Baseball & Rikkai
Baseball is HERE!!! I cannot fully explain just how great it feels to say that. Today is Opening Day for the Brewers, which means the beginning of the season. I know technically the season began awhile ago with those games in Japan or whatever, but come on - that doesn't count.
While I was stirring my lye yesterday, I made up Rikkai's lineup. I attempted to write it out by character and failed horribly. It was basically Sanada: PERFECT IN ANY POSITION. So I wrote it out by position instead.
Pitcher - Sanada
Catcher - Yanagi
First Base - Marui
Second Base - Niou
Third Base - Jackal
Shortstop - Kirihara
Left Field - Yagyuu
Center - Yukimura
Right Field - Urayama
Pitcher: The most important position. If you don't have pitching, you don't have a chance. Pitchers come in many different shapes, sizes and skills. Power or control, so long as he's good. You live and die by your pitching. I hate to be all cliché, but look at what San Francisco has managed with little to no offense. Look at how the Brewers failed to win it all despite the ridiculous offensive power.
Of course I chose Sanada. He was a pitcher in my dream. He had serious velocity but, more importantly, amazing control. Pinpoint accuracy. And he went right after his opponents, too. He was not afraid to pound the strike zone but was effective. Since he goes right after hitters, his strikeouts will probably be minimal, but his WHIP could be well under 1.0. Also, he has the stamina to go deep into games.
And none of this namby-pamby designated hitter bullshit. The pitcher is an athlete just like the rest of them. He'll play baseball just like the rest of them. So yeah, maybe Sanada's not your average pitcher offensively, but there's nothing average about Sanada. Besides, there's nothing better than a pitcher who can help his own cause. Right, Yovani?
I did consider Yukimura as pitcher because he fits the profile pretty well. Even the injury aspect. However I have a hard time putting Yukimura's skills into pitching. He cannot give every batsman the yips. He cannot.
Just. Sanada = most important. Done.
Catcher: The thinking man. Strategist. He has the best view of the field and therefore is responsible for positioning his teammates for defensive plays. The catcher calls pitches as well, meaning he must know his pitchers strengths, weaknesses, habits and mechanics as well as each batter's. Beyond this wealth of knowledge, the catcher must know what his pitcher is comfortable throwing that day and help set the pace. The catcher must do this for an entire bullpen of pitchers.
I have to admit I like the idea of Niou behind the plate. He's sharp. He understands opponents very well, very quickly.
But of course I went with Yanagi. Obvious choice, perhaps, but a good one. He fits the bill. Plus catchers take a serious beating over the 162-game season and Yanagi's proven himself durable by training with Kirihara.
Sanada and Yanagi would work well together. I kind of love this battery.
First Base: First base doesn't require the range or athleticism of other positions, but players must be on their toes. Line drives can be nabbed out of the air before heading foul or, better yet, before turning into a double. The first baseman must keep runners close and be ready for the pitcher's pick-off move.
Normally people think big, powerful or lefty when they think first. However, I chose to go with Marui. He's not the most athletic player on the team (and won't be if he keeps stuffing cake in his face HA) but he has excellent timing and concentration, as proven with his genius moves. I think he'd do just fine over there.
Second Base: Second base demands excellent defense and range. Turning double plays, cutting off throws from right and shifting around the bag are important. The most important quality, in my humble opinion, is temper. Sticking it out during plays is a must. When someone comes in with their 'steel showing' to break up a double play and the second baseman doesn't so much as flinch, chances are you're going to get that out at first.
So yeah, I picked Niou.
Third Base: There's a reason they call it the hot corner. Defensively, third basemen makes more errors than other positions because so many balls get hit up thataway. They definitely need a strong arm to make that throw to first.
Purely for defensive reasons, I picked Jackal. The man's amazing, what more can I say?
Shortstop: The most important position defensively. Because there are more righties than lefties, most balls get shot up the middle, through the shortstop's territory and are hit hard. You need a very strong arm to make those close plays at first right off the bat or as the cut-off man throwing home. Range is important, as is knowing where to position yourself for each batter. With the shift in play, shortstops cover a lot of ground in a game.
