(May 29th) We are in Hiroshima having an off-day and we are getting ready to start the 2 game series against the Carp.

I’d like to thank all of the Hanshin fans for visiting my blog over the last couple of days. I’d like to comment on a few of those comments.

First off, there is a concern that Kanemoto-senshu of Hanshin was hit by a pitch. For those who did not see the game, I’d like to explain the circumstances of the 9th inning during the game on the 27th.

We were winning by a quite few runs as their young left hander was giving up many hits to our players including back-to-back homeruns. When one of our hottest hitters, Fukuura, who happens to be our third place hitter and also is the hottest hitter of the series, came to the plate with men on second and third with first base open, time was called and a pitching coach from Hanshin went to the mound and very quickly talked to the pitcher. As soon as the coach went back to the dugout, the next pitch was thrown at 90 mph (145 km/hr) and hit Fukuura right on his forearm and it was quite painful. I walked out of the dugout to see how he was. Then I continually looked into the dugout of Hanshin wondering if I would see some expression of remorse or a tip of the cap by one of their coaches or the manager, but I didn’t see any of that – my entire team and everyone who was in a Marines’ uniform - including myself - immediately thought that this was a deliberate pitch thrown at Fukuura ordered by the coach who went to the mound.

As it turned out, the second hitter of the inning was Kanemoto (whom Fujita was pitching to), and on the fourth pitch after two very easy pitches that could’ve been hit and put in play, the pitch went inside and hit Kanemoto on his forearm – in almost exactly the same place where Fukuura was hit.

Now some of the fans who wrote into the blog accused me of deliberately retaliating for the pitch that hit Fukuura. I’d like to set a couple of things straight.

First off, my players have been hit twice as often as my pitchers have hit the opposition, as our players were hit 28 times versus my pitchers hitting the opposition 14 times this year. That’s including Zuleta leading the league in being hit by a pitch - having so many pitchers hitting the same place in his hand so that now he is going to the States to have the hand examined and possibly have an operation on his seriously bruised finger.

Secondly, of all the 27 previous times that my batters were hit in the game, never was there an opposition batter hit in the next inning.

And thirdly, I think it’s just the time for Hanshin and Hanshin fans to understand who really is ruining the game of baseball in Japan. And that is the idea that Hanshin plays by a separate set of rules and that they are special in the way they should be treated and the way they treat others - because they get 55,000 fans at the stadium every day. They do not have to give any fan service to their fans and they don’t have to share revenues with other teams who are not as fortunate as to play in a big city and have a captive audience as Hanshin does. The idea of not working with other teams to make Japanese baseball as good as it can possibly be is what is really ruining the game of baseball in Japan.

And I think Hanshin fans should be made aware of that and understand that when I go outside of the stadium as I did before the 2nd game to take some photographs with my friends who were at the game, that it is ok for me to be there and it is ok for me to sign autographs for some fans that want my autograph or even take pictures with those fans before the game. However, the security guards prohibited this as they were in a panic that I was out there with the Hanshin fans and rushed me inside and pulled cameras away from people so that they would not take photographs.

This kind of action is absurd - if the Hanshin fans were so barbaric that the opposing manager can’t be present then we should change the game to something rather than baseball and make it a gladiator event or something equally as barbaric as that.

I believe in fan service and believe in playing the game in the way that the game should be played and if, in fact, anyone takes exception to that it is not my problem.

So stay tuned.
Keep coming to the blog and maybe we’ll have other comments.



Bobby
Commit to your passions - Passionately pursue your commitments

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Hanshin Tigers Game コメント数:8 (8 Comments)

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  1. juuji さんのコメント: (juuji says):

    私は、マリーズファンであることを誇りに思っている。
    したがって、ボビーもマリーズも信じている。

    (I’m proud to be a Marines’ fan.
    Thus, I have faith in you.)

  2. kinako さんのコメント: (kinako says):

    ボビーきちんと説明してくれてありがとう。
    私はボビーを支持しますよ。

    ところで以前ここに書いていた海外取材の番組は日本でみられますか?
    もしくはアメリカの友達にビデオにとってもらおうかと思っていますが、放送の番組名はわかりますか?
    また、このことを書いてください。なぜならすごく見てみたいからです。
    それと最近松坂の試合を見ているんですが、英語でピッチャーの「まあい」のことはなんといいますか?
    質問だらけですみません。健康に気をつけてくださいね。

    (Thank you for explaining about the incident during the Hanshin game.
    I stand on your side.

