1900 [league redacted] LEAGUE SEASON PREVIEW
LEAGUE PREVIEW
Code:
1899 STANDINGS
Pacific League
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec
Chiba Lotte Marines 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Nippon Fighters 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Orix Buffaloes 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Seibu Lions 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Tohoku Rakuten Ninjas 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Team To Watch: Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
- Fukuoka looks to be the best in the Pacific League thanks to 3 quality SP's, a great closer, and a lineup with 5 All-Start caliber hitters. 27yo closer Sukejuro Kiyomizu will be the anchor behind the most balanced staff in the Pacific, and should have plenty of chances to close out games. And when the Hawks are up, they have a lineup where 5 of the 8 everyday players can hurt you either with a basehit or a homerun.
Pitcher To Watch: SP Keishi Yano (Toh)
- Yano is the game's best control pitcher. The 6'1, 27 yo will not overpower many hitters, with his fastball topping out at only 88 mph. And his stuff and movement are nothing better than above avg. But where this pitcher excels in with his control. With a rating of 16/20, he will rarely walk a hitter, and will throw plenty of strikes, giving his teammates behind them a chance with their gloves. He anchors an otherwise weak Tohoku rotation, so alot of the burden will be put on his shoulders to be the ace the team is paying him like.
Hitter To Watch: 3b Russ Hamilton (Orix)
- Russ is an American import probably on his last legs at 39yo, but realizing he could be a star in Japan, he headed to the International league and signed a league high $12mill contract. His legs are going fast and he is no longer great in the field, but he can still hit, especially in the OPB area. A great contact hitter (12/20) with an even better eye (14/20), Hamilton should be among Japan's leaders in Batting Avg, Walks, and OPB while trying to adjust to life in the International League of Japan.
Newcomer To Watch: n/a
Code:
1899 STANDINGS
Central League
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec
Chunichi Dragon 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Hanshin Tiger 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Hiroshima Toyo Carp 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Yakult Swallows 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Yokohama Bay Stars 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Yomiuri Giants 0 0 .000 - 0-0
Team To Watch: Hiroshima Toyo Carp
- On paper, the Central League is the far better of the 2 Japanese leagues, but Hiroshima seems like the favorites to win the pennant. While their pitching staff leaves something to be desired, it will be masked by the International Leagues best lineup. Led by 1b Terumoto Baba, C Kikaku Kichida, SS Tamasaburo Il & Dominican LF Pancho Pomares, they have 4 legitimate MVP caliber bats in their lineup and should put up a ton of runs.
Pitcher To Watch: SP Pascal Maynez (Yak)
- The 25 yo native of Nicaragua is the best young pitcher in the International League. Already a solid pitcher with ratings of 10/11/15, he possesses a 96 mph fastball and a rubber arm (19/20), but he is only going to get better. At 64 ovr right now, he is one of the games best, but with a potential of 79 ovr makes him the highest rating potential pitching star in Japan.
Hitter To Watch: LF Kei Nishida (Chun)
- Nishida is Japan's premier HR hitter who could match many of those in the MLB in terms of pure power (16/20). He won't hit for a high avg, and along with being on the HR leaderboard, he will equally be as high on the strikouts board, but when when he gets ahold of one, it's a no brainer. Despite being 35 yo, he is yet to hit his prime with a potential HR power of 17/20, so he should be the leagues most dangerous long ball threat for a few years to come.
Newcomer To Watch: n/a
TEAM PREVIEW
YOMIURI GIANTS
Pitching
Starters: Our starting staff is very pedestrian and can best be described as the aging vets & the unproven youngsters. With 2 pitchers 24 yo or under, #2 Mifune & #3 Iishi, we have a bright future with our staff, and they will be groomed by our 3 other 35yo+ starters, including team #1 SP Atshushi Fujimoto, who is anything but an "ace" but is the best we have.
Bullpen: Where we lack in starting pitching, we excel in the pen. Anchored by our excellent 1-2 RH/LH closer/set up man, we have the type of pen that can shut teams down from the 6th inning on if needed to. Closer Shigeko Nishiyama and set-up Mitsuo Jouon are a great end of the game duo, and with 4 other quality relivers and great balance (3 LH/3 RH) we can really play the matchups.
Code:
Pitching Staff
STARTERS BULLPEN
1. RH A. Fujimoto CL - S. Nishiyama (RH)
2. RH M. Mifune SU - M. Jouon (LH)
3. LH Y. Iishi MR - K. Okamoto (RH)
4. RH M. Hayagawa MR - I. Brovillard (LH)
5. RH K. Sumi MR - K. Kurita (LH)
MR - I. Fujioh (RH)
Hitting
Catchers: Jun Kahae is on of the best young catchers in Japan. At only 26, and already a very solid hitter (more so for avg than power), he is an all-star in the making for a number of years. He will bat 3rd for us, and we're expecting him to hit for a very high avg.
Infield: 1b Masayuki Kichida is one of our best power hitters and his corner mate at 3rd, Atsumori is one of our top hitters for avg and OPB. However other than those attributes, neither bring much to the table in terms of fielding or defense. The middle IF is exactly opposite, as neither 2b Seisi Fujioka or SS Kiichi Kiyokowa can do much at the plate, but have plenty of intangibles, and both are capable of winning a gold glove while swiping 20-30 bases.
Outfield: 31 yo LF Shohei Heida is our superstar in every regard. Best contact hitter, by far our best power hitter, best eye, and of our 3 starting OF's best with the glove. He has enough talent at the plate to compete for a starting nod in the MLB. .325-40-125 is well within range for this MVP caliber player. Our other 2 starting OFs, CF Atsumori Fujii & RF Tameyoshi Ine are also both solid players. Not quite in the league with Heida, but both will be expected to produce quality numbers and give us a solid 3-some in the OF. Backups Toyotomi Okimasa & Fook Ku will split time at DH (vs RH/LH) and as our primary pinch hitters.
Code:
LINEUP BENCH
1. CF T. Ine (R) C T. Ikeda (R)
2. SS K. Kiyokowa (R) 1b J. Alvarado (S)
3. C J. Kahae (R) IF O. Matsui (R)
4. LF S. Heida (L) 3b M. Barnhill (L)
5. 1b M. Kichida (R) OF T. Okimasa (L)
6. 3b A. Ochi (S) CF/RF F. Ku (R)
7. CF A. Fujii (R)
8. DH F. Ku (R) / T. Okimasa (L)
9. 2b S. Fujioka (R)
Prospects
Pitchers: SP T. Iwahashi (23yo/R)
Hitters: none
Team Info
Payroll/Budget: $68,458,900/$83,000,000
Cash: $14,000,000
Team Market: Average
Fan Loyalty/Interest: Average/60 of 100
Available Money: $6,541,100