I like the idea of Kirihara at short. He's got the skill to do it and the mental challenge would be good for him. Being the quarterback of the infield is an important job, one suitable for Kirihara. I think he'd be happy there; shortstop keeps things interesting.
Outfielders: Outfielders cover a lot of space so speed and good instincts are important. A good route can make up for lack of speed. They need to know their limits, too. They have to judge whether to catch a ball on the fly and risk it getting past them, or let it bounce and keep it ahead of them.
Left fielders probably get more balls than the others but they don't need a very strong arm to get the ball in to the cut-off man. I chose Yagyuu because I imagine him to be damn accurate. Laser Beam!
Center fielders cover the most field out there and must coordinate plays between his fellow outfielders to prevent embarrassing and costly mistakes. This position requires good vision, fast legs and good decision making. Yukimura is my choice for center because I would be very comfortable with him on the prowl in center. I imagine him to take absolutely beautiful routes to the ball and rarely make mistakes. He has the authority to call off his fellow outfielders and I have no doubt he would make the right call. A good outfielder (especially center fielder) can take away home runs. Assuming Sanada ever gave up a home run, I have no doubt Yukimura would have his back. (and admonish him for it later) [[I originally had had Yukimura in a more important position, such as short, but there's something about Yukimura that is better suited for the outfield. Infielders have it rougher, and Yukimura has a certain grace for the outfield. At least I think so.]]
Right fielders usually have the strongest arm in the outfield (a plus arm, if you will) but also must be very accurate in these long throws. Thinking of it that, way, I would have put Yagyuu in right. However, I am very immature and remember Little League where the less-talented kids got hidden away in right so they wouldn't hurt the team. (Dude, I've been there before. No judgment.) Plus, I needed somewhere to put Urayama. Otherwise Yagyuu and Yukimura would have to handle the entire outfield on their own. Not that they couldn't, but it would get old.
Batting order:
1 - Yagyuu
2 - Marui
3 - Kirihara
4 - Sanada
5 - Yanagi
6 - Jackal
7 - Niou
8 - Urayama
9 - Yukimura
Yeah, not as certain about the batting order. Yagyuu is a good lead-off man because he'd get on base. Marui would be inconsistent, I think, but could always help move Yagyuu over. Kirihara is a good third hitter because he would definitely get on base for Sanada but also help drive in runs. Sanada definitely belongs in the four hole because he's got serious power. He'd be disciplined at the plate, making them pitch to him. Yanagi is my choice to protect Sanada in that four spot. If there isn't any viable threat in the fifth spot, opposing teams would have no problem walking Sanada. Yanagi is a good threat and ensures Sanada has a chance to drive in runs. The bottom of the order...I'm not too sure of. Yukimura is in the pitcher's spot at the very bottom just because. Urayama is hiding in the eight hole but Niou, batting seventh, can help generate some offense in the bottom of the order.
So I'm really just certain about the 3,4,5 hitters. Whee.
If anyone has a problem with my choices, feel free to comment. I love to talk baseball and I love to talk Rikkai.
As wordy as that is, it only took me a few minutes to get the lineup settled. Then I began wondering about all kinds of things. Truly important things like what number Sanada would wear. (He'd wear 12, just in case you were wondering.) Or who would wear their pants up and who would wear them down. Who has the style to show stirrups? Personally, I always see the middle infielders and center-fielder with their pants up. Knickers. Pitchers can go either way, but Sanada would wear his down, methinks. Then again, he's old school; I bet he could pull off stirrups. Who am I kidding? He'd look damn good in any pants. Fukubuchou pants.
Yovani with his pants down. (Ahahaha, that is to say, not rolled up.)
Yovani with his pants up. (He wore them up once when he got a win so he kept wearing them up. He had to borrow Marco Estrada's pants to get them to fit right, since Marco's an inch or so shorter.)
John Axford with his pants up.
Rollie Fingers (back with the Athletics) with his stirrups. Talk about style.
And just because: Hunter Pence. Dude has style.
I kind of want to put them all into the bullpen and see what comes out. Starter, closer, middle reliever, long reliever, set-up man, lefty-specialist. That may be next.
...you all just ran away, didn't you?
EDIT 06-15-2012: I made the pitching post. Read it here.