Table of Contents
- 1 Yoshihiro Nakata has not won for 4 consecutive years since 1986…
- 2 The cutting edge I learned on the first day of camp: “Push your middle finger a little.”
- 3 **In what ways could Mr. Nakata’s emphasis on refining his cut ball in his later career serve as an example for modern athletes aiming for longevity and adapting to changing game dynamics?**
Yoshihiro Nakata has not won for 4 consecutive years since 1986…
The “decline” has come again. Former Hanshin pitcher Yoshihiro Nakata (basketball reporter) did not win a single game in the first team for four seasons from 1986, his sixth year as a pro, to 1989, his ninth year. In 1985, when Hanshin won the tournament, they had a good record of 12 wins and 5 losses, but he says, “I pushed myself too hard that year.” thought I was going to burn.” Those were very difficult days, but I’m scared because I got back on track. “I was only active for about four years,” he said with a wry smile.
Mr. Nakata pitched 38 times in 1981, his rookie year, and recorded 6 wins, 5 losses, and 8 saves, but that year he developed right shoulder pain. In 1982, the team went 1-0, and in 1983 it was 0-0. He gradually recovered and contributed to the Hanshin tournament with 4 wins and 0 losses in 30 pitches in 1984, and 12 wins and 5 losses in 31 pitches in 1985, but the following year he entered your decline again. “In 1985, I was pushing myself too hard. I expected to go as far as I could, and I didn’t care if I couldn’t do it anymore.”
In the 1985 season, the condition of his right shoulder was better than before. So it was impossible. It was a chance for him to win, and he put the whip even bigger. They got their first double-digit win and were able to win the league championship and be number one in Japan, but the setback began the following year. In addition, Mr. Nakata says: “The year I won, I had a lot of trouble off duty (events, etc.). I wish I had focused more on my treatment…I regret not being able to do that more about it.”
They were 0 wins and 1 loss in 1986, 0 wins and 2 losses in 1987, and 0 wins and 1 loss in 1988 and 1989, meaning that they can win at all in the first team. “I was starting to feel like this was going to get a little scary. Everything was a vicious circle. Although it was a strange result that he was not put out of action, Mr. Nakata was able to rise again.
In 1990, his 10th year as a pro, he pitched 45 innings, had 10 wins, 7 losses, 6 saves, and an ERA of 3.51. He started the season in the second team, but was promoted to the first team in mid-May, and on May 27 against Chunichi (Koshien), he made his first save since 1981, his first year as a pro. In the game against Yakult (Koshien) on June 2nd, he went third and got his first win since September 10th, 1985 in the game against Ocean (Yokohama). “I thought to myself once, ‘I wonder if I’m going to be active every four years or so,'” laughs Nakata.
The cutting edge I learned on the first day of camp: “Push your middle finger a little.”
“If you do it once every four years, like the Olympics, even if it’s just a bronze medal, you have a little time in between and it comes back a little bit. In the 10th year, I started playing cut balls I learned it, but I couldn’t even tell that it was just working. In addition, he said, “I learned this new ball in one day at the beginning of the Aki camp.” “I just squeezed my middle finger a little bit without twisting it … and then it started to bend a little bit.”
He says that all this happened by chance. “When I happened to throw it, it just happened to bend flat, so I was wondering if I could throw a little bit. That’s how I threw it. as a left-handed batter. Everyone involved was just turning. But, in the end, I couldn’t do that. Unlike today, relievers back then tended to throw too much, which put a lot of stress on their bodies.
He had his first save of the season on May 27, when he pitched a scoreless 4th inning. From there, he pitched 2 1/3 innings in the 2nd day of middle school, then pitched 2 innings in the 2nd day of middle school to earn his first win of the season, and the then on the 2nd day of middle school, he applied. 2 runs in 4 innings and got his second save … “There were a few times when I was working in the bullpen a few times from the first inning and then I went to the mound in the 9th inning. Well, it’s been like that since my first year as a pro, but at that time it was normal.
