2026 Professional Baseball Season Begins
The long-awaited professional baseball season has finally begun.
Expectations
The Dragons are getting very positive advance reviews this year.
Most critics agree that the other teams’ rosters have weakened.
Personally, we have a different perspective.
1. The players who joined the team during Manager Tachinami’s era have gained experience and matured.
In other words, the previously thin bench of position players has gained depth. And through competitive pressure, players with strong hitting abilities are also developing.
2. The draft picks who joined during Manager Inoue’s era are ready to contribute immediately.
This addresses one of the concerns of the “high age of the pitching staff.”
3. The installation of the Home Run Terrace
Personally, we were against this. However, the addition of the Home Run Terrace to a stadium that was spacious even for foreign players means we can now expect foreign players to perform well to some extent. I believe this will lead to an increase in home runs not only for foreign players but also for Japanese players.
If relief pitchers can develop further, we feel the team will be in top form.
However, the season began with key players Matsuyama (pitcher) and Uebayashi on the disabled list.
Especially, the Dragons has no other gooid candidates for the closer role, Matsuyama’s being on the disabled list is a very tough situation. The reason is that without a closer who is a crucial role in modern baseball, it becomes difficult to close out games.
Before the season began, Manager Inoue said in a TV interview, “I want to entrust the closer role to Abreu.”
He made this decision even though Abreu had barely pitched during the exhibition games.
For that reason, many people likely felt uneasy about this comment and also remembered last year’s comment about the cleanup hitter.
Opening Game
We believe everyone was confident the Dragons would win this year’s opening game, as their batting lineup was on fire and they led 5–1 going into the top of the ninth inning.
The Dragons sent in Abreu in the bottom of the ninth with a four-run lead.
I was watching the game on JCOM, and the commentator said that Abreu “only has a fastball and lacks a finishing pitch”. Since I rarely hear the commentators make such negative comments, it made me feel uneasy.
As a result, the Dragons easily let a four-run lead slip away.
Since the Dragons had replaced most of their starting lineup, their scoring ability had dropped, and ultimately, they suffered a walk-off loss.
It’s been a nightmare opening game.
It’s one of those rare games where the manager’s decisions led to the loss.
We’ve received information that pitcher Abreu had strained his back.
Regarding this information, Manager Inoue said “I wish he’d told me.”
Based on this comment, it seems that Manager Inoue and the coaching staff aren’t able to gauge a pitcher’s condition just by watching him pitch, right ?
In other words, when they say things like “his pitches have good movement” or “his pitches lack movement” on a daily basis, they’re just talking about the results of his pitching, right ?
However, the real problem was that no one went to the mound when he was easily loaded with runners.If Pitcher Abreu really had a strained back, I think he could have spoken up at that time.
Let’s change our mindset
Even though we’re calling this the season opener with a fresh start, looking back, it’s really just one game.
Last year’s issue with the cleanup hitter decision wasted a whole month. However, if the player himself says it’s due to an injury, we can look at it positively as a problem confined to just one game.
Starting today, there’s the issue of who will be the closer, but I hope they can use today’s loss as a learning experience and get by for the next two weeks by managing the pitching staff.
It’s true that a sports team can certainly be called the manager’s team.
However, professional baseball has many fans. And there are fans who pay a significant amount of money to watch every single game.
I hope the manager will stop making decisions based only on his own perception, without checking on the players’ condition.
This year, there’s also a head coach. We really hope he’ll listen to the opinions of those around him.
Of course, it is the manager’s responsibility to make the final decision.
We sometimes voice negative opinions as a fan, but we don’t think Manager Inoue is at fault.
In fact, I’m supporting Manager Inoue.
It was a shocking start to the season, but we truly believe we have a great chance this year.
Please play a game where each run is secured and each run is prevented.
Last year, the Dragons were the only team to finish with a winning record against the champion Hanshin Tigers. Please aim for the championship.
Personally, I’m happy to see Fukunaga play in the starting lineup, as I’ve been looking forward to it.
Among Japanese players, he’s the second-best after Hosokawa in terms of having the potential to hit for power.
I’m looking forward to seeing how he performs this year.
Reference: Chunichi Sports (2026/02/26)
https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1186809
https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1124872
Reference: Nikkan Sports News (2026/02/26)
https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/202601240000973.html
Thanks.