Giants’ ‘replacement problem’: Experts point to unfillable hole… There are also questions hanging over defeated Hanshin |

Okoye played in the first game, and Nakayama was selected as number three in the second game, but did not have a hit.

■ DeNA 2-1 Giants (17th, Tokyo Dome)

On the 17th, the Central League champion Giants lost the second game of the final stage of the Climax Series (CS) against DeNA at their home venue, Tokyo Dome, 1-2, suffering their second loss after each other Even with the win, the score was 1 win and 2 losses, with the loss coming first. The batting lineup, without infielder Naoki Yoshikawa, who started all 143 regular-season games due to injury, has been quiet, scoring just one run in two games.

In the 6th inning, trailing by one run, Rui Okoye, the No. 1 outfielder, got a single. 2, on the base with a double field in the center right, and No. 4, infielder Kazuma Okamoto, timely hit to center field. However, the Giants scored just one run, and couldn’t make up for the good pitching of starter Tomoyuki Kanno, who gave up two runs in seven innings. After a shutout loss in the first game the previous day (16th), the batting line is lacking.

The problem is that he is a “substitute” for Yoshikawa, who mostly played as the No. 3 batter during the regular season. In the first game of CS, Okoye was “number 3”, but he had no hits in 4 at bats and struck out 2. On this day, 22-year-old infielder Reito Nakayama, who had no experience in the regular season, was selected, and he also finished with no hits in 4 at-bats and 2 strikeouts. Nakayama had a blistering .458 batting average (11 hits in 24 at bats) in September and October at the end of the regular season, and even hit a solid third shift as a pinch hitter in the first game CS the day before.

Baseball reporter Toshihiro Noguchi, who was a catcher for four teams including Yakult and Yokohama (now DeNA) during his playing days, said, “Manager Abe (Shinnosuke) saw the third line at Nakayama the day before and decided he was in good shape. Perhaps he chose as No. 3. If he had been allowed to bat lower down the order, I think the results would have been different.” He said, “Problem No. 3” difficult. Future options are to remove Asano (Shogo outfielder) and put Nagano (Hisayoshi outfielder) in as No. 3, or I hope we can With that in mind, I would like to move Sakamoto (inside Hayato) to No. 3 and send a catcher (Takuzo Oshiro). at No. 5…I’m not particularly into veterans, but that’s all I can think of.

Not No. 3 the same is the case with the Giants batting line. “No. 3 tends to get a lot of attention, but the problem is, including No. 1 and 2, it’s hard to get a runner in front of No. 4 Kazu Okamoto. No. 1 Chikamoto ( Koji (outfielder) and No. 2 Nakano (infielder Takumu) were held to a combined 2 hits in 18 in 2 games, which was the reason for their case. So far, the same happened to the Giants.”We are working hard,” said Noguchi.

DeNA opponent riding the trend: “When the gears don’t match, everyone tends to shut down.”

In Game 1 for the Giants, No. 1 outfielder Yoshihiro Maru and No. 2 infielder Daiki Masuda each had four at-bats and reached base once each. In the second game, No. 1 Maru had two hits blocked by good opponent defense, and did not reach base in 4 at-bats. Number 2 Okoye got on base only with a double in the 6th inning, which led to the Giants’ one run. “The key is if you can connect with Kazu Okamoto as often as possible with the runners on. If Kazu Okamoto goes into the at-bat without a runner, the opponent will set up in a way that prevents on from hitting home. run

Their opponent, DeNA, has won all four games since joining CS and is riding high. “It may seem like I’m talking about psychology, but in short, decisive battles, it’s important to put your emotions first and fight,” Noguchi said. “Although the DeNA Nine is capable moved the movement as one, once the gears don’t match, everyone tends to be depressed. As a giant, if we compare it to sumo wrestling, we try to form four groups. if the opponent tries to make a move, don’t you have the courage to attack him first?”

Pitcher Foster Griffin is the Giants’ starting pitcher for Game 3. First, will he be able to get the ball rolling by flirting with his fighting spirit?

(Hirohisa Miyawaki)