Decide the championship in front of the boss (manager) The 2025 team slogan made by the players, is there another happy manager like this

Nov 30, 2024

Coach Shinjo announced his team's catchphrase for next season at the club's year-end party on the 29th. It is 'decide the victory in front of the boss'. Boss is the nickname of director Shinjo. It is a slogan with the trust of players and clubs. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS

Nihonham, who finished last for two consecutive years, jumped to second place this season. He succeeded in rebounding in the third season of Shinjo's appointment. Shinjo is taking a commemorative photo with the player who became the winning pitcher. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS

"Our director is a good person. I want to be with the director for a long time. To do that, the team has to have a good performance. I need to be better at baseball."

What the main player of the local club said a few years ago was very impressive. This happened when the game was canceled due to rain and we faced each other with some free time in the dugout. He was a mid-sized player who signed an FA contract for a large amount of money. You must have been well aware that the interview was known. Maybe it was a statement conscious of the director. Still, it is difficult to say without affection and trust in the leader. When I talked about the interview to the director, who was involved, I laughed silently and moved on.

How many people in the professional world have heard that someone will do better for themselves.

Coach Tsuyoshi Shinjo (52) announced the team slogan (catchphrase) of the Nippon Ham Fighters next season on the 29th. It was unveiled at the club's year-end party held in Sapporo, Hokkaido. However, the content of the slogan is very unique. It is 'decide the victory in front of the BOSS'. Boss is the nickname or nickname of director Shinjo. When I became the head coach at the end of 2021 without a professional team coaching experience, I asked him to call me 'Big Boss'. In Nippon Ham, 'Boss' is director Shinjo.

I met with the media more than a month after the rookie draft meeting on Oct. 24. He did not appear in public after losing to the Softbank Hawks and the Pacific League Climax Series Final Stage. The final training session, which took place in early November, was also entrusted to the coaching staff.

Korean and Japanese professional baseball teams unveil slogans ahead of the season. It radiates the team's direction and the current situation into condensed words and sentences. This season, Chiba Lotte Marines put forward 'Beyond Yourself', Yomiuri Giants 'New Wind', Yokohama BayStars 'Yokohama Evolution', and Softbank Hawks 'VIVA'.

Chiba Lotte played fall baseball in third place in the Pacific League. Yomiuri ranked first in the Central League in four years in the first year of manager Abe Shinnosuke's appointment. Yokohama, which started the postseason by ranking third in the Central League, lifted the Japan Series trophy. directed a series of demagogues. Softbank recorded the highest winning percentage among the 12 teams in both leagues this season.

This year, the Hanwha Eagles will compete in 'DIFFERENT US'; the Doosan Bears will be 'Integrated'; the Kiwoom Heroes will be 'Hero Race'; the NC Dinos will be 'THE ROAD

Shinjo is hugging Manami, the main hitter, in front of the dugout. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS

I wrote 'TO GREATNESS'. He put his will to win or take off.

In 2024, Nippon Ham decided on a team slogan after a fan contest. There were 8,608 cases. Among them, 'Great 航 Sea' was chosen. Nippon Ham experienced a disastrous failure in 2022-2023. He finished last in the Pacific League for the second consecutive year. Last year, Nippon Ham moved its home stadium to Sconfield, the latest retractable dome stadium. He must have wanted to put on a good performance at the new stadium. However, he finished bottom from the first year of the new stadium. This year's slogan included a message to spread out what we have prepared for two years to your heart's content.

Coach Shinjo explained, `I was thinking about what to do with the slogan for next season, but the front staff of the club had a meeting and made the slogan.' It is a catchphrase made by the club, not by the coach's opinion. No matter how unusual the entertainer is 'alien' director Shinjo is, it is an unconventional slogan beyond unconventional.

He "I was going to say no at first. Still, I was worried that I was going too far." However, he changed his mind after hearing the club's explanation. It was not decided by the club in terms of entertainment seeking fun. "I want to show you how well I win in front of the boss." is a reflection of the players' words. One player said "I want to win and rinse the boss."

Coach Shinjo, who announced the club's slogan for next season at the year-end party on the 29th. He was offered a contract renewal prior to the fall baseball, but delayed his definite answer. After the fall baseball, he accepted a second term. Photo capture = Sports Nippon SNS

Last place for the second year in a row and was given a one-year chance in 2024. He declared "If I don't get my grades in 2024, I'll leave without regret."

He succeeded in rebounding with young players this season. It went up to second place in the Pacific League. He advanced to the final stage of the climax series by beating the third-place Chiba Lotte.

However, it did not reach the Japan Series. It fell to Softbank, the highest winning percentage team in both leagues, with three consecutive losses. Director Shinjo said "Softbank was too strong"

The club offered to renew the contract before the fall baseball season. However, coach Shinjo did not give the club a definite answer. There was a rumor that he would leave without regret. The players were rather worried about leaving the office. It may be because of the memory of exciting baseball performance this season. There were full of expectations that he could perform better next season.

If Nippon Ham had defeated Softbank and advanced to the Japan Series, they might have put down the baton regardless of the results of the Japan Series. As a result, losing to Softbank was a strong motivation for a second term.

Coach Shinjo has attracted attention for his outstanding words and actions since he was a player. He was a free man who always wanted to get out of the wrong frame. It was the same after he became the Nippon Ham coach without a leadership career. He showed an unconventional performance that no other team coach would think of.

Shinjo is cheering for his alma mater's team who participated in the summer Gosiene Stadium in the stands last Yeolm.

C. He confirmed his qualifications as a leader.

He played for the Hanshin Tigers and challenged himself to the major leagues. He played for the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants for three years. When he returned to Japan, he chose Nippon Ham rather than his old team. It was in 2004 when Nippon Ham left Tokyo and moved to Hokkaido.

huelva@sportschosun.com