{"id":73128,"date":"2015-04-28T07:52:36","date_gmt":"2015-04-27T22:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fukuoka-now.com\/?post_type=feature&p=60881"},"modified":"2019-10-02T17:42:17","modified_gmt":"2019-10-02T08:42:17","slug":"fukuoka-softbank-hawks-baseball-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/fukuoka-softbank-hawks-baseball-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks & Japanese Baseball Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everything you ever wanted to know about Fukuoka\u2019s baseball team and how to enjoy a day at the Dome<\/p>\n

\"\" (c) SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

Four years ago, Fukuoka Now sports correspondent, Matt Schuelling<\/strong>, penned his first report on the SoftBank Hawks. A lot\u2019s changed in the world of Japanese Baseball since then, but one thing that hasn\u2019t is Matt\u2019s undying love for the sport. Following the Hawks\u2019 winning season in 2014, we asked Matt to take another look at the team and write a report to give you all the information you\u2019d ever need for the upcoming baseball season. So crack open a Bud and take to your lazyboy and read on for Fukuoka Now\u2019s guide to the SoftBank Hawks.<\/p>\n

Rushed for time? Click the links to skip to different sections:
\n\u2022 Introduction<\/a>
\n\u2022 History<\/a>
\n\u2022 Japanese Baseball Today<\/a>
\n\u2022 In The Stadium<\/a>
\n\u2022 The Hawks in 2015<\/a>
\n\u2022 Player Interviews<\/a>
\n\u2022 2015 Prediction<\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Want to know what a game’s actually like? Click to read our baseball report live from the Dome.<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking back<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I enjoy Japanese baseball now even more than when I originally penned this article. I\u2019ve found that to be true about a lot of things here: natto<\/em>, horumon<\/em>, picking tsukushi<\/em> in the spring, imo shochu<\/em>, wearing surgical masks to work, public transportation, the absence of public trash cans\u2026 maybe I\u2019ve just got used to most of those things, I\u2019m not sure. For baseball however, I can pinpoint exactly why I like it more now than I did before. I was recently at a game with a large Hard Rock Cafe mushroom swiss burger sitting in my stomach, slowly drowning that digesting deliciousness with Asahi Super Dry, sitting in the same seat where I watched my first Japanese baseball game, when I was hit with a wave of nostalgia.<\/p>\n

Because for me, watching Japanese baseball is like stepping back in time. There are short players, long lanky players, some of players with good sized beer guts. You know when players are going to bunt (tap the ball into play) and strategic choices often seem to be made based on old-school baseball rather than following the new-school style of algorithms and mathematical logic. Japanese baseball and the baseball of my youth seem much more similar to me than modernday Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball ever do.<\/p>\n

And who doesn\u2019t love stepping back in time? Watching that game I almost felt like Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams, minus the corn and voice of Darth Vader. Japanese baseball takes me back to warm memories of Ken Burns movies in a time before Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill simplified sabermetrics for Hollywood in Moneyball, when Ken Griffey Jr. was still a kid, and Montreal still had a baseball team in hideous uniforms. Watching that game was weird. I almost felt young again, if only for a nine-inning ball game.<\/p>\n

The Pitch<\/strong>
\nMy first Japanese baseball game was back in 2007. The SoftBank Hawks were playing a struggling Orix Buffaloes team. I had some good seats just a bit up the first base line and close enough to the field that you could read the left handed batters\u2019 names as they dug in at the plate. But as I sat there and watched the Hawks pick apart the Buffaloes I wasn\u2019t able to completely enjoy myself. It was baseball, all the elements were there to assure me I was watching a baseball game, but something was a bit off. It was like watching a movie based on a book you love, but as good as the movie is it can\u2019t perfectly match what you envisioned.<\/p>\n

\"\" The Hawks Honeys \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

There were cheerleaders in miniskirts waving pom-poms and directing chants, beer girls toting (awesome) beer-keg backpacks circling the stadium like clockwork and war drums pounding throughout the entire game in the right field bleachers. I don\u2019t think there was a peanut anywhere in the stadium, but vendors were selling everything from takoyaki<\/em> and dried squid to KFC chicken and pizza. Even the thirty-five thousand fans were a little different. American fans spend as much time trying to get on the jumbo-screen as they do watching the game sometimes. But the Hawks fans, if they\u2019re not in the middle of some chant or smacking their thunder-sticks together, are generally quiet \u2013 they stay seated, eyes focused on the field and the players. It\u2019s a very orderly, yet passionate, watching the games live.<\/p>\n

