Newly appointed Yakult Swallows manager Shigeru Takada said Thursday he wants to make a major change to the Central League team in order to turn it into a serious title contender. "I will devote myself to building a team that would have a solid defense, with good pitching at the heart of it, and mobility on the base paths that can help score runs more effectively," Takada told reporters a day after being named manager of the Swallows. "What I'm thinking about now is to bring a major change to this team. There are no managers satisfied with just a third-place finish, so hopefully we'll win the championship by putting together what everyone involved can deliver," he said.
