Today's Ni-gun game against the Nippon Ham Fighters, at Seibu 2 Stadium: Takayuki Kishi started the game and allowed a run on two hits over an inning of work.  He threw a total twelve pitches. [Daily Sports]

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Takayuki Kishi started a Ni-gun game against the Nippon Ham Fighters today.  For Kishi (coming back from tightness in his back), it was his first outing since he pitched in an exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants on March 4.

Kishi's next outing will be against the Yakult Swallows on March 25 (Ichi-gun exhibition game).

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The Lions announced today that former manager Haruki Ihara will take part in a talk session before their game against the Orix Buffaloes at Omiya Stadium on April 14.

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The Lions decided to demote Yusei Kikuchi on Monday.  He is scheduled to start a Ni-gun game against the Nippon Ham Fighters on Wednesday.

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Nikkan Sports notes that the starting rotation, as it currently stands, will be made up for Hideaki Wakui, Fumiya Nishiguchi, Kazuhisa Makita, 1st round draft pick Ken Togame, Kazuhisa Ishii, and Kishi.  However, due to the schedule at the start of the season, the Lions will most likely start things off with a five-man rotation.

Yusei Kikuchi tossed a bullpen session today under the watchful eyes of Hisanobu Watanabe, pitching coach Tadashi Sugimoto, and pitching coach Takashi Ishii.

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Takumi Kuriyama, Takeya Nakamura, Takayuki Kishi, Yusei Kikuchi, and Ginjiro Sumitani spent some time collecting donations near the third base entrances after pre-game practices today.

Practice game against the Rakuten Eagles at Hotto Motto Kobe on Tuesday (Lions 3 - Eagles 2): Yusei Kikuchi started the game and tossed five shutout innings while allowing two hits.  He also struck out two, walked two, threw a wild pitch, and topped out at 146km/h.

Yusei Kikuchi worked out at Seibu 2 Stadium today.  He is scheduled to start tomorrow's exhibition game against the Orix Buffaloes at Hotto Motto Kobe.

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Twenty-six of the thirty-three pitches 1st round draft pick Ken Togame threw during his outing against the Yomiuri Giants on Sunday went for strikes.

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Hisanobu Watanabe does not think he will be able to decide on an opening day starter until about two weeks before opening day.

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Potential upcoming starters:

• Yusei Kikuchi, practice game vs LG Twins, February 29.
• Hideaki Wakui, exhibition game vs Yomiuri Giants, March 3. Coud face Toshiya Sugiuchi (YOM).
• Takayuki Kishi, exhibition game vs Yomiuri Giants, March 4.

The team had the day off today.

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Yusei Kikuchi and Enrique Gonzalez worked out on their day off today.

Gonzalez could pitch in a practice game on Tuesday against the Chiba Lotte Marines.

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Fumiya Nishiguchi was diagnosed with the flu today.

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Kazuhisa Makita threw about thirty warm-up pitches before Sunday's practice game start against the Orix Buffaloes.  That is up from his usual ten pitches when making relief outings.  Makita told reporters he might try throwing a bit more for his next start.

Yusei Kikuchi will start a practice game against the Lotte Giants on February 18.

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Today was the end of the first block of spring camp for the Ni-gun Lions.  The team has the day off tomorrow.

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Tatsuya Oishi and Yusei Kikuchi tossed situational BP today.  Oishi faced ten batters and did not allow a hit.  Kikuchi also faced ten batters and allowed one run to score on four hits.

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1st round draft pick Ken Togame wants to start working on his off-speed pitches.

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According to Sponichi, the average pick-off move takes about 1.1 seconds while Hideaki Wakui's pick-off move takes 0.9 second.

Esteban German showed off his speed during base-running practices today.  It prompted Hisanobu Watanabe to tell reporters that he could be an interesting option as a lead-off hitter.

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Yusei Kikuchi tossed a bullpen session today but struggled with his control the moment someone stepped into the batter's box.

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The Lions announced today that Tatsuya Takeno's wife gave birth to the couple's first child, a girl weighing 3,260 grams, in a Fukuoka hospital on Monday.

The team had the day off today.

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Kazuhisa Makita took a 3.6km walk around the player hotel earlier today.  Makita was diagnosed with the flu on Friday and was given permission to go outdoors after his fever dropped.  He should be able to start working out again tomorrow.

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1st round draft pick Ken Togame and 2nd round draft pick Hirotaka Koishi went sightseeing on their day off today.  Their day included a tuna cut and clean demonstration and picking dekopons (citrus fruit) and kumquats.

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Fumikazu Kimura faced two batters during batting practice on Friday and allowed three could-be hits on 46 pitches.

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Tatsuya Oishi and Yusei Kikuchi will be starters for an intra-squad game on February 12.