He started against the Giants (Tokyo Dome) on June 17 and suffered his first loss of the season, giving up two runs in the 6th inning. Two days later, on June 20 against Chunichi (Koshien), he was the 4th reliever, but suffered his second loss with 0/3 in the 2nd inning, giving up 4 runs. In the last game of the first half, against Hiroshima (Koshien) on July 22, he pitched 5th and pitched 4 innings, allowing no runs and winning the game. He was unable to participate in the All-Star Game as a rookie due to the withdrawal of pitcher Hanshin Koji Noda, but entered the second game (July 25, Heiwadai) after two days in middle school, entering as the fifth. batter and giving up five runs in the first inning Ta.
“When I was an All-Star, Kazuhiro Yamakura (of the Giants) was the catcher, but he didn’t give me the signal for a cut ball. There was only a straight ball and a curved ball. That’s how I won. Well, in the first half, I got hit quite a bit. An outstanding member of the team, and it was a great memory.” Nakata explained this, but his shoulder condition and other areas worsened, and his failings as a defender were evident towards the end of the season.
“Had some fun with the cut balls, but I guess I was getting tired.”On September 28th, his 45th pitch of the season, he went third spot in the game against Taiyo (Yokohama) and pitched two scoreless innings for his 10th win. It was his second double-digit win since 1985, but ended up being his last as an active player. He suffered from blood circulation problems in his right knee, right shoulder, and right arm, as well as injuries to his right elbow.
At the time, it was not uncommon for relievers to pitch two, three, or four innings. In 1991, the year after he recorded 10 wins, Mr. Nakata entered a period of stagnation, but he did not have a chance to play again in his fourth year of junior high school. “Right now, there’s only one inning starting from the beginning of the inning. If you go back and forth over the inning, you have the impression that you’re doing a lot of trouble a little early.
(Shinji Yamaguchi)
2024-11-21 21:50:00
#handed #Hanshin #lose #potential #wins #years #ready #fired.. #pitch #learned #day
**In what ways could Mr. Nakata’s emphasis on refining his cut ball in his later career serve as an example for modern athletes aiming for longevity and adapting to changing game dynamics?**
## Open-Ended Questions for Discussion based on the Article:
**Repertoire and Adaptation:**
* **Mr. Nakata focused on developing a cut ball during his 10th year in the league. What factors might have motivated him to prioritize this pitch at that stage of his career?**
* **He describes “pushing himself too hard” and experiencing setbacks due to his pitching style. How could modern pitching management strategies have potentially helped a pitcher like Nakata?**
* **The article mentions relievers pitching multiple innings was common during Nakata’s era. How has the role of relievers evolved since then, and what are some of the reasons for this change?**
**Career Trajectory and Perseverance:**
* **Mr. Nakata experienced cycles of success and decline throughout his career. What personal qualities and mental strategies might have helped him persevere through these challenges?**
* **He reflects on his “four-year cycle” of active periods. What could be some of the underlying reasons for these cyclical wins and losses? What mindset might contribute to this pattern?**
* **Mr. Nakata mentions regrets about focusing too much on off-duty activities after his successful season. How can athletes balance their commitments and personal lives while maximizing their athletic potential?**
**Reflections on Baseball and Pitching:**
* **Mr. Nakata learned his cut ball by chance while experimenting in practice. What are the implications of this for developing new pitches and pushing the boundaries of baseball pitches?**
* **He describes his experience pitching in the All-Star game. What unique challenges and pressures might a pitcher face in such a high-profile environment?**
* **How has the nature of pitching changed since Mr. Nakata’s time? Have advances in science, technology, and training methods revolutionized the game?**
**Overall Discussion:**
* **What resonated with you most in Mr. Nakata’s story? What lessons can be learned from his experiences in the world of professional baseball?**
* **How can this story inspire athletes and individuals facing challenges and setbacks in their own pursuit of goals?**
I hope these questions ignite insightful discussions and explore the fascinating aspects of Mr. Nakata’s career and the evolution of baseball.
