The Pointless 99 Times
Manager Matsudo, the MotorSuns are looking better this year!
I'd say they're finally starting to meet their potential.
You're in fourth, five games behind the first-place Styx.
But the season's back half should give you lots of opportunities.
We'll be trying to catch up, of course.
But it's all about winning one game, then another.
Catcher Kawamatsu is getting a lot more playtime this season.
What made you choose him as your starter for the year?
Hey, you guys.
I need you to watch what Kawamatsu does more closely.
Matsudo Tadahiro (Age 49) Manager, Chiba MotorSuns
We're about to get a golden quote!
Whenever someone hits an infield grounder,
Kawamatsu always hustles to cover the throw.
He's so enthusiastic, you'd think he was playing little league.
Overthrow errors happen one percent of the time in major league ball.
See what I'm getting at?
It matters one time in a hundred.
But I like guys who hustle the pointless 99 times.
I Like Guys Who Hustle "The Pointless 99 Times."
Manager Matsudo of Chiba MotorSuns Talking to Reporters (Photo: Tada)
What a golden quote... It's truly golden!
Authorized Personnel Only
Staff Waiting Room
Okay, that's all for today's announcements!
Now, let's do our usual vocal warm-up!
I never get used to this part.
Yeah, it feels kinda pointless, to be honest.
P-Pointless?
"The Pointless 99 Times."
Thank you so much!
Sorry for the wait!
I'm so very sorry!
Have a nice day!
Okay, you're dismissed!
Give it your best again today!
Okay!
That last one is definitely pointless!
We may be getting more foreign customers, but we don't get many chances to say that.
Who thought up that line?
Thought up that line
C'mon, you guys.
Let's embrace the pointless 99 times.
Ruriko had been inspired by Manager Matsudo's words.
Would anyone like a Hyper Dry?
Hey!
Vendor girl!
Beers...
...please!
A triple play!
Doesn't know what that means
You came at just the right time!
Great to see you!
Thank you so much!
You Yuuhi Beer vendors are so on the ball!
Aw, it's nothing.
I'll take one, too!
Coming!
Sorry for the wait!
Hey, no wait at all!
Thank you so much!
You Yuuhi girls are so polite.
Huh? You think so?
Ruriko suddenly realized...
Thank you so much!
Sorry for the wait!
Those vocal warm-ups really work!
They're not pointless at all!
Sorry, are you all right?
I-I'm so very sorry!
I'm so very sorry!
I'm saying them!
I'm saying all the vocal warm-up lines!
The only one left is...
Have a nice day!
No way will that come in handy...
"Have a nice day" chance incoming!
H-Hi! B-Beer? How many?
We'd love two beers, if you please.
This Japanese heat is unbearable!
They're totally fluent!
P-Please enjoy, then.
Thanks a million!
Cheers!
Just let me say "Have a nice day"!
Hey!
Vendor girl, over here!
Oh, hello there!
I'll have a lemon sour.
I want a highball!
I-I only sell beer, actually.
Shochu, then! Wine, if you've got it!
She just said she's beer only, man!
Anyone selling habushu here?
You need that habu kick in your booze when you get to our age!
Habu's a no, I'd say...
Ah, well. We'll take two beers, then!
Ruriko suddenly realized...
"Habu's a no, I'd say"?!
Have a nice day!
Habu's a no, I'd say!
Have a nice day!
That's pretty close!
Hey, miss! Miss!
Thanks a bunch!
She sure seemed happy about something.
Sure did.
It's a clean ground ball to third!
Dennis scoops it up...
and the throw to first baseman Takada gives them an easy first out!
Kawamatsu's hard work to cover the throw each time,
and the vocal warm-ups at our meeting...
They may be pointless, but they're not pointless at all!
Manager Matsudo...
I'll follow you for life!
Catching a cold?
Bonds Forged Over Food
The clubhouse is next to the ballpark.
Clubhouse
Inside the clubhouse is a cafeteria just for players.
And it's buffet style!
During home games, before team practice starts at 2:00,
most of the players partake here.
It's 1:30 already.
