"Monday is also on Patere" was started by the official Pacific League TV YouTube channel to entertain people on Mondays when there are no baseball broadcasts. On May 12th, GG Sato and Yoshio Itoi looked back on the week's battles of each team.

As of the start of the match on May 14th, Orix is in second place, two games behind the leader. Itoi, who played for Orix alongside manager Mamoru Kishida, who took over as manager this season, describes his classmate as a "nice guy." He continued, "He's a very caring person who really thinks about other people. I think even from the players' perspective, he's a manager who doesn't feel like there are any barriers between him, in a good way," and shared an anecdote that symbolizes Kishida's kind personality.

"It was when my trade transfer was suddenly decided and I joined the team. I was fielder and he was pitcher, so we played different positions, but when we were at the training camp in Miyakojima, the very first thing he asked me was, 'Let's go out to dinner together as classmates!' That's what I remember the most."

Itoi joked, "When I heard he would be appointed manager, I thought, 'That Kishida?!'" he said with a laugh. "I immediately contacted him and told him to do his best. When I see how Orix is fighting now, I am reminded once again how amazing they are."

Interview and text by Mayuko Goto

LIVE broadcast program "Monday is also Pate-tele"
・Streaming date: Every Monday from 9pm (scheduled to be available until October during the season)
・Streaming destination: Pacific League TV official YouTube channel
・Cast: A pair of former professional baseball players will appear each week
(Ginji and Yuji Kaneko / GG Sato and guests / Ryota Igarashi and T-Okada / Motonobu Tanishige and Tomoya Satozaki)

Next week on the 19th (Mon), Ryota Igarashi and T-Okada will be appearing. Don't miss it!