Last year, the Yomiuri Giants opened a new minor league ballpark in Inagi, a city in western Tokyo, next to where the previous ballpark was located (though that is across the border in Kanagawa prefecture). The schedule did not work well when I was in Japan last August, so I had to delay my visit until this year. I was staying out by my in-laws near Narita, which meant a two-hour ride on two trains to get to Keio-Yomiuriland station, from where the stadium is a short walk.
Well, short perhaps in distance, but you still need to climb 306 steps to get to the ballpark. Of course, there are free shuttle buses and even city buses make the drive to the stadium door, but I was there early and in desperate need of some exercise. As well, there are some photo ops of the large (giant perhaps) letters that mark the name of the area. The stadium follows suit and is called Giants Town Stadium, a remarkable change from the old ballpark, which was Yomiuri Giants Stadium.
Once you are at the top, you will see the ballpark, which looks nothing like a ballpark from the outside.
Without the signage, I don't think anyone would realize that a baseball diamond lies inside. It looks more like a driving range or a small mall with a garden rooftop. But I appreciated this unique style and it is one of many positive features of what is the second-best farm league ballpark in the country.
Just outside are a couple of food trucks, though there is a 7-11 just a block away, where you can pick up the usual array of snacks and drinks before entering. There are even a few tables outside that provide a more comfortable spot to eat than at your seat.
Just outside are a couple of food trucks, though there is a 7-11 just a block away, where you can pick up the usual array of snacks and drinks before entering. There are even a few tables outside that provide a more comfortable spot to eat than at your seat.
Inside is a truly unique setup, with a lower deck of just four rows that are covered by the upper deck. There are also seats down both lines that jut into foul territory. If you are in the first row, you have a small wooded bar in front of you with drink holders carved into it that you can see below. Note the orange letters on the poles spelling 'Tokyo Giants', I'll mention those later.
The lower level is symmetrical, but the upper level is not. The only seats in that level are along the first- base line and those are general admission and uncovered. At 1,000 yen, they are also a bargain.
The photo below shows those upper level seats, with five rows in each of ten sections.
Naturally, that is where I ended up sitting and the view from my seat is below. Capacity is just 2,900, about 1,100 less than the previous ballpark. Again I had bought a ticket in advance as I was worried about a sellout, but only 606 turned out on a cloudy evening. There was even a bit of drizzle before the game, but it quickly disappeared and the game started on time.
There is one main concession stand selling an interesting variety of food, including a salt lemon chicken burger with cream cheese for 900 yen (about $5.75) and a "Big G-Dom Burger" for 1000 yen that had no description. Beer is also available here, although this ballpark was the first in the farm leagues where I saw a beer girl. If you've been to any big league game in Japan, you will have seen the ubiquitous young ladies going up and down the aisles selling beer out of kegs on their back. In the smaller minor league parks, many of which have no food options at all, there are no beer girls. Until now. In this case, however, there was just a single energetic lady trying to keep all 606 of us happy. She did very well, and for a brief period, until I visited Hanshin's SGL Stadium two days later, this was my favourite minor league park for this reason.
I mentioned a few features and they are all located on the first floor. They can be separated into two categories: local community and Giants history.
The first is represented by some artwork from kids in the area as well as several banners signed by fans. The Giants are Japan's most popular team and even the minor league squad get a lot of love.
There is also a library, something I had never seen at a ballpark before. All of the titles have to do with baseball and there are some manga included for the youngsters. You can browse as you like but obviously the books are not to be taken from the stadium.
In the far corner are a couple of recent heroes, including current Blue Jay Kazuma Okamoto. Hayato Sakamoto started his career with the Giants in 2007 when he was 18 and he is still playing with them this season at 37, meaning he has spent more than half his life with the club. His .150 average this year suggests that it might be time to move on to a managerial role.
When I moved to Japan, the Giants manager was Shigeo Nagashima, who had played with the team from 1958-74, winning the Japan Series in 11 of those 17 seasons and taking home five MVP awards. Immediately upon retirement, he began managing the club but could not win the title over six seasons, despite a couple of Central League championships. He then worked in media for over a decade before returning to manage the Giants in 1993, leading them to titles in 1994 and 2000, his penultimate season at the helm. He passed away last year at the age of 89 and there are some photos of him next to a staircase.
I felt that after this visit, the Giants had figured out the perfect approach to a farm league ballpark in Japan. It only took two days to see that the Tigers had gone one better. Still, this is an easily accessible ballpark and a great place for NPB newbies to dip their toe in the wonderful Japanese farm league waters.
The Game
The Seibu Lions were visiting, the 14th time these two teams had met this season, with the Giants holding a 9-4 advantage. Interestingly, the scoreboard advertising underneath the clock is for Seibu Kensetsu, a member of the Seibu group that also owns the Lions.
Once again, I got lucky with the pitching matchup as the Giants sent Spencer Howard (below) to the hill. Howard was drafted in the second round by Philadelphia in 2017 after a spectacular redshirt sophomore season at Cal Poly. He had some good minor league numbers but could not translate that to success at the major league level, compiling a 7.00 ERA in 47 games with four clubs. A move to Japan last season saw him pitch very well for Rakuten in an injury-shortened campaign, and this year he moved to the Giants, where he has seen little action so far, again due to injuries. He actually started the Giants second game of the season against Hanshin and was the hard-luck loser, giving up an unearned run in six innings as his teammates were shutout 2-0. This was his second farm start after he threw four innings two weeks prior.
Meanwhile, Seibu sent Yamato Fuji to the mound. He's only 19 and was selected by the Lions as the first-round developmental pick in 2004. He appeared in two games with the top team at the start of the season, compiled a 22.50 ERA, and has been on the farm since. He had the most irritating windup I have ever seen, part of which I captured below.
Anyway, Howard was superb, yielding just a walk through five frames, while his offense managed a pair in the second and then singletons in the fourth and fifth. It was clear Howard was tiring and the sixth would be his last inning, and with two out, he gave up his only hit, an infield single to Yushin Kawada, who was promptly caught stealing. The Giants added yet another run in the bottom half off reliever Haruse Narita and then the bullpens took over, tossing zeroes the rest of the way.
The Giants faced the minimum as the Lions managed just two hits and both were erased on the basepaths. The second baserunner was Takayoshi Yamamura, who singled in the 7th. He was followed by Takeya Nakamura, who turns 43 in August and has been with Seibu since 2003. Nakamura has played with the farm team exclusively this year, which should be his last as this is really a developmental circuit. Anyway, Nakamura grounded into a double play and the Lions went in order in the final two innings.
The game took just 2:33, though only 237 pitches were thrown in total for a slow PPM of 1.549. I didn't care as it was a great game for me and I raced down the stairs to get to the station and start the journey back home.
Notes
After one more rehab start, Howard was called up and pitched 7 scoreless innings against Yokohama on July 31. So it looks like he might have finally found his place in baseball.
Best,
Sean
No comments:
Post a Comment