Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo (54) showcased a new unconventional tactic. After the team practice held at ES CON FIELD on the 3rd, a stage he personally designed and had built was brought onto the mound. From a height of 3.6 meters, with a standing position exceeding 2 meters, hitting coach Toshitake Yokoo (33) delivered the pitch. Players like Nishikawa and Narama responded to the balls coming from a release point of approximately 4 meters and swung their bats.

Manager Shinjo explained his intention, saying, 'I gathered players who hit down on the ball. To correct the trajectory, they flick the ball from the inside. If the bat gets too far from the body, you can't hit it, and you won't get any distance. The image is to hit with rotation using the shortest possible path.'

Manager Shinjo stated definitively that he had "never" done similar practice in the past. To make the players conscious of bringing the bat up from below, he hurriedly had a protective net constructed and put the drill into practice. "It's all about human ideas. Ideas, action, and psychology. If it doesn't work, you just delete it," he said, actively incorporating new training methods. Regarding the future, he suggested he would continue, saying, "I'd like to do it every day if possible. Otherwise, the muscles won't remember it. We have to do it so the muscles learn, and build a body that can do it naturally."

The Climax Series against the Seibu Lions begins on the 10th, but he emphasized that this was not a countermeasure for that, but rather with an eye toward next year, the year after, and the far future as he continues to lead the team. However, hitting coach Yokoo, who witnessed the changes in the players' swings, spoke up saying it was 'good practice' and grinned, adding, 'I suppose it's a countermeasure for the high pitches of Seibu Lions pitcher Taira.' This will lead to overcoming their difficult opponent.