Management Lessons on 'Putting the Right Person in the Right Place' from the Tigers

The Hanshin Tigers are looking good.

Manager Okada still has an image of overusing the 'JFK' trio (Jeff Williams, Kyuji Fujikawa, and Tomoyuki Kubota) in the past. Kubota even pitched in 90 games in one season. However, he has been cautious about having the bullpen pitch on consecutive days so far.

According to the above, the Orix Buffaloes, who became Japan's champions last year, only had a relief pitcher pitch three days in a row once. The same article analyzes that what made this 'distribution of burden' possible was a solid starting rotation and the patience of the bench, which was not obsessed with immediate victories.

That is true. But there must be another important factor.

According to books by the late Katsuya Nomura, there are various types of relief pitchers. Some do their best work when told in advance, 'You're pitching until this inning,' while others pitch like gods when behind, only to fall apart the moment the team catches up.

In the old New Japan Pro-Wrestling, there were many cases where Shinsuke Nakamura would appear in the main event after a singles match featuring Tomohiro Ishii. This was because both wrestlers belonged to the same unit, viewed each other as rivals, and competed to see who could put on a better match.

In short, it is about identifying the 'right person for the right place.' Who is most effective in which situation?

In the case of this year's Tigers, the way pitcher Iwasaki is used is key. Last year, he failed repeatedly as a closer and was criticized for being 'unsuited' for the role. However, given his strong sense of responsibility and his experience of pitching in over 50 games a year, I believe he has the ability to be a closer.

However, he is likely the type who performs better when told, 'Don't worry, if you get hit, so-and-so is waiting,' rather than being told, 'You're the only one we have.' A semi-closer role, like Takuya Asao for the Chunichi Dragons when Hitoki Iwase was there, would be best for him. Therefore, he is currently filling in for Yuasa, and once Yuasa returns, he will likely focus on middle relief while occasionally serving as a closer.

The Hanshin Tigers are functioning well in both their pitching staff and batting lineup this season. I would like to learn a lot from their meticulous management.