For next season and for the future

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The year 2024 was an important and result-oriented year for Manager Tatsunami.

Manager Tatsunami has made significant player replacements over the past two years. This includes trading regular players Abe and Kyoda.
I was agreeable to this replacement of players because I think that continuously using the main players of a team that was not winning will not make the team a winning team.
Dragons also selected mainly infielders in the draft, and felt that our player roster is getting better in 2024.
In addition, Dragons acquired Nakata for an estimated annual salary of 300 million per year as our No. 4 batter.

The remaining games are for next season.
Of course, it would be different if they could repeat their large winning streak, but I think it will be tough unless manager Tatsunami drastically change his strategy very much.
Rather, I feel that the possibility of an ignominious record of being in last position for three consecutive years is more likely.
As I have mentioned before, I think that Manager Tatsunami is an unwindable manager.
There is a reason I mention this. I do not think that the player roster is the problem.
I think the reason is the manager’s strategy, including the starting lineup.

The starting lineup is more of a shuffle lineup than a daily batting lineup, with constant changes not only in the members but also in the batting order.
Today the player is number 4 and tomorrow the player will number 7, or today the player is number 1 and tomorrow the player will number 8, and so on.
Perhaps the players might not be able to stand up to bat calmly?

This year, we’re going to play games with Nakata as the center of the team! But if he couldn’t hit in a few games, he was not used as a starting lineup or was removed from the first-team roster.
I feel that it is difficult to build a true relationship of trust between the manager and players because not only Nakata but most of the players are treated in the same way.
I also feel that promising young players are not able to gain experience and are deprived of even the possibility of growth.

The Dragons are said to be a team with few RBIs. However, their strategy don’t seem to be trying to score even one point. And the manager’s comments in the losing games are, “We don’t get a timely hit when we have a chance.”
Why doesn’t Manager Tatsunami try to score a single point?　I feel that if he says it is a small chance, he needs to play baseball to score a single point even more so.
I think the manager needs to give instructions when there is a chance to score. This will give the players experience.

This is just my personal opinion, but I feel that Manager Tatsunami favors players Kinoshita and Oda.
It seems that Manager Tatsunami is entrusting the team’s result for the season to the catcher Kinoshita.
Since Oda is still young, I think it would be fine for him to gain experience in the second team. However, even if he doesn’t get results in the second team, he will be promoted to the first team.
I think this kind of stance also affects the trust relationship between the manager and the players.

Gaining momentum for the team for the next season could really lead to the next season for both the manager and the players.

Thanks.