In Akiyama Koji's office, all the mbers of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks coaching staff gathered around the conference table, listening to their manager analyze the upcoming situation and strategies.
"First, the most important issue—how should we choose the starting pitcher for the first ga of the series?"
When Akiyama Koji posed this question, surprisingly, the usually active coaching staff remained silent, showing an unusual quietness.
There was a reason for this silence—
The SoftBank coaches could easily predict how Hoshino Senichi would arrange the Rakuten pitching rotation:
With a 1-0 lead, Rakuten would choose the safest option for the opening ga of the series—sending the undefeated Tanaka Masahiro of the season to extend the lead to 2-0, leaving plenty of room for maneuver in the upcoming gas.
With the opposing starter choice almost revealed, SoftBank had two options:
The first option is to face Rakuten and Tanaka head-on. Since Rakuten would send Tanaka, SoftBank could send Lin Guanglai. It would then depend on whose pitchers and batters perform better on the day.
If this strategy succeeds, it would be a huge win for SoftBank: not only leveling the series score but also breaking Tanaka Masahiro's undefeated record of the season, significantly undermining the opponent's confidence and boosting their own morale—potentially reversing the entire series with just that one victory!
However, if they fail to win, the drawbacks are also obvious:
Compared to Rakuten's "Tanaka-Mima-Nakamoto" luxurious rotation, SoftBank only has Lin Guanglai and Shetsu Shou who can be relied upon, with Shetsu Shou having a considerably declined performance this season.
If using Lin Guanglai against Tanaka in the first ga doesn't work, then Lin Guanglai, who might have secured a win for the team, will lose the chance to pitch in this series again—unless SoftBank can drag the series to the sixth ga and beyond.
In other words, losing this gamble could maximize the team's losses, not only losing a likely win but also risking being swept 4-0 by Rakuten, losing both face and ground.
At this point, another option seems relatively safer: given Tanaka Masahiro's unstoppable performance this season, there's no need to go head-to-head with them.
In the first ga of the series, SoftBank could employ a strategy to trade moves, saving key players Lin Guanglai and Shetsu Shou for subsequent gas against Manabu Mima and Nakamoto Ango;
As for the "undefeatable Tanaka," leave it to chance—if the lineup manages to score heavily, then they might still have a chance; if they remain suppressed, losing would result in anticipated outcos, avoiding significant upheaval.
Of course, like the first option, this second option, despite appearing more stable, also has several potential issues:
Firstly, choosing this strategy, preserving the pitching roster in the first encounter against Tanaka Masahiro essentially ans SoftBank starting the series 2-0 down;
And if either of the two aces loses a must-win ga in the later matches, SoftBank would imdiately face Rakuten on match point, with every subsequent ga becoming a life-or-death battle, every ga on a razor's edge.
Even if SoftBank, according to the plan, wins two consecutive gas after conceding the first, leveling the series, they would still be at a disadvantage in terms of starting rotation reserves;
Not to ntion, if it really goes to the 6th or even 7th gas, Rakuten could easily have a fully-recovered Tanaka Masahiro on the mound again—ultimately returning to the original issue:
"If our SoftBank wants to advance to the Japan Series, we must defeat Tanaka at least once in this series; otherwise, there's practically no chance of winning this round!"
When Akiyama Koji thoroughly analyzed the situation and conveyed the above statent, the coaching staff, who had worked with him for many years, instantly grasped the underlying thought of this in-his-pri manager:
Indeed, known for his fiery temper in his playing days, Akiyama Koji hasn't changed even after all these years as a manager; even though he knows going head-to-head with the exceptionally in-form Tanaka might lead to no returns, he still wants to forge ahead and give it a shot.
"Since you said that, as part of the coaching staff, we are absolutely aligned with you—though this season, Rakuten hasn't lost any ga with Tanaka starting; our SoftBank won't just sit back! We'll go head-to-head!"
"Yes, Manager! Let's go head-to-head!"
Under the influence of this strategy, a group of over-50 coaches in Akiyama Koji's managerial office seed to have recaptured their youthful passion, stepping forward to declare their determination to duel with Rakuten.
"Alright! In that case, let's send Guanglai to the first ga of the series against Tohoku Rakuten for a showdown!!!"
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"Have SoftBank and Akiyama gone mad? Knowing their pitching depth is lacking, yet sending Lin Guanglai to go head-to-head in the first ga? Or is there so other consideration here..."
When Tohoku Rakuten's head coach Ninamura Tetsu saw SoftBank's announced starting pitcher, he couldn't help but ask the above question.
As the comfortably waiting Pacific League champions, aside from routine preparations, Rakuten had been studying their upcoming opponent, analyzing the rival pitchers' and batters' habits, and making contingency plans for the potential strategies during intense gas.
In Rakuten's coaching team's view, Akiyama Koji probably wouldn't be so rash as to use his ace against the undefeated Tanaka Masahiro—because, facing a 24 wins 0 losses, a 100% win-rate pitcher, such actions would be self-destructive and counterproductive.
But to their surprise, Akiyama Koji actually decided to do so!
In the upcoming showdown, Rakuten holds the upper hand, while SoftBank is the challenger; what do the superior fear most from the underdog challenge?
It's the unknowns!
Compared to potential disruptions beyond their control, the strong prefer to proceed according to plan, aiming to win the ga through stable, decisive ans without shedding a drop of blood.
"Haha, Ninamura, don't worry—let SoftBank do whatever they want, it doesn't concern us, does it? We just need to follow our plan, capturing every ga we should win, right?"
Compared to the slightly anxious Ninamura Tetsu, Rakuten's general manager Hoshino Senichi appeared quite calm.
"In fact, SoftBank's approach should make us happy, right? After all, whether it's Mima or Nakamoto, I have no guaranteed confidence if they face Lin Guanglai; but against Mr. Ma, hmm..."
"Though the opponent's courage is admirable, Mr. Ma will absolutely not lose."
"This ga, we are determined to win!"
A brilliant smile appeared on Hoshino Senichi's face.
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