TOKYO — It looks like the destruction of Jingu is progressing much faster than initially reported.
This video shows how much destruction has already taken place, work having started on the field adjacent to the main Meiji Jingu baseball stadium, Meiji Jingu Stadium No. 2, used for rubber baseball games. The new stadium replacing Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium is scheduled to be built on the current site of this field. Officials have announced that the new stadium will have a roof over the field and stands with artificial grass, which is a travesty for diehard rugby fans. The main baseball stadium, an historic national treasure surrounded by greenery, will be torn down and replaced by a ballpark surrounded by skyscrapers — a business and shopping center.
The destruction crew inconsiderately blocks off lanes of nearby roads too. The potential for traffic accidents has increased.
It's appalling. Nobody is being held responsible for this evil destruction.
But we are still fighting in court.
The next hearing will be held Thursday, June 29, 11:00 a.m. at Tokyo District Court No. 103 Court. The first oral arguments to block the Jingu Gaien Redevelopment Project will be heard then.
Our suit for a temporary injunction, rejected by the lower court, is under appeal.
(With thanks to Hiroki Allen)
‘Stripped naked’
Trevor Bauer, the 2020 Cy Young Award winner has been having his problems in Japan pitching for the DeNA Yokohama BayStars. His record after three starts is 1-2 with an ERA of 8.40.
From the evening daily Yukan Fuji of May 17, 2023:
Rival team scorers have already spotted weaknesses in Trevor Bauer, after being KO’d twice in a row. In Bauer’s latest outing, May 16, he was bombed by the Hiroshima Carp for 7 runs and 8 hits. It came on the heels of an earlier defeat at the hands of the Yomiuri Giants who touched him for 7 runs in 6 innings.
As Yukan Fuji writer Eishu Yamato put it the following day: “The big name major league righthander, who joined the BayStars with much fanfare, was quickly stripped naked by the excellent scorers of the Japanese baseball world.”
Bauer was touched for three consecutive doubles in the first inning by the Carp followed by a home run. He was later taken out for a pinch hitter.
Bauer recorded pitches at 157 km twice, which means the problem wasn’t his fastball. He was quoted as saying, “I was in the best condition this year. There must be something.”
That something according to the scorers is that Bauer’s pitching form is different between when he throws a fastball and when he throws a breaking ball.
Said the Hiroshima scorer, “His body relaxes just before throwing a breaking ball. Left-handed hitters standing diagonally from the release point noticed the change early.”
He also said, “We set a zone to swing looking for a high fastball, and if you swing forward, you can handle breaking balls such as Bauer’s knuckle curves. All the other Central League teams understand this.
“Especially on this particular day, it was easy to focus on certain pitches because he was not able to throw strikes with the slider.”
Got that Bauer-san?
A reader added: “We've checked his MLB record, and he's not doing very well. He has seasons with a 4-point ERA. In 2020 it was a shortened season, just a couple of good games … It's important to be willing to adapt to a different baseball environment. The same can be said for (Masataka) Yoshida, who went to the majors from Japan.”
We have to fight the shameless corruption and destruction of the people of Japan’s heritage. Greed and deceit is a cancer in government and society.