After the shock loss against Taiwan, the team switched to the WBC system, joined two coaches and seven...The manager will probably watch baseball the next morning, and a warm-up match against the Netherlands in March next year
After the shock loss against Taiwan, the team switched to the WBC system, joined two coaches and seven...The manager will probably watch baseball the next morning, and a warm-up match against the Netherlands in March next year
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Hirokazu Ibata, 49, the manager of the Japanese national baseball team, Samurai Japan, said Monday, "One day must have felt very long. Japan lost 0-4 to Taiwan in the Premier 12 final at Tokyo Dome on the day. Japan won all eight games from the group qualifying round to the Super Round, but collapsed helplessly in the final match. An unexpected situation unfolded.먹튀검증
Shosei Dogo (24), the starting pitcher he trusted, gave up two home runs in the fifth inning and shook his head. His ball power dropped in the fifth inning, but it was painful to miss the timing of his replacement. After the shock loss, criticism poured out on Ibata. He blamed himself, saying, "Everything is my responsibility." Japan, which had a strong bullpen, had won the game by pressing the opponent with fast pitching.
The team had only four hits against four Taiwanese pitchers. The team lost in vain, making it doubtful whether it was an unbeaten team that had won 27 consecutive international competitions. It was humiliating to lose to Taiwan for the first time in 32 years. The atmosphere in which the team took the championship for granted must have been burdensome.
Ibata appeared at the stadium at Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday morning. After the Premier 12 finals that took place on Sunday night, he took a short break at his lodging facility.
The final round of the Meiji Jingu Baseball Tournament was held at the Meiji Earthquake Stadium on the day. Ibata greeted Ama baseball players and watched the two consecutive games that started at 10 a.m. The team won the championship by beating Hiroshima Shingo four to three. It was the first time in 27 years since 1997 when the "Monster" Daisuke Matsuzaka was active. In the university division, Aoyama Gakuin University defeated Soka University seven to three.
Watching games at major competitions is a daily routine for the national team coach. He has returned to his normal life immediately after taking the shock of losing the match against Taiwan. Ibata watched the Korean Series match with pitching coach Kazuki Yoshimi on the spot in October.
The biggest goal of the Japanese national team is to win the World Baseball Classic title for two consecutive years in 2026. Major League players will participate in the championship to determine the best in their strongest capacity. Everything is geared towards the WBC, which will take place one year and four months later. The Premier 12 is a mid-legged race to win the title at the WBC.
In November last year under Ibata, Japan won the title at the APBC. Photo capture = Japan's national baseball team website
Japan won the title at the first and second tournaments in 2006 and 2009. Ichiro Suzuki and Matsuzaka were active in pitching and hitting the mound. At the fifth tournament held last year, they defeated the U.S. to clinch the trophy for the first time in 14 years. Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers), Yu Darvish (San Diego Padres), Masataka Yoshida (Boston Red Sox), and Kensuke Kondo (Softbank Hawks) led the team.
After the WBC ended, Ibata replaced Hideki Kuriyama (63) as the head coach. He signed a contract until the Premier 12 and extended it to the 2026 WBC in October.
As soon as the competition ended, the team beefed up its coaching staff. Japanese media reported on Monday that Nobuhiro Mazda (41) will join as batting coach and Atsushi Nomi (45) will join as pitching coach. The number of national team coaches has increased from five to seven. The team quickly switched to the WBC system.
Mazda had 1,832-301 home runs-991 RBIs for Softbank and the Yomiuri Giants. He represented WBC in 2013 and 2017. Nomi has recorded 104 wins (93 wins and 4 saves) in 474 games. She was a member of the WBC in 2013.
The Japanese national team will play an exhibition match against the Netherlands on March 5-6. The venue is the Kyocera Dome in Osaka. The team announced its schedule on Monday, the day before the final of the Premier 12. Japan holds exhibition matches regularly in the off-season every year. In March, the team invited the European team to Osaka for two matches. Just before the upcoming championship, the team will call on the Czech Republic
It played two warm-up matches.
"Whether we invite other countries or if we go overseas, I think we have to play more games with other countries," Ryu Joong-il said after the elimination of the group league. He stressed the need to get out of the "frog in the well." Japan moves fast.