Chunichi Dragons Manager Inoue Likely to Continue Next Season
Listen to the story
It is becoming more likely that Kazuyoshi Inoue will continue as manager of the Chunichi Dragons next season, according to a recent report.
One reason is the team's strong ticket sales. The Dragons rank third among Japan's 12 professional baseball teams in attendance, even without needing much extra promotion.
This success is described as good cost performance for the club, because the team's home dome fills up with fans without heavy spending, helping the team's finances.
The team's recent form has been mixed. Their winning streak of five games came to an end after they failed to fight back in a recent match.
After that loss, Inoue spoke about pitcher Yumeto Kanamaru. He said he wanted to give the young player a clear result, whether good or bad, to help him grow.
Inoue also addressed comments about another player, Higuchi. He was substituted during a game, and some people suggested this was an obvious decision.
Inoue pushed back on that idea. He asked people to stop assuming that substituting Higuchi was simply expected or automatic.
The report suggests that both the team's on-field results and its financial success are shaping decisions about the manager's future with the club.
Vocabulary6 words
- manager
- the person in charge of a sports team
- attendance
- the number of people who come to watch
- cost performance
- getting good results without spending too much money
- winning streak
- a series of wins in a row
- result
- the outcome of an action or event
- substituted
- replaced by another player during a game
Quiz
Answer key
1. Because of strong ticket sales and attendance 2. He wanted to give him a clear result, good or bad 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
It is becoming more likely that Kazuyoshi Inoue will _____ as manager next season.
The Dragons rank third among Japan's 12 teams in _____.
This success is described as good cost _____ for the club.
The team's home dome fills up with fans without heavy _____.
Their winning _____ of five games came to an end.
He wanted to give the young player a clear _____, whether good or bad.
He was _____ during a game.
Inoue asked people to stop assuming that substituting Higuchi was simply _____.
The report suggests that both on-field results and _____ success are shaping decisions.
This is helping the team's _____.