The wind blows, the youngest manager at the age of 41 was also replaced in a year, and all the coaches of the fourth- to sixth-ranked teams resigned (Min Chang-ki's Japanese baseball)
Oct 10, 2024
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Rakuten Eagles, who finished fourth for the third consecutive year, drew another sword. On his forehead, he replaced coach Toshiaki on the grounds of poor performance. The announcement was made shortly after the final regular season game against the Seibu Lions on the 9th. On his forehead, which he signed a two-year contract last fall, the coach will take the helm for the first time in a year. The final game of the season ended in a 2-2 draw in the 12th inning of extra time.
Rumors of a replacement at the end of the season were circulated, but it became a reality.
Rakuten competed fiercely for third place until mid-September. However, toward the second half, there was a lack of hindsight. It finished fourth behind Chiba Lotte Marines. He failed to advance to fall baseball for the third consecutive year.
67 wins, 4 draws and 72 losses, a winning rate of 482. The eight consecutive losses from late September to early October became a fatal blow. The gap with Chiba Lotte widened to five games.
Although he did not escape the B-class (4th to 6th place out of 6 teams), it is difficult to say that the coach failed on his forehead. Rakuten finished fourth for the second consecutive year without reinforcing its power. Last winter, special closer Yuki Matsui (San Diego) left for the Major League. He threw a game to convert ace Takahiro Norimoto to the finish line, but he succeeded. Norimoto made 32 saves this season to rank No. 1 in the Pacific League.
The box office hit well, too. The number of spectators increased by 280,000 and 22.6% from last year. However, Japanese media reported that there was a critical opinion on the coach's use of players and operation on his forehead from one side of the club.
Rakuten flew well in the interleague (exchange match) that lasted from late May to mid-June. He recorded 13 wins and 5 losses and a winning percentage of 72.2 percent. He beat the Softbank Hawks to rank first in the interleague. It was the first time in 20 years since the team was launched in 2005. I couldn't keep up the good flow.
Imae won the Japan Series MVP twice as a member of Chiba Lotte. He led the Chiba Lotte to win in 2005 and 2010.
He retired from Rakuten in 2019 and became a first-team batting coach during last season after serving as a training coach and a second-tier batting coach. Kazuhisa Ishii after last season
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Coach Imae looked back on the season after finishing all the schedules, saying, `It was a year of learning a lot.'
There have been 10 coaches who have gone through Rakuten over the past 20 years. Six people, including the head coach on their foreheads, were replaced in a year.
Japanese media reported that second-tier coach Hajime Miki (47) is a strong candidate for the next head coach. Miki's second-tier coach has experience directing Rakuten for one season in 2020.
Three of the six Pacific League teams have already been replaced. Earlier, manager Satoshi Nakajima (55) of the 5th-ranked Orix Buffaloes and manager Hisanobu Watanabe (59) of the 6th-ranked Seibu Lions stepped down at the end of the season.
huelva@sportschosun.com
