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The story
Hiroshima Toyo Carp manager Takahiro Arai (49) will continue in his post next season. Former owner Motonobu Matsuda (75) confirmed the decision outright, saying, “Arai was the only one I could think of.” But this season the Carp have limped to a 20-game losing record and a last-place finish, locking in their third straight year in the league’s bottom tier (B Class), while a scandal involving the designated drug etomidate — nicknamed the “zombie cigarette” — has also rocked the organization. On 5ch, Matsuda’s explanation that “Arai was the only one I could think of” drew a wave of sarcastic responses suggesting that, in reality, nobody else would take the job when approached, alongside growing frustration with the ownership itself.
Hiroshima: Manager Arai to continue — Owner Matsuda declares, “Arai was the only one I could think of”; entering his 5th season, his skill at developing young players is praised: “He can afford to play it a bit more freely now”
“Hiroshima 2-1 Giants” (Sept. 22, Mazda Stadium)
It was decided on the 22nd that Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai (49) will continue in his role next season. Speaking to reporters in Hiroshima City, former owner Motonobu Matsuda (75) stated plainly, “I want him to do it again next year.” Arai, who will be entering his fifth season in charge, voiced his resolve: “Since it’s been entrusted to me, I have no choice but to do it myself.” The team struggled from early in the season, sinking into last place with a 20-game losing record, and on the 21st their third consecutive finish in the bottom tier (B Class) was confirmed. Off the field, a scandal also erupted involving a designated drug known as the “zombie cigarette.” To get through this rough patch, the organization judged it best to stay unified under the current leadership.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
> Back in January, a former player was arrested on suspicion of using the designated drug etomidate, and his contract was terminated in February.
That phrasing is weird.
"Nobody else would take the job" — correct.
No thanks, I'd rather not lose access to my sweets.
Even for Hiroshima fans, who don't have much else going for entertainment, I wonder how long they'll keep following along like true believers.
Bring back "Boss" Kanemoto — er, I mean manager — with "Underboss" Tatsunami — er, I mean head coach, please. (Nicknames poking fun at how intimidating the two looked as managers, like yakuza bosses.)
Way too indecisive, if you ask me.
The more promising a player is, the less likely he is to refuse a draft pick — going elsewhere would push back the age he hits free agency and end up costing him.
I think it'd be fine for fans to go surround the team bus or something.
Even if they wanted to change managers…
Arai probably doesn't really want the job either, but since the scandal happened (or came to light?) on his watch, I think he feels responsible for it.
Humans surrounding a bus full of zombies is pretty surreal. (A play on the "zombie cigarette" scandal players being called "zombies.")
If anything, it sounds more like Chunichi fans are the ones doing the coddling…
And they're dead last, no contest.
Unless they put a clear end to this, they'll keep dragging around a bad image forever.
Taking the manager job at the Carp right now is basically pulling chestnuts out of the fire, lol.
Background and Key Points of the Discussion
Behind Arai’s continued tenure lies a season of poor results — a 20-game losing record from early on and a third consecutive finish in the league’s bottom tier (B Class) — compounded by a scandal in which a former player was found to have used the designated drug etomidate (known as the “zombie cigarette”), leading to his arrest in January and contract termination in February. Opinion in the thread split over how to read Owner Matsuda’s explanation that “Arai was the only one I could think of”: some took it as a vote of confidence in his continued leadership, while others sarcastically suggested it simply meant no replacement could be found when approached. The names Kenta Maeda and Yoshihiko Takahashi also came up, but it’s worth noting that neither the article nor the 5ch posts indicate either was actually approached — these remain nothing more than wishful speculation.
*This article is compiled as excerpts and a summary from the 5ch (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “[Baseball] Hiroshima: Manager Arai to continue — Owner Matsuda declares, “Arai was the only one I could think of”.”
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