Nippon Series News and Notes: Utsumi and Interviews
by Gen on Nov.02, 2009 @ 9:35 am, under NPB, Postseason
...It may have been 3 degrees Celsius outside Sapporo Dome during game 2, but inside the Dome it was about 20 degrees (during the summer, the temperature is around 25 degrees). Field level temps are usually about 5-7 degrees lower than in the stands.
...Tetsuya Utsumi threw a fairly high number of change-ups last night. The last time he faced the Fighters and Yu Darvish (on June 6), he threw only 13 (out of 90 total pitches).
| Pitch Type | # Pitches | # Hits | # SO |
| Fastball | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| Change | 23 | 3 | 3 |
| Slider | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Totals | 60 | 8 | 3 |
...Tatsunori Hara on Darvish's start:
He was a completely different pitcher. He threw a lot of breaking pitches and his curve had a big break. His fastball was also hopping and coming in at a tough angle to hit.
...Yu Darvish on his start:
[This start] went too well considering my current condition. I was only at about 50% but the cheering crowds bumped that up to between 70 and 80%. I was able to pitch a once-in-a-lifetime game.
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Interviews
You were the winning pitcher...
I was a little worried at first, and when my name was announced, I wondered if I could really pitch today.
Your first game in 42 days...
I've wanted to pitch all this time and I was growing impatient with myself. My teammates helped create this stage for me so I felt I had to put up the results.
On looking back at your start...
I definitely wasn't myself. In fact, I didn't use my back at all and just threw with my hand / arm. I could only throw junk pitches but fortunately the Giants couldn't figure me out.
On looking passed this game...
We can definitely win at the Tokyo Dome. I think we can win this at the Sapporo Dome so I'll do my best.
You started Darvish. If you lost this game it would have been big...
We fought this season with Darvish. I was prepared for anything.
Your reason for starting him in game 2 instead of game 1...
It's tough to pencil in a pitcher you're not sure you can pitch for game 1. You also don't know what's going to happen for games 6 and 7.
On the line-up hitting Utsumi well...
I'm not really sure if the line-up is in great shape. But if Utsumi were to pitch in game 3, I'm sure the line-up would be able to handle him.
You start playing at the Tokyo Dome starting the 3rd...
It's a much smaller park than the Tokyo Dome, so we'll have to be careful of the extra base hits / long ball. I want the team to hang in tough so that we can get to game 6 and 7 at the Sapporo Dome.
On Utsumi falling apart...
The fact that he had to work hard show where he is right now. That was the problem. He wasn't awful. I think he did his best.
On Darvish's start...
I had a feeling. We fought the game assuming he'd pitch but the line-up couldn't keep it going and we couldn't get many chances to score off him.
On Tono pitching well...
Tono looks good right now. I think the pitchers and position players came together during the game and we can head to the Tokyo Dome fully prepared.
On going back to the Tokyo Dome for game 3...
I think we're in good shape for the games at Tokyo Dome.
