Sports · Baseball · 4 hrs ago
Emoto warns Giants face a tough season under new manager Matsui
Hideki Matsui will manage the Yomiuri Giants next season in Japan's professional baseball league.
Former player Tsutomu Emoto said the team faces a difficult challenge because he sees no standout players capable of carrying the team.
Emoto pointed to veterans losing form and younger players struggling to improve.
He said Kazuma Okamoto's move to the Toronto Blue Jays has left a gap in the lineup.
Former Giants pitcher Yukinaga Maeda also said developing a Japanese fourth batter is a major task, referring to the team's key power hitter.
Emoto believes the Giants may struggle to win the title, while Matsui's approach and the progress of potential power hitters will be watched next season.
Former pitcher Takenori Emoto says the Giants face a difficult season under incoming manager Hideki Matsui.
Emoto says the team lacks impact players, with veterans declining and younger players struggling to develop.
He says the absence of Kazuma Okamoto has weakened the batting lineup and makes a championship difficult.
Former pitcher Yukinaga Maeda says developing a Japanese No. 4 hitter is a major challenge for Matsui.
Maeda says the Giants need a home-run hitter to contend for the title.
- Who
- Former pitcher Takenori Emoto commented on incoming Giants manager Hideki Matsui; former pitcher Yukinaga Maeda also discussed the team’s challenges.
- What
- Emoto warned that the Giants may struggle to win the title. Maeda identified developing a Japanese cleanup hitter as a major task.
- When
- Emoto spoke on a program broadcast on November 1. Maeda spoke on the same program broadcast on October 31.
- Where
- The comments were made on the radio program Show-Up Nighter Special: Pro Baseball 60n.
- Why
- Emoto said the team lacks impact players and is affected by Kazuma Okamoto’s absence. Maeda said it needs to develop a Japanese No. 4 hitter.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Yukinaga Maeda appeared on a radio program and discussed the Giants’ need to develop a Japanese cleanup hitter.
Takenori Emoto appeared on a radio program and warned that the Giants would face a difficult season under Hideki Matsui.
- Incoming manager
- Hideki Matsui
- Emoto’s comments
- Broadcast on November 1
- Maeda’s comments
- Broadcast on October 31
- Absent player cited by Emoto
- Kazuma Okamoto
- Okamoto’s new team
- Toronto Blue Jays
3 sources
What people are saying
The players are at a lower level than I expected; this is clearly not a team that will run away with the championship.
The absence of Okamoto keeps having an impact.
Developing a Japanese No. 4 hitter who will carry the Giants is a major challenge.
What the Giants need to win the championship is a home-run hitter.