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Watch your back Hara

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Hara = Dick

Now I’m sure you’re all aware that we at Tsubamegun are all big fans of boneheaded Yomiuri “manager” Tatsunori Hara. The man whose job is the equivalent of sitting in the driver’s seat of a rather overpriced and aging supercar made from an assortment of the best parts from various supposedly lesser car manufacturers. A car which is permanently set to cruise control. He simply needs to start up the engine at the beginning of the season and sit in said driver’s seat, pulling various gurning faces as his car more often than not passes cheaper models on it’s way to the finish line.

So this post is all about you, Hara. And the fact that your little unfashionable crosstown rivals, the team from which you pillage some of your top stars (Ramirez, Greisinger, Gonzalez. . . and we know you’ve got your dirty little eyes on Lim) are now just 2 games behind you in the Central League standings.

Yes, just 2 games back.

That same little team that, despite your “team” historically raping and abusing all facets of the Japanese game for its own ends, has won more Japan Series titles since 1990 than your “holy” Giants.

So Mr. Hara, watch your back. Tokyo’s coming for ya!*

* The writer of the above article realizes that having written such a piece of fate-baiting material, we are now liable to get swept by the Giants at the Temple of Doom this coming weekend, and will ultimately finish the year in 6th place. To all fans of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows baseball team, I offer my sincerest apologies in advance.

Filed Under: 2009 Season, Tsubamegun Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
About David Watkins

David is a baseball bothering Brummie who spends a fair portion of his life fretting over both the Tokyo Swallows and the WORLD'S GREATEST FOOTBALL TEAM, Aston Villa.

  • http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Christopher Pellegrini

    The “HARA IS A DICK” tag is a nice touch.

  • http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Garrett DeOrio

    Thanks, Dave – now all we need is the cover of Sports Illustrated.

    We do have stupidity on our side, though. Both Hara and Takada have shown a marked preference for calling plays and making decisions based on supserstition and ingrained habit as opposed to the employment thought or actual judgement. Both men also grew up in the infamously hierarchical and conservative Giants system when it was at its height. The hope then, is that Takada being Hara’s senpai counts for something in the way of deference.

    Let’s just hope that deference doesn’t manifest itself in Hara’s letting Takada take the series bonehead award.

    Any word on Aoki’s condition?

    • http://www.tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com.com David Watkins

      After being checked out yesterday it seems Aoki got off lightly and the injury is not as bad as it could have been.

      And with the good timing of having four days rest built into the schedule, he should be good to go on Friday.

    • http://www.japaneconomynews.com Ken

      Both Hara and Takada have shown a marked preference for calling plays and making decisions based on supserstition and ingrained habit as opposed to the employment thought or actual judgement.

      I guess that’s what it takes to be the #1 and #2 teams in the Central League.

      • http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Garrett DeOrio

        To pay a quasi-backhanded (sidearmed?) compliment to the Giants – they’d be a strong team with pretty much anyone at the helm.

        The argument Trey Hillman once made in favor of the sac bunt, could be applied to this situation, too. He said he didn’t like the sac bunt, but his players were so used to it and had had the idea of its utility so drilled into them that he had to call for it once in a while just to calm them down and ease their nerves a bit.

        That could be even more true of both Hara and Takada – that the important point is not whether they know anything or not, but that their players believe them to be good managers. The power of positive thinking is markedly important in pretty much every sport.

  • http://www.japanesebaseball.com/ westbaystars

    I haven’t seen the Takada Count recently. Has that feature been discontinued?

    • http://www.tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com.com David Watkins

      Westbaystars-san, please refer to Christopher P’s response below.

      For it is he who is the keeper of the Takada count.

  • http://www.welovemarines.com/ Steve Novosel

    Go get ‘em!

    It’s your Swallows solemn duty to send them spiraling worse than Hanshin’s collapse last year. Hopefully, at least into 4th, if not worse. I made some anti-kyojin pics that you’re more than welcome to steal and paste all over Suidobashi station, if not unsuspecting, bandowagoning salarymen’s backs.

    For what it’s worth, I’m rooting for a sweep.

  • http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Christopher Pellegrini

    Westbaystars,

    No, it hasn’t been discontinued. It’s just that the team keeps winning in spite of him.

  • N26

    ?????Obviously I don´t know him and he did get the WBC trophy in spite of him. Looks like he was up for a spurise in the Giants locker room in Tokyo Kondomu.

  • http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Garrett DeOrio

    No more warning opposing managers, Mr. Watkins.

    • http://www.tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com.com David Watkins

      May I refer you to the * disclaimer above.

  • http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Garrett DeOrio

    2 GB. Yoshinori looked hot.

    After the game, interesting footage on TV of the Tokyo Dome’s first game, in 1988 – Swallows vs. Giants. Yakult’s DeCinces hit the Egg’s first HR off of Kuwata with Yomiuri’s first being delivered by Cromartie.

    What’s funny is how little has changed at TD in 21 years – many of the same ads, the same goofy “Big Egg” logo, the same deer-in-headlights look on Hara’s face (not to mention his weeping at his own accomplishments), the same bandwagon. . .

    Cromartie was a Giant, but he was fun to watch. Driving and attempted pitch out by the Carp to the wall, answering hero interview questions with one word, then laughing as the interpreter makes up some banal pleasantries.

    Teams on all sides has much, much better trumpet players than they do now.