Katsuya Kakunaka – Page 4 – We Love Marines

game report May 23, 2014March 20, 2016 by Craig Roberts

Interleague Series 2: Yomiuri @ Lotte, 23-24 May 2014

Interleague play started well for us and hopefully that continues against the Giants. We’re 2-0 against Tokyo teams and have a chance to make it 4-0 on Friday and Saturday. We’re riding a three game winning streak, and it seems that MAYBE things are starting to come together for Our Marines. Perhaps the everyday lineup is beginning to take shape. With the recent heroics of Ogino and Katoh, we may actually be on a path to achieving the balance of old and new that we hoped for at the beginning of the year. Cautious optimism abound.

game report April 30, 2014March 20, 2016 by Craig Roberts

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.

game report April 2, 2014March 20, 2016 by Craig Roberts

Home Opening Series: 1-3 April 2014, Seibu @ Lotte

After a brutal opening series, Our Marines are poised to officially open up QVC Marine Field for 2014. The home opener features our Kanto rivals the Seibu Lions. You may remember the Lions from Stage One of last year’s Climax Seires, where we took two of three in Tozorazawa to end their season. We also crossed paths in the offseason with Class A free agent pitcher Hideaki Wakui deciding to dump Seibu in order to sign with Lotte for two years, 440 million yen. Hopefully we can rebound from the weekend’s sweep, starting Tuesday night and onto Wednesday and Thursday for twin matinee 2:00 starts.

Feature preview March 27, 2014March 20, 2016 by Steve Novosel

2014 Season Preview: Position Players

We just took a look yesterday at the pitchers for the 2014 version of Our Marines. The pitching situation is pretty straightforward with a lot of depth both in the rotation and in the pen. The situation for position players is a bit different, though, with lots more variables to consider.

Feature Year in Review January 16, 2014March 20, 2016 by Steve Novosel

Memories of 2013 – Great Players, Thrilling Moments

Happy 2014 from We Love Marines! Now that the 2013 season is officially in the books with Rakuten as champs and Our Marines in a strong second place¹, it’s time to review some of the players and moments that made this season so memorable.

game report September 17, 2013March 20, 2016 by Steve Novosel

Wins Needed Now – Orix Series: 17-18 Sep 2013

I’m not going to lie to you – this team needs wins in the worst way right now. September is not exactly looking like July yet, but the 5-6 record so far this month is the second worst month for Our Marines this season. The team batting average so far this month is a limp .227, and the ERA has ballooned to 4.37. Not coincidentally, Nishino and Greisinger are out with arm injuries, and Naruse is still absent from the roster.

This team needs a boost, and needs it now.

game report September 14, 2013March 20, 2016 by Craig Roberts

Last Stand for Seibu 14-16 September 2013

Series Preview: After dropping two of three at home and further back of first place Rakuten, it appears Our Marines will be playing for second place down the stretch. Lotte leads SoftBank by two games for the second slot (and home position in Climax Stage 1) with 19 games to go, three of which are next weekend at home against those very Hawks. Meanwhile, the Lions are clawing and the Fighters are, well…fighting to get back in the race for the top three spots, 3.5 and 4.5 games back of SoftBank respectively. Excluding a make up game in late September, this series is our last scheduled trip to Saitama in 2013. Hopefully, we can knock the Lions further out of contention as a parting gift.

game report September 10, 2013March 20, 2016 by Steve Novosel

Rough Up Rakuten! 10-12 September 2013

Series Preview: Folks, this is the last stand vs Rakuten. If Our Marines have any chance at all at winning the Pacific League title this year this series must be won. Not only won, we need to sweep it. There’s still 5 games left with the Eagles, 4 of them are at home, and 3 …

game report August 30, 2013March 20, 2016 by Steve Novosel

It’s a Sweep! Hamu Series: 30 August – 1 September 2013

It’s Legends Series time, and who doesn’t love an excuse to break out the throwback uniforms? Honestly these old unis – they’re the old road blues from the Orions days – are my favorite Lotte uniform. Love the blue with the red accent, and I wish we played in the Orions-era uniforms (both road and home) more often.

game report August 24, 2013March 20, 2016 by Craig Roberts

A Series in Sendai: 23-25 August, 2013

As Steve mentioned at the conclusion of the Seibu series post, Our Marines are heading north to Sendai on Friday for a pivotal 3 game set between the top two teams in the PL. Thanks to Lotte’s 12-5 run, combined with a five game losing streak for Rakuten, we sit only 2.5 games back of the first place Eagles heading in. With our 3 most reliable pitchers slated to start this weekend, hopefully we can at least take 2 of 3 and win our 7th series in a row.