It was obvious some big news was coming when the Orix BlueWave indicated during their April 23 "nighter" against the Seibu Lions at Sapporo Dome there would be a press conference after that game. It came as little surprise when manager Hiromichi Ishige was fired, and a lot of eyes were opened when Californian Leon Lee was introduced as Ishige's successor.
New Orix manager Leon Lee, who starred as a player in Japan for 10 seasons, is hoping to turnaround the last-place Kobe club with his experience and a new approach.
It will be most interesting to see Leon matched against Trey Hillman, the Nippon Ham Fighters' skipper. The first Japanese pro baseball game between two teams with American managers in 28 years is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, when Orix visits Nippon Ham at Tokyo Dome.