The Saitama Seibu Lions have their share of expectations since Hatsuhiko Tsuji took the reigns as manager. After spending three straight years in B-class, the Lions finished in second and first place in the Pacific League under Tsuji's leadership.
There are counter arguments that the Lions won in spite of Tsuji and not because of him. It's easy to give him all the credit in the world when he is the manager, but to fault him and say he's only there because of his roster is misleading.
Tsuji's defensive mindset helped solve one of the larger issues with the 2016 Lions, where fielding was abysmal. While the Chunichi Dragons had other problems, defensive efficiency was not one of them with Tsuji as one of the coaches. He was an opposite to what Norio Tanabe brought with a hitting-only mindset.
This year's expectations will be lower than the past, but the Lions already gave Tsuji a vote of confidence when his contract extension runs through 2020. There are some staff changes, with Toshifumi Baba being the new head (bench) coach while Kazuyoshi Ono returns as a pitching coach.
At the farm level, Kazuo Matsui will get his first chance managing as he is the new ni-gun manager. Tsuji doesn't have a major hot seat after two strong years, but he could be a victim of his own success like many who have a winning track record.
This season won't necessarily be about winning a pennant as selfish as fans and spectators want, but if the team shows a pulse and continues to compete, that's all we can ask for. There will be challenges with new personnel on the infield and the pitching staff, but the collective coaching staff will be making all the key decisions moving forward.
===
Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall
I've always loved that comparison with Tanabe and Tsuji. Tanabe was a competent fielder, basically a good hitter for a shortstop. Tsuji's bat was under appreciated because he was such a good fielder. Their managing has mirrored their playing personas.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely.. people forget Tsuji's offense for sure.
Delete