The 2001 season got off to a roaring start for the Giants, as they beat up on the Hanshin Tigers, 17-3. Rookie catcher Shinnosuke Abe, charged with handling a championship staff, put a charge into the ball with two hits and four RBIs in his pro debut. That was a good sign since he was replacing longtime backstop Shinichi Murata.
Hideki actually got the club’s first hit of the year, a high-hopper over the pitcher’s head that he beat out to ignite a scoring rally. Ironically, this barely-notable play characterized his season. Though opposing pitchers still feared his power at the plate, he did as much damage playing little ball in ’01. Hideki finished with 36 homers and 104 RBIs, but was far more proud of his second Gold Glove and his first batting title. He almost won the home run crown, clouting three in a late-season game to tie the leader, Roberto Petagine.
Hideki wasn’t the only batter in the Giants’ lineup to hit in 2001. He combined with Takahashi, Kiyohara, Eto and Nishi to pump out 142 homers. A lousy pitching staff, however, doomed the club to a second-place finish. Yomiuri hurlers allowed more runs than any other club in the league.
Hideki turned down another long-term deal after the season, but was rewarded with the highest one-year salary in Japanese baseball history, 610 million yen. The Giants were now growing desperate, realizing that their young star might have his eye on the Major Leagues. Also complicating the situation for the club were slipping television ratings. The Giants were still Japan’s team, but their hold on the country was weakening. With Ichiro and the Seattle Mariners being broadcast regularly in Japan, many fans had begun to turn to the American game. Another disturbing trend for the Giants was sagging attendance on the road. Losing their big star might be catastrophic for the organization.
Yomiuri chairman Tsuneo Watanabe—whose power dwarfed that of any baseball official in Japan, including the commissioner—basically offered Hideki a blank check to stay. But Ichiro’s MVP season for the Mariners sealed the deal: Hideki would play one more year in his homeland (fulfilling his 10-season obligation). If all went well, he would test the waters in America.
To his credit, Hideki was upfront about his intentions. After signing his record deal, he told reporters that he planned to make a run at the Triple Crown, become a free agent, then consider the option of playing in the U.S. Aware of the Giants’ problems, he took it as a challenge to reverse tthe club’s fortunes before leaving Japan.
The impending loss of Hideki wasn’t the only change the Giants faced in 2002. The legendary Nagashema retired and was replaced as manager by Tatsunori Hara. The press was critical of the move. Nagashima had been regarded as a good motivator who left the details up to his coaches. Hara was a tinkerer, who might try to do too much and perhaps upset team chemistry.
Of course, with the offense the Giants were taking into the season, it would take a lot to mess things up. Leadoff hitter Nishi had a live bat, and third baseman Eto and leftfielder Shimizu were dependable all-around hitters. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Takahashi and veteran first sacker Kazuhiro Kiyohara joined Hideki in the middle of the lineup.
Hara stuck with Abe behind the plate, and his pitching staff included Koji Uehara, Yusaka Iriki, American import John Wasdin, old-timers Masumi Kuwata, Kimiyasi Kudo and Kaz Takeda, closer Hideki Okajima and a young reliever named Hiroki Sinada. It was a good group of hurlers that really came together as the season wore on.
The big story, of course, was whether Hideki would stay or go in 2003. Everyone agreed that he would not leave if he felt there was “unfinished business” in Japan. If he had a lackluster season, or if the Giants finished out of the money, he might remain with the club purely as a matter of pride.