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| Swallows won Interleague Play, these rankings are adjusted accordingly. Photo credit: Japan Times |
We're three months into the 2018 NPB season and nearly halfway through the entire thing as June 30 concluded. This month's edition will will be skewered, factoring in Interleague Play besides the overall standings.
Central League fans might want to close their eyes, because it was a terrible stretch for most teams while the Pacific League continued their dominance. As usual, this ranking reflects everything up until games through June 30.
Here is this month's edition:
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1. [=] (1) Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (41-31); 12-10 in June
The Fighters maintain a top spot by a thread after a decent June. However, there is no dominance for any team that is a clear cut #1 in NPB. Sho Nakata has picked it up lately, while the pitching has kept the team at the top. They won't be in second place for long at this pace given their rotation and bullpen being solid, but there are a lot of close wins. Based on pace of play, they should be in first place when July is over. Will this magic stop?
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2. [^] (11) Tokyo Yakult Swallows (34-35-1); 15-8 in June
The Swallows played their best baseball of the month and won the Interleague championship title, which accounts for something. Their 2018 Slogan is "Swallows Rising" and in this case, they've taken a big leap in these rankings. For a team left for dead, the pitching has taken some strides and the hitting was hot. Tomotaka Sakaguchi has been a constant dating back to last season and Tetsuto Yamada has been solid despite a lower batting average than his expectations.
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3. [^] (4) Orix Buffaloes (36-34-3); 11-9-2 in June
Orix has been on the cusp of a breakthrough and coming in the top three of interleague play has given them a boost as they're finally ending a month over .500. Pitching is still there, but the hitting has its shuffles up and down the lineup. Takahiro Okada being out temporarily won't help, but Masataka Yoshida continuing to stay healthy has been huge for the Buffaloes, who have what it takes to make a run.
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4. [^] (10) Chiba Lotte Marines (36-34); 15-8 in June
The Marines were thought to be left for dead, but they also took a huge benefit from interleague play and have been playing their best baseball of the season. Ayumu Ishikawa has had a strong rebound season, but Takashi Ogino being healthy has been the biggest reason for their offense having life, which is a unit that still lacks pop. Chiba has made up for it with speed and some improved hitting from last year's dismal season. They're only four games behind the Pacific League leaders too.
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5. [V] (2) Saitama Seibu Lions (40-30-1); 11-11-1 in June
The Lions looked like they could've taken the Interleague title themselves, but they faltered down the stretch and only went 10-8 with a failure to sweep any opponent. Their bullpen has been the largest concern and it's finally being exposed with a continuous change based on rosters moves. Tatsushi Masuda lost his closer role while Fabio Castillo goes from the rotation to closer. When Masuda is the only reliever to stay at the ichi-gun and never be deactivated, you know it's a problem. A free fall is likely to come, given how Yusei Kikuchi is also vulnerable.
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6. [V] (5) Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (37-33); 11-11 in June
The Hawks are still in striking distance to make a run, but they're at the bottom of the Pacific League logjam due to being .500 as opposed to a winning record in for the month. The injury bug hasn't helped, but they're still a dangerous group to deal with on a nightly basis. Their bullpen has been more vulnerable than in the past thanks to Yuito Mori blowing a save against the Fighters this past week. Yuki Yanagita should still be an MVP candidate.
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7. [V] (3) Hiroshima Carp (40-30-1); 12-11 in June
The Central League leaders take a fall in these rankings with a poor showing in Interleague play (7-11) where the only team they won a series against was lowly Rakuten. Despite the struggles at first, it could all mean nothing as they are in position to pull away from the rest of the Central League. Pitching still isn't there to be a contender, but it is enough to be for the Central.
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8. [V] (6) Hanshin Tigers (33-36-1); 10-12-1 in June
The Tigers were nearly ranked lower in these power rankings, but a recent sweep of the Baystars prevented a further fall. Pitching is still keeping this team alive, but they're still not a good team as a whole. Hitting isn't there and they're hoping Efren Navarro can contribute as they just signed him this month. If the Tigers played the Baystars every game, maybe they'd win a pennant. Obviously that's impossible.
