SAPPORO — Thanks to a Central League rule, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Masataka Nashida was able to play coy until the very end.
Everybody knew the secret he was keeping. But at the same time, nobody knew for sure. Yu Darvish was definitely going to start Game 2 of the Japan Series. Wasn't he?
Sports daily Nikkan Sports certainly thought so and printed as much on Sunday morning. Sports Hochi feigned ignorance, another publication was sure it would be Tomoya Yagi.