Game RECAP April 3 / 2025 vs Baystars

RECAP

What a frustrating way for the game to end.
In the bottom of the 8th, Sato crushed a two-run homer to tie it up, and the momentum had clearly swung in Hanshin’s favor.

Then in the top of the 9th, Guerra took the mound seeking redemption for the previous night. With one out and a runner on first, he threw his 13th pitch to Sano on a 2-2 count — a beautiful split-finger that completely fooled the batter.
Swing and a miss. Strike three.
Everyone in the stadium thought so. Everyone watching on TV or on their phones thought so. Even Sano himself started heading back toward the dugout.

But the umpire ruled it… a foul tip.
It was clearly a swinging strikeout — the replay showed it, plain as day. The stadium was stunned. Actually, more than that — it was déjà vu. This was the second time in this three-game series that a blown call by the umpires completely changed the game. A wave of resignation swept through the crowd. And the same energy shift hit the players.

Guerra went on to give up two runs, and Ito, who came in after, allowed a sac fly. Three devastating runs in the top of the 9th — all after the blown call. The momentum lost, the damage done. It was just too much to overcome.

The morning headlines said it all:
“Hanshin Undone by Unbelievable Call.”
And it wasn’t just the team — the fans were heartbroken, too.

We’re not saying every single call needs to be reviewed, but for plays where there’s reasonable doubt, shouldn’t video review be allowed — even outside of scoring plays?

And when it comes to strike zone calls, there’s already tech that can assist home plate umpires. MLB is experimenting with it this year in the offseason, so maybe it’s time for NPB to explore these options more seriously, too.

This isn’t about “challenging the authority of the umpire.”
It’s about recognizing that human judgment can be flawed — and using technology to support the fairness of the game.
That’s how we get to a place where win or lose, it still feels like real sport — something everyone can accept.

At the same time, Japanese baseball fans shouldn’t just vent on social media and bash the umpires.
We should be framing this as a systemic issue — a flaw in how things are structured — and voice our concerns directly to NPB.

Sure, culturally, many of us hesitate to speak up.
But there’s nothing wrong with offering thoughtful, constructive opinions through the right channels — not just riding the wave of public sentiment.

That whole “just accept it, because that’s how things are” mindset?
Maybe that’s fine for bureaucracies and politics.
But in sports, fans should have a voice — and we should never be afraid to use it.

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