YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) Yokohama BayStars skipper Akihiko Oya has been replaced by farm team manager Tomio Tashiro after a string of disappointing results, the Central League club said Monday.
Yokohama team president Kuniaki Sasaki told a news conference that Oya is being "rested," but the 61-year-old appears to have effectively been sacked, with one senior BayStars official claiming there was "no way" he would be returning to his post.
Oya took over the reigns in 2007 and the BayStars finished in fourth place in the six-team CL that year.
Last season saw Yokohama finish in last place and this term the team is currently propping up the standings with a 13-24 record.
Tashiro was a key player for Yokohama when the team was known as the Yokohama Taiyo Whales.