It was a very Japanese experience.<\/p>\n

A Quick History Lesson<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Baseball, also called yakyu<\/em> (literally \u2018field ball\u2019), came to Japan in the Meiji Era. An American professor named Horace Wilson introduced the game to his students at Kaisei Gakko, (present day Tokyo University). In its infant stages it worked its way through the universities in a way that mirrored American Football\u2019s early start in the United States at the same time. No admission was charged for any of the games for the first thirty years because the players thought it would be morally wrong to accept money for something they loved to do.<\/p>\n

\"j.baseball\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The first professional Japanese teams formed in 1920, but, strapped with financial difficulties, they lasted only a few years. The second time around they got it right though. In 1934, the Dai-Nippon Baseball Club was formed in Tokyo followed by the Osaka Baseball Club the following year. Both teams are still around today, Dai-Nippon became the famous Yomiuri Giants and the team out in Osaka is now known as the Hanshin Tigers.<\/p>\n

Though play was briefly stopped during WWII, the game picked up where it left off with renewed frenzy following the war. The league was revamped and renamed in 1950 to the current setup that exists today as Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). It is also referenced as \u201cNippon Besuboru\u201d, \u201cNippon Yakyu\u201d and \u201cPro Yakyu\u201d, as well as \u201cJapanese Baseball\u201d by those outside of Japan.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Bat is a Wondrous Weapon,\u201d – Ty Cobb<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Perhaps in the kendo strikes, or on the judo mats, or in the salt thrown by sumo wrestlers, a strong sense of the ancient ideals and philosophies we know as Bushido are most authentically preserved. But it\u2019s on the baseball diamond that the evolved spirit of the warrior is readily available to everyone. While there\u2019re no katana<\/em> (usually), top-knots, or seppuku<\/em>, the Japanese baseball player is regarded by many as the modern day equivalent of the samurai.<\/p>\n

In the twilight years of Japanese baseball, the Japanese players quickly realized that the American style of play didn\u2019t really suit them. They needed a more Japanese method, something that would reflect their spirit and ideology. The training method that was designed with that in mind resembled martial arts more than a western sport.<\/p>\n

\"\" \u00a9 Paul Sancya\/AP<\/em><\/p>\n

A team called Ichiko, from the First Higher School of Tokyo, pioneered this true Japanese style of baseball in 1896. They believed that training was about pushing yourself mentally and physically to the edge of exhaustion and breakdown. They incorporated teachings from the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi\u2019s The Book of Five Rings, practicing day in and day out with the goal: \u201cSurpass today what you were yesterday.\u201d They also followed the principles of judo, in that through rigorous training, a strong spirit, and mental discipline it is possible for a smaller combatant to surpass larger opponents.<\/p>\n

Managers that copied the Ichiko system of training had a \u2018train until you die\u2019 mentality. Pain was ignored and weakness forbidden. The training camp of the 1936 Giants was designed not to develop baseball skills, but to sharpen fighting spirit. The camp was nicknamed \u201cVomit Camp.\u201d It was written that \u201cfrom the mud and sweat\u2026 the soul of the Giants was born.\u201d The Hanshin Tigers\u2019 camps in Osaka were equally extraordinary, with players walking barefoot over the naked blade of a samurai long sword to strengthen mental control. To wit, in a publication by the Alumni Association of Ichiko published in 1903 they explained that baseball, \u201ccame from the West. In Ichiko baseball, we were playing sports, but we were also putting the spirit of Japan into it. Yakyu is a way to express the samurai spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Japanese Baseball Today<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Field<\/strong>
\nNippon Professional Baseball<\/a> is made up of twelve teams divided into two separate leagues.<\/p>\n

The Pacific League<\/strong>:
\n\u2022 Orix Buffaloes – Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
\n\u2022 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles – Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
\n\u2022 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – Sapporo, Hokaido Prefecture
\n\u2022 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
\n\u2022 Saitama Seibu Lions – Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture
\n\u2022 Chiba Lotte Marines – Chiba city, Chiba Prefecture<\/p>\n

The Central League<\/strong>:
\n\u2022 Yokohama Bay Stars – Yokohama, Kanagaw Prefecture
\n\u2022 Hiroshima Toyo Carp – Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture
\n\u2022 Chunichi Dragons – Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
\n\u2022 Yomiuri Giants – Tokyo
\n\u2022 TokyoYakult Swallows – Tokyo
\n\u2022 Hanshin Tigers – Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture<\/p>\n

