“We’re going to have the Japan Series at ES CON FIELD” – Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Go Matsumoto speak out
Pacific League Insight
2025.10.14(火) 18:50
On October 14, the day before the final stage of the “2025 PERSOL Climax Series Pa” final stage press conference was held at MIZUHO PayPay Dome. Manager Takeshi Shinjo of Hokkaido Nippon-Ham and Go Matsumoto players took the stage for the second part. The second part of the press conference was attended by Tsuyoshi Shinjo, manager of , and the players of .
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ What I want to tell the players
What I want to tell the players
Manager Takeshi Shinjo (Shinjo): “I leave it to the players. How much they have grown. But, Moinello-kun or …… I have to think of a strategy for this. I’ll be looking forward to it!”
What to expect from the starters and Kota Tatsu pitcher
Shinjo: “I asked Fushimi (Toratake) to go to the farm last summer and improve the tempo (of Tatsu pitcher ‘s pitch). Things have improved tremendously since then. struck out pitcher I told him to trust the backstop and let him hit and finish with 27 pitches.
Enthusiasm for the final stage
Go Matsumoto Matsumoto: “The memory of being beaten up by Fukuoka Softbank last year has come back to me, so I think all the players are thinking that this year will be the year.
The team has a different atmosphere from last year, and I think we showed that we are different from last year in the way we fought in the first baseman stage, and the players are feeling it too. The players also said that they want to play again in the hot ES CON FIELD. I would like to fight for that, one battle at a time.
We were saying ‘ES CON FIELD for the Japan Series’ like a watchword during yesterday’s practice. We also talked about how the first and second games of the Japan Series will be played at ESCON, right? We talked about it.
What do you feel about the growth of the players?
Shinjo: “If you look at the numbers, you can tell. Last year, we had a huge gap with Fukuoka Softbank. But this year, we are almost even, so I don’t feel there is much of a difference in our abilities. However, (Fukuoka Softbank) is very good in terms of experience and fighting style. Players to watch out for are Taisei Makihara, who has risen through the ranks from a training player to take the top hitter position, and Takashi Umino.”
What kind of pitcher do you think Moinello pitcher is?
Shinjo: “At the coaches’ meeting, I said there was no countermeasure. But we scored 7 points in the last game. I think we have lost our sense of weakness, so I wonder who will play well tomorrow. I’ll go home today and think about starting line-up.”
Shinjo: “I think Hokkaido Nippon-Ham has the momentum from the first baseman stage.
Shinjo: “It doesn’t matter. Even if you have momentum, you can still lose, and even if you don’t have momentum, you can still win. The most important thing is how you switch over when you make a mistake. The other thing is that we have been doing for four years, base running which doesn’t expand greatly until home after stepping on third base. The Fighters I think it would be fun if you also paid attention to base running when you go around third base.”
Matsumoto: “Let’s get the details right. It may be a small thing, but we run as fast as we can. It’s a simple thing, but I think we are in a very good atmosphere because the players are encouraging each other to do such things as a team.
Frankly speaking, how do you feel right now?
Matsumoto: “I am looking forward to it. It’s frustrating that we didn’t win the season, but we made it to this stage. I think everyone is thinking of defeating The Hawks, and I hope we can take the frustration of not winning this season and make up for it in this short match.
Shinjo: “Tsuyoshi had trouble getting into good shape after winning the first place hitter, but he practiced hard every day and after inning was over, Tsuyoshi went out first and said, ‘Let’s go. I was impressed by the speed with which he reached the base when he came on as a substitute runner. I think Tsuyoshi’s determination to help the team, despite the frustration of wanting to play every day, led to this year’s second place finish.
Do you feel the unique atmosphere of MIZUHO PayPay Dome?
Matsumoto: “To be honest, I feel it a lot. I feel that Moinello pitcher is the same, but I also feel that the other players are better at MIZUHO PayPay Dome. Many players honestly feel that way.”
Tatsu pitcher has an aura of not being taken in by the atmosphere, but from the director’s point of view, how do you feel about it?
Shinjo: “Isn’t he just showing it? He may have some weak feelings inside and ……. But closer I think he’s a player who will transform if you let him.”
Matsumoto: “He has his own self. He is young, but he is not being influenced by anyone, and I see him doing his own routine at the same pace without hesitation, so I think he will come in tomorrow the same way.”
Message to fans
Matsumoto: “I feel that this year, both personally and as a team, has been a season supported by our fans, and the excitement and passion of the PERSOL CS Pa at ES CON FIELD this time is something that I enjoy from the bottom of my heart as a baseball person. In order to have another hot battle at ES CON FIELD, I would like to win against Fukuoka Softbank here at MIZUHO PayPay Dome first.
In the first part, Director Kokubo said, “I am proud that Pacific League, The Hawks, and The Fighters have made this year’s event more exciting.
Shinjo: “I have been saying that since the beginning of the season. Director Kokubo said, “From the beginning of the season, I said, ‘Director Kokubo, let’s get excited together. From here to next year and the year after, I think the battle with Fukuoka Softbank will continue as it did this year. (Director Kokubo) is both a rival and a classmate whom I respect, so we will liven things up together.”
AloJapan.com