{M}I'm running pretty late.
Ichinomiya Wataru (Age 25) MotorSuns 8-Hole 2nd Baseman Throws Right, Hits Left
Hey, Wataru.
Sh-Shishio...
Just getting started now, Ichinomiya?
Yeah.
You're pretty late. Gonna make it to practice in time?
Yeah... I think so.
Well, see you then.
Oh, right, Wataru.
The fried chicken with ankake sauce was great. Give it a try!
I know you're gonna love it.
Yeah, I get it.
Wish I hadn't run into him. It riles me up.
Hey, I'm gonna head off without you.
Coming!
Come join us quick, too.
Sure.
"Come join us quick," huh?
He's my age, and his batting average is .320.
Meanwhile, mine's .190.
Jeez, I suck.
Shishio Kazuma (Age 25) First-Round Draft Pick
He's a first-round drafted physical elite,
and already our star player.
Ichinomiya Wataru (Age 25) Sixth-Round Draft Pick
I was a sixth-round pick, only getting starts now to fill in for an injured vet.
I thought I at least had better defense,
but playing second to his shortstop makes it clear
I'm barely keeping up with his speed.
"Shishio's gifted. Ichinomiya's mediocre."
I came to terms with that a long time ago, but...
Ugh, just eat and forget it.
Wonder if I'll ever catch up to him.
Knock it off! You're still thinking about him!
Okay, ankake fried chicken... ankake fried chicken...
Spring Rolls Fried Chicken with Ankake Sauce
It's already gone!
Excuse me! We're out of the ankake fried chicken.
Oh, really?
Damn it. Every little thing starts getting to me.
Being out of fried chicken, having bad stats,
being late to lunch, playing badly...
Even though I know it's all my fault.
How long are they gonna keep me in the lineup like this?
Just drop it, man.
Dwelling on this stuff won't help you.
Isn't anyone on my side?
Piping hot ankake fried chicken.
Players' Dining Hall Cook Mori Marie (Age 40)
Huh? Wh-What...
What's that? Didn't you want some?
D-Did you make a batch just for me?
I don't think anyone else will be coming, so help yourself.
Th-Thanks, I will.
Hey, Ichinomiya.
I'm on your side.
Huh? Th-Thanks...
Honestly...
You're just like my old dog who passed away!
Good boy.
Also... Did you know?
Staff Cafeteria
Clubhouse
There's a cafeteria for staff in the stadium, too.
The rice there and the rice here in the players' cafeteria
are both made by the central kitchen.
If you need clarification...
Everyone here in the ballpark is bonding over the same food.
That means we're all behind you.
All of us.
I-I don't know what you mean.
I'm gonna eat now.
I know you're gonna love it.
It's... really good.
Take your time, okay? Don't let it go down the wrong pipe.
In the top of the fifth, the Saitama Genesis have one out and runners on first and second.
The MotorSuns' pitcher, Hashimoto, throws from the stretch!
A hit!
Bounces off the pitcher's glove!
It could find a hole to center!
Second baseman's got it!
Flips it from the glove to shortstop, to first!
It's in time, and he's out!
That's a fine play!
Pretty crucial, don't you think, commentator Kurihara?
Yeah, that was a major-league play.
Though that goes without saying.
Okay, okay! Nice play, you two!
Shishio, Ichinomiya, you guys were in perfect sync!
You make a great team!
Thanks, Bryan.
A great team?
What do you call this... I think...
That's right!
An inbreakable infield duo!
I think you mean "unbreakable."
Hey... Shishio.
Tomorrow...
d-do you want to grab lunch... in the cafeteria together?
Sure. That sounds fine.
Hey, Shishio. Did you know?
The rice in the cafeteria we eat.
It's actually—
I'm more of a bread guy, myself.
I've never eaten the cafeteria rice.
So, what's this about the rice?
Yeah, I still hate this guy!
Some time ago...
Transform!!
That's good.
Really good!
No need to be nervous, okay?
Give me a natural smile.
Yeah, that's the way.
Now, let's try an aloof look.
That's great! You look great!
