All posts by Jim Allen

sports editor for a wire service in Tokyo

NPB news: July 29, 2023

There was no blog Friday as the wife and I went to see the new Hayao Miayazaki movie, “The Boy and the Heron,” and didn’t get back till late. On Saturday we had two day games, one at Tokyo Dome and one in Hokkaido, where it’s still cool enough to play in the daytime with the roof open. Meanwhile, the Marines have recruited a utility infielder for their stretch run.

Meanwhile, I shared my thoughts on the Angels’ decision not to trade Shohei Ohtani, why I like that decision and why it probably won’t help the team re-sign their superstar.

Saturday’s games

Buffaloes 4, Fighters 3: At Kitahiroshima Taxpayers Burden Field, Kotaro Kiyomiya homered to make it a one-run game but offered at a borderline 3-2 forkball from Yoshihisa Hirano with one out and the bases loaded and grounded into a game-ending double play as Orix snapped a three-game losing streak.

James Marvel worked two scoreless innings for the Fighters and Bryan Rodriguez worked another.

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Angels gamble Ohtani will overlook past

With a third of MLB teams trying to be winners in the return on their investment rather than on the field, it’s heartening to see the Angels going all in to win this year with Shohei Ohtani.

While taking Ohtani off the market and acquiring pitching help at the trade deadline will boost the club’s chances of breaking their long postseason drought, let’s be straight about one thing. The purpose of those decisions is not to reach the postseason, but to convince Ohtani that the Angels are committed to winning so that he might sign a contract extension and remain in Anaheim.

Continue reading Angels gamble Ohtani will overlook past