Nippon-Ham has signed free agents for four straight years, and Orix for three, yet both teams keep struggling — prompting the question “why can’t they win?” on 5ch’s Nandemo Jikkyou G (a general live-discussion board). Posters brought up a remark once attributed to Kensuke Kondoh — “Nippon-Ham are just making a racket” — and the thread split over why all that big-name reinforcement hasn’t translated into results.
What?
Seibu made their first FA signing in ages this year, and now they're sitting in 2nd place
>>2
Are we even allowed to say Kuwabara and Ishii are actually working out?
Are we even allowed to say Kuwabara and Ishii are actually working out?
SoftBank is running away with 1st place and their last FA signing was Yamakawa three years ago — so why are Nippon-Ham and Orix, who keep reinforcing every single year, still weak?
>>10
Most of the Hawks' position players are homegrown, huh
Most of the Hawks' position players are homegrown, huh
>>13
Well, their main dish Kondoh was an FA signing too
Feels like they just dump stupid money on guys who are only in it for the cash
Well, their main dish Kondoh was an FA signing too
Feels like they just dump stupid money on guys who are only in it for the cash
>>29
Come on, quit trashing Unkou (mocking nickname for Nippon-Ham) for paying Arihara 3 billion yen lol
Come on, quit trashing Unkou (mocking nickname for Nippon-Ham) for paying Arihara 3 billion yen lol
>>29
Kensuke Kondoh: "Nippon-Ham are just making a racket. Nothing like a team that's serious about winning."
Kensuke Kondoh: "I want to win. I want to show the fans what winning looks like."
Wait, are the "money-driven players" you mean guys like Arihara?
Because the only ones who think that about Kondoh are the Treasures (mocking nickname for Nippon-Ham's diehard fans)
Kensuke Kondoh: "Nippon-Ham are just making a racket. Nothing like a team that's serious about winning."
Kensuke Kondoh: "I want to win. I want to show the fans what winning looks like."
Wait, are the "money-driven players" you mean guys like Arihara?
Because the only ones who think that about Kondoh are the Treasures (mocking nickname for Nippon-Ham's diehard fans)
No idea what guys like Mori Tomoya or Nishikawa even went there for
Though Mori did put up good numbers in year one
Though Mori did put up good numbers in year one
>>16
Nishikawa's been plenty good though
Nishikawa's been plenty good though
Feels like pitcher velocity keeps climbing but they keep breaking down more and more lately
>>23
Guess the strain on their bodies is climbing right along with it
Guess the strain on their bodies is climbing right along with it
How did Kurihara suddenly turn into a completely different player, that's just weird
>>27
He's just turning into another Yamakawa
Even Hawks fans have been saying he's starting to look like Yamakawa
He's just turning into another Yamakawa
Even Hawks fans have been saying he's starting to look like Yamakawa
There was actually a report that SoftBank offered more money, but Arihara chose Nippon-Ham anyway
>>33
There are still Treasures out there clinging to that baseless tabloid fantasy…
That they can still believe that nonsense after watching Arihara this year — that's some serious devotion, like a religion
There are still Treasures out there clinging to that baseless tabloid fantasy…
That they can still believe that nonsense after watching Arihara this year — that's some serious devotion, like a religion
Seibu poached two players themselves, and even with SoftBank reinforcing harder than anyone, it's still SoftBank taking the three-peat
>>36
Seibu barely reinforced at all and still got to 2nd, so of course SoftBank — who's been reinforcing like crazy — just keeps winning it all
Seibu barely reinforced at all and still got to 2nd, so of course SoftBank — who's been reinforcing like crazy — just keeps winning it all
>>72
So then what's the deal with Nippon-Ham, reinforcing like crazy and still busy extending their title drought?
So then what's the deal with Nippon-Ham, reinforcing like crazy and still busy extending their title drought?
>>72
True, and hey, the team that signed the league's wins leader is right there in the pennant race too!
True, and hey, the team that signed the league's wins leader is right there in the pennant race too!
Can't be helped, their double-ace of Miyagi and Shunpeter both got hurt
>>38
Even fully healthy, Ham would still be a B-Class (bottom-half) team
Even fully healthy, Ham would still be a B-Class (bottom-half) team
Calling Yamamoto Yuudai's move a win is just hindsight talking
Though to be fair, people really were saying Yokohama had completely fallen off
Though to be fair, people really were saying Yokohama had completely fallen off
>>42
Before the stress fracture, sure, he looked like he was declining
Before the stress fracture, sure, he looked like he was declining
Is it even fun rooting for a team that's nothing but outside hires?
Half of Nippon-Ham's regulars are outsiders (players acquired from other teams) though
Half of Nippon-Ham's regulars are outsiders (players acquired from other teams) though
>>49
Even a team with Kondoh and Yamakawa batting 3rd and 4th, Arihara as the ace, and Osuna closing games out was fun to root for, right?
Even a team with Kondoh and Yamakawa batting 3rd and 4th, Arihara as the ace, and Osuna closing games out was fun to root for, right?
>>49
Were there really that many outsiders?
The lineup changes so often anyway that it's hard to tell who's even a regular
Were there really that many outsiders?
The lineup changes so often anyway that it's hard to tell who's even a regular
The people bragging about being all-homegrown — what face are they going to make justifying it once their team starts poaching players too?
>>50
Funny thing is, a few years back it was the Treasures shouting "Reinforcing through free agency is bad! Outside hires are embarrassing!"…
Funny thing is, a few years back it was the Treasures shouting "Reinforcing through free agency is bad! Outside hires are embarrassing!"…
>>51
Because apart from those guys, everyone [on SoftBank] was homegrown — they topped the Pacific League in homegrown WAR too
Those imports were hurt and absent so often they were barely even on the field
Nothing like Nippon-Ham, where half the regulars are outsiders — why the sudden flip?
Because apart from those guys, everyone [on SoftBank] was homegrown — they topped the Pacific League in homegrown WAR too
Those imports were hurt and absent so often they were barely even on the field
Nothing like Nippon-Ham, where half the regulars are outsiders — why the sudden flip?
>>54
I'd think import Reyes counts as an outsider too
In that case Moinelo would be one as well
I'd think import Reyes counts as an outsider too
In that case Moinelo would be one as well
Watching SoftBank makes you realize you actually can win and develop young talent at the same time
>>61
What's 'SB'?
What's 'SB'?
Also can't quite figure out this vague "being below Seibu is fine" vibe that's creeping in
Making the Climax Series (Japan's postseason round) out of Es Con Field feels like the bare minimum, no?
Making the Climax Series (Japan's postseason round) out of Es Con Field feels like the bare minimum, no?
Apparently SoftBank is making a move for Reyes this offseason
>>86
Unkou's persecution complex is genuinely hilarious
SoftBank has zero interest in that, come on
Unkou's persecution complex is genuinely hilarious
SoftBank has zero interest in that, come on
>>86
A team that doesn't make any moves clearly isn't trying to win it all
A team that doesn't make any moves clearly isn't trying to win it all
>>100
The reason Seibu is ranked this high is thanks to Kuwabara
The reason Seibu is ranked this high is thanks to Kuwabara
>>101
Wait, whaaat??
Wait, whaaat??
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of a 5ch thread on the Nandemo Jikkyou G (general live-discussion) board: 「[Urgent Wanted] Why Are Nippon-Ham (4 Straight Years of FA Signings) and Orix (3 Straight Years) So Weak?」.
Leave a Reply