Hanshin Yon Ban No Joken Tigers Ha Naze Yusho Dekinai No Ka (Gentosha Shinsho)

[Machine Translation] In 1985, the Hanshin Tigers won their first Japan championship, led by the powerful batting lineup of Barth, Kakefu, and Okada. Since then, however, the Tigers have fallen far from the top of the standings, and have not won a league championship since 2006. This long slump is partly due to the fact that the Tigers have not been able to find a "steadfast No. 4" to follow in the footsteps of Fujimura, Tabuchi, and Kakefu, who were known as "Mr. Tigers. The Giants, on the other hand, have made major reinforcements, but the No. 4 position has been occupied by Hara, Matsui, Abe, and Okamoto, all of whom were born and bred in the Giants. Why can't the Hanshin bring up a No. 4? Through his own experience, comparisons with the best hitters of all time, and the relationship with the rival Giants, he discusses the No. 4 hitter and offers a road map for the Tigers' revival.

1985年、バース・掛布・岡田の強力打線が原動力となり、初の日本一となった阪神タイガース。しかし、以降は頂点の座から遠ざかり、2006年からはリーグ優勝もない。この長い不振は、「ミスター・タイガース」と呼ばれた藤村、田淵、掛布に続く「不動の四番」が現れないことに一因がある。一方、巨人は大補強を行いながらも、四番は原、松井、阿部、岡本ら生え抜き中心だ。なぜ阪神では四番が育たないのか?自身の経験や歴代強打者との比較、ライバル巨人との関係性を通して四番打者について論じるとともに、タイガース復活への道標を示す。