May 13, 2017: Kyoto

By Saruwatari Tsuyoshi, Kyoto Shimbun News

It’s the 3^rd inning, down 2-0, bases loaded, the count 0-2, Morihiro Nakamura digs in at the plate. The pitch, his massive arms uncoil and launch the ball deep into center, to the warning track, a 3 RBI double that puts the his club in the lead! A tsunami of cheers crash upon the scene and die in a hush as the baseball giant limps into second and collapses on the bag in anguish. Stoic yet amiable he is carted off the field to thunderous applause tinged with melancholy. Inspired by his effort the club goes on to win the game but it feels like a pyrrhic victory. The diagnosis for the 32 year old star? Ruptured achilles tendon, he’ll be out 4-5 months.

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. In his final year of a 4 year $54 million deal. He was supposed to be playing out and enjoying the sunset of his career. Everyone expected he’d re-sign with the club, probably with a home town discount and play out his days in Edo.

Now Kyoto talk radio is abuzz. Fans are wondering, the club has been making a major effort to get back to profitability. Many are still enraged that the club traded away ‘Wheels’ Chien, largely for financial reasons. They know the club was actively looking to move RF Shimpei Adachi’s contract and there are even rumors that C Kenko Nakamura will not be extended when he concludes his contract this season. This seems especially likely in light of the ‘Wheels’ trade in which Edo acquired C Koryusai Kakuta. Some say Kakuta isn’t ready though.

Ownership has repeatedly stated that Homu-ran will retire in the famous ‘October Orange’ colors, but can they afford to stay loyal to the legendary slugger? Surely the club would be better with Hiroshige Takeda back his natural position in left field? Shimpei Adachi was about the same age when he suffered a precipitous decline following a playoff knee injury. Homu-ran has been declining over the past two years. Can he come back?

Was Tuesday’s injury an eclipse or the setting of the sun in Edo?