The frustration is endless. Had Oshimoto not fallen apart and blown a five-run lead in the 8th inning in Kure a couple weeks back, we’d be tied for third, with a playoff spot bobbling around in our hands. Had Guiel’s oh-so-close slide into home against Chunichi at Botchan Stadium – a call that could have gone either way and not been obviously wrong – been called safe by the ump who didn’t see it, instead of out, we’d be tied for third, with a playoff spot bobbling around in our hands. And how many more stories like that are there?

Yes, I know, that’s why baseball is exciting, but it’d be even more exciting if we were sitting in third in this neck-and-neck race instead of consistently falling to the bottom of the pack.

Well, we have plenty of chances to knock Chunichi and Hiroshima out of position left. However, we also have two series against Yokohama left – one of those at home – and unfortunately beating the weakest team in the league at our own home park has been one of the toughest things to accomplish this year.