It turns out the conference location, Makuhari Messe, is walking
distance to the Chiba Stadium. As it happens, while we were there the
local team, the Chiba Marines of the Pacific Division, were playing
Japanese inter-league play for the first time ever - against the Hanshin
Tigers of the Central Division (there are only two divisions in Japanese
Baseball). The box lunches we had at the conference were pretty sketchy,
so a few of us decided to blow off the banquet for some baseball. This
was a huge win. We got some decent seats for the game andjust
experienced the atmostphere. So, there are a couple different things
about Japanese Baseball. The biggest is that the outfield is divided,
with the right field side being where the home team organized cheering
section is, and left field holding the away team cheering section. Each
section does an organized cheer when one of their batters comes up —
either a song, or they chant the guys name, or something. There’s also a
guy with a big drum and a trumpet player somewhere in there. This is
just fun.
In celebration for interleague play, they had fireworks at the fifth
inning. Very cool. They also have cheerleaders in bright neon blue
outfits acting very cute. Also, as it turns out most (95%?) of the
people selling beer were these young women with a pony keg on their
back… they must have some huge leg muscles after working the stands
for a bit. Yow! And alas, no sketchy guy tossing peanuts into the crowd.
The biggest difference is the 7th inning. Instead of the seventh inning
stretch, you have Lucky 7. At the top and middle, the away and home team
fans respectively blow up these long balloons with a little bulb at the
top — kinda like a giant bean sprout. Then, they release all these
balloons into the air — and it makes quite a show! Also, the winning
team does this again at the end up the game… in this case, it was the
Tigers.
Some things don’t change… there was a play at first that was very
close, and the umpire called the runner safe. Well, out ran the coach of
the Marines to scream at the ump —- Bobby Valentine! Yes, Bobby V is
coaching the Marines, and doing a good job of it — the Marines are (or
were) in first place in the Pacific Division, whereas they’re normally
one of the lesser teams of the league. Anyway, Bobby runs out with his
interpreter, yells at the ump, and then the interpreter yells at the
ump. He didn’t get tossed, but it was fun to watch. Apparently though
most Japanese aren’t into the big tirade by the manager. Ah well.
Oh, and yes, I had some yummy curry udon noodles at the game. Mmmm….
noodles and baseball! Woot!
And that banquet we blew off? Apparently just finger food, and not much
of it, and some Japanese No dancing, which not even locals really get.
We totally made the right call!