Like America\u2019s National League and American League the only remarkable difference between the two leagues is the designated hitter rule in the Pacific League while the pitcher must still bat for himself in the Central.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Unlike many Major League Baseball (MLB) teams in America, teams in Japan are owned by companies meaning team names typically use the company name in lieu of the cities they are based in. Instead of Fukuoka\u2019s team being named the \u2018Fukuoka Hawks\u2019, they\u2019re referred to as the \u2018SoftBank Hawks\u2019 and the logo on the hat is an intertwined \u2018S\u2019 and \u2018H\u2019.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the biggest difference in rules between America and Japan are extra innings games. Games in Japan that are tied after nine innings of play can only be continued for an extra three innings. If a winner can\u2019t be decided by the bottom of the twelfth then the game is recorded as a tie. Ties are a rare occurrence in MLB where there is no limit in the length of time or innings games can be played for, but last year alone the Hawks had six of them.<\/p>\n

The regular season is between 130-144 games long. It starts in March and lasts until early October. The top three teams of each league go on to the playoffs called \u2018Climax Season.\u2019 When entering the \u2018Climax Season\u2019, It\u2019s much more advantageous to finish first as opposed to second or third. The second and third place teams play each other in a three game series for the chance to take on their league\u2019s first place team. The winner of that three game series will advance to the second stage and a best of seven series against the first place team. In this best of seven series, the first place team starts off with a single game lead over the challenger, so needs only three wins to in advance, while their opponent must win four to continue. The Japan Series is a best of seven games set.<\/p>\n

Spring Training<\/strong>
\nAn American baseball player named Roger Hornsby was once asked what he did in the off-season when there was no baseball. He replied, \u201cI stare out my window and wait for spring.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not the Japanese way.<\/p>\n

One winter I went down to Miyazaki to watch the Softbank Hawks prepare for the coming season. They\u2019d already arrived two weeks ago and while I didn\u2019t see any sword walking, I did watch the then team captain Kokubo Hiroki stay long after team practice was over. He pulled ball after ball over the left field fence, so many that I stopped counting after his 100th swing and had to run to catch my bus home after what I guess was swing number two hundred. In comparison, the teams in America didn\u2019t have players arriving at spring training until February 17th this year and practices didn\u2019t start until the following week.<\/p>\n

The influence of the Ichiko system is still prevalent. Ten hour practice days are not unheard of and some teams still hold intense autumn camps designed to increase mental toughness and build character. It\u2019s this dedication to their style of baseball that makes Japanese baseball unique. They run out every play, they bunt and sacrifice at nearly every opportunity, they train and they train, and each player aims to improve himself individually to maximize his contribution to the team. Players play through injury and hide pain for the sake of the team and the fans. Each at bat is a mental battle, each game is a war, and every season is a campaign to be better than they were before.<\/p>\n

At a press conference going into the 2009 World Baseball Classics the national team manager, Hara Tatsunori, explained the choice of \u2018Samurai Japan\u2019 for the team name. \u201cIn Japanese baseball,\u201d he said, \u201cthe Bushido code is a big part of the game. We really want to play a brand of baseball that reflects Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hometown HAWKS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Hawks are originally from Osaka where they were formed in 1938 by the Nankai Electric Railway Co. They moved to Fukuoka when Daiei, Inc., a department store chain, bought them in 1988 and then renamed the SoftBank Hawks in 2005 when the team was purchased by SoftBank.<\/p>\n

As of 2015, the Hawks have collected sixteen Pacific League Championships and they\u2019ve won the Japan Series five times \u2013 most recently in 2014. They are known for being a strong team in the Pacific League with dedicated ownership and a strong fanbase that consistently fills out the stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake me out to the ball game\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Click to read our baseball report live from the Dome.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Hawks play in the Yafuoku Dome, commonly referred to as the Dome. It was the first and only stadium built in Japan to feature a retractable roof. The roof remains closed most of the time to provide a climate controlled game experience which is a welcome break come summer.<\/p>\n

The right side of the field is the main Hawks cheering section. I like to avoid it just because of the heavy percussion section that tirelessly pounds out cheers, but give it a go if you enjoy a good drum-line and want to see the most ardent fans up close.<\/p>\n

\"hawks<\/p>\n

Each Hawks player has their own cheer that involves chanting their name accompanied by a series of hand motions that look more complicated than parking instructions for a jumbo jet. Personally, I prefer waving my Hawks towel in a circular motion, but make sure you\u2019ve got plenty of room before attempting this.<\/p>\n

When I was playing ball in the Florida swamps I often wondered why American football and basketball had cheerleaders and the only women that cheered at my baseball games consisted of a troop of mini-van driving mothers. This is not the case for the Hawks. The Honeys, the Hawks\u2019 cheerleader team, cheer for the team throughout the game and even have performances in the 5th and 7th innings so make sure you don\u2019t run to the concessions then.<\/p>\n

Some seating options:<\/strong>
\nThis year, the Dome has introduced several new seating options which will take your viewing experience to the next level. Access the official webpage<\/a> for special seats and reservations.<\/p>\n

