Like a panther -Murakami radio-

       It is a very difficult question as to when Japanese professional baseball stopped being so interesting, and I have yet to find the exact point. It might be when the Japan Series stopped being played in the daytime, It might be when the number of domed stadiums increased and jet balloons and flashy cheerleaders started to appear, or when the number of games in which pitchers pitched a complete game decreased drastically, or after the embarrassing Egawa problem, or when the manager and players of a certain Nagoya team beat up a poor umpire so badly that he was hospitalized with a broken bone, only to receive a minor penalty,　In any case, these things have gradually added up to the point that I don't think I have the same honest attachment to the game of baseball as I used to have. And the Climax Series has put the final nail in the coffin.

In my opinion, it's like a monkey show made up for the sake of sales. No matter what logic you give to the idea that a team that hasn't even won the league championship can play in the Japan Series, it doesn't make any sense at all. It's a completely different story from the big league play-offs.
I complain endlessly, but I still watch baseball on TV every night, check the sports news, visit Jingu Stadium in my spare time, and continue drinking draft beer with edamame as snacks. Why, you might ask? Well, I'm at a loss for an answer, but in the end, I'd have to say that despite all the things I don't like about the game, there are still a lot of great things about it.About two years ago, I saw a game between the Red Sox and the Yankees at Fenway Ballpark in Boston. I was seated behind the third base bench, so I could see the third baseman's defence right in front of me. The Yankees' third was, of course, Alex Rodriguez. From the start of the game until the end, I didn't look at the pitcher or the batter very much, but only at his defence. Why? Because his movements were beautiful. With each pitch, he subtly shifted his defensive position and changed the way his body's centre of gravity was applied. If he pitched 150 pitches in a game, he would stand on his tiptoes 150 times, his whole body exuding power like a panther. His rhythm is wonderful. He never skips a single pitch. Some might say that since they are paid exorbitantly high salaries, they should be expected to do such basic things. That is true. But there are many people in the world who are lazy and cut corners on details while earning a high salary. I left the stadium satisfied and impressed, thinking that A-Rod was indeed a great guy. We drank draft beer and ate hot dogs... who won? Did Matsui hit? I don't remember anything at all. But that night's game remains a vivid image in my mind. I think it was worth going all the way to the stadium.

That's what it means to be a professional. I must learn from them.

This Week in Murakami

I think the most beautiful baseball stadium in Japan is Koshien Stadium. I haven't been there recently.