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Director Okada responds to an interview after a staff meeting (camera: Masashi Goto)
Photo by Sponichi
If I had to describe Okada Hanshin’s spring training camp, which revolves around the team winning its first second consecutive Central League title, I would describe it as a “super difficult camp.” The only rookie to start on the first team is Shiiba, who was drafted second. There are almost no surprises. Coach Okada said this after the coaches meeting.
“(Members of the 1st and 2nd armies) will be sorted out, and the veterans will be in the Gushikawa group (at the 2nd army campsite). It’s a lot different than last year though.”
It’s not that there aren’t any fresh faces. Iwasaki, Iwasada, Kajiya, Shimamoto, Itohara and Haraguchi, whose abilities were known, were initially slowly adapted to the second team, and Monbetsu, Ibaraki, Tomita, Noguchi, Fujita and Nakagawa started in the first team for the first time.
However, Tomita and Monbetsu had first-team experience last year, and Ibaraki and Noguchi were players who stood out in fall camp, so they were both appropriate choices. Like last year, Fujita and Nakagawa were promoted to the first team midway through camp and the aim is to develop them further. The selection clearly reflected the commander’s belief that no major changes were needed from last year’s lineup, which achieved Japan’s No. 1 title for the first time in 38 years.
“We will have a Kouhaku match on the 11th and 12th. Then we’ll change things again.”
With the exception of Monbetsu, who is expected to make the starting lineup, the time to appeal is short. After the joint Red-White match of the 1st and 2nd Armies, scheduled for the 11th and 12th of the third season, the veteran group will be promoted, and only players who are considered “strong” can stay with Ginoza . “Towards the end of the Red-White War, a certain number of members will gather to form the first army for a year.” It is the same pattern as last year when we won the championship and the open game with a narrowed down member ended. The harder it is to find a dark horse, the more powerful the tigers seem to be. (Yohei Kuraseko)
▼Hanshin Hirata head coach: Solid defense is an important theme of the camp. I would like to improve the quality of seat tapping and pitching coordination from last year. Morishita also started in the first team this year. He is not guaranteed a starting spot, and with the signing of Noguchi, the competition in the outfield will become tougher. Teru Sato still has room for improvement defensively, so I hope he does his best. I am sure that each of them is aware of this and understands it.
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