The professional baseball postseason saw thrilling battles in the Climax Series and the Japan Series.
While both are similar in that they involve a short, decisive battle, I think there are subtle differences in their fighting styles.
This time, I'll write about what I've thought about it.
Any team in the A-class has a chance in the Climax Series.
The Climax Series is really just a matter of a few games.
It's usually decided in three or four matches at most.
Therefore, only three or four starting pitchers are needed at most, and the remaining spots can be filled by the relief pitchers.
To put it in extreme terms, as long as the starting rotation during the season is solid, everything will be alright.
It's risky to suddenly switch a starting pitcher to relief in the postseason, so it's always better to have a solid middle reliever as well.
However, as long as we have a solid setup pitcher and closer, I don't think it will be that much of a disadvantage.
The depth of talent will be tested in the Japan Series.
Unlike the Climax Series, the Japan Series has a considerable number of games.
It's rare for a match to be decided in four games; it usually takes around five or six games.
Therefore, assuming that the main rotation is solid, the second or third player in the secondary rotation will also be tested on their ability to perform well.
It's essentially a scaled-down version of the season.
The Japan Series essentially means repeating the same two matchups.
Let's apply this to the 2017 postseason.
DeNA is a team with five starting pitchers who have thrown over 100 innings, a set-up man and a closer in their bullpen, and a powerful batting lineup.
The manager made the most of the reduced number of games in the Climax Series, moving the starting pitchers to the bullpen.
And just as planned, the starting pitchers who were moved to the bullpen performed better than expected, somehow managing to hand the ball over to set-up man Patton.
While the players' hard work was certainly a factor, I think manager Ramirez's leadership skills also played a significant role.
Since it's a short series, they're switching pitchers very decisively, a strategy sometimes called "machine gun pitching," and their pinch-hitting tactics are also working well.
This marks the first time in history that a team that finished third in the Central League season has advanced to the Japan Series.
Therefore, among the teams that have finished in third place since the introduction of the Climax Series, Manager Ramirez is probably the best.
The reason I'm limiting it to "teams that finished in third place" is because I can't refute the argument that "coaches who have led their teams to first or second place in the season standings are even better."
Since this is the BayStars' first appearance in the Japan Series since 1998, none of the current team members have any experience playing in the series.
Tsutsugo has experience in the WBC, but the team still has many young members.
As a baseball fan, I would be delighted if these young players gain valuable experience through their participation in this Japan Series and go on to become players who represent Japan.
I hope that Kuramoto, who made a particularly costly error, will use this disappointment as motivation to become a player who can win a Golden Glove next year.