``Nine-man baseball'' concludes with the Japan Series - How are the two managers' tactics?

Baseball is a sport played by nine people. After this Japan Series, such common sense will become a thing of the past.

The designated hitter (DH) system will be introduced in the Central League next season, bringing it in line with the Pacific League, which has adopted it since 1975. The 9-man baseball game will be held for the last time at Yokohama Stadium.

All of the world's major professional leagues use the DH system, and the Tokyo Six Universities and high school baseball systems, which have a history of more than 100 years, also introduced it this spring. By having another player stand at bat in place of the pitcher, the aim is to reduce the burden on the pitcher and increase the player's opportunities to play.

With the exception of two-way players like Shohei Otani (Dodgers), who plays in the major leagues as both a pitcher and a DH, ``10 players'' are the norm in baseball.

However, I also feel lonely. One of the attractions of baseball is the home run hit by a pitcher, and when a pitcher is in the lineup, it creates a timing for a pinch hitter, which changes the development of the game. Player substitutions became complicated, and the skill of the leadership team was called into question.

Akifu Okada, who has served as a manager for both Hanshin and Orix, has consistently opposed the DH system. A few years ago, when I asked him about the difference in the management of the center field and the field field, he gave an impassioned speech and then replied, ``The real thrill of baseball is playing with the opponent's bench.''

The day before the start of this series, DeNA manager Ryoji Aikawa expressed his determination, ``I want to show Central League baseball well.'' SoftBank manager Yuki Kokubo, who also played for the Giants during his playing days, should be well aware of this.

What kind of offense and defense will emerge in the final 9-man baseball game?