Home Run Terrace<\/strong>
\nThis area was new created as a result of shortening the Dome’s outfield. Both table seats and funky sun loungers now fill this area for a uniquely close viewing experience in what can only be described as the Home Run danger zone. Don’t worry though, there’s ample netting.<\/p>\n

Sankyu Home Run Terrace along the 3rd base
\nTable seats (2 seats) x 7 (\u00a54,000~\u00a57,000)
\nTable seats (4 seats) x 17 (\u00a58,000~\u00a514,000)
\nTable seats (6 seats) x 4 (\u00a512,000~\u00a521,000)
\nDeck chairs (set of 2) x 7 (\u00a54,000~\u00a57,000)<\/p>\n

\"\" Sun lounger ahoy<\/em><\/p>\n

Infield Double Seat<\/strong>
\nIf you’re keen to get close to that special someone or just like the colour red, these new double seats are for you. Perfect for relaxing and with great views over the infield.\u00a0Two person sofa-style seats. 120 seat capacity. Prices range from \u00a55,000~12,000 per seat depending on day.<\/p>\n

\"\" The new double chairs, perfect for relaxing<\/em><\/p>\n

Premium Suites<\/strong>
\nThese posh suits have all the amenities you could ask for with clear sightlines to the field from private balconies, VIP entrances and elevators, special menus, bathrooms, and attendants on stand by. Great for large groups and families.\u00a0At the time of this article reservations were not being accepted from the general public, but this is expected to change.<\/p>\n

\"\" One way to enjoy the game in style<\/em><\/p>\n

Mascot Mayhem<\/strong>
\n\"\" Harry and Honey Hawk \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

The Hawks truly have one of the more complicated mascot groups in sports today.
\n\u2022 Harry Hawk\u2014Yellow. He replaced Homer Hawk, his older brother, as the main mascot years ago. It appears from pictures of Homer Hawk that he just wasn\u2019t modern enough to keep his job. I could find no data on Homer Hawk\u2019s current whereabouts (conspiracy??)
\n\u2022 Honey Hawk\u2014Pink. Harry\u2019s main squeeze, head of the cheerleaders.
\n\u2022 Harculy Hawk\u2014Orange. He\u2019s Harry\u2019s teammate and his long time rival from their university days, why he sticks around playing second fiddle to his rival we don\u2019t know. Maybe Harry is just that magnanimous.
\n\u2022 Honky Hawk\u2014Yellow. Harry\u2019s middle-aged uncle, wears a round hat. Incumbent mayor of Hawks Town.
\n\u2022 Helen Hawk\u2014Yellow. Honky\u2019s wife since high school, resembles a California gold prospector.
\n\u2022 Huck Hawk, Rick Hawk, and Hock Hawk\u2014Three brothers and Harry\u2019s nephews.<\/p>\n

Some of the more popular players also have their own mascots, so it\u2019s easy to spot fan favorites as they\u2019ll have a doppelganger with an oversized head patrolling the grounds.<\/p>\n

Globophobia and the 7th Inning Stretch\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" (c) SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

I suffer from globophobia. It\u2019s a fear of balloons and a medically recognized phobia (honestly). I\u2019m not sure where I rank as far as severity, but I\u2019m well known for bolting out the door when confronted with one of these rubber menaces. Because of this, the 7th inning stretch \u2013 in Japan it\u2019s called \u201cLucky 7\u201d \u2013 is pure hell for me.<\/p>\n

Starting at the top of the 7th inning, nearly every fan in the Dome starts inflating their balloons. These aren\u2019t your garden variety balloons either. Fully inflated they grow to nearly a meter in length \u2013 like shiny yellow snakes. By the end of the top half of the inning nearly everyone has their balloons fully inflated, some of them holding one in each hand. By that time I\u2019ve typically run off to order a last helping of seasoned fries, or to browse through the rare MLB merchandise exclusive to the stadium in the gift shop, or to try to get an autographed ball out of the UFO crane games that are stationed around the stadium.<\/p>\n

Armed with my iPod blaring Weezer and my trusty camera, I did stay for the spectacle once. It really did look amazing. The stadium was transformed into a sea of yellow. The crowd sang the Hawks anthem. The cheerleaders danced and jumped around. And then at the end everyone let go of their balloons and this cloud of yellow rose like a sudden flame and I was lost in a yellow wriggling world. The balloons shot this way and that before they fell back down. It was over in an instant, but it was amazing and at least for me\u2026terrifying.<\/p>\n

The Hawks in 2015<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A New Boss<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" New Hawks Coach: Kudo Kimiyasu (c) SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

