An in-depth look at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Jingu Stadium, the Central League, and Japanese Pro Baseball
On this day in 1980, Masanori Ishikawa was born in Akita Prefecture. He joined the Tokyo Swallows at the end of 2001 when he was selected in the first round by the Japan Series champion Tokyo Swallows. There was no delay in his introduction to top team baseball, and he quickly found himself a weekly [...]
November 3nd, 2011 Tokyo Swallows 3 Chunichi Dragons 1 Series: Chunichi 2-1 Tokyo (Nagoya Dome) With the team already down 2-0 in the series, it goes without saying that tonight’s game was a must win for the Swallows. Amidst much speculation, the Swallows started Ishikawa on 3 days rest against the Dragons’ Chen. But that [...]
October 30th, 2011 Yomiuri Giants 6 Tokyo Swallows 2 Series: Tied 1-1 (Meiji Jingu Stadium) The Swallows were never really in control of this contest. That was evident throughout. Making it worse was the fact that the team never had a shot once we got deep into our bullpen. Uninspiring. Unhelpful. Unhappy. Unbe-Lim-able. Utsumi was [...]
With only one game left to go in the regular season, hosts David Watkins and Christopher Pellegrini look ahead to the first stage of the playoffs which will be played at Jingu next weekend. After talking briefly about why the Swallows finished second in the Central League, David and Christopher move on to probable pitching [...]
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 [...]
October 10th, 2011 Tokyo Swallows 0 Chunichi Dragons 3 Streak: Lost 1 Last 5: LWLWL (Nagoya Dome) This was the first game of that oh-so-critical four-game away series that we’ve been looking forward to since early last month. And as you can see, it didn’t start well. Chunichi was able to capitalize when they got [...]
October 4th, 2011 Tokyo Swallows 3 Hanshin Tigers 9 Streak: Lost 1 Last 5: WLLWL (Kyocera Dome) Tokyo’s season-defining twelve game stretch got off to the worst possible start as their ailing pitching staff were knocked about by Hanshin to the tune of fourteen hits and nine runs. Meanwhile in Nagoya, an almost [...]
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 [...]
September 23rd, 2011 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2 Chunichi Dragons 6 Streak: Lost 3 Last 5: LWLLL (Nagoya Dome) One of these teams has a boatload of experience of being in contention down the home stretch of the season, while the other doesn’t. After Tokyo wasted chance upon chance and had a late inning bullpen collapse [...]
September 17th, 2011 Yokohama BayStars 2 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2 Streak: Tied 1 Last 5: WWWWT (Jingu Stadium) Well, it had to end sometime. After nine wins, Tokyo’s winning streak ended at the hands of Yokohama, of course, in a game with a lot of thwarted offense. The scoring: Kinjoh hit a solo home run [...]
