The nostalgia feels are strong with this one.

OP2: “Dreamcatcher” by Berry Goodman

I’ve made note of it before, but one of the truly agonizing things about sports anime is the better they are, the worse the cliffhangers are.  Major 2nd has pretty much eclipsed the translated manga at this point, so this is all new material for me.  Major has always been good at the balancing act in this respect, allowing the game to progress naturally without tipping over into dragging them out Oofuri-style.  That said, though, you just know that in-game episodes are always going to end at a crucial point where the tension is sky high, and Major 2nd is no exception.

This game is particular is enhanced by a lot of blasts from the past.  Most prominent among them of course is that the manager of Nishigaoka Beetles is none other than Komori Daisuke (Miyata Kouki).  Komori was possibly my favorite of all of Goro’s teammates, his catcher in little league and junior high (sandwiched in between two spells of Satou Toshiya, in effect).  A shy and quiet bullied boy rescued from his misery by the fearless champion of justice Goro-kun, Komori became a model catcher – in many ways an archetype for the kind of player Daigo is becoming now.  Not overly big or blessed with freakish amounts of talent, Komori became a great youth ballplayer based on intelligence, leadership, and reading the game.

Those qualities of course make someone a potentially great coach/manager – they’re why catchers often make the best ones, in fact.  It also means Komori knows just how big of a handicap Daigo-kun’s inexperience really is, and while he’s a kind person and feels an emotional tug for both Daigo and the Dolphins (who he managed as well as playing for), Komori is too fierce a competitor to show any mercy.  He’s got a rookie catcher behind the plate and a pitcher with a history of stamina issues – of course he’s going to go small-ball right from the first pitch, and go hard.

Indeed, it’s a rough start.  Daigo is already feeling a little salty at having nobody there to cheer for him – Toshi is working and Kaoru has gone to his sister’s game, and this is not a “normal household” where Dad could fill in (of course someone is there to cheer, the Shigeno grandparents, but Ojii-san’s doesn’t want to make the boy nervous so they’re in hiding).  And Sakura is extremely nervous in right field, where she’s gotten the start (Hikaru is in center, and batting cleanup) at the expense of Nagai-kun.  Coach Tashiro was smart enough to see through her act, and I suppose he’s done the right thing by starting her – but that doesn’t make either Sakura or Nagai’s feelings invalid.  This is a tough situation to say the least.

Tomori’s small ball is effective right away, with the leadoff man reaching on a bunt when Daigo is too slow in calling for the third baseman to make the play.  He promptly steals second, though by following Toshiya’s advice Daigo almost nails him, and then an attempted sacrifice leads to a safe all around when Daigo is again too slow with his call.  Andy is doing everything he can by leading from the bench, but the reality is as Tashiro says – the only way someone can learn the ropes in catching is experience.  Unfortunately Komori knows this too, better than anybody.  And that knowledge manufactures two runs in the top of the first without the benefit of a swing.

This is becoming a really fascinating duel – in effect Komori vs. Satou, as Satou’s instruction is what Daigo is relying on now.  Those two were Goro’s catchers, they faced off against each other in high school, and through Daigo they’re squaring off now.  Komori is the worst possible opponent Daigo could have here, but also the best – this is a crucible for his development if ever there was one.  Fortunately Urabe is showing enough composure to realize that destroying Daigo’s confidence now can only hurt him too, and he’s trying to be supportive as best he can.

As for the matter of the Beetles themselves, the main problem seems to be their giant of a pitcher, whose eephus pitch is a tough nut to crack.  Given his size and the fact that he’s a terrific hitter too (only a great catch by Hikaru robs him of extra bases in the first) I suspect he’s probably got a decent fastball too, which he’s saving for if and when he’s pressed.  Given the themes of Major 2nd and Daigo-kun’s nature as a protagonist, I wouldn’t expect anything to come easy for him or the Dolphins.  But he’s a tough little guy (he’s had to be) and I suspect he’s going to prove more ready for the moment than either his opponents or even his teammates expect…

ED2: “SAIREN” by Reol