Lotte's new manager, Saburo (49), held an inauguration press conference at Zozo on the 8th. He signed a multi-year contract and number 86. The first Japanese manager in history to have a registered name in katakana, Saburo has warned that he will be strict this fall and next spring, saying that the training camp will be "like the Showa era" in order to help the team recover from their last-place finish. He has already taken an active role, including taking charge of practice.

The new manager's expression softened as he heard the call after such a long time. "Chiba Lotte Marines, new manager, Saburo~ ...

number 86 was worn by the late Koji Yamamoto, his former manager and mentor during his playing days. He trained in the second team and was also the man who promoted him to a regular position on the first team. "He was a very passionate manager who would stay with us at practice from morning until night. I want to emulate that," he said. This season, the team had a record of 56 wins, 84 losses, and 3 draws, leaving them with a deficit of 28 games, and 31.5 games behind the champion Softbank Hawks. The change in mindset starts with practice. "We're by far last this year, so I think it's going to be difficult to build a team, but I want to eliminate complacency and put in rigorous training to create a team where our young players can soar. Fall and spring (next) will be tough training camps," he warned.

This was a firsthand experience he had at the Miyakonojo camp in February this year, which he himself, as the manager of the second team, proclaimed to "hold a Showa-era camp." "The players endured extremely tough training, there were few injuries over the year, and they have improved a lot in terms of their technique," he recalls. He envisions this fall and next spring's camps as "a time when players will do weight training first to get in shape, and then hit the ball, play defense, and run nonstop in the afternoon." First, they will hold autumn training at their home base, and then at the end of this month, they will hold autumn training in Miyakonojo. Yamamoto intends to train his players with rigorous training similar to that of the Ito camp, which is synonymous with the "hell" that Yamamoto experienced during his time with The Giants Giants.

Practice began immediately at 3pm, two and a half hours after the press conference. There were only two days off since the end of the schedule, and it was extremely unusual for a new manager to start work on the day of the press conference. "I think there are some coaches who don't want to be disliked, but I don't mind at all if people dislike me. I want to be a passionate coach." With a strong resolve in his heart, Coach Saburo set to work. (Akimoto Masami)

◆ Interview with Director Saburo

-When did you receive the request to take up the position and how did you feel at the time?

"I heard about it on the night of the 4th. I was a bit surprised. It's going to be a tough job, but I've seen most of the current players at the farm team, so I was hoping to win the championship with these kids."

-How will you be fighting from next season onwards, including with your young players?

"I want them to endure the tough training and become a strong team and strong players both mentally and physically."

-What is most important to compete for the championship?

"Everything. We have battery issues, offensive issues, and defense. I think we're inferior to the other five teams in every aspect, so I want to start over from scratch."

-Goals for next season.

"In the end, it's about winning, but I hope to win by climbing the ladder one step at a time."

-What kind of players do you expect to perform well next season?

"I think there will be competition from veterans, mid-career players and young players. I want to use the player who has produced the best results."

◆Hellish Ito Camp In 1979, after The Giants finished in fifth place, manager Nagashima held his first autumn training camp in 43 years, since 1936, in Ito, Shizuoka, for 25 days. Eighteen players, including young players at the time, Egawa and Nakahata, participated. Practice took place every day from 10am for around seven hours, with pitcher required to run an average of 10km a day and fielder required to take more than 1,000 swings in batting practice each day, leading to the nickname "Hellish Ito Camp."

A day in the life of new manager Saburo

▽12:00: Appearance on stage with team president Takasaka and speech

▽ 5 minutes into the game, the host, Yaho, calls out, "New manager, Saburo!"

▽ 33 minutes later, receiving a bouquet from Yaho

▽15:00 Practice starts

▽17:30 Practice ends

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