Rakuten's pitchers will show sure development for opened future.

The team couldn't head to "Climax series", NPB's postseason. But the 4th team in the league just lacked for 2 win to 3rd place. The difference is literally so small, and it may be compensated in next year by their young hopeful pitchers development.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles showed that they have potential which they can compete the spot for postseason. Although they lacked long-ball hitter in the lineup, their total 3.00ERA is 3rd in the league. If the pitchers obliged more runs by hitters, they might be in the "october madness" in NPB.

The hopeful pitchers' central man is Masahiro Tanaka, who earned Strike out king in 2012. Though He left the team in a few times in this year because of some injuries, he collected 10 wins and 169SO with 3 shutouts, 8 complete game, 1.87ERA, and 1.03WHIP(173IP 160H 19BB) in 22 games. These numbers are not good compare with last year, 19 wins and 241SO with 6 shutouts, 14 complete game, 1.27ERA, and 0.87WHIP (226.2IP 171H 27BB) in 27 games. However every baseball fans in Japan admit he is one of the best pitcher in NPB.

Yoshinao Kamata, 18 years old rookie RHP, has also added impact for the fans. The successor of the team's No.21 which was used by Hisashi Iwakuma, marked 7 wins and 77SO in 20 games and 112.1IP with one shutout game and two completed game. Especially, one of the complete game earn from Yomiuri's Sugiuchi who is one of the best pitcher in NPB. His pace to earn wins become slowly in later of season, but he learn how to spend time while he is in rotation and tough season as a rookie. His fastball, slider, curveball and changeup will be more sharp with his strong development of pitching form and physical.

Wataru Karashima is also young pitcher, but his command for control and pitching style seems matured and older than his real age, 22 years old. He can use efficiently slider, breakingball, and changeup to make his around 135km/h fastball more fastly. As a result, he earned 8 wins 79SO in 16 games and 103.1IP. His 1.05WHIP(103.1IP 87H 22BB) is higher rank in the league even if he isn't enough to be ranked regulated IP. But if he is on rotation of the team in whole of year, to reach 10 wins are not difficult for him.

The oldest but 26 years old pitcher of them is Manabu Mima. He was 8 wins, 10 losses, and 3.08ERA in 23 games and 154.2IP. Though these numbers looks so-so, 1.15WHIP(154.2IP 142H 36BB) showed that he couldn't withdraw batting support. The opinion will also supported by his QS percentage, 72.7%. It is higher than the team average, 64.6%, which is the highest number of the league. As to been a rotation is first time for him, he could learn how to spend the time as a rotation starter. The experience will be one of the biggest knowledge for him.

And also, the team has Takahiro Shiomi (LHP, 6 wins and 10 losses in 19 game with 3.71ERA), Yasunori Kikuchi (1 win and 1 loss in 4 game, but marked 24SO in 25IP), Kenji Tomura (Drafted as No.1 in 2009, 3 wins and 2 losses in 9 games with 38IP) and Satoshi Nagai (13 wins and 7 losses in 2009, and 10 wins and 10 losses in 2010). If all of the players are healthy in a whole year, some of them need to be prepare in bullpen as relievers or swingman.

They will not need to add more starters in the near future. They will be just able to focus on development for sluggers and clutch hitters. The ideal players who like can attract many fans may young Japanese hitter. But even if it may be foreign players who like Willy Moo Pena, he will lift the team for high place of the league. The time when the last pieces will be collected will be the most exciting moment for the team's fan.