For the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, Manager Hideki Kuriyama announced 30 “Samurai Japan” players. There are 15 pitchers, including Padres Yu Darvish and Angels Shohei Otani. Fifteen fielders were selected, including Munetaka Murakami of Yakult, the youngest triple crown champion in history. ■Who will be the starting pitcher for the first game? Manager Kuriyama “One match, one match, full of eyes” — Straight to the world’s best. Director Hideki Kuriyama of Samurai Japan visited us. And Daisuke Matsuzaka is also here. At the 2009 WBC, Matsuzaka was Japan’s ace. At that time, Director Kuriyama was on the side of reporting as a sports newscaster for Hodo Station. This time, it will be the other way around. This time, you will be facing the WBC as a manager, was it difficult to select players? Coach Kuriyama: “There are so many good players in Japan, so I really thought through to the very end about which combination would be best.” Director Kuriyama: “I wanted the players I chose to think, ‘Let’s go!’, so I called them directly.” , What is your impression? Mr. Matsuzaka: “Anyway, it’s just a word about the amazing members. At the same time as being reliable, what kind of players should be used? I also think that Director Kuriyama will worry about that.” — Half of the 30 people I would like to start with how to use the 15 pitchers who make up the pitch, but before that, let me review. Regarding the schedule of the WBC, the first round will start on March 9th, with the first match being China, and the match being Korea on the 10th. We always report news about the cold weather, so baseball news is only a month and a half away. It will be soon, but first there are 15 pitchers. I will listen. Who will be the starting pitcher for the first match against China on March 9? Director Kuriyama: “Who is Mr. Matsuzaka?” ーーHow about Mr. Matsuzaka? Mr. Matsuzaka: “If I were you, I’d be Yoshinobu Yamamoto.” ーーAs expected, Japan’s Olympic ace. Mr. Matsuzaka: “It’s an important first match, and I think the way we win will be very important.” Pitcher Aki Sasaki in the sense that he will support Japan in the future. how is it? Manager Kuriyama: “Yes. There is also pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and there is also pitcher Sasaki. However, after that, there will be four consecutive games, and then the quarterfinals. Matsuzaka: “I don’t want to throw it too tightly. I can throw it. I think it’s quite a big burden on the body, isn’t it?”ーーAs a pitcher, do you have a strong desire to pitch with adrenaline? The director takes a good look at it, rests, and thinks about the future. Manager Kuriyama: “Usually, I start at around 30 or 50 pitches, and I have 6 days left. If you don’t make it through the quarterfinals, you won’t be able to go to the United States.” –Pitchers, 15 pitchers. Is it also the meaning of the first round to step on the number of places as much as possible? Director Kuriyama: “I don’t have that kind of leeway… I don’t know where the pitfalls are anymore. I’m going to play one game at a time, but I’m going to do my best.” Director Kuriyama “How to use it will really start from now on” ーーAnd speaking of pitchers, Shohei Otani. He will also participate from the major leagues, but he himself is also ambitious. As a pitcher, do you have the idea of appointing in a dual wielding style? Manager Kuriyama: “Mr. Matsuzaka, when I went to the WBC when I was with the Boston Red Sox, there were various rules from Boston.” Did you check the number of pitches?” ーーThe Angels also have something like a pitch limit. It’s hard to say, though. Director Kuriyama: “Honestly, we are still discussing with the Angels. As for how to use the batter and the pitcher, the contract is with the Angels. Japanese pitchers are also like that.We ask each team to use it in this way, and we check with each manager.” Announcer Ogi Ippei: “It is still not possible to say that dual wielding is OK. Does that mean it hasn’t come out yet?” Director Kuriyama: “We’re still starting to see how to use it. However, in order to become the best in the world, my job is to make it as easy to win as possible. So, I’ll make an effort to do that, but it’s really from now on. It hasn’t been decided yet.” ーーIf you can throw, for example, if you don’t have a lot of pitches, is it possible to use it as a suppressor? Director Kuriyama: “…I was silent (laughs). To be honest, I talked to pitcher Darvish about that possibility. Shohei and the majors are different in age and experience. Darvish is a pitcher. , “Director, I’ll do anything.”However, as for Shohei, there are various balances with the batter.It’s hard to feel like I’m free…” Mr. Matsuzaka: “Probably. , I think Darvish is entrusted to a certain extent by the team.Coordination is difficult, but I think the team’s restrictions are somewhat looser for pitcher Darvish. Does that mean? Mr. Matsuzaka: “That’s right.” ーーIs it possible to be the starting pitcher? Manager Kuriyama: “That’s true for pitcher Darvish. It’s like giving him a range. There’s a possibility that someone really has to widen his range. It’s just that there’s a possibility. That’s Matsuzaka from now on. I also ask a lot of questions about the pitcher.