Manager Akiyama Koji caused waves last season when he announced amidst the frenzy of the climax season that he would not return in 2015. After taking over for the legendary Oh Sadaharu in 2009 Akiyama enjoyed a successful tenure with three pennants and two championships. Popular with the ownership his departure came as a surprise to many. Replacing Akiyama is another large figure in the history of Japanese baseball. Kudo Kimiyasu set the record in Japan by playing for 29 years. He was an ace pitcher in his prime, playing for the Lions, Giants, and Hawks. Kudo took number 81 to honor Akiyama and to show that he plans to continue the level of excellence that the Hawks enjoyed under Akiyama\u2019s tenure.<\/p>\n

Offense<\/strong>
\nThe Hawks have led the Pacific league in runs scored for the past two years now. Last year they batted an average .280 as a team compared to .252 from the rest of the PL combined. While they led the league in home runs 2013 they had only modest power numbers in 2014. The Hawks do like to run, and speed is a big element to their game as well.<\/p>\n

Catcher<\/strong>
\nThere is very little offense from the catcher position from the Hawks, but that\u2019s by design. The Hawks\u2019 primary concern for their catcher is with their ability to work with their pitchers. It seems to be working, but it\u2019s hard to evaluate pitcher-catcher relationship from the outside. Any offense the catcher position provides should be viewed as an added bonus. Hosokawa Toru and Tsuruoka Shinya share catching duties, but Hosokawa will be seeing more and more rest days as age and injuries have delayed his return to the Hawks in 2015.<\/p>\n

First Base<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" First Base: Lee Dae-Ho \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

Most days will see Korean slugger Lee Dae-ho at first. A middle of the line up bat, Lee saw his power numbers dip last season, but he maintained a .300 batting average and he smacked 30 doubles in 2014 to go with his 19 home runs. With the fences moved in in 2015, 20-25 home runs will be a realistic ceiling, but he could see his playing time dip slightly as the team tries to find room for all of its outfield batters.<\/p>\n

Second Base<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" Second Base: Honda Yuichi \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

Second base time is split between Honda Yuichi and Akashi Kenji. Both are left handed batters so there is no real platoon split and both have had some injury problems in the last few years. Honda is the superior batter and better runner. The two should combine for around 30-40 stolen bases with Honda leading the timeshare. Both are off to slow starts in 2015, but there is no reason to suspect any changes in this position.<\/p>\n

Third Base<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" Third Base: Matsuda Nobuhiro \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

Matsuda Nobuhiro mans the hot corner. He hasn\u2019t really become the superstar I thought that he could be, but he is a solid bat with a compact swing that drives the ball. His problem has been health, but in 101 games played last season his rate of production was as good as ever. I don\u2019t think he has much room to increase his power potential, but with a full season he could get close to his career high of 25.<\/p>\n

Shortstop<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" Short Stop: Imamiya Kenta \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

Imamiya Kenta is the incumbent shortstop. Still just 23 he has room for growth, but so far his biggest asset has been his health in his short career. Takata Tomoki might steal some playing time from time to time and if Takata hits well they could move to a full platoon with the Imamiya starting against lefties and Takata against righties, but the upside of Takata isn\u2019t so high that I think Imamiya will lose his job anytime soon. I think Imamiya could be more effective if he shortened his swing and slapped the ball more and used his legs more. As a power hitter in high school, the switch to wooden bats has been hard for his offensive side of the game.<\/p>\n

Outfield<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" Offense: Yanagita Yuki \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

The Hawk\u2019s offensive strength is in its outfield. Nakamura Akira and Yanagita Yuki are entering their peak years of performance and their upside is huge. Nakamura is a short, but muscular outfielder who occasionally moves to first base. In his first full year in 2013 he hit .307 and he followed that up with a .308 average in 2014. His best weapon is his hit tool as he led the team in hits last season with 176. At the top of the lineup he\u2019ll have the opportunity to score in almost every game.<\/p>\n

Yanagita Yuki led the team in stolen bases last season, but his swing is a thing of beauty. Violent and fast it looks long to me, but he\u2019s so fast and strong that it doesn\u2019t matter at this point. He hit .308 last season and led the team in walks and on base percentage despite striking out 131 times. I think he can improve in the power department this season, I like him for 20-25 home runs and 20-25 steals. WIth a high batting average and high runs and RBIs (Runs Batted In) I can\u2019t see how Yanagita won\u2019t find himself in the MVP discussions at the end of the year.<\/p>\n

\"\" Left Fielder: Uchikawa Seiichi\u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

Uchikawa Seiichi usually plays left Fielder (LF). The oldest of the outfielders, he\u2019s the model of consistency and balance. He\u2019s actually been getting stronger as he\u2019s gotten older despite playing in a power suppressing ballpark. He set a career high with 19 home runs in 2013. He hit 18 home runs in 2014, but that was in 22 fewer games. He doesn\u2019t attempt many stolen bases, but he\u2019s not slow on the basepaths. I fancy Uchikawa this season to set new career highs in home runs if healthy. Early this spring he was driving the ball to all fields with power.<\/p>\n

