An in-depth look at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Jingu Stadium, the Central League, and Japanese Pro Baseball
May 23rd, 2011 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 0 Tokyo Swallows 0 Streak: Drew 1 Last 5: LLLLD (Meiji Jingu Stadium) Not a very enjoyable day at Jingu. This game was called after five innings of steady drizzling. The mound had just about turned to mud. Fukuoka 1. Kawasaki SS 2. Honda 2B 3. [...]
Tokyo Swallows fans witnessed it all in 2010: the resumption of the 2009 slump which ended up consuming the first two months of 2010; a change in manager; the addition of a cleanup bat; veteran pitchers refinding their form; an authoritative return to winning; and a bit of flirtation with the third and final playoff spot. With any luck, 2011 [...]
June 1st, 2010 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 1 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 6 Streak: Lost 1 Last 5: DWLWL (Yahoo Dome) With the DH rule in effect, you’d be forgiven for believing that the sacrifice bunt would be a bit scarcer than normal. But then you’d have revealed yourself as being a supporter of a baseball [...]
June 1st, 2010 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 4 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 3 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: LDWLW (Yahoo Dome) With the dismal and eventful month of May finally behind them, the Tokyo Swallows headed south to Fukuoka for a run-in with the Pacific League’s wins (8) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.84) leader, Sugiuchi. [...]
May 15th, 2010 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 0 Streak: Lost 3 Last 5: LWLLL (Meiji Jingu Stadium) The offensive impotence continues. Starting lineup: 1. Tanaka 2B 2. Miyamoto SS 3. Aoki CF 4. D’Antona 1B 5. Guiel RF 6. Iihara LF 7. Yoshimoto 3B 8. Aikawa C 9. Nakazawa P Yoshimoto, [...]
Tomorrow, weather permitting, the 6 Central League teams will play host to the 6 Pacific League teams, kicking off 5 weeks of Interleague play. This post will hopefully give you some information you will find useful.
October 17th, 2009 Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 1 Tohoku Rakuten Eagles 4 Best of 3 Series: Fukoka 0 – 2 Tohoku (Kleenex Stadium) The Eagles rode a solid performance from starting pitcher, Masahiro Tanaka, to sweep the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks and earn a trip to Hokkaido to face the Pacific League champions.
October 16th, 2009 Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 4 Tohoku Rakuten Eagles 11 Best of 3 Series: Fukoka 0 – 1 Tohoku (Kleenex Stadium) The Eagles absolutely destroyed the visiting Hawks in the first game of what could be an abbreviated series up in Sendai.
