Rain kept the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles indoors on Friday, but hasn't dampened the enthusiasm ahead of their first Japan Series appearance, which comes against the storied Yomiuri Giants.
"I'm excited to play against the Giants (in the Japan Series)," Eagles catcher Motohiro Shima said after the team's practice on a rainy afternoon in Sendai. "I've watched them on TV and always wanted to play on the same stage. At the same time, it's hard to believe we're really here. Of course, we want to win."
He'll have to wait if rain from the typhoon headed for Japan postpones the first game of the series, scheduled for Saturday night at Kleenex Stadium. The contest is currently expected to proceed as planned.