    By the way, is it possible for us in Japan to watch the documentary that you mentioned about in the previous post? If not, I’m thinking of asking one of my friends in the US to record the documentary for me. Do you happen to know the name of the documentary by any chance?
    Please write about the documentary again. I’m really curious about it.
    I’ve been watching the games which Matsuzaka is playing. I’m wondering how would you say “Maai (まあい)” (to determine the right timing for certain actions) in English?
    I’m sorry for asking all these questions at once. Please take care of your health.)

  3. baba さんのコメント: (baba says):

    ボビー監督こんばんは
    交流戦5連勝おめでとうございます。監督を初め選手、スタップが一致団結し、そこに
    26番目の選手も一生懸命に応援しています。
    千葉ロッテの選手はデットボールが多く、けがをするたびにハラハラしています。
    本当に選手生命を奪われたら・・・と感じることも、監督だけでなくファンも感じます。
    ズレーター選手の小指の怪我はその後いかがですか?帰国して診察され、手術される
    ような話でしたが?その原因もデットボールだったと覚えていますが・・・
    どんな場合でも故意に相手にデットボールを与える事はスポーツ選手としてあるべき行動ではないと思いますが、日本の現状はどうなのでしょうか?疑問を感じるところです。
    千葉ロッテはそんな事はあり得ないと思います。監督の下では絶対無いと信じています。どうかこれからもフェアプレーを続けて頑張って下さい。

    (Bobby-Kantoku, Konbanwa.
    Congratulations on winning 5 games in a row in the Inter-League series. Everyone in the Marines (manager, players, and staff) is working together – the 26th players are with you guys, too.
    The Chiba Lotte’s players have been hit by pitches so I’m always worried about them. What if the injury would stop their career as baseball player … You are not the only one that feels that way - we, the Marines fans, also feel the same way as you do.
    How’s the condition on Zuleta-senshu’s pinky finger? I heard that he is going to the States to have his finger checked. If I recall, the injury on his hand was caused by being hit by pitches also …
    I believe that players in any sports should not conduct such action as injuring opposition player but I wonder how it is really like in Japan nowadays.
    I am sure that the Chiba Lotte doesn’t conduct such action. I truly believe that it will never happen to the team that you are managing. Best wishes to the team and please continue to play fairly.)

  4. あき Aki さんのコメント: (あき Aki says):

    コメントを見ていると、はっきりと確信しました。
    やったらやり返したらいいのですね!!
    しかし明らかに報復とわかりますよ。。。
    あの場所(ビジター席)で阪神ファンに囲まれていた私にとっては生きた心地がしませんでした。。
    報復は何も生みません、残るのは虚しい気持ちだけです、悲しむファンもいるのです。これだけはわかってください!

    (I was convinced that you actually check each comment.
    So we can just retaliate on them!!
    But it would be so obvious that we are …
    I was terrified by just being there, surrounded by all those Hanshin fans, in the visitor’s seat …
    Retaliation doesn’t do any good; it would just make us feel empty. It may sudden some fans as well. Please understand!)

  5. azkic さんのコメント: (azkic says):

    ボビー、こんにちは。いつも楽しくブログを読んでいます。

    死球の件。今回、こういう形であのときの状況を説明してくださったことをありがたく思います。自分が見た限りでの新聞には、今回ボビーが伝えてくれたような視点から書かれた記事は一つも見当たりません。

    金本選手が死球を受けた直後の阪神ベンチの対応(ベンチから飛び出るスピード)の素早さは、既に報復があることを予見していた上での素早さであり、つまりその前の福浦選手への死球は確信犯的に行われていたことである、と自分はテレビで観戦しながら勝手に解釈していました。

    今回のボビーの見解に対する阪神サイドからのコメントが出る事は期待できないので、ファンとしては過ぎた試合から気持ちを切り替えて、これから行われていく試合を楽しみにすることにします。

    6月3日のスワローズ戦を5歳の息子と妻と一緒に観戦しに行きます。良い試合になることを期待して楽しみにしています。

    ただ心配なこともあります。
    どうして選手が2塁に滑りこむ時にベースにでは無く、ベースカバーに入っている野手に向けて足を上げてスライディングをするのか。また、どうしてスウィングしたバットを手から離して飛ばしてボールに当ててカットするのか。これらについて5歳の息子にどうやって説明をすれば良いでしょうか。いつもテレビで一緒に観戦している時に訊かれるのですが、答える事ができずにいます。球場で息子にまた訊かれた時には、何と教えてあげれば良いのでしょうか。

    (Bobby, Konnichiwa. I always enjoy reading your blog.

    Regarding the players getting hit by pitches … Thank you for taking the time to explain the circumstances for us. Of all the newspaper articles that I’ve checked, there was no article that was written from the perspective that you have written in this post.

    The reaction that the Hanshin had (after Kanemoto-senshu was hit by a pitch) was so instant that it looked like they were expecting to see it happen; it convinced me enough to think that the pitch to the Fukuura-senshu was deliberately done.

