Winning and non-winning managers
For Manager Tatsunami, this year is the final year of his three-year contract and a decisive year.
To strengthen a sports team, it’s necessary to accurately assess the team’s current state and reinforce its weaknesses. Therefore, a two-year contract is considered short.
However, I don’t believe contract terms longer than four years are necessary. If the team’s improvement is clearly visible by the third year, then a subsequent contract can be considered.
Manager Tatsunami stated he would make the Dragons a winning team with a winning habit.
However, I am feeling that he is “the manager who prioritizes personal satisfaction over results” from watching his decisions so far.
In other words, I am feeling that it seems his goal has become to play the game as manager with the players he selected.
This is purely my personal opinion, but let me write down three reasons why I feel what I mentioned above.
1. Avoiding decisive plays at crunch time
As of May 2024, there were two games where similar game management occurred.
It was the bottom of the eighth inning, losing by one run. With two outs, a runner was on second base.
The next batter was Tanaka who was a low batting average and inexperienced player.
I thought this was the crunch time for sending a pinch hitter. However, Tanaka stayed in the batter’s box and was easily grounded out to end the inning.
Similarly, in another late-inning (6th or 7th) offensive situation losing by one run, one out and a runner on base after a hit.
The next batter was Muramatsu who was in good condition with a batting average over .300, followed by Kinoshita who was struggling with a batting average in the .100s.
Naturally, I expected Muramatsu would be allowed to swing freely. However, he was ordered the sacrifice bunt.
With the next batter being the struggling Kinoshita, I assumed a pinch hitter would be sent in.
But the struggling Kinoshita stayed in the batter’s box. He ended up making an out and ruining the chance.
Of course, both these games ended in losses.
2. Use the players he wants to use, rather than those in best condition
Many managers of teams without set regulars say, “I’ll use the players in the best condition from game to game.”
This refers to the opening three-game series.
He decided to use Rodriguez who was struggling in the exhibition games, instead of Muramatsu who was in the zone during the exhibition games.
As a result, the opening three-game series ended with two losses and one draw.
After that, I am not sure but he continued to use Muramatsu who has a high batting average, in the lower batting lineup instead of placing him in the cleanup spot.
This kind of confusing managerial decision has been seen since last year.
With Usami’s consecutive games of excellent play, the team won a three-game winning streak, achieving their first four-game winning streak of the year and building momentum for a big winning streak. However, for the next game aiming for a four-game winning streak, Usami was benched and Kinoshita, who had just been promoted to the first team, was used in the starting lineup.
As a result, the team lost that game and went on a big losing streak.
3. The Starting Catcher Problem
I believe other people feel the same way.
As I also wrote after finishing last season, I feel the Dragons’ issues are their weak batting lineup and their starting catcher.
The catcher is the only player who can see the entire playing field from outside of it. They are also the player who devises and implements the game plan including the pitcher’s pitch selection, during defense.
In other words, the catcher is the key to the defense.
However, I sometimes get the feeling that Manager Tatsunami prioritizes offensive power more than catching ability.
Kinoshita who is treated as a regular has a stolen base prevention rate that is close to zero.
I feel that Manager Tatsunami seems to think it’s acceptable to let opposing runners steal bases freely.
This must be incredibly frustrating for the pitchers.
Also, TV commentators and newspapers have said the Dragons’ pitch selection is predictable.
Indeed, the team often get hit hard in crunch situations or get hit by a barrage of hits. This pitch selection problem hasn’t changed at all since last year.
Manager Tatsunami continues to use Kinoshita as the regular catcher.
What kind of player does Manager Tatsunami envision as the ideal catcher ?
For Manager Tatsunami in his third year, how does he think about the team’s games results ?
I want to understand the meaning of the phrase “obsessed with winning” he said at his introductory press conference.
If Manager Tatsunami truly wants to win, I want to see him implement a strategy that aggressively goes for runs.
Thanks.