Please listen for today's starting lineup.
Weekly Baseball Feature: Tips from the clubs' clean-up hitters
Nice reading material!
Hey, mister.
R-Ruriko?
Never knew you read Weekly Baseball.
Y-Yes, I do...
Did you see it?
Oh, the feature on clean-up hitters?
I'm glad Dennis got such flattering covera—
Not that! I'm talking about page 146!
R-Right!
Ballpark Food Spotlight!
Ballpark food spotlight...
A Day in the Life of a Vendor Girl
Ruriko, you're in Weekly Baseball?!
Th-That's amazing!
The photographer wouldn't stop saying how great I was doing!
Boy, I hope I don't get mobbed by all my new fans!
Getting a feature in WB is huge for any baseball fan...
Ruriko worked hard despite a nervous photoshoot
Hey, mister, you don't gotta stare so much!
But... it really does make you feel like such a distant figure...
Huh?
But I'm right here! I'm not distant!
H-Hey, um... I get it, okay?
Ruriko, live and in person!
To celebrate, beers today are 700 yen!
That's the usual price...
Well, bye!
Gotta put in some time with my adoring public!
Dunno when I'll be back!
Later!
She's in a good mood.
10 Minutes Later
I've hardly gotten any customers today.
That was quick!
Despite my great feature in WB...
Well, it's understandable.
It's a match between us in fourth place, and the sixth-place Nicklebacks.
It's so quiet.
Baseball Data
Say, mister. Did you play baseball in high school?
No... I didn't, why?
Really? You just know so much about it.
I've loved baseball since I was a little kid.
I'm as unathletic as you can get, though.
I was technically in the fine arts club, but I basically never went.
Really?
Baseball Data
But being unathletic made me admire the players all the more.
The things professional baseball players can do feel superhuman.
They're heroes to me.
I did kind of ramble on there.
R-Ruriko, were you in any clubs?
Me?
I went out with my friends after class, did karaoke and hit up photobooths...
So pretty much no.
Y-Yeah?
We have something in common.
I-I suppose so.
I guess this is my first time on... a team? Or something like it.
And this job is just a ton of fun.
Getting to work in a uniform...
People calling me "vendor girl"...
It feels like I get to transform into someone else.
Or something like that, anyway.
Um...
I think... I understand.
Oh, shoot!
I can't go spoiling it! I'll end up de-transforming!
Okay!
Trans... form!
Just kidding.
Go on! Grab an exclusive photo!
N-No, thank you...
You've got Ruriko from WB right here in front of you!
I-I don't want a picture!
Why are you taking me seriously?
You really don't know when people are joking, mister!
It's so funny!
Hey... Is Ruriko really just winging this?
Yeah. She's a sinful girl.
She seems especially intense today.
I can't help but feel bad for him.
Well, let's get back to work.
Yes, ma'am!
{M}A meal will help me calm down.
Hey, Yamada.
Any lemon to put on the fried chicken?
Sorry, I'm afraid not.
I'll talk to the manager.
Thanks. See you next time.
Thank you for coming.
P-Prince Charming!
Welcome!
One fried chicken meal, please.
One fried chicken meal coming right up!
It feels like I get to transform into someone else.
Here you are!
I guess every person in the ballpark is like the star of their own show.
I bet she's got her own story, too.
Excuse me, sir?
S-Sorry.
That's 2,000 yen.
Why is my prince suddenly staring at me?
W-Wait... Did you read this week's WB?
Yes... I did.
I knew it!
I-It was a great article, huh?
Player Tie-In Meal Packs Sell Out Poster girl for the popular meal pack shop
He must have seen it!
Transform into someone else...
Is that what I'm doing, too?
Hey, vendor girl!
Coming!
{M}I'm so glad I went to the salon before the photoshoot!
Atsumori Staff Ms. KAWAda Natsuno
What? Kawada?!
Who did this?
Proofread your work, WB editors!
Now Prince Charming is gonna have my name wrong!
H-Hey, Yamada? Why are you crying?
Don't worry, Yamada dear.
Murata never read that article.
Thank you for coming!
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