Manager Alex Ramirez, who turned the Yokohama DeNA BayStars into a contender but could not lead them to a Central League pennant, will resign at the end of this season after five years at the helm, the team announced Saturday.
Under Ramirez, the BayStars finished in the top three in the Central League -- good enough to make the postseason -- in three of the previous four seasons. But on Friday, the team's hopes of winning an elusive league championship this year were mathematically ended.
Following that day's game, Ramirez informed the front office of his intention to step down.
"I could not achieve my dream of winning a league championship," Ramirez said at a press conference on Saturday, following the BayStars' game in Yokohama. "Regardless of what the players did, I am the one who has to take responsibility for this result."
Going into this season, the BayStars lost their top slugger in Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who jumped the major leagues to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays. Fourth-year outfielder Keita Sano, who had never been a regular starter, stepped up to fill the cleanup spot. However, the BayStars were dealt a setback in mid-August when starters Shota Imanaga and Kentaro Taira went down to injuries, and the inconsistency of closer Yasuaki Yamasaki took a toll.
In early September, the BayStars pulled within 5-1/2 games of the CL-leading Yomiuri Giants, only to be swept in a three-game series by the Giants. From that point, pennant hopes faded away as the team sunk to its present spot in fourth place.
Ramirez was working this season on a one-year contract. The team plans to find another post for him within the organization for next season.
Born in Venezuela, Ramirez played for the Yakult Swallows, Giants and BayStars during a 13-year career in Japan in which he compiled over 2,000 hits.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