Hasegawa Yuya has been a personal favorite of mine for years. He has a very fluid swing from the left side of the plate and has demonstrated plenty of power. In 2013 he hit 19 home runs when his previous career high was 6. I don\u2019t think the power will return to that level, but he\u2019s a tough out whenever he comes to the plate. I think he\u2019s another .280-290 hitter for the Hawks in an overstocked outfield.<\/p>\n

Pitching<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" Jason Standridge \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

The Hawks scored the most runs in the PL last season on offense. Their pitching also excelled ranking second in runs allowed, hits allowed, and strikeouts. Only two of the Hawks\u2019 starting pitchers managed to last the full season. Only three starting pitchers started more than twenty games. But they managed to find enough starters to stay afloat and handed leads to their elite array of bullpen arms.<\/p>\n

Starting pitching<\/strong>
\nSettsu Tadashi is on a downward trend since he peaked in 2012. His strikeout rate is dropping, his earned run average (ERA) is rising, and he\u2019s gone from limiting walks and hits per inning pitched at an elite level to barely better than league average. He did make twenty-two starts last year, but the number of quality games he provides is dropping. However, Settsu is still very valuable, it\u2019s just that where he used to be a number one starter, his decline has slipped him into middle of the rotation value.<\/p>\n

Last year the starting rotation was carried by Jason Standridge. He led the team in game starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. On a team that relies heavily on its bullpen, having a workhorse who can eat innings is invaluable to the team. Standridge is a good pitcher who is very close to being elite and this season he could very well take another step forward.<\/p>\n

Otonari Kenji is a crowd favorite. He lost much of 2013-2014 with a spinal disease called, \u201cYellow ligament ossification.\u201d At the time it looked doubtful that he would be able to continue playing baseball ever, but Otonari returned against the odds in late 2014. His successful return to baseball was even more amazing with the level he returned at. In 8 game starts he posted a 1.64 ERA, 0.838 WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched), and pitched a complete game shutout. While he\u2019s never been a strikeout pitcher or a hard thrower his pitches have a lot of movement and his game plan is to pitch to contact and let his defense work for him. Though not the prototypical sort of ace, Otonari\u2019s experience and pitching style is a model of consistency and looks sharper than ever.<\/p>\n

Relief Pitchers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" Relief: Dennis Sarfate \u00a9 SoftBank HAWKS<\/em><\/p>\n

The Hawk\u2019s bullpen is anchored by the 9th inning man Dennis Sarfate. While the oldest current relief pitcher on the team, Sarfate has been an elite reliever since he arrived in Japan in 2011. His walk rate has been dropping for three years and he\u2019s pitched more games and more innings in that time span as well. Sarfate throws hard with a two seam fastball with late life and a plus slider. He\u2019s just overpowering most nights.<\/p>\n

Player Interviews – Jason Standridge & Dennis Sarfate<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fukuoka Now spoke with two of the Hawk\u2019s pitchers, starter Jason Standridge, and reliever Dennis Sarfate about their careers at the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, changes in Japanese baseball and their love for Fukuoka City.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: We got to see these guys in action at the Dome. Read on for our interviews, or click here for our live report.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\" Jason Standridge with Nick Szasz of Fukuoka Now<\/em><\/p>\n

FN: Yahuoku! Dome is smaller this year. How has that affected you?
\n<\/strong>Jason: For me personally it hasn\u2019t affected me yet. I think that I could help with our hitting, but it also helps the opposing team\u2019s hitting as well. I don\u2019t know, at the end of the year you could ask me that question and maybe I\u2019ll have a better answer for you.<\/p>\n

Dennis: It doesn\u2019t really affect me. I don\u2019t worry about it. Tokyo Dome is so small, Yokohama\u2019s really small, I try not to think about what the hitter\u2019s going to do, I try to stay in my game and getting him out. If I start worrying about the fences being short I\u2019ll start making mistakes and they\u2019ll start hitting them out. I try not to let that bother me at all.<\/p>\n

FN: OK. What\u2019s your favorite thing about playing baseball?
\n<\/strong>Jason: Probably competition. Going out and competing, getting after someone else and just beating them. And you know, it\u2019s not anything that I\u2019m really trying to go after, but it\u2019s just more like a determination to your best.
\nDennis: Oh man\u2026 I have more least favorite things than favorites (laughs). Favorite? I guess just competing on the field and getting to play a game for a living is pretty cool.<\/p>\n

