The vote of confidence the Tokyo Yakult Swallows gave manager Shigeru Takada on Friday served only to underscore how much the team is in need of a new voice.
After opening the season with raised expectations, the Swallows were 13-31-1 heading into Monday's games, having lost eight in a row and 14 of their last 15.
The slow start prompted team president Tadashi Suzuki to give the manager a public, yet reserved, show of support last week. He said Takada would continue to lead the team and finish out the third year of his three-year contract.