoming amateur draft will be the highlight of the Naha Shisa season.  Believe it… and for GM Fees, it had better be a good one.