I doubt Shiroishi is headed for such a distinction, but he could probably join Dobashi on the ni-gun coaching staff if he is so inclined.

Miyamoto seems like a more likely choice for head coach in my opinion.

I don’t think anyone writing here is in a position to know what the coaches in the US do or don’t do.

I don’t know if he needs to be the head for schmoozing with the VIPs, as the VIPs and the players don’t seem so distant in the Swallows.
But in a sense, it can surely be the training for being a coach.
If I remember correctly, Miyamoto said he appointed Shiroishi to be the head because Shiroishi wouldn’t otherwise show his leadership.

Incidentally, Manaka too served as the head for three years(2002-2004).

The second half of my last comment was a bit tongue-in-cheek. Sorry.

I was implying, facetiously, that schmoozing with the VIPs was enough to (maybe) get Shiroishi a coaching job in the future.

The route to such an influential post, as I just mentioned, would probably not be as bump-free in MLB. You’ll remember that Hillman raised some eyebrows when he was given the reigns in Kansas City despite never having held any top team coaching position in the bigs before the 2008 season (his undeniable success in Hokkaido obviously overrode any doubts that his employers may have had).

Anyway, I agree that Shiroishi has the potential to be a decent fielding coach. As we’ve seen time and time again, star players do not automatically make good managers. By that logic I am willing to acknowledge that Shiroishi could eventually turn into one of the best managers the game has ever seen. That is entirely possible, but I haven’t heard that that’s what he’s planning to do.

If it is, then I would appreciate it if he would get out of the way so that some of our younger guys languishing on the farm team can have a better chance at breaking into ichi-gun.

Aside from that, I believe Shiroishi would be an excellent fielding coach(not a batting coach, of course).

Sounds a little like a ‘coach-in-training’ program, doesn’t it?

I don’t know much about the internal matters, but the TYS PA is a branch of Japan Professional Baseball Players Association, which functions as a labor union and is engaged in social service.
Miyamoto had been the head of the TYS PA before he appointed Shiroishi to be his successor.

The TYS PA is a self-governing body, and the head brings the players together outside the field, whereas the captains play the role inside the field.
The head also serves as a pipeline between the organization and the players, and I hear he has to handle miscellaneous trifles like someone’s complaint about the location of his locker.

In addition, he has to go and worship at shrines like Naminouegu and Meiji Jingu along with the manager and the coaches every year.

It might be petty, but it was Tokyo 5-2 Orix when Morioka doubled to right.

Not at all. I’m glad that someone is paying attention. Thank you, Tomnish!

BTW, Shiroishi had worked very hard for three years as the head of the TYS players association until Ishikawa took it over, so I guess he has been paid for that to some extent.

I had heard that mentioned before, but I can’t remember where or from who. Do you know what responsibilities the head of the TYS PA has?

BTW, Shiroishi had worked very hard for three years as the head of the TYS players association until Ishikawa took it over, so I guess he has been paid for that to some extent.

I guess I could always join the Beavis fan club instead. It really seems like every Yakult player I’ve liked over the last few years has disappeared from the team, though…

Wait! Don’t pick Beavis! Shiroishi is a very hard-working and handsome guy. Please start liking him!