Two summers ago, Kazuyoshi Tatsunami steamed from Yokohama Stadium’s visitors dugout as Chunichi Dragons shortstop Yota Kyoda fumbled a tricky bouncer up the middle.
The play was the second to last straw, and upon Kyoda’s return to the dugout, Tatsunami ordered him to get his stuff, leave the stadium at once and head to Nagoya Stadium to report to the farm team.
Kyoda returned to play for the major league club that season, but his days were numbered as Tatsunami traded him and double play partner Toshiki Abe in the offseason.
With two on and two out in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game at Nagoya Dome, the Dragons’ season finale, Kyoda hit a little sinking liner that was nearly caught for a two-run single, bringing his season’s RBI total against Chunichi 10 from 21 games. Kyoda had 15 in his other 80 games combined.
The two runs were the only ones scored as the 2-0 loss left the Dragons in last place for the third straight season, something that had never happened to the club, the third oldest pro team among those still playing in Japan.
After the game, Tatsunami apologized for his poor effort and pleaded with the fans to support the team going forward, “There are many players here with talent who need to develop more of their potential, and they will need your encouragement.”
The Dragons’ failure can’t be entirely laid at Tatsunami’s door, however. The top management is inept and ownership has no interest in spending an extra yen. There is talent, both among the players and among the coaching staff, but Tatsunami simply was not the right guy for this situation.
The pitchers made tremendous strides under pitching coach Akinori Otsuka, and farm manager Kazuki Inoue has been rumored to be the next in line for the major league managing job. I wish them luck. Dragons fans deserve better.
