Iron rice bowl 182 wins, left-hander legend, general manager → head and manager → SD → head returned, and the 41-year-old manager was replaced in a year

Jan 07, 2025

Ishii (right) and Choi Hee-seop during the LA Dodgers. Sports Chosun DB

Former Rakuten coach Imae, who took the helm at the age of 41 and was replaced a year later. Rakuten ranked fourth among six Pacific League teams last year. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS

The Rakuten Eagles have not been out of the B-Class (4th to 6th place out of 6 teams) for the past 3 years. From 2022 to last year, he ranked fourth in the Pacific League for three consecutive years. I don't get good grades, but I have a lot of discord. This offseason, he replaced the coach and threw out the leading player representing the team. This prompted criticism from Rakuten-born leaders and fans. In addition, it was revealed that certain players bullied their teammates and sat on the sidelines.

Coach Toshiaki (42) was notified of his dismissal after the end of last year's season. He was held accountable for his failure to advance to the postseason. After putting forward a 41-year-old young leader, he boldly organized it in a season. Rumors were circulating that it was difficult to throw quickly, but what I did led to reality.

There must have been a lot of regrets from the coach's point of view. Special closing pitcher Yuki Matsui (29, San Diego Padres) left for the Major League. He went through the season without much reinforcement. That doesn't mean the team's performance has fallen to the bottom. He won the Central League and the Inter League for the first time. Although he did not continue the good trend until the end, he showed his potential as a first-year coach. However, team owner Hiroshi Mikitani (60) lacked patience.

As many as 10 coaches have gone through the past 20 years. Six of them were short-lived in one year. The coach's contract period on Imae was two years. There were voices criticizing the owner Mikitani's dogmatic operation. A former Rakuten manager said "Players don't care about the coach or coach's words that disappear in a year. We should give him at least three years of opportunity."

It compares to the Nippon Ham Fighters in many ways. Nippon Ham, which finished last for the second consecutive year between 2022-2023, jumped to second place last year. He succeeded in taking a leap forward by empowering and supporting coach Tsuyoshi Shinjo. The Chunichi Dragons kept coach Kazuyoshi Tatsunami's three-year term. He was in last place for three consecutive years, but he accompanied him until the end. Even if the Chunichi case is unusual, Rakuten's frequent managerial changes are also uncommon.

Legend Masahiro Tanaka (37) turned his back on Rakuten. At the end of November, he crossed a river that could not return due to deep emotional goals due to salary cuts. As Tanaka left the team "Even if I can't find a new team, I won't be returning to Rakuten."I got a nail on me.

Tanaka, who has 197 wins in total in the U.S. and Japan. He left Rakuten late last year and wore a Yomiuri uniform. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS

Tanaka is a key player who led Rakuten to its first Japan Series championship in 2013. After putting the team at the top, he advanced to the Major League, won 78 games, and returned. Of course, I thought I would finish my career at Rakuten, but an unexpected situation happened.

Among baseball elders, there was a saying that "You shouldn't send legends that contributed greatly to the development of Japanese baseball like that." The Yomiuri Giants, seeking their second consecutive league win, moved. He reached out to Tanaka, who has a career record of 197 wins in the U.S. and Japan. He signed a contract for 160 million yen, more than three times the annual salary of 50 million yen offered by Rakuten.

There is a high-ranking front desk that stays firmly even if the team falls into a slump and shakes. Kazuhisa Ishii (52), a pitcher who won a total of 182 wins in the U.S. and Japan. He has been holding key positions for nearly seven years.

Started in Yakult Swallows. Left-hander Ishii returned to Yakult after four years with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. He made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2002 and won 14 games. After playing Yakult, he retired from the Seibu Lions in 2013.

He was the head of Rakuten in September 2018 without field experience. In 2021, he became the general manager and manager and led the team with full power. However, the grades were not good enough. 2021년 3

Rakuten replaced the coach on his forehead shortly after last season and took the helm of Mickey's second division. It is the first time in five years that he has returned to the top of the first team. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS

Ising when he was with the LA Dodgers. He won 14 games in his major league debut season in 2002. Sports Chosun DB

After doing the above, it only ranked 4th in 2022-2023. Nevertheless, he was not dismissed and changed his position. He moved to senior director and returned as general manager. It is impossible without the absolute trust of the owner.

At the end of last year, Rakuten appointed Miki Hajime (48), the head coach of the second division, as the head coach of the first division. As a first-team coach, he is a leader who worked with General Manager Ishii in 2020. The two will work together as general managers and directors for the first time in five years. In 2020, Mickey's Rakuten finished fourth. After the season, Mickey moved down to the second team. And he succeeded in returning to the first team in five years. It would be possible because it is Rakuten.

Fans are cold looking at Ishii's return to the general manager. There is criticism on his forehead that he made the coach an offering to return to the field. Regardless of his ability as a leader and a club administrator, he has a great ability to survive.

I'm curious about Rakuten's performance this year.

Ishii during his Yakult days. Sports Chosun DB

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.