\"\" Dennis Safarte<\/em><\/p>\n

FN: What are the differences playing here versus in the States?
\n<\/strong>Dennis: Big difference. Fans. The games here are really loud, the fans are really enthusiastic. That makes it a lot better. The way the game is played is a little different. It\u2019s more about bunting guys over, small ball. And there\u2019s a big respect thing, so you don\u2019t see a lot of showboating, even though some of the hitters do still showboat here you see it\u2019s a love of the game. They practice really hard. Whereas in the States I think the guys who are so talented just kind of let it go and play, and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

FN: What do you like about Fukuoka the most?
\n<\/strong>Jason: I feel like it\u2019s a family friendly city. I feel like there are a lot of things here to do for families. I\u2019m comfortable here, my family is comfortable here. I don\u2019t think I have a particular thing, or area, that I love. We go to Tenjin and go walking and Ohori Park.<\/p>\n

FN: And there\u2019s a nice beach too!
\n<\/strong>Jason: Yep. So we go to the beach in the summer. We have just really nice areas around.
\nDennis: I like how everything is so close. I spent two years in Hiroshima, so to be in a smaller setting is nice. This city is small… but it\u2019s still yet a little bit big. There\u2019s things to do and the food is really good. We actually use Fukuoka Now to find restaurants. And I love being by the beach. Being able to go to the beach in the summer with the kids is awesome. And I like how close we live to the Dome.<\/p>\n

FN (to Dennis): Is pitching the 9th inning more difficult than pitching middle relief? Or is it mostly dependant on where in the lineup you are?
\n<\/strong>Dennis: You know, the 9th inning, I used to think it was such a difficult thing before I did it. I was a starter. I think it\u2019s the anticipation. Anytime you put someone against the wall and make them have to fight their way out, when I go into a game and we\u2019re winning the other team is trying to score a run, so when you put that pressure on the other team it puts more on you. Obviously the fans are getting crazy in the 9th inning. So I think if you took a regular reliever and put him in the 9th inning he would struggle with the pressure. Where now If I throw in the 5th inning or 6th inning I think it\u2019s boring. I don\u2019t like it. I did it in spring training and it\u2019s really boring. My adrenaline doesn\u2019t get going. The 9th inning is special because you come in and everyone knows you have to get three more outs, and it\u2019s so hard to get that final three outs. It\u2019s like if I was going to box you to death you\u2019re going to fight until the end. And that\u2019s what the other team is going to do to me. They\u2019re going to fight until that last out is out. So it\u2019s definitely a big difference.<\/p>\n

FN (to Dennis): What do you think is the most important thing you can do to prepare to close a game?
\n<\/strong>Dennis: Nothing about baseball. I literally sit in the clubhouse. 6:00 p.m. I get a massage. I\u2019ll watch other things. I talk to my family. I go see my girls, they come to the stadium and I go see them. When I go into the bullpen it\u2019s usually the 7th inning. I start stretching. When I start warming up I have no idea what\u2019s going on in the game pretty much. And I just don\u2019t want to think about it.<\/p>\n

\"\" Dennis Safarte<\/em><\/p>\n

FN: So you\u2019re not monitoring the game at all?
\n<\/strong>Dennis: No, I don\u2019t care. The more you start thinking about it, the more you start watching, and if they\u2019re hitting well it starts putting thoughts in your head. So I try to lighten everyone up. I joke in the bullpen, I pull pranks on guys. But once I get on the mound then it\u2019s business. I take it very seriously. But I\u2019m in the clubhouse sitting in my chair watching TV until about the 7th inning. It\u2019s a really good job. I\u2019m lucky!<\/p>\n

FN (to Dennis): Are the umpires in Japan different? Is there a noticable difference in the strike zone?
\n<\/strong>Dennis: No, they all stink\u2026 I\u2019m just kidding. (laughs) No. I\u2019ve heard guys complain that sometimes they\u2019re racist to the foreigners. I haven\u2019t gotten that at all. I think they\u2019re generous, I think they have a strike zone that\u2019s a little bit generous. If anything I\u2019ve gotten more called strikes than balls. They\u2019re human, they\u2019re going to make mistakes just like we make errors on the field. They\u2019re not going to get everything right. So you have to be prepared for that and you can\u2019t let one bad call ruin your day. So I try to not even worry about the umpires.<\/p>\n

FN (to Dennis): Subject is a little different, but do you find the fans and atmosphere here different than in America?
\n<\/strong>Dennis: Oh, huge difference. Not even close. Some stadiums, like here the bullpens are underground so I don\u2019t even know how loud the crowd is until you go into the game so at home is nice. But on the road sometimes when you go into the stadium it\u2019s blaring. In the states it\u2019s more of a social gathering, it\u2019s more like, \u201cYeah, I went to the baseball game today,\u201d or \u201cI went to the basketball game today,\u201d wherever you go. I feel like the fans here are above and beyond, they\u2019re crazy. But it pumps you up. It gets you going. I do think it\u2019s better here, fan wise.<\/p>\n

