During his playing days, Saitama Seibu Lions manager Hisanobu Watanabe was among the flashiest players in Japanese baseball.
So it's not surprising one of the first things he has tried as Lions skipper is to create a more loose atmosphere for his players. What is surprising, however, is how quickly the first-place Lions have taken to the approach.
"You can't really put a finger on it," said Lions closer Alex Graman, who has six saves this season. "We're just playing really well right now."