Passionate speech in “heated debate” with Hideki Matsui on BS-TBS special program
The BS-TBS special program “Ichiro vs. Hideki Matsui – An honest conversation that you can talk about now” will be broadcast on the 5th, in which Mr. Ichiro, who is a special assistant and instructor to the Mariners’ president, and Hideki Matsui, a special advisor to the Yankees GM, had a special conversation. It was done. When the topic of current baseball came up, Ichiro emphasized that “I want it to stop,” and Matsui agreed with him.
While the two legends spoke candidly about each other and their pasts, the theme was Matsui’s 5-in-a-row walk at bat at Koshien when he was at Seiryo High School, and the theme of the conversation was a declared walk. Ichiro said, “Without saying anything, I said, “Okay, please walk,” and threw four pitches each, five times.” Mr. Matsui continued, “The drama is different, isn’t it?” and Mr. Ichiro replied, “It’s not different at all.That’s why I really want you to stop avoiding reporting.One of the big things I want you to stop doing is the Next (Batters) Circle. There’s no feeling for the players there. Just go (to first base).”
Matsui agreed, saying, “While you’re watching the four pitches, you want to think about a lot of things.” Ichiro said, “I don’t think of it as a chick show. It doesn’t make me imagine those emotions right now. There’s no drama.”
He added, “I want the tie-break at Koshien to be stopped.The game will change suddenly.It’s nothing like a tie-break in MLB.The value of records will also change.The bases will be made bigger and the distance between the bases will change.Don’t touch it. You shouldn’t touch anything you shouldn’t,” he said proudly.
As for considering shortening the system to seven innings, he said, “It’s impossible. If you ask high school students, they’ll definitely say they don’t want it. They want to play nine innings. It’s an adult thing.” And quickly. Matsui agreed, saying, “In the 8th or 9th inning, there’s a certain drama. Especially high school baseball.”
(Full-Count Editorial Department)
2025-01-05 18:06:00