◆ Despite a momentum shift, he missed his chance: "I have the leg strength to be safe, but I guess I hesitated."
Nippon-Ham The team lost 3-6 against Seibu Lions on the 17th. Chusei Mannami hit a timely hit with two outs in the seventh inning with three runs scored and two on, but first base runner Daigo Kamikawahata was base running killed and only one run was scored.
Nippon-Ham created momentum but missed their chance. On the Fuji TV ONE program "Pro baseball News 2026" broadcast on the 17th, commentator Hatsuhiko Tsuji criticized the team, saying, "Manami's timely hit went through to center fielder, but it was painful that runner on first was thrown out at third. I'm not saying he shouldn't have gone, but the question is whether he was running with the intention of going to third from the start on that kind of hit." MC Tsutomu Iwamoto also pointed out, "It looks like he slowed down a bit at second base." Tsuji further analyzed, "Of course, they are positioned deep to avoid extra-base hits, so I think he has the speed to be safe if he had gone from the start. It seems like he hesitated a little." Iwamoto then said, "The next hitter is the in-form Reyes," to which Tsuji nodded in agreement.
Furthermore, Iwamoto passionately stated, "There was quite a bit of debate after this play, but I made comments after the game that included my personal feelings. That's because a few days earlier, I had seen Daigo Kamikawahata working hard at baseball in Kamagaya (the minor league home field). There was a game where he got three hit to the right, left, and center fielder. I was watching Kamikawabata today with the feeling that he's ready for the first team next. And of course, he got a timely hit, so I didn't comment too much on his play because he was so eager. But there were a lot of harsh voices around me..." Tsuji responded, "Of course, that's understandable. But going there would be a huge opportunity. So, rather than focusing on the fact that he failed, the only thing that matters is whether he was aiming for that spot with all his might from the beginning. That's the only thing he should discuss with the manager."
☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"
