Lions pass baton to Matsui as 2022 season ends

 

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I'd like to first off say apologies for no instant write ups on the Climax Series. It was a vacation week on the west coast involving a wedding and other family matters. 

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Lions season ends in Fukuoka

The Lions came into Fukuoka as heavy underdogs returning to the Climax Series for the first time since 2019. It ended with a dud as Kona Takahashi and Tatsuya Imai couldn't keep the games close as the former gave up four runs early on. 

As close as the Lions got within one run in the first game, it wasn't enough to overcome a sluggish start. It became the ninth consecutive playoff loss and all of them have been against the Softbank Hawks. They have the longest active Climax Series win drought being stuck on 2011.

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Hatushiko Tsuji steps down, torch passed to Kazuo Matsui

Before the Climax Series even started, manager Tsuji announced he would retire when the postseason is over. There was an early announcement of possible retirement after the disastrous 2021 season, but it became for real in 2022. Tsuji returned to the organization for the first time since being a player in 2017 after working for the Chunichi Dragons in multiple years.

Kazuo Matsui was named the manager to succeed Tsuji, a foregone conclusion many have expected since he was part of the ichi-gun staff in 2022. He rejoined the team in 2018 initially as a player coach.

Matsui, who will be 47 later this month, served as the farm manager from 2019-2021 after retiring as a player in 2018. The Lions named him the ichi-gun head coach (bench coach in American terms) for 2022. It was easy to assume he would be the heir manager sooner than later.

We wish him the best as he puts together a new staff.

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Lions name their draft nomination

The NPB Draft is taking place this Thursday and the Lions openly announced their nomination as OF Takyuya Hiruma out of Waseda University.  Hiruma is thought to be the best college position player available and should be contested among a few teams. 

Most see the top draft prize as OF Shogo Asano out of Takamatsu Shogyo High School, who will likely have the largest drawing.

Other alternatives the Lions could go for include P Ruito Nishimura (Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School), OF Shion Matsuo (Osaka Toin) and IF Mikaya Tanaka (Asia University).  

While it's unclear what the Lions plan could be if they lose out on Hiruma, they want someone who can help the offense sooner than later.

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Free agency becomes the new scare

The life of being a Lions isn't always fun and especially during free agency it becomes a wreck. This year, Tomoya Mori and Shuta Tonosaki reached domestic free agency with the ability to exercise the option and test the market if they want. 

It's been a common theme to use the Lions as leverage for someone else to have a sweeter offer later. We'll see what happens.

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