The new season of NHK's baseball-themed variety show "Kyujien: Keywords that will make professional baseball 100 times more fun" will begin on November 16th. The first episode, which will be broadcast on NHK BS at 9pm on the same day, will be themed on "pitching across innings." Why is this situation said to be difficult for relief pitchers?
"Kyujien" is a sports variety show that delves into one baseball-related keyword each episode, aiming to create the "ultimate baseball dictionary." The host (and acting editor-in-chief) is Hanawa Nobuyuki of the comedy duo "Knights," and the narrator is Hanawa's partner, Tsuchiya Nobuyuki.
"Inning-stretching" is when a relief pitcher pitches across multiple innings. This is said to be difficult for pitchers, and when you look at batting averages before and after pitching across innings, it certainly does worsen. The psychology of the pitcher has a deep influence on this. What makes it difficult? Which pitchers are achieving good results despite this? And what is the strategy of the Central League champion Hanshin Tigers for inning-stretching?
Former Chiba Lotte Marines manager Masahito Yoshii and former Tokyo Yakult Swallows manager Shingo Takatsu will also appear in the studio.
