The question of nature vs. nurture and “baseball DNA” is very much at the heart of this week’s episode of Major 2nd.  Given Daigo’s overall character arc it’s a primary component of the series generally, but Urabe’s rise to prominence brings it to the fore that much more overtly.  Mind you I think we’re only just touching the tip of the iceberg as far as where the series is going with this theme, but given that the anime has already passed up the translated manga that’s pure speculation on my part.

Given Urabe’s size and general physical maturity for a 6th-grader, it’s easy to think of him as older – and surprising to think that he was once a sickly and undersized kid.  It makes sense that Urabe really only started to warm up to Daigo when he realized he was like him – a kid who had to bust his tail to succeed at the sport.  I don’t think the fact that Urabe was already aced out of a job (pun intended) by the scion of a major leaguer excuses his resigning, or indeed his generally peevish behavior through most of the series.  But it does at least make it a little easier to see where he’s coming from.

There are interesting unanswered questions attached to that Toutou incident – such as why Maruyama Wataru stopped pitching, even if Michiru was also a good pitcher – but for the moment, the urgent matter is Urabe’s resignation.  No amount of persuading by Andy moves him. and Daigo’s brilliant plan – relying on sympathy for Sakura’s supposed tears or loyalty to Andy, then threatening for the three of them to resign too – fares no better.  But Andy does at least convince him to (guilt him into?) be batting practice pitcher for Daigo’s bunt-a-thon.  Whether Andy had a notion something more might come of it (I suspect he did) is moot in the end.

I find Daigo’s reaction to getting burned by both Andy and Urabe over his “DNA” to be the most telling moment of the episode, even if it’s made light of.  For now this is fine, because Daigo has accepted what sort of player he has to be and the actions he has to take if he wants to succeed.  But he is still Goro’s son, and that very DNA still controls the blood that courses through his veins.  One day Daigo is going to want to be the star and not the loyal wingman, I’m sure of it.  The path he takes to get there will be different from his father, to be sure, but I don’t think his dreams are any less grand.

Whether he might have come around anyway we’ll never know, but Izumi’s arrival moots that point.  Urabe likes older girls, clearly, and her resemblance to his favorite idol can’t hurt.  She points out the flaws in Daigo’s bunting fundamentals – which covers all of them, pretty much – and offers him some valuable tips to improve his chances.  Why was Daigo self-taught with bunting, with a major-league dad, a ballplaying older sister and a little league coach?  The fact that he was able to get by as well he did is testament to the fact that Daigo’s baseball senses are sharp (even Izumi seems to be realizing this).

Of course, after all that targeted practice, Daigo isn’t going to even be facing Michiru’s pitches.  Saving pitchers is a reality of little league baseball with its rules (long overdue, but at least now a reality) to protect young arms.  Of course Toutou Boys would want to save their ace rather than use her against a “weak” opponent – it’s good motivation for the Dolphins but a realistic plan.  What’s surprising is that her brother isn’t even Toutou’s #2 pitcher, apparently – the starter here is a kid (Komatsu-kun) we’ve never heard from before.  I don’t doubt that Michiru will pitch after it becomes apparent (thanks at least in part to X-factor Hikaru) that Mifune is a tougher opponent than Toutou expected, and that Daigo will get to put all that bunting practice to use.  But with a lesser pitcher on the mound, I hope we get the chance to see him swing the bat first.