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9. [V] (8) Yomiuri Giants (33-38-1); 10-13 in June
The Giants are still the same inconsistent team they've been all year. Feast or famine, but the last week being swept by the Carp gave them a bump down in what is a pile of mediocrity for the Central League. With not much separation in the standings, anything can happen. Suddenly, the closer position for th Giants is vulnerable and they're too dependent on a few starting pitchers and hitters.
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10. [V] (7) Yokohama DeNA Baystars (32-36-2); 9-15 in June
Baystars and Tigers are the largest disappointments in the Central coming off A-class years in 2017. It's hard to decide who's been worse given they're not far apart in the standings, but DeNA had a bad stretch in June where the hitting just isn't there. This team is too home run dependent, but at least Yoshitomo Tsutsugo is still fun after he had a slow April.
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11. [V] (9) Chunichi Dragons (32-40-1); 9-14 in June
The Dragons entered interleague play being right in the hunt, but they're back in the cellar where majority of prognosticators predicted they'll be. Like the Lions, their bullpen just isn't there and they're depending on veterans like Katsuki Yoshimi and Daisuke Matsuzaka to get it done, where the latter is injured. Foreign signings have been decent, but they can't play with this kind of pitching staff.
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12. [V] (11) Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (27-44-1); 9-13 in June
The Eagles lost so much in June that their manager Masataka Nashida stepped down on the spot after they reached 20 games under .500 at one point. It's possible there was a verbal agreement from within on this, but the team has played better with interim manager Yosuke Hiraishi taking over. In five of the eight games since Nashida stepped away, the Eagles scored at least six runs. They'll be looking for individual performances to cling to in this dark time. Kazuki Tanaka would be a start, as he's looked decent since being called up.
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While this month's rankings look a little crazy, there hasn't been any dominance by any team. Parity is there and all groups have an obvious flaw in them. The Pacific League looks wide open while the Central has plenty of space open for A-class. Only the Eagles can be written off as their season is "over".
Fasten you seat belts everyone, it shall be a bumpy ride in the second half.
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Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall
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10. [V] (7) Yokohama DeNA Baystars (32-36-2); 9-15 in June
Baystars and Tigers are the largest disappointments in the Central coming off A-class years in 2017. It's hard to decide who's been worse given they're not far apart in the standings, but DeNA had a bad stretch in June where the hitting just isn't there. This team is too home run dependent, but at least Yoshitomo Tsutsugo is still fun after he had a slow April.
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11. [V] (9) Chunichi Dragons (32-40-1); 9-14 in June
The Dragons entered interleague play being right in the hunt, but they're back in the cellar where majority of prognosticators predicted they'll be. Like the Lions, their bullpen just isn't there and they're depending on veterans like Katsuki Yoshimi and Daisuke Matsuzaka to get it done, where the latter is injured. Foreign signings have been decent, but they can't play with this kind of pitching staff.
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12. [V] (11) Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (27-44-1); 9-13 in June
The Eagles lost so much in June that their manager Masataka Nashida stepped down on the spot after they reached 20 games under .500 at one point. It's possible there was a verbal agreement from within on this, but the team has played better with interim manager Yosuke Hiraishi taking over. In five of the eight games since Nashida stepped away, the Eagles scored at least six runs. They'll be looking for individual performances to cling to in this dark time. Kazuki Tanaka would be a start, as he's looked decent since being called up.
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While this month's rankings look a little crazy, there hasn't been any dominance by any team. Parity is there and all groups have an obvious flaw in them. The Pacific League looks wide open while the Central has plenty of space open for A-class. Only the Eagles can be written off as their season is "over".
Fasten you seat belts everyone, it shall be a bumpy ride in the second half.
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Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall
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