Japanese Baseball Update, July 2011 by Glenn Davies
Japanese
Baseball Update, July 2010 by Glenn Davies
Japanese
Baseball Update, June 2010 by Glenn Davies
Japanese
Baseball Update
Glenn Davies, Tokyo Japan
Central
League
Turning the corner to the last month of the
regular season we continue to see a tight battle for first between the Tigers
and Giants, while Chunichi have been doing just enough to fend off a late
Swallows charge for third, and a place in the
playoffs. The Giants took 5
out of six in August from the Tigers, but their stay at the top of the CL
was short lived once they found themselves being swept by the Dragons and
Swallows. The Giants have suffered a few key injuries to their starting pitching
and seem to be holding things together with string and mirrors at the moment.
The Tigers are currently on a 5 game win streak after pounding the Bay Stars
and Swallows this past week. The press is focusing strongly on the likely
scenario if a Tigers vs. Giants CL Championship playoff series (the two biggest
rivals in baseball here in Japan), akin to a Red Sox vs. Yankees NLCS. The
other mainstay in the news has been the battle for the HR title as Yomiuri
Giants Alex Ramirez leads the Hanshin Tigers Greg Brazzell 42
to 40 going into this final month.
|
|
Games
back |
Winning Pct. |
|
1 |
Tigers |
65-49-2 |
- |
.570 |
2 |
Giants |
65-53-1 |
2.0 |
.551 |
3 |
Dragons |
66-55-2 |
2.5 |
.545 |
4 |
Swallows |
57-57-3 |
10 |
.500 |
5 |
Carp |
46-70-2 |
22 |
.397 |
6 |
Bay
Stars |
40-77 |
28.5 |
.342 |
Pacific
League
The battle for PL title continued to sway
back and forth between the Lions and Hawks through August, and now finds
the Marines right up there within touching distance. With all teams having
around 20 games remaining the final matchups look tasty. The Lions look
comfortable with 14 of their last 20 games against the clubs in
4th, 5th and 6th, while the Lions find
themselves up against the Hawks four times in the final week. Overall the
sides have been evenly matched throughout the year and for the first time
in quite some years; the team to emerge from the PL championship will likely
not be the favorites in the Japan series. T.Okada leads the PL HR race with
31, 7 clear of his closest rival at 24, Jose Ortiz.
|
|
Games
back |
Winning Pct. |
|
1 |
Lions |
68-56-1 |
- |
.548 |
2 |
Hawks |
66-55-5 |
0.5 |
.545 |
3 |
Marines |
66-55-2 |
0.5 |
.545 |
4 |
Fighters |
61-59-3 |
5 |
.508 |
5 |
Buffaloes |
60-60-4 |
6 |
.500 |
6 |
Eagles |
52-66-3 |
13 |
.441 |