Saburo Downplays Challenge of New Rakuten Manager Yoshii

Chiba Lotte Marines manager Saburo has downplayed concerns about facing the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles under their new manager, Masato Yoshii, saying he expects the matchup to be manageable rather than difficult. Saburo, who served alongside Yoshii last season when Yoshii was the team's head coach, acknowledged being surprised by the appointment but expressed confidence in his team's preparation.

"It's not difficult at all. More than that, we know him better. The coaches know even more about him than I do," Saburo told reporters, adding that familiarity with Yoshii's strategic tendencies would make game planning easier.

Yoshii, 61, is widely recognized for his expertise in pitching management. Saburo acknowledged that Yoshii's decisions regarding pitcher usage could become predictable, stating, "I think we'll see him use certain pitchers in certain situations. But whether that approach will suit Rakuten's players is another question. He's a smart person, so I think he'll adjust while observing and listening."

Saburo also stressed the importance of listening to players, noting that players often understand their own strengths and limitations better than managers. "Players know more, I think. I don't expect anything to change drastically this year, but from next season... this season will show how much he can take bold steps," he added.