The weekend series vs cross-Kanto rivals Seibu represented a chance for Our Marines to get back to .500, as well as a taste of the only Pacific League team we’ve yet to see. Ultimately, what we learned is much the same as what the previous four series taught us – when the pitching is good, …
Tag: Hideaki Wakui
After a Sneak Peak, A Season Preview
The 2017 Chiba Lotte Marines season is about to get underway – time for us to take a look at how Itoh-kantoku’s guys are shaping up. I can hear your comments already – “Steve, isn’t it cheating to write a season preview after the first week of the season has already been played?” I must admit …
Those Bullpen Blues: Part II
July hasn’t always been the kindest month to Our Marines. The summer collapse has become somewhat of a tradition around here. Maybe it’s due to some unique home field advantage we get from the brutal early-season Marine Field conditions, but it always seems that our PL opponents hit their strides and overtake us the weather …
Limping into Interleague
Our Marines went 2-3 on a week that started with a bang, but ended with a whimper – and even some boos. Lotte fell to 6 games back of the first place Hawks, but still hold onto 2nd over the Fighters by 1.5 games, and A-class status over Seibu by 5 games. Lotte @ Fighters, …
Any Way the Wind Blows
Our Marines went 4-1 this past week, sweeping a pair of games in the Seibu Dome and taking two of three in a home set over the Fighters. As you may recall, one Marines blogger (OK, it was me) took a positive approach toward Lotte dropping three of four the week prior to last. Well, …
No Schism In My Optimism Prism
Our Marines lost three of four games at home this past week, falling off their first place perch in the process. Lotte dropped both games against the Hawks in a rain shortened weekday set, and then split a short weekend pair with the Buffaloes. Sure, I’m not exactly jumping for joy after winning just one …
Lottocracy Spring
This past week will be remembered for a couple of career firsts for two of Our Young Marines. The week started with Kota Futaki getting his first career win in a complete game effort on Tuesday afternoon in Sendai. Later in the week in Sapporo, Takuya Takahama hit his first career home run on Friday, …
Series Report: Lotte @ Orix, 1-3 April 2016
Our Marines took to the road for the first time this past weekend, taking two of three games from the Orix Buffaloes in Osaka. Just like the sakura all around Chiba Prefecture, Our Marines have also blossomed quite beautifully into a first place team over the weekend, sitting atop the PL with a 5-3 record. …
2016 Preview: Opening Series and Events
[cs_section id=”” class=” ” style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; ” visibility=”” parallax=”false”][cs_row id=”” class=” ” style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” visibility=”” inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=””][cs_column id=”” class=”” style=”padding: 0px; ” bg_color=”” fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text id=”” class=”” style=”” text_align=””]It’s here. IT’S FINALLY HERE! The 2016 Season Opener is today! The long, cold winter is …
2016 Preview: Sta-Men In My Mind
[cs_section id=”” class=” ” style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; ” visibility=”” parallax=”false”][cs_row id=”” class=” ” style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” visibility=”” inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=””][cs_column id=”” class=”” style=”padding: 0px; ” bg_color=”” fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text id=”” class=”” style=”” text_align=””]Like most baseball fans, I like to use my free time in the pre-season planning for …