(Mr. Matsuzaka) is MVP for the second time in a row.I will talk about various things from now on.However, as for me, I will broaden my range and increase my options before entering the training camp.” ■Mr. Matsuzaka’s thoughts on the starting line-up… What is Kuriyama’s reaction?ーーMr. Matsuzaka, what are the starting members? I brought DH Shohei Otani to No. 1. Maybe it’s the pitcher. No. 1 Otani, what is this aim? Mr. Matsuzaka: “Simply, I don’t want Otani to be the first batter in Yoidon, and after it was decided that Nootvar would participate, I was told that Nootvar would be the best. Ohtani also has a high on-base percentage, and I think Ohtani can run better than Nutvar when I think of him as the first batter. I don’t like Otani the most.” ーーMr. Kuriyama, I listened carefully. Director Kuriyama: “I see… I’m not joking. Mr. Matsuzaka, especially in this line-up of 1, 2, 3, there is a lot of pressure from the beginning until you go to Murakami.” Matsuzaka Ms.: “I don’t want to just think about playing against each other, and I have an image that players other than Murakami have a lot of different batting orders. Seiya Suzuki has always hit 4th in Japan. But after going to the majors, I’m going to hit a lot of batting orders, so I wonder if I can handle it.” –To put it the other way around, is Murakami’s number 4 almost fixed? Manager Kuriyama: “No, no… But I think it’s more about the flow than the number in the batting order. I don’t like this line-up. It’s very important, and as a reference, I’ve been thinking about what Matsuzaka doesn’t like about top-notch pitchers, and it’s really stuck in my head.” I think it’s a good flow. The batting line is a flow. Director Kuriyama: “Is Murakami No. 4?” Manager Kuriyama: “Who’s the starting pitcher in the first match?” –I think the first match is Aki Sasaki. Even if you ask me, I’m in trouble… (laughs). Ana Ogi: “Do you refer to people’s stories?” Director Kuriyama: “To be honest, I think that everyone, including the fans, is saying the right things only in Japan’s games. Whichever you choose, It’s good.In short, it has nothing to do with raising children, it’s a match where you just have to win. right. I entered Japan because my mother is Japanese and is an active major leaguer. How did you evaluate Nootvar? Manager Kuriyama: “He’s really reckless, has strong shoulders, and has a good balance. Also the direction he hits. It’s important for Mr. Matsuzaka to be active in the United States. To become the best in the world from now on.” I think it would be better if there were as many people as possible.” ーーIt seems that it will be difficult to adjust various schedules from now on. Anna Ogi: “It will start from the training camp in February. After that, various warm-up games will continue, but it was already said that it was not decided yet, but where will the major group participate? Coach Kuriyama: “We negotiated in various ways about where major league players can start playing. Basically, major leaguers can’t play until the last day in Osaka on the 6th and 7th. But before that, I want him to adjust in the game anyway, so I’m negotiating various things.If that’s decided, I think he’ll come soon. I don’t know.” Anna Ogi: “Is it because of the contract?” Director Kuriyama: “In a way, it’s a major league rule. There is a rule that says,” ーーOf course, the major players are the same, but the other players are also in this tournament before the upcoming season of each team. I think it’s difficult to make adjustments like that, and I think there are unique difficulties.” Director Kuriyama: “It’s really difficult. But I’ll do it, but I want Japanese fans to see a lot of Japanese teams, including the practice games.” Mr. Matsuzaka: “Absolute victory” Manager Kuriyama: “Believe in the spirit of Japanese baseball” — Matsuzaka Finally, please tell us your expectations for Japan. Mr. Matsuzaka: “It’s ‘absolute victory’.” Director Kuriyama, what do you think? Director Kuriyama: “Because I asked you to teach me various things. Secretly behind the scenes (laughs)” –Director Kuriyama, you are building a team by listening to the opinions of all Japanese people. Manager Kuriyama: “Everything is correct. I will listen to various opinions and believe in the spirit of Japanese baseball.”
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