    As a Marines’ fan, I’m going to move on as looking back the past games wouldn’t do any good as I’m not expecting to see any comments from the Hanshin side. I look forward to the future games.

    I’m planning to take my wife and 5 years old son to the Swallows game on the June 3rd. We are all looking forward to watching the game.

    However, there are a couple of things that I’ve been wondering how I should explain to my 5 years old son. One is the fact that when the runner slides towards the fielder that is in the second base – not towards the second base itself. The other one is the reason why the hitters would intend to hit the ball by letting the bat fly in the air. I haven’t been able to answer him every time he asks for the reason. I’m just wondering what I should tell him what the reasons are when he asks those questions at the ballpark.)

  6. マーチェブ Ma-chebu さんのコメント: (マーチェブ Ma-chebu says):

    ボビー、
    忙しいのにファンへのレターをありがとう。いつも読んでます!

    金本選手への死球は故意ではない、と説明してくれてありがとう。

    28日の試合を見にいきました。
    タイガースのラッキー7で風船があがるのを楽しそうに見ていた、ボビー。
    タイガースファンにも同じように手を振るボビーの笑顔は大好きです。

    日本シリーズを思い出しました。大いに溜飲を下げました。
    (英語で何ていうのかな?)
    同行のアメリカ人の友人の応援は、心強かったです。
    これがアメリカだー!という感じでした(笑)

    試合前の打撃練習中、グランドを歩く姿が、少し足を引きずっているように
    見えたのは気のせいでしょうか?
    監督も体は大事にしてくださいね! また更新を楽しみにしています。

    (Bobby
    I always appreciate you writing to us. I always check your blog!

    Thank you for explaining that the pitch to Kanemoto-senshu wasn’t a deliberate one.

    I was there at the game on 28th.
    I saw you smiling and looking at the balloons during the lucky 7 part of the game by the Tigers.
    I love seeing your smile – especially when you were waving at Hanshin fans in the same way as you do for the Marines’ fans.

    The scenery reminded me of previous Nippon series; it helped me to forget about how unhappy I was with the Hanshin.

    It was great to have my friend who came from the States to root for the Marines on that day - it was definitely an American style (lol)

    Maybe it’s just me but when I saw you during the pre-game practice, it seemed like you were limping.
    Please take care of your health! I look forward to future post.)

  7. 野球好き Yakyu-zuki さんのコメント: (野球好き Yakyu-zuki says):

    ボビーこんにちは

    初めてコメントさせていただきます。
    ちょっと遅くなりましたが、この前のタイガース戦についてちょっと言わせてください。
    私は、野球が大好きです。
    あの日もビジター席でマリーンズを応援していた一人ですが、
    関西人なんでもちろんタイガース、バファローズも大好きです。
    あの時も福浦選手の死球で心配していたところに金本選手の死球があり、
    二人の具合がとっても心配でした。
    死球でいつも思うことは
    大好きな選手達が死球を受けて試合に出られなくなってしまうことほど
    悲しく、つまんないことはありません。
    「故意に」とか「報復」だとかという言葉は信じたくありません。
    「死球」が多いのはやはりそのチーム・その選手が「脅威」である証拠なんです。
    従って、攻め方も厳しくなるのだと信じています。
    「やられたらやり返す」の常識がまかり通っているプロ野球なら
    非常に悲しいことです。。。
    それでも、自分達に誇りを持って試合に挑んで欲しいです。

    大好きなボビーにいきなり意見する形になり、大変失礼いたしました。
    これからもよりよいプロ野球になることを期待しています。
    いつも楽しませてくれてありがとう。

    (Bobby, Konnichiwa

    This is my first time posting my comment.
    I’d like to say a few things about the game against Tigers.
    I love the game of baseball.
    I was rooting for the Marines at the stadium on that day in the visitor’s seat. I also love the Tigers as well as the Buffaloes as I’m from Kansai.
    I was really worried about Kanemoto-senshu and Fukuura-senshu if they were severely injured.
    There is nothing sadder than seeing our favorite players getting hit by pitches and injured so that they won’t be able to play in games.
    I don’t want to believe in such work as “deliberately” or “retaliation”.
    It is an evidence that the player or the team is a fear to the opposition.
    Therefore, I believe that the strategy for its offence becomes pretty aggressive at times.
    It would be really sad if such idea of “retaliation” goes uncontrolled …
    I’d like the players to play the game of baseball with a pride.

    Please excuse me for being opinionated about what you’ve written – the person that I really look up to. I look forward to seeing the world of baseball as good as it can possibly be.
    Finally, thank you for entertaining us as always.)

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