Wow, what a well-played game for both teams! The final game of 2009 between Lotte and Hanshin (barring a 2005 Japan Series rematch) had it all – a pitching duel, great defense, unexpected plays, and best of all – a clutch hit to drive in the winning run in a 4-1 Marines victory. Lotte starter …
Category: optimism
Interleague Game 18: We Shall Fight on the Beaches
Before tonight’s game vs Hiroshima at Chiba Marine – the last game between Lotte and Hiroshima in 2009 – I imagine Bobby Valentine gave our Marines a pep talk. I think it might have gone like this: “My fellow Marines. We have seen much together these past years. These last few weeks – the battles …
Game Report: Lotte vs Softbank, 5/12
Break out the tasty beer – Lotte is no longer in the cellar (exclusively)! With a tight 2-1 victory over the Hawks tonight and a very weak Pa-league, the Marines have moved into a tie for 5th. A victory tomorrow and they could be in 3rd. How strange is that? On the heels of Karakawa’s …
Hail Karakawa!
I missed the game report from yesterday’s 6-2 loss to Rakuten, but I will include some notes/commentary in this post. I sat in front of the TV this afternoon with the game on, ready to write some about the last game and I just couldn’t. Why? Budding ace Karakawa was on the hill, and he’s …
Game Report: Orix vs Lotte, 4/30
After Tuesday’s extra-inning heartbreaker and yesterday’s tantalizing-comeback-that-fell-short Lotte entered tonight’s game needing a strong performance to avoid their second straight series sweep at the hands of Orix. Would Marines ace Shimizu Naoyuki (0-2 with a 9.20 ERA in ’09) be able to shut down the power-hitting Buffalo bats? Would the erratic Lotte offense be able …
Game Report: Rakuten vs Lotte, 4/16
WOW! Talk about your dramatic comebacks, and stunning victories!!! In a game featuring several lead changes and ties, and 18 combined runs, Lotte comes back from down 7-4 in the 7th inning to tie, and ends it on a spectacular sayonara grand slam from Iguchi-senshu! Lotte isn’t known as a power team, but this game …
A season of optimism, as always
I don’t think that I am going out on a limb here when I say the start of the baseball season is possibly the most optimistic time of year. Baseball isn’t particularly unique in this regard, but the length of the season and the Springtime in the air somehow makes it more so than the …