The Saitama Seibu Lions had a struggling bullpen for most of 2018, where the closer position wasn't settled until late. Their middle relief was just as sketchy with no reliever avoiding deactivation outside of a midseason pickup.
Here's how the bullpen looks:
Locks:
Deunte Heath: Heath returned to Japan for the first time since 2015 and his gamble to seek an NPB position by playing in an independent league paid off. It didn't happen overnight, but with the closer struggles, he was able to take the reins and become the pitcher to take the 9th inning.
Kyle Martin: Martin was a late pickup right before the deadline, but did well enough to stay up at the ichi-gun in middle relief. His changeup will be key if he wants another deal. Martin struggled in the postseason, but it was overshadowed by the rest of the team faltering too. For now, he'll be part of a mix to take the 7th or 8th inning.
Ryuya Ogawa: Ogawa was also a midseason addition before the trade deadline when the Lions purchased him from the Chunichi Dragons. After never finding a role in Nagoya, was a solid lefty option out the bullpen as a side arm pitcher. He'll be looking to build on his decent time last year and become a regular setup man.
Katsunori Hirai: Hirai was very inconsistent last season, but showed he can also be useful against right handed pitchers. He'll need to limit the home runs allowed to stay at the ichi-gun.
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Reserves:
Tatsushi Masuda: Masuda took a large step backwards after being the team's closer from 2016-2017. He'll need to show his location and control are better to earn ichi-gun innings again.
Shota Takekuma: Takekuma came off his worst career season to date and only took mop up innings by the end of the year. He can be a decent left-handed specialist, but his 2018 was forgettable.
Yasuo Sano: Sano is another left-handed option out of the bullpen and saw time last year after coming off a leg injury. His location is inconsistent, but as a spot starter, he was decent in 2017 before he was hurt.
Tatsuya Oishi: One of the biggest busts in Lions history, Oishi has shown he can be a decent relief pitcher against righties. However, his time is running out and he is on the outside struggling to stay healthy and find ichi-gun innings.
Makoto Aiuchi: Aiuchi began earning mop up innings in 2018 after mostly seeing spot starts in his career. His lone spot start last season was solid. He'll be looking to find ichi-gun time any way he can for 2019.
Shogo Noda: Noda struggled like the rest of the bullpen where he can look good one game, but awful the next. He often hung up pitches and paid the price in the boxscore. His slider can be a difference maker when on.
Hiromasa Saito: Saito didn't make his ichi-gun debut until the second half and didn't make a start until the last regular season game. He was used as a utility swingman and was inconsistent with location, but control was decent. Saito came off a strong season in Australia and hopes to build momentum through that trip. He didn't allow a single run and was dominant in middle relief for the Melbourne Aces.
Ichiro Tamura: Tamura has seen mostly mop up duties, but is too prone to giving up the home run. He enters his third season in professional baseball and hopes to crack ichi-gun time, because time could be running out soon.
Sho Ito: Ito was a decent arm out of the bullpen for the Lions in a limited role. Being one of the youngest of the bunch, he could surprise and take another step forward as he turns 21 this year. There is plenty of upside for the long run and he could even be a future starter.
Naoaki Matsumoto: Matsumoto saw mop up innings for a fraction of 2018, but was deactivated shortly. He will turn 29 at the end of the year and his time could be running out if he doesn't do anything soon.
Hirotaka Koishi: Koishi can eat up some low leverage innings and induce the ground ball. He's also in danger of being cut after 2019 as he turns 32 this year.
Shunta Nakatsuka: Nakatsuka is a hard thrower, but has lacked control to make ichi-gun games. A former second round pick, his expectations could be lowered the longer he stays in ni-gun.
Tadasuke Minamikawa: Minamikawa has only seen ichi-gun time in a pinch, but he hasn't made the most of his few opportunities. He could be cut after 2019 if he fails to play ichi-gun games.
Tsubasa Kokuba: Kokuba hasn't played an ichi-gun game since 2016. The 2019 season could be his last chance with the Lions, or else he is in danger of being cut.
Kaito Awatsu: The Lions fourth round draft pick could go either in the rotation or bullpen, but it would help if he was part of the latter for 2019. He has a sinker that could be useful.
Ryosuke Moriwaki: The Lions 5th round draft pick out of the shakaijin leagues should be able to help sooner than later. Scouting reports say he has good control and has a huge arsenal of pitches. At age 26, he doesn't have upside, but neither did Kazuhisa Makita or Hirai when they were drafted.
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Farm/Ikusei:
Tomomi Takahashi: Once an All-Star, Takahashi has not been the same since July of 2015. He had Tommy John surgery and missed most of 2017 as a result, but also looked poor in his short outing in 2018. Injuries have derailed his career and now he is on the outside with an ikusei contract.
Kaito Yoza: Yoza had elbow surgery in October and failed to play a game at either level last season. The Lions are taking the cautious approach by bringing him back on an ikusei contract. He was originally a 5th round draft pick in 2017 and was known for being a submarine pitcher.
Jen-Lei Liao: Liao was the only domestic free agent signing by the Lions in the offseason after he was cut by the Yomiuri Giants. He has a massive size and can throw hard, but his control is lacking, similar to Nakatsuka. The Lions hope their connections to Taiwan can help Liao get his career turned around with Ming-Chieh Hsu and Kento Sugiyama as the pitching coaches in ni-gun.
Aoi Tono: The Lions first ikusei pick last fall had decent strikeout numbers in college, but he also lacked control, making him an unfinished project. He will aim for a promotion to the 70-man roster.
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Outlook:
This unit looks like a complete mess. There is depth and plenty of bodies available, but no proven arms who can consistently stay at the ichi-gun. Heath was the savior of this team, pun intended given that he was the closer. Competition is wide open and if things don't pan out in April, we could be seeing a large revolving door of relievers going up and down.
Despite having an awful season as a whole unit, there is a chance someone can step it up. It's only a matter of who can.
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We conducted this poll on the relief.
Which reliever will pitch more ichi-gun 一軍 innings in 2019?— Graveyard Baseball (@GraveyardBall) February 5, 2019
Please translate @64Uni_Lions #埼玉西武ライオンズ #seibulions #npbeng
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Other positions in Series:
Catcher
Infield
Outfield
Rotation
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