FN (to Dennis): Are some stadiums more difficult to pitch in?
\n<\/strong>Dennis: The mounds are all different because every team uses different clay. Ours isn\u2019t a hard clay like Sapporo\u2019s is a hard clay like America. Coaches, stadiums, the mounds are very different. In some places like Chiba when the wind is really ridiculous, like yesterday the wind was blowing 10 meters, that can affect you. But for the most part the batter is still 60 feet 6 inches away and you gotta get him out. I don\u2019t worry about the surroundings. The only difference is sometimes you play in these country games where we go to some smaller city like Kumamoto or Kagoshima. That\u2019s hard because those fields are not kept up like stadiums during the season. So the mounds might be not up to par. You might be pitching in a huge hole. Those are the ones that are tough I\u2019d say.<\/p>\n

\"\" Jason Standridge<\/em><\/p>\n

FN (to Jason): You\u2019ve played in a number of professional organizations, do you typically adopt the team\u2019s training methods? What\u2019s something you\u2019ve picked up in Japan?
\n<\/strong>Jason: Yes you do. You kind of carry over into each team\u2019s style and they way they do things. I\u2019ve definitely learned a lot going back and forth from one team to another. And coming over to Japan has been a big change too. Now it\u2019s kind of second nature to me because I\u2019ve been over here for so long. I\u2019ve gotten used to the Japanese culture of baseball opposed to the states. There\u2019s some good and bad things when you come over to each team. You\u2019re like, \u201cOh, I liked it when we used to do this, or I liked it when they used to do this.\u201d So you just find what works for you. You\u2019re a professional and you have to get the job done so however you can get the job done you get it done.<\/p>\n

FN (to Jason): Last question, it\u2019s kind of the opposite of that. Is there something that you\u2019ve shared with your teammates here. Something you\u2019ve seen them pick up from you?
\n<\/strong>Jason: I think so. I think and hope I bring what\u2019s inside of me and my faith. What\u2019s inside of me is that I love God. And my relationship with God, they\u2019ll be able to see that. They\u2019ll be able to so the love that God has for them through the way I play, through the way I speak, through the way that I live my life. So they\u2019ll be able to see the way that I do love God. I hope that that\u2019s what they\u2019ve taken from me. There\u2019s a phrase that I always use in Japanese, \u201ckami-sama wa watashino chikara desu.<\/em>\u201d I\u2019m always saying that Jesus is my strength. God is my strength so I always want the Japanese people to know that about me. That\u2019s the most important thing about me.<\/p>\n

2015 Prediction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I see no reason that the Hawks can\u2019t improve upon last year statistically. With Yanagita and Nakamura entering their primes there is no reason to think they Hawks won\u2019t once again be able to lead the league in offense. It\u2019s a relentless approach that wears down opposition pitchers and gives their own pitchers long breaks to recover between innings.<\/p>\n

The Hawks\u2019 starting pitchers don\u2019t need to do anything amazing, but it will be pretty easy for them to improve upon last season just by staying healthy. A full season from Otonari could add 3-4 wins this year. If some of the younger starters continue to take positive steps, the Hawks could lead the league in many pitching statistics.<\/p>\n

It will be a telling year for the new regime that should be very exciting and the Hawks are one of the favorites to sit atop the Pacific league in 2015.<\/p>\n

Text by:<\/strong> Matt Schuelling<\/em><\/p>\n

Official English Website for the SoftBank Hawks<\/a><\/p>\n

Originally written in Apr. 2015.
\nCopyright Fukuoka Now – including all text, photos and illustrations. Permission required to re-use in any form. Meanwhile, feel free to link to to this page.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> The information presented here was gathered and summarized by the Fukuoka Now staff. While we have done our best to check for accuracy, there might be errors and details may have changed. If you notice any errors or changes, please contact us. This report was originally written in Apr. 2015. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Four years ago, Fukuoka Now sports correspondent, Matt Schuelling<\/strong>, penned his first report on the SoftBank Hawks. A lot\u2019s changed in the world of Japanese Baseball since then, but one thing that hasn\u2019t is Matt\u2019s undying love for the sport. Following the Hawks\u2019 winning season in 2014, we asked Matt to take another look at the team and write a report to give you all the information you\u2019d ever need for the upcoming baseball season…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"60881","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4914],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-others","location-fukuoka-city","en-US"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Honda1.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73128"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126386,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73128\/revisions\/126386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}