August 6th, 2005
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Giants (Yankees) suck
Tokyo has two baseball teams, much like another great eastern baseball metropolis. The Giants have traditionally been the big money, star-filled power club that wins pennants and sets fans into a tizzy. As I’ve mentioned before, I root for the Swallows (Mets), the team with the smaller payroll, mostly mediocre results, and eccentric fan base. Actually, I’m a Tigers fan, because they’re the big team in Kansai, where I “grew up”, but since I’m in eastern Japan, not west, I focus my cheering towards rooting for the home team, and trouncing the Giants, who are arch rivals of the Tigers. So naturally, when I went to a Swallows-Giants game this weekend, there was no question as to which side of the field to sit on.
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Hip-hop artists lead some cheerleaders in a dance for everyone’s favorite birds.
The Swallows aren’t doing horrible this year, but they’re in the same division as the Dragons and the Tigers, who recently have been doing very well. And with only two leagues/divisions to go with, there’s not much consolation for third place. However, the Giants uncharacteristically suck this year, so I was fortunate enough to attend the last of a three-game series at Jingu Yakyuu-ba where we swept them. It was actually kind of intense for a while, with the Swallows holding on to a slim 2-1 lead for most of the game. But fortunately we broke it open with a three-run sixth and kept their big bats at bay with some of the best pitchers in the league.
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Another umbrella parade for a run scored. Summer fireworks surprise and light up the night for lucky 7. The gang’s all here!
I’ve now been to three games this season, and I project to hit five before it’s over. Brandon and I have a little friendly competition to see who’s the greater fan, but he may have me beat with his superior history and healthy depth chart in terms of free time.
