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Here's what some of the members of the Japan baseball media
thought about the season prior to Opening Day 2008. (We'll keep this up
until shortly before the next season, so you can see how they did.)
From the Yomiuri
Shimbun Online
Hiroshima Carp
-- Predicted Finish: 6
A casual observer might be excused for thinking
the Carp are the Tigers' CL farm team, with Hanshin taking its third Carp star,
Takahiro Arai, in five years from its western Japan rival.
In exchange for their stars, the Carp get
unwanted Tigers minor leaguers.
The Tigers sent useful outfielder Go Kida in a
trade last summer, while the Carp took speedster Masato Akamatsu, who could be
the steal of the offseason, as compensation for Arai. Akamatsu produced
eye-popping minor league numbers year after year, but still failed to impress
Hanshin.
"He's the kind of player who needs to feel
the people around him believe in him," said Carp skipper Marty Brown.
"He'll get that here."
The Hiroshima Carp struggle catching the ball and
making pitches when games are on the line. Akamatsu will help tighten the
defense.
Meanwhile, veteran star Tomonori Maeda's lack of
mobility and personal policy of isolation will see him playing less with yet
another speedy singles-hitter, Soichiro Amaya, picking up even more slack.
Veteran outfielder Alex Ochoa is back, but the
Carp are seriously short of power after new cleanup batter Kenta Kurihara. New
third baseman Scott Seabol doesn't appear to be a big hitter, but reports are he
can really play third--something the Carp will need if their pitchers are to
develop.
On the pitching side, the Carp coped with the
loss of ace Hiroki Kuroda to free agency by bumping live-armed Kan Otake to the
No. 1 spot in the order and bringing in a trio of impressive foreign pitchers.
Although Mike Schultz has been hurt, he, Colby
Lewis and Ben Koslowski all ran up consistently good numbers in the United
States.
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From
Jason Coskrey of The
Japan Times
Manager Marty Brown's job got a lot tougher over the winter with the
departures of Takahiro Arai, the Carp's best hitter, and Hiroki Kuroda, their
best pitcher.
Without Arai, Kenta Kurihara, who batted .310 with 25 home runs and 92 RBIs
last season, takes over as the focal point of the Hiroshima attack. A nine-year
veteran, the 26-year-old slugger has increased his home run and RBI totals in
each of the past three seasons.
Alex Ochoa gives the Carp another steady presence in a lineup that also
features second baseman Akihiro Higashide and shortstop Eishin Soyogi. Veteran
Tomonori Maeda returns for his 19th season and could see time in the outfield.
Hiroshima also added a pair of outfielders in the offseason, drafting Ryuhei
Matsuyama in the college/industrial draft and claiming Masato Akamatsu from
Hanshin as a compensation pick.
The Carp acquired American Scott Seabol to help offset Arai's departure.
Seabol hit .300 with 32 homers and 105 RBIs for Triple-A Albuquerque (Marlins
organization) and will play third base.
Kuroda's absence could leave the rotation in the hands of 25-year-old Kan
Otake, who went 9-10 last season. Former Washington Nationals pitcher Colby
Lewis could also end up being Brown's point man on the mound when the season
starts.
Hiroshima could also call upon Masayuki Hasegawa to join the starting
rotation.
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