You always worry that when that first loss arrives, the reality kicks in.

24 hours after losing 1-0 in a game where offensively every single ball found a glove, the Swallows broke out for 11 runs and their 6th win of the season.

Although we’re getting contributions from the established guard like Domingo Santana, it’s the young pups that I love watching.

20-year-old Kyo Suzuki, 20-year-old Haruto Tanaka, 23-year-old Ryui Itoh all starting today and contributing with both bat and glove.

It’s still really early, but why can’t these guys step up? Now that Murakami is in the MLB, there seems to be a shared responsibility. Last year it felt as though when Murakami was out the team expected defeat, and when he was in, they expected him to carry the loan.

Image completely random but thought it looked great (Pitcher Taichi Yamano).