Comments on: 6/28/08 – Hanshin ("Home" at Akita)

By: Christopher Pellegrini

Christopher Pellegrini — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:16:13 +0000

Igarashi is still struggling with his control. To be fair, he’s in the middle of a comeback, so that’s to be expected to a certain extent.

However, he continues to make his fair share of mistakes when he’s on the mound. He throws an awful lot of meatballs over the plate.

As for the Hanshin Tigers, it’s imperative to wade into their bullpen early in game one of a series against them.

Arm fatigue is a hitter’s best friend, and the late innings of games two and three will be less of a sure thing for Hanshin when trying to protect a one or two run lead.

They use their marquee relievers with very little regard for the scoreline, so a good goal is to make sure that they appear as early as possible (which is, of course, stating the obvious).

By: simoncurrie

simoncurrie — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:26:54 +0000

Igarashi’s getting lots of strikeouts (15 in 8 IP) but also giving up lots of hits (12) along with a couple of walks. Just bad luck, or his fast fast ball just zooms straight into the middle of the plate?

Yikes, 15 hits by Hanshin.

And yeah, the fact that Tigers starters only have to go 6 innings with their superb bullpen makes it real tough on their opponents… ouch.

By: Christopher Pellegrini

Christopher Pellegrini — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:18:05 +0000

He had three K’s in that inning.

By: David Watkins

David Watkins — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:13:34 +0000

I should have also noted that the remaining four Hanshin runs were given up by Matsui (1) in the 7th, and Hagiwara (3) in the 9th.

Also Igarashi was clocked at 155kmph in his scoreless 8th inning appearance.