SAPPORO — For Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles' illustrious manager Katsuya Nomura, there is nothing to be afraid of any more, even of his own ballclub.
Nomura, who guided Rakuten to a second-place finish and its first postseason appearance in the club's five-year history, was told by Rakuten owner and president Toru Shimada that the 74-year-old skipper would not be leading the team after this season, instead being offered an "honorable manager" position.
As he sat in the dugout before Game 1 of the second stage of the Pacific League Climax Series at Sapporo Dome, Nomura angrily started ripping the Eagles organization.