Jason Standridge draped a towel around his neck, gathered his cleats under his left arm, and descended down the stairs in the dugout on the third base side on his way toward the visitor's locker room on Friday night at Koshien Stadium, the day before the Japan Series.
For four seasons, from 2010 to 2013, Standridge made this walk on the other side of the field as a member of the Hanshin Tigers. Back then he'd disappear into the home dugout after practice. During games, he'd leave the field more times than not to the adoration of the Hanshin faithful, who filled the stands night after night.
If they're cheering when he leaves on Saturday night, then things won't have gone well for the Alabama native or the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks team he suits up for now. When he takes the hill at Koshien this time, in Game 1 of the Japan Series, instead of giving the crowd something to cheer about, Standridge will be trying to silence them. The right-hander said it doesn't feel weird to face his former teammates in the Japanese Fall Classic. He's looking forward to it, actually.