<Issue 3　～Manager Kenichi Sato, Jiangsu>

Chinese Japanese

The Jiangsu Hopestars finished the first half of the CBL season in last place in the Southeast/ Eastern China Division with a record of 4-11. However, the Hopestars joined the CBL in 2005 and are a fairly new team. They won only 3 games last season and set a record of 15 consecutive losses. Considering that, there are some who believe that the Hopestars have improved in looking at the way they have played thus far in the season. The manager for this young team is Kenichi Sato (Age 48). He was sent over by the Chiba Lotte Marines, the allied club of the Hopestars in the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball), and was appointed as their Manager in February of this year. He is working to strengthen the Jiangsu Hopestars ball club along with pitching coach Kazumi Sonokawa who was also sent over by the Chiba Lotte Marines at the same time.

This issue (Issue 3) of “Hot Ballplayer Spotlight” shines the spotlight on Jiangsu Hopestars Manager Kenichi Sato.

【Manager Kenichi Sato (Jiangsu)】

- With this being your first time in China, how do you like living in Wuxi?

Sato: I came to Wuxi in February and am now living in a dormitory (boarding house) along with the players. There were some things that took some getting used to, such as the food, but I go to a Japanese restaurant from time to time and I’m getting by (laughter). I’m beginning to appreciate Chinese food as well.

- How is the communication with your players? Do you feel some sort of language barrier?

Sato: I have two translators, so I have had no problems in terms of my daily needs. But as for instructing the players about the game of baseball, it has been a challenge (I have had trouble getting my message across). What I am doing right now is to ask my players to learn particular baseball terms every time the need arises.

- What were your impressions of the Hopestars players when you saw them for the first time?

Sato: Since the team is full of young players -many of whom had never really had the opportunity to learn baseball before -- my first impression was that it was going to be necessary to take the time to develop the young players. But once I began coaching them, I noticed that, because of their youth, some of the players were able to learn very quickly once you took the time to teach them. In that sense, I was very hopeful about the potential of the players. They have great speed so I began thinking about ways to take advantage of it in games. I’ve also talked to my players about this.

- After a great playing career in the Japanese professional league, you had some experience as a coach as well. Have you had any problems since your arrival in terms of your coaching methods?

Sato: Well, the level of talent and amount of baseball experience of the players on our club vary from player to player, so I’ve had no other choice but to coach while meeting the needs of the players with the least amount of talent. I also think that, from time to time, mixing in minor league players with the other players and coaching everyone together can be a meaningful experience for the talented players as well. All that's left after that is to improve the skills of each player by training them individually and doing the things necessary to suit their skill level.

- I would think that, for you, Opening Day in this April must have come sooner than you would have liked. Before the season began, did you get your players to focus on any particular goals?

Sato: Since the team had only won 3 or 4 games last two seasons, I told the players that we should aim to play around .500 during the first fifteen games of the first-half and shoot for a record of either 8-7 or 7-8. But once the season began, we just couldn’t seem to win… (laughter) (The Hopestars began the season by losing five straight games to Shanghai and Sichuan.) I began to get the feeling that there was too much of a difference between our talent level and the talent level of the other teams in the league. At the same time, however, I also had the feeling that it was a matter of time before we won a game. After a couple of losses, I began to see why we were losing. I had the feeling that if we could improve on a couple of areas, such as our pitching, we could win some ballgames. I also kept telling the players, “If we can get one win, things are going to change”.

- Then in game number six (April 20th) you got your first victory. Gu Shunai Nan (No. 39, Age 20)’s four-hit complete-game performance was impressive, wasn’t it?

Sato: Gu was an exchange student at Aomori Yamada High School in Japan. That game was his best game of the first half. I'd like to see him pitching like that for other games (laughter). We were also saved by Sichuan's mistakes.

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