BOBBY VALENTINE SUCCESSOR FOR 2010 ANNOUNCED

Well, it sounds more and more like Bobby Valentine won't be returning to manage the Chiba Lotte Marines for 2010 - despite the massive efforts of his fans to gather over 100,000 signatures protesting the decision by the Lotte ownership.

According to Kyodo News, the front office announced that the current head coach, Norifumi Nishimura, has been selected to succeed Valentine next year as the new field manager.

It appears that Club President Ryuzo Setoyama's campaign to sabotage both Valentine and the team at large have worked. Next year, there is no doubt that the Marines will sink back and stay at the bottom of the league as they did before Bobby turned them around.

Baseball: Lotte tapping Nishimura as Valentine's successor
Jul 25 10:31 AM US/Eastern

TOKYO, July 25 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Lotte Marines are in the final stages of tapping head coach Norifumi Nishimura as manager Bobby Valentine's successor for next season, club officials told Kyodo News on Saturday. The 49-year-old Nishimura's promotion is expected to be announced after the 2009 season upon the approval of owner Takeo Shigemitsu. Lotte has already decided not to offer Valentine a contract extension after his current four-year contract expires at the end of the season. The team appears to have stopped short of bringing someone from outside of the team since Japanese baseball has seen successes from those who have coaching experience within respective organizations. Last year, Hisanobu Watanabe guided the Seibu Lions to the Japan Series title as a rookie manager after being promoted from the farm team manager. Nishimura spent his entire 16-year playing career with Lotte through He led the Pacific League with a .338 batting average in 1990. "As I said before, the new manager will be announced after the season," club president Ryuzo Setoyama said. "All I can say is that we the front office will support the team's attempt to reach the postseason." Lotte is last in the six-team standings with a 33-49 record.





.....NIPPON SERIES 2005