An in-depth look at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Jingu Stadium, the Central League, and Japanese Pro Baseball
August 31st, 2011 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 10 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2 Streak: Lost 5 Last 5: LLLLL (Meiji Jingu Stadium) Things go from bad to worse as Tokyo see their lead shrink to a paltry 1.5 games after a game about which the less said the better. Us: Aoki (CF) Tanaka (2B) [...]
August 18th, 2011 Yokohama BayStars 0 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: WLWTW (Jingu Stadium) The Swallows decide to save Tateyama for more important teams (i.e. the Giants) and start Akagawa against the BayStars. Whitesell was again benched in favor of Miyade with a southpaw on the mound, and Aikawa was again [...]
August 14th, 2011 Tokyo Swallows 7 Hanshin Tigers 8 Streak: Lost 1 Last 5: WLLWL (Jingu) This game was a disaster, and then suddenly at the end it became a farce. One thousand yen for a ticket to this very important game. Several thousand yen for drinks. 700 yen for pizza and about 900 [...]
July 12th, 2011 Chunichi Dragons 4 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 6 Streak: Won 2 Last 5: WWLWW (Meiji Jingu Stadium) With a home series against the second placed Dragons presenting the Swallows with the chance to further extend their lead at the CL summit, they took full advantage as Shichijo (with the help of ample [...]
June 12th, 2011 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 1 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: WLDLW (Yahoo Dome) The birds looked to be in trouble when Tokyo starter, Tateyama, was ejected in the fourth inning after beaning Fukuoka’s third baseman in the head. But Tokyo’s bullpen kept the Hawks offense in check [...]
Welcome to the Monday Review, in which we’ll look back at the week that was and look ahead to the week that will be. We hope a recurring weekly review column will help readers identify some trends that can’t be covered in a single game report. We’re still trying to work out the format, so [...]
Welcome to the Monday Review, in which we’ll look back at the week that was and look ahead to the week that will be. We hope a recurring weekly review column will help readers identify some trends that can’t be covered in a single game report. We’re still trying to work out the format, so [...]
May 5th, 2011 Chunichi Dragons 8 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2 Streak: Lost 1 Last 5: LWWWL (Meiji Jingu Stadium) The Swallows lose their first game in May as Tateyama has a somewhat shaky outing and Matsuoka implodes. Also, the offense wasn’t too hot. Ochiai fakes everyone out by starting Yoshimi and not Chen. [...]
May 3rd, 2011 Chunichi Dragons 3 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 5 Streak: Won 2 Last 5: WLLWW (Meiji Jingu Stadium) The weather didn’t cooperate, but another quality start by Ishikawa teamed with some timely hitting were enough to overcome a Chunichi team that looked ever so slightly sharper than they did the last time [...]
May 1st, 2011 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 6 Hanshin Tigers 2 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: WWLLW (Koshien Stadium) After an impressive unbeaten streak that lifted the team to the top of the Central League in April, the Swallows finished the month with a pair of losses at Koshien Stadium. The birds took the field [...]
