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The Final Stage of the 2019 Pacific League Climax Series is set. With the first stage's results in the books, the Saitama Seibu Lions will take on the Softbank Hawks.
Here is our preview with matchups and positions on both teams:
Background:
The Lions won their second consecutive Pacific League Pennant, but didn't do it in the same fashion as 2018. This year's squad had rotation issues while hovering around .500 for majority of the first four months. It wasn't until August where the Lions began their run and went a combined 31-17 through August/September/October to win the pennant.
Majority of NPB experts expected regression with the losses of Yusei Kikuchi to MLB and Hideto Asamura to the Eagles. This year was much more surprising than last year's dominant stretch with a franchise record breaking offense.
For the Hawks, they're aiming for their third straight Japan Series championship and fifth in the last six years. This season dealt with injuries and pitching inconsistency leading to a not-so dominant 2019 like years before. Kodai Senga continued to show off his velocity and even threw a no-hitter, but it wasn't his best season by his standards.
Rei Takahashi picked up a lot of slack while other young players got their feet wet at the ichi-gun level, including first round draft pick Hiroshi Kaino. Yuki Yanagita was out for majority of the year and this time it was all about Yurisbel Gracial in the outfield doing the damage. The Hawks are still the Hawks and can compete with anyone, but more importantly, several farm players got ichi-gun experience for the long run.
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Rotation:
The Lions will throw Zach Neal in Game 1 while Wataru Matsumoto, Tatsuya Imai, Keisuke Honda and maybe Daiki Enokida could round out the group. It's possible Kona Takahashi returns from an injury as well.
Softbank played Rei Takahashi, Senga and Rick van Den Hurk in their series against the Eagles. With two primary starters carrying this rotation, they could be bullpenning the rest of the way with Shota Takeda or Ariel Miranda taking 3-4 innings to start a game. Quality is better in Fukuoka, but the Lions have the depth when it comes to starters only. Edge: Lions
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Catcher:
Tomoya Mori is coming off a batting title and reached the 20 HR milestone for the first time in his career. His defense is average as a catcher, but his offense has taken the next step, living up to the hype as a first round draft pick many years ago.
Softbank has Takuya Kai who is better defensively. With Kai having a respectable hitting year, his defense prevents the Lions from stealing on them all day and takes the cake even with the offense Mori brings. Edge: Hawks
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First base:
Hotaka Yamakawa had a red hot first half and still finished with a league-leading 43 home runs. He can still do damage with runners on base, but he isn't a cleanup hitter.
Softbank has Seiichi Uchikawa, who is a shell of his former self. He has the experience, but Yamakawa is currently a better hitter, though Uchikawa has shown he can be clutch. Edge: Lions
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Second base:
Shuta Tonosaki won the role for 2019 and has been decent in both the field and with his bat. He passed the 20 HR milestone for the first time in his career and still has speed on the base paths.
Softbank has Taisei Makihara, who has been a hole for them even though he hits in the leadoff position on occasion. They tried to offer Asamura money in the offseason, but he signed with the Eagles instead. Tonosaki beats Makihara in almost every category from defensive range to hitting. Edge: Lions
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Third base:
Takeya "Okawari-kun" Nakamura has been strong not only in home runs, but hitting for average in an irregular season for his standards. He's come up with the bases loaded several times an has a high average with runners in scoring position. Defensive range isn't his strong point, but he can field and throw well.
Softbank has Nobuhiro Matsuda as the regular "hot man" (Atsuo), but Gracial has spent time here too. Everyone has power potential and the defensive edge goes to Softbank in comparison. Edge: Hawks
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Shortstop:
Sosuke Genda's streak of playing every single inning and game of his career was snapped, but he still a top SS defensively and hit his own weight to bat second in the lineup. He was also effective at stealing bases.
Kenta Imamiya is still one of the top SS in NPB, but his defense isn't near the same caliber as what Genda did in 2019. However, Imamiya can belt some home runs and quietly hit even with a lower average. Genda's speed beats out the other categories. Edge: Lions
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Outfield:
Shogo Akiyama, Yuji Kaneko and Fumikazu Kimura have their roles with the Lions. Kaneko led the league in stolen bases while Akiyama had the most hits. Kimura is primarily in RF for his arm and defense, but even he can slap a hit on occasion.
Yuki Yanagita is back for the Hawks as he's always dangerous. Akira Nakamura, Gracial and Shuhei Fukuda are also part of the mix the Hawks use in the OF. The numbers aren't flashy, but even the role players can do damage on the Lions. Therefore, the Hawks have quality and quantity to be a threat. Edge: Hawks
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Designated hitter:
Takumi Kuriyama saw DH most of the year to prevent any damage to his knees. He was average at best, but made several clutch hits and was even better off the bench in 2018. Ernesto Mejia could see time depending on the opposing pitcher.
Softbank has Alfredo Despaigne who provides plenty of pop. Even with a low average, his power threat is more intimidating than Kuriyama. Edge: Hawks
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Bullpen:
The Lions were dependent on Katsunori Hirai and Tatsushi Masuda for the 8th and 9th innings for the regular season. All innings before the 8th were at tossup by committee with 19-year old Kaima Taira earning some playing time.
Softbank had another year without Dennis Sarfate throwing as Yuito Mori remained the closer. Arata Shiino, Hiroshi Kaino and Livan Moinelo should see plenty of high leverage situations before the closer. Manager Kimiyasu Kudo has plenty of options, he just has to decide who comes in. Edge: Hawks
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History:
The Seibu Lions went 12-13 against the Hawks in the regular season. In the first series of the year, the Lions were swept and began the year with an 0-3 record. It was their only sweep in defeat for a three-game series in 2019. Since then, the Lions were able to compete with the Hawks, including a series win in Fukuoka while also winning a two-game series in Okinawa.
In prior Climax Series history, the Lions have lost in 2011, 2012 and 2018 while only winning in 2004 when it was then called the Pacific League playoff. The Lions also lost in 2006 to the Hawks.
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Outlook:
Will this team crumble under pressure? Last year, there was a limited Tonosaki while Mori was knocked out of the game by a swing from Despaigne. Even with both players missing, the pitching couldn't handle the Hawks. What will this group of Lions do, learn from last season or do the Hawks repeat 2018? There are still plenty of question marks with this Lions team even after winning the Pacific League pennant again.
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