Some pitchers take the mound in games where their team trails by 7 or 8 runs. This role, called "mop-up duty," does not lead directly to wins, yet it is indispensable for running a team. Why are mop-up pitchers necessary? What goes through their minds as they pitch? This article looks at the reality of the most grueling position in the bullpen.
In the history of NPB, the rare situation of players with identical names on the same team has occurred several times. Scoreboard displays, record-keeping, and fan confusion. When names overlapped, how did the clubs deal with it? We explore the behind-the-scenes side of NPB player management revealed by the problem of identical names.
In NPB, there are players who wear uniform numbers 0 and 00. Uniform numbers normally start at 1, so why is "zero" allowed? Are 0 and 00 treated as separate numbers? We uncover the motives of the players who chose zero and the little-known rules surrounding the numbers.
Analyzes strategic roster management in NPB, examining disabled list system evolution, tactical registration manipulation, and psychological impacts on players.
A comprehensive look at npb's foreign player quota - how import strategies shape pennant races, from evolution of the foreign player quota to the quota expan..
The development player system introduced in 2005 opened professional baseball's doors to many young players. However, problems exist in the 2.4 million yen minimum salary, the narrow path to roster registration, and the structure of being used as cheap labor under the name of 'development.'
NPB's active roster has long operated under a 28-player registration cap (with 25 players permitted to dress for a game). After the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic prompted balancing infection control with game operation, the cap expanded, and a 31-player roster has now taken hold. This evolution has reshaped bench tactics, the deployment of development-contract players, and the interplay with the farm system. We trace NPB's roster history from the regulatory side.