Former Seibu Lions star Hatsuhiko Tsuji has responded positively to a request by the Pacific League club to take over as its next manager, a team source said Friday.
Tsuji, who was the infield and tactical coach for the Central League's Chunichi Dragons this season, quickly became the prime candidate to replace skipper Norio Tanabe, who announced earlier this week he will resign at the end of the season.
The 57-year-old Tsuji, who joined the Lions out of the corporate leagues in 1984, won eight Golden Gloves at second base, and led the PL in batting average in 1993. He and Tanabe were teammates and double play partners for several seasons.
Aside from the Dragons, whose minor league team he managed to two Western League pennants, Tsuji also has coaching experience with the Yakult Swallows and Yokohama BayStars.
The Lions are among the PL's top scoring teams and lead the league in doubles and home runs, but their 101 errors this season are the most in Nippon Professional Baseball. The Lions outscored their opponents this season by one run, 619 to 618, but finished 12 games under .500.
"Powerful baseball is a good thing, but how well are you able to win one-run games?" said Haruhiko Suzuki, the Lions' head of baseball operations.
