Lotte manager Saburo gave an interview on the 2nd and spoke about his thoughts on this season, his first year in office. The main questions and answers are as follows.

He started last season as the second-team manager and was promoted to first-team head in June. After the season ended, he was appointed as the first-team manager. What kind of year was it?

Manager Saburo: "In the early spring of last year, in the farm team, I worked hard to push them up by having them do tough training and practicing batting practice. After the interleague games, I moved up to the first team, and when I thought about the future of the team, I felt that these kids' strengths were necessary, so I gave them a chance to experience a lot of work. In that sense, it was good, but it would have been even better if we had won more games. In the end, we ended up in last place, so I think we need to rebuild again."

A year ago, did you imagine you would be in your current situation as the first-team manager?

Coach Saburo: "No, I didn't. Rather than that, I was only thinking about producing a lot of good players."

As the head of the first team from midway through the season, he looks back on last season.

Manager Saburo: "I think we could have scored a few more points. I think we could have scored if we had done things better, but there are some things to reflect on and I think we need to try new things."

What did you think of Lotte's pitcher staff last year?

Manager Saburo: "I think we've always been a team that has won with pitcher. But despite that, it was all a failure. I think there were a lot of areas where we weren't in sync with the batting lineup."

At the draft meeting, the team selected a total of 10 players, including development players, including Ishigaki Gen (Kendai Takasaki) in first place and Mori (Meiji University) in second place.

Manager Saburo: "This was truly the best draft I've ever had. I think we'll have the answer in a few years, so I'd like to work hard until then, including on player development."

Who do you plan to entrust with the role of closer this season?

Manager Saburo: "I will take into account last year's results to a certain extent, but I would like to have a competition starting from spring training this year and have the person with the best results take the position. The season is long, so I would like to separate winning patterns and losing patterns. I also have to manage how to hold up throughout the year. I will be consulting with the pitcher coach and coordinator about that, but I have an idea in mind."

What do you think about relief pitcher three games in a row?

Manager Saburo: "I'm not too particular about that, but it depends on the time of year. If we get to the second half of the season, around September or October, and there's pitcher that we want to pitch because we're in a good position in standings, maybe that's possible. But basically, I try to avoid (throwing three pitches in a row) as much as possible in the early and middle innings."

Masuda is just two saves away from achieving 250 career saves.

Manager Saburo: "Of course I want to let him do it because there are only two more to go, but I've told him to set that aside and grab it for himself. If he performs well, I think he can achieve it, so it's up to him."

What are your expectations for former Hanshin Tigers Inoue, who joined the team through last year's active player draft?

Manager Saburo: "His power is amazing, so the most difficult thing is how to utilize that. But I also think he has potential. In fact, I've been watching him for a few years now and thought he was a good batter. Since we have this connection, I'd like to do something with him. I don't know if he'll play third base, first first baseman or various other positions, but I want him to compete and produce results. Anyway, I think I'll tell him, 'I don't care about batting average anymore.' He doesn't have to be obsessed with swinging hard, hitting long balls or hitting home run, but I think I'll tell him, 'Just swing hard and hit hard.'"

Will they be focusing on foot attacks this season?

Manager Saburo: "Of course I want stolen base, but more than stolen base, I want them to be good base running, or rather, have the courage to advance to the next base. I would be happy if that leads to scoring. People say we can't hit, but other teams can't hit either. In this era of strong pitching and weak batting, I think the only way to win is through the power of base running."

The season opener will be Seibu Lions on March 27th. Who will be the starting mound?

Manager Saburo: "I haven't made any decisions yet. Of course, I want them to compete, but I think there are a lot of things to consider. I'll take that into consideration and think about it when the time comes."

Who do you think is the key player?

Manager Saburo: "I'd like to point out who (last year's players) Terachi, Yamamoto, Nishikawa, and pitcher Kimura and (Tanaka) Haruya are on the team, and if they can perform better than last year, I think the team's strength will increase even more. In addition, I think Soto and Polanco, as well as the middle-aged and veteran players, will work hard and improve, so in that sense, I would like the young fielder and pitcher to show their abilities in order to improve the team's strength."

The idea is that this spring's training camp will see the young players start in Miyakonojo on the first team, while the veterans start in Ishigakijima on the second team.

Manager Saburo: "I haven't thought that far yet. I want the team to enter the exhibition games in good condition, give everyone a chance, and whoever produces results, regardless of whether they're young, mid-career, or veteran, I want to go."

This season, Fujioka will return to shortstop from second base.

Manager Saburo: "When I spoke with him, he said he wanted to play short stop. I think he should give it a go. Whether it's second baseman or short stop, I'm fine with where he is. I thought it would be best for him to play where he can best demonstrate his abilities. short stop requires a lot of movement, so even if he doesn't do well at short stop, he could play second baseman third base, to ensure he has the mobility that diminishes with age. But I would like him to become a short stop shortstop."

What is the composition of starter?

Manager Saburo: "If we go by last year's performance alone, Taneichi is definitely the one. Kimura and Tanaka Haru are also in the list based on last year's performance alone. I also hope Kojima will do his best. I think Taneichi is the only one that's been decided."

