BayStars manager Alex Ramirez wants more from rookie pitcher Yuya Sakamoto
One of the biggest adjustments Yokohama BayStars rookie pitcher Yuya Sakamoto made on Saturday was wearing a hat one size smaller than usual. When the left-hander pitched for Ritsumeikan University, his cap had a tendency to come flying off, and he was under orders from ...
Tigers hurler Yuki Nishi, pitching counterparts practice patience for start of season
Handing the ball to Yuki Nishi to start the season was probably a no-brainer for the Hanshin Tigers. Nishi was a celebrated free-agent acquisition in the winter of 2018, when he switched his Kansai allegiances from the Orix Buffaloes to the Tigers. He was Hanshin's ...
BayStars, Tigers managers react to NPB's decision to push back start of season
The fog of uncertainty surrounding the NPB season hung just as think in the air at Yokohama Stadium as the gray clouds that hovered above the ballpark on Tuesday morning. The Yokohama BayStars and Hanshin Tigers were supposed to play a preseason game in the ...
BayStars manager Alex Ramirez believes team has talent to contend
Alex Ramirez, the manager of the Yokohama BayStars, responded to the loss of his best player by declaring the dawning of a new generation. Ramirez expects his BayStars to be good this year, even without Yoshitomo Tsutsugo in the No. 4 spot. He misses the ...
BayStars unveil Keita Sano as team's new captain
Keita Sano modeled the Yokohama BayStars' new visitors' uniform on a slightly windy Saturday night at Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama. While all the BayStars will be wearing the new "Yokohama Blue" threads this year, Sano's will have an extra touch the others won't. A captain's ...
The DeNA Baystars said Tuesday that manager Alex Ramirez would stay at the helm next season despite the Yokohama-based Central League team making an early exit from the postseason playoffs. The 45-year-old told owner Tomoko Namba after Monday's 2-1 loss to the Hanshin Tigers, in ...
BayStars manager Alex Ramirez makes safe choices for Central League Climax Series opener
Alex Ramirez is going to play this one by the numbers. That goes for the lineup he'll field against the Hanshin Tigers in the first stage of the Central League Climax Series and also his starting pitcher. Kenta Ishida will get the call over ace ...
Shinnosuke Abe says goodbye to Giants fans on a winning note
Everyone at Tokyo Dome knew what Yomiuri Giants public address announcer Daisuke Takahashi was going say. They just needed to hear him say it one more time, one last time. "Catcher, Abe Shinnosuke," Takahashi, voice rising to a scream, announced as the Giants took the ...
BayStars' Takayuki Kajitani atones for fielding miscue with clutch hit against Swallows
Takayuki Kajitani got caught sleeping at the wheel in the outfield during the sixth inning. When he came to the plate in the seventh, however, the Yokohama BayStars veteran was locked in 100 percent. Kajitani hit a tiebreaking two-out single to right to give his team ...
Central League set up for exciting race to finish line
Things looked so simple in the Central League at the All-Star break. The Yomiuri Giants were in first place when the second half started on July 15, with the closest object to them in the rearview mirror 9½ games back. But, as they say, life comes ...
BayStars slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo's move to No. 2 in order could help spark change
Yoshitomo Tsutsugo is not your typical No. 2 batter. Or is he? The answer probably depends on the brand of baseball you prefer. The BayStars slugger isn't a speedster nor much of a bunter. He's a destructive force at the plate with 193 career home ...
BayStars starter Kentaro Taira stifles red-hot Dragons
Yokohama BayStars manager Alex Ramirez knew his team was going to need a big performance in order to slow down the streaking Chunichi Dragons and their star pitcher Yuya Yanagi. With BayStars starter Kentaro Taira leading the way, Ramirez's club delivered. Taira (2-2) threw six shutout ...
