Our Marines are 4-9 so far in May, as they head up north for a three game set in Sapporo. The roster changes and constant lineup tinkering have really ratcheted up this month, with the pre-game announcements accounting half the fun of following the team. It’s anyone’s guess which positions players will start this weekend, where they’ll be positioned, and in what spot they’ll bat in the lineup.
Category: game report
Hawks @ Lotte, 13-15 May 2014
I don’t wish to dwell much more on my bitter ranting from the end of the last series, but it’s certainly time for the team to step up and start winning games. The offense disappears for 10 inning stretches and the pitching alternates between brilliant and execrable. The ingredients that made this season such an exciting prospect are still there – they’re just mostly in ni-gun.
Rakuten @ Lotte, 9-11 May 2014
Wednesday’s win in Osaka halted a four game losing streak, pulling Our Marines back to a game below .500. Lotte followed a six game win streak that earned them a place in the top half of the PL standings by Lotte going 2-5 in their last seven games. We still occupy the third spot in the Pacific League even after the skid, as we prepare to host Rakuten for a three game weekend set at the Q.
Lotte @ Orix, 5-7 May 2014
The last series started with a no-hitter and ended in a true heartbreaker. After a nice winning streak for Our Marines, the ship has started to list a bit, with 3 losses in the last 4 games.
So it’s on to Osaka and Orix, and time to face the best pitching team in Japan. Orix has had its issues as well as of late, just getting swept by Hamu.
Seibu @ Lotte, 2-4 May 2014
Our Marines come home after going 5-1 on last week’s road trip. We get back to action Friday night in Chiba, a day after our 6 game win streak was broken in Sendai. Thanks to the recent run though, Our Marines are back in the top half of the for the first time this year.
Lotte @ Rakuten, 29 April – 1 May 2014
Golden Week has arrived, and Our Marines sport a .500 record for the first time this year. Fresh off a series sweep in Sapporo, our Marines head south for a three game set in Sendai. We’ve now won 4 straight, while Rakuten comes home after being swept on the road at Orix. Let’s hope these trends continue.
Lotte @ Fighters, 25-27 April 2014
Our Marines come into the final weekend series of April in the same state they came into last weekend’s series. I stated at the start of last weekend’s series post that Our Marines have been playing .500 ball since an opening series sweep. After going 2-2-1 over the last 7 days, we remain 3 games under .500.
Orix @ Lotte, 22-23 April 2014
Going 1-1-1 vs Daiei over the weekend is a damn sight better than the first series of the season, but it’s hardly ideal. Small steps. Now it’s Orix’s turn to come to frigid QVC, this time for a 2 game set.
Wakui gets the nod in game 1, fresh off his nice work in Omiya last week. It’ll be Furuya and Igawa in game 2.
SoftBank @ Lotte, 18-20 April 2014
The SoftBank Hawks come into to town Friday for a three game weekend set. Our Marines have played .500 ball since being swept by SoftBank in the season opening series in Fukuoka. The Hawks continue to be strong, currently sitting atop of PL like many experts predicted they would.
Lotte @ Seibu, 15-17 April 2014
After a wonderful start to the previous series, things did not go so well for Our Marines in the Rakuten series, and the wheels are spinning a bit. There seems to be the vague scent of panic in the air for some reason (I say ‘for some reason’ as it’s just 10% of the way into the season) as players have been swapped en masse between ichi-gun and ni-gun.