Last season, Kimura and Tanaka Haru were given ample time between pitching appearances and were allowed to start.

Manager Saburo: "I think that gap will narrow every year. It depends on his condition, though. I don't think Shuta Ishikawa is like this. I'm looking forward to seeing him pitch even better than he did in his best years this year."

What is the lineup like?

Manager Saburo: "The fourth batter... I think home run hitter would be good if possible. It limits the options. I'm thinking of rearranging the batting lineup while watching the flow of the game, but I want to keep the basic lineup stable. I'll think about it again."

Last season, Terachi took the regular spot at catcher thanks to his batting ability. How will the competition catcher play out this season?

Manager Saburo: "The person I want to see the most is Sato. I think it would be better wall if he could stay injury-free and play all year. But Teraji also needs to improve his batting, and as catcher, I want to see how much he has changed this year from the experience he had last year. We'll have to assess that a little, but basically, I want Sato to do his best, and I want Teraji to do his best too. I think Matsukawa and Tamura also have a chance. However, I think they need to be better at hitting than those two, not just at defense, and I'm not sure if that's a high hurdle, but everyone has a chance."

There are many mid-level and veteran players, including Fujioka and Tamura, who are showing their enthusiasm for this season.

Manager Saburo: "First of all, it's good that they feel that way. I'm happy about that. But I think they must have felt frustrated that they had to give up their regular spot to a younger player last year. I want them to use that as a springboard and compete this year with the mindset that they're a regular on the first team."

This will be his first time managing the first team.

Coach Saburo: "I wonder if they will do what I imagine them to do. I think there are some kids who can do that, and some who can't. The more players who can do that, the better the results will be. I would be grateful if there were more players who could do this much without raising my image too high."

Developing players also requires patience.

Manager Saburo: "With regards to foreign players and young players, I'm not sure if that's true to some extent. Everyone is equal in professional baseball, but that doesn't mean everyone is equal. Of course, there may be some small differences. But, as a general rule, I want players who have produced results to play. However, there may be exceptions."

As you aim to win the championship and become the best in Japan in your first year in office, what goals do you want to achieve?

Manager Saburo: "Speaking of fielder, I'd like to see their on-base percentage increase. There are players who have a low batting average but a high on-base percentage. When you look at the stats of batters on our team and other teams, their on-base percentage is overwhelmingly low. We're looking for OPS, but I think on-base percentage can be improved even without hitting. I think that's a matter of skill. Getting on base more often, base running the bases well, and scoring runs with fewer hits. I'd like to see them become like that. I really want to win by hitting, but I don't think it will work out that way. How can we score runs when we can't hit? It's not a risk hedge, but I'm thinking about that."

What are your expectations from the newly appointed first-team coaching staff?

Manager Saburo: "Mitsuyama (first-team head and chief battery coach) looks after the battery and the whole team. I think he's the perfect person for the job, so he's a great help. As for Nishioka (first-team chief batting and base running coach), I'd like to see him bring out his style, and since we have many players with a lot of potential, I'd like him to steer us in a positive direction. This is Kobayashi Hiroyuki's (first-team pitcher coach) first time as a pitching coach, but how can I put it? Rather than a hierarchical relationship between player and coach, I think he's good at talking to players as a friend and drawing out their talents, so I'd like him to draw out that and help pitcher grow. Matsuyama (first-team chief infield defense base running coach) knows a lot about infield defense and base running that I don't know. I trust him, and I'm happy he'll tell me anything he wants, both good and bad."

Manager Saburo previously said that Coach Matsuyama is very familiar with baseball of the legendary coach Akira Ogi. What is Ogi's baseball?

Manager Saburo: "Ogi is truly a great manager. The same goes for Bobby Valentine, but I don't know Hara (Tatsunori), Ogi, or Nomura (Katsuya) personally, but I've read a lot of books and heard a lot from them, and I'm hoping to pick out the good parts and make something of my own. Matsuyama has been asking me a lot of questions about Ogi since he was still playing, about what he looked at and what data he considered particularly important, so I'm thinking of consulting with the analysts about that and getting some of that information. Ogi was my first year as manager Orix Buffaloes. I often went out to eat with Taguchi and Ichiro, so I thought we had a pretty good relationship, even though it was just my first year. I'm already imitating him in that regard."

After contract renewal negotiations last year, Taneichi revealed his desire to try his hand at the majors in the future.

Manager Saburo: "I think it's a good thing. I think they should go for it, and I'd like to encourage them. If that happens, I'll be happy to support them. I really hope they can achieve outstanding numbers."

What do you think about the reinforcement situation of other teams?

Manager Saburo: "It's amazing. I think we've made some good reinforcements, but at times like that, other teams are good too. Seibu Lions in particular has made some great reinforcements, but you won't know until you try them, so I think we'll know whether it was the right decision or not in a year. But that's fine, isn't it? Pacific League is getting excited. The teams that weren't doing well last year, including us, are strengthening their teams with the aim of going up, so rather than focusing on rankings or anything like standings, I want to get Pacific League excited as a whole and show everyone, including ourselves, that this year is different."