On the 20th, the Japan Series of professional baseball will begin, and Orix and Yakult will play against each other.
It is the first time in 26 years that Orix and Yakult will play in the Japan Series, and Orix aims to be the best in Japan for the first time in 25 years since 1996, and Yakult to be the best in Japan for the first time in 20 years since 2001.
Both teams practiced on the 19th before the first match at Orix's home base, Kyocera Dome Osaka.
Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto started in the first game of Orix
Orix, who will face the Japan Series for the first time in 25 years, practiced at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
Ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who won 18 wins this season and also won the shutout in the climax series, adjusted with catch balls, and Satoshi Nakajima declared the starting lineup for the first match.
In addition, Masataka Yoshida, who won the top hitter for the second consecutive year, hit the ball over the fence in batting practice and also hit the liner on the left and right.
After the practice, Yoshida said, "Yakult is the representative of the Central League, so I want to show the intention of the Pacific League so that I can win firmly. I want to do it, "he said with enthusiasm.
Director Satoshi Nakajima said at the press conference, "Of course I want to win and I want to be happy with everyone, so I will do my best to fight one race at a time."
Regarding coming to the Japan Series for the first time in 25 years, "I'm only the first player to appear in the Japan Series, so I'm nervous, but if I'm nervous, I should be nervous and how to recover it. Have fun. I want it. "
Regarding Yakult, he said, "I have a lot of striking power, and of course I also run. I think it's a really good team because there are middle pitchers, closers, and very good pitchers."
On top of that, "I can't change, so I want to show the usual energetic baseball, and I don't feel like a champion. There are people who have become accustomed to the series and have experienced it, so this is a complete challenger, so there. I want to challenge myself. "
Is Yasunobu Okugawa the starting lineup for the first game of Yakult?
Yakult, who will participate in the Japan Series for the first time in six years, practiced at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
20-year-old Yasunobu Okugawa, who is expected to start the first game with 9 wins at the top of the team this season and the first professional shutout victory in the climax series, headed to the mound first after entering the ground. rice field.
Pitcher Okugawa, who said, "I just want to do what I can do," had no experience of pitching at Kyocera Dome Osaka, and after checking the height of the mound, he carefully checked the pitching form.
In addition, Munetaka Murakami, who hit 39 home runs as No. 4 this season and was the king of home runs, was hitting many hits over the fence in batting practice.
Murakami said about pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the starting pitcher of Orix in the first game, "Because it is a good pitcher, I have to stop with one shot."
Director Shingo Takatsu said at the press conference, "I'm a little aware that the Central League hasn't become the best in Japan lately. I want to win if I can reach here."
Regarding the feelings on the day before the opening, he seemed calm, saying, "I don't think there is a special feeling, but I think that various emotions will come out when I wake up tomorrow, but now I feel calm."
Regarding the impression of ORIX, he said, "There are players who represent the league, and I think it's a tough opponent. I don't think it will be easy. I want to make the series more exciting for fans."
Regarding the key man, he said, "It's hard to give out an individual name." "We have our team color, and we want to cherish connections and circles. If we can do that, everyone will be a hero and play a good game that leads to victory. I think, "I expected everyone.
No advance notice for the first time in 4 years
In the Japan Series, which starts on the 20th, the advance notice will not be given for the first time in four years.
On the 19th, before the Japan Series, director Nakajima of Orix and director Takatsu of Yakult attended the director's meeting at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
In this, the person in charge of NPB = Nippon Professional Baseball explained, "As a result of the preliminary meeting, we have decided not to start the advance notice."
Director Nakajima wanted a starter, but Takatsu didn't.
Director Takatsu said that he did not want to start the advance notice this time, "I followed the rules because it is not specified in the rules."
It is the first time in four years since 2017 when Softbank and DeNA played against each other that the advance notice will not be given in the Japan Series.
Also, considering that the schedule was overcrowded due to the influence of the new coronavirus last year, in order to reduce the burden on the pitcher, we adopted a designated hitter system in all games including the Central League home game, but this time it is the Pacific League. Designated hitter system will be held only in the home game of.