生沢浩の体育会式英語塾

Natsuko: What!? Ooookay...(1) tell me I'm not seeing this...

Bill: What's the matter? What are you looking at?

Natsuko: The Tigers' site...

Bill: Let me see...Oh, the Katsushika Tigers? (2) What's up?

Natsuko: They just made an announcement on their Web site. OK, listen to this: "After a difficult 2008 season, we have come to the conclusion that, for further improvement of the team, we must take the necessary steps...blah blah blah. (3) This move is a regrettable step, but one that cannot be avoided considering the current state of the team."

Bill: So...what are they saying, exactly?

Natsuko: They are axing the veterans! I can't believe this! See this list? Tanaka... Yano...and even Murata! He played in all 145 games last season and (4) not once did I see or hear him complaining or miss training. This is just insane!

Bill: God, what are they thinking? I mean, last year was terrible, and the year before that wasn't much better. And the year before that too...and all this time, we've watched solid players leave the team while (5) the management does nothing.

Natsuko: (6) They just don't get it. The whole team is suffering because of bad management — (7) everyone who has watched the team knows this. But they just don't see the problem! I don't see how this decision will improve anything...

Bill: Yep. It's a classic case of bad management trying to dodge accountability. I mean, we've seen them mess things up in the past, but this is one seriously bad decision. But you know, the Tigers' front office is just so clueless and the owner's just as bad when it comes to management. (8) They're not sure about anything, and yet they still don't listen to any feedback from the fans or the players. And when things go wrong, all they've done till now is blame others.

Natsuko: Well, there's one thing I'm sure about: The Tigers will finish last again, you watch. (9) My advice to the front office would be that they start deciding today who they'll blame at the end of this year...