Cross Game

[Buffalobiian]

Yeah, me too. I'm looking forward to seeing how well Sannou does now that Kou has gotten serious. Hopefully they put up more of a challenge than that team from last week. That was a complete joke of a game.

Sannou looks like a team that wins via superior information gathering, since they went so far as the "coach/captain with glasses" stereotype. They've hidden their own data, while scouring that of others.

Normally I like games against these sorts of teams, since it really pinpoints the weakness of the team. Sometimes that weakness is focused solely on one person, and presents a great opportunity for character development of said character, exploring why they might have their flaws, and how they overcome it throughout the game.

That is, unless the "information team" doesn't look so annoying and cheap. Their tactics are perfectly valid, but their coach acts like such an asshole it's a pain to watch. It doesn't help that his team is otherwise a piece of shit anyway.

[Marik]

[SubSmith] Cross Game - 26 - I Know [720p] - Torrent | MegaUpload

[Marik]

[SubSmith] Cross Game - 27 - Yeah [720p] - Torrent | MegaUpload

[Augury]

New animation in the OP, and a new ending too. The production and pacing is done well - its nice to see how things are translating from the manga to the anime.

[Buffalobiian]

Aoba going crazy in the crowd was a good sight. Her reaction to being teased afterward should be just as enjoyable, as well as predictable.

[Marik]

[SubSmith] Cross Game - 28 - Let's Finish This [720p] - Torrent | MegaUpload

[David75]

Is it possible we lose 2 fingers in the same ep?

[Buffalobiian]

Is it possible we lose 2 fingers in the same ep?

I think so, given now the preview sounded. He took it right on, and the arm was trembling, try as he might to hide it.

How cool was that though? Kou still won, but he didn't dominate Mishima(?) so they both get to look cool. They also didn't do a direct comparison between him and Asuma but giving the guy walks. Again, without shaming either of them onsreen, they're making Seishu come out on top.

It's a nice touch that a few episodes ago they showed that the running not only increased Kou's stamina, but also his running speed, so much that he's the fastest on the team.

I thought Azuma was some lightning sprinter before he took on his brother's baseball dream in the earlier scene. Turned out, it was only the attention hogger catching with the wrong hand.

[David75]

I'd hate it he breaks a finger, but I suppose Mishima's batting is very powerful.
I never watch previews.

Regarding Azuma, Kou and Mishima, to me it's pretty clear they are bound to end up in the national team. I wonder if they'll show that before the end of the show.
The only problem is that it seems Mishima is a lot better or gifted than Azuma, even though he is said to lack stamina.

I really liked how they portray the different levels, the guys that are very good as highschool players but will never be able to go higher than that, and the other ones that have the potential to go very high.
Out of the three, I wonder why Mishima knows so clearly he is cut for a much higher level.

[Buffalobiian]

I'd hate it he breaks a finger, but I suppose Mishima's batting is very powerful.
I never watch previews.

Regarding Azuma, Kou and Mishima, to me it's pretty clear they are bound to end up in the national team. I wonder if they'll show that before the end of the show.
The only problem is that it seems Mishima is a lot better or gifted than Azuma, even though he is said to lack stamina.

I thought they said their Cool Ace had low stamina, since the second guy is also a pitcher.

Talking about their pitcher, I don't understand why they use the Cool Ace before him, since he says he's actually better. He didn't seem particularly Rowdy to me, and declined Asuma's challenge when the other guy didn't

Ryou's coach is a dumbass. Not the dumbest of them, but when your highschool team is sharper than you despite your years of experience, you know you're just a coach in name.

[David75]

For some reason, Ryou probably has some "internal political issues" a tad like the "fertilizer" arc for Sheishu I guess.
Also, they probably didn't want to have their unknown aces (jokers?) out before later in the competition. It's just that Seishu is on par with their average team. Or maybe that pitcher and Mishima didn't want to get involved in boring matches because they know they are so good they don't even care.
It's even possible they do not even care about their team progress in the tournament.

But having a super talented pitcher against them teamed with Azuma got them interrested. So they decided to enter the game just for the best part of it, the climax.

[shinta|hikari]

Talking about their pitcher, I don't understand why they use the Cool Ace before him, since he says he's actually better. He didn't seem particularly Rowdy to me, and declined Asuma's challenge when the other guy didn't

It is all about seniority. The weaker 4th batter and pitcher are seniors, while the better ones are still juniors. That happens a lot in Japan.

[Marik]

[SubSmith] Cross Game - 29 - Who [720p] - Torrent | MegaUpload

[Buffalobiian]

They lost the game? Damn!

Ah well, better luck next time I guess.

Adult Wakaba? Damn!

Hopefully this will spice things up relationship-wise. Aoba's been warming up to Koh, but it's all been pretty insignificant so far. It's more admiration that he's pitching so well. Maybe we can finally get the push needed for her to see the man beyond the pitcher.

Maybe the new girl can go out with Akaishi or something later on. He's a good fellow.

Do you think I can climb this pole without equipment?

I don't frigg'n care! - my thoughts exactly I never liked that guy. Don't know why.

[shinta|hikari]

Because he is arrogant?

Because he tries too hard to get Aoba's attention?

Because he is a climber in a baseball show?

Because he is so straightforward in a subtle show?

Because of his character type?


It is all of the above for me.

[Augury]

I thought the producers did a really good job with the music in this episode, especially during the ball game. Azuma's "good day" was pretty damn funny too.

[David75]

They all are second years, so obviously the real match will be next year when before they graduate, and most certainly the final.

It's also a nice step, one to notice the shortcomings Seishu has, how strong Mishima and that pitcher are.
Mishima lacks Stamina, but is truly gifted, powerful and quick to react
The pitcher probably isn't on par with Kou for speed, but on the other hand is very acurate and can target any place with the ball. He probably also masters all kinds of hooks and strange ball trajectories.

Azuma is a good batter, maybe lacks some running speed eventhough we never got to acknowledge that. Is he on par with Mishima? Hard to tell.

Kou lacks precision in his pitches, but the speed compensates for that for the moment. At those speed, there's probably a compromise to find beetween speed, acuracy, stamina, trajectory. He also lacks experience and tends to fail at the most critical moments in the match.

I think Azuma's statement about how Mishima and that pitcher will be as strong next year is a bit off, they will improve, as should Azuma and Kou.

[Beware, low quality hypothesis]

Regarding Wakaba clone, I really do hope it's not some cheap scenario plot...
Like they in fact never found her body and she was floating for hours and was found far away from where she disapeared by some family that got her under their care for all those years to compensate for the fact they couldn't have children.

I really don't know why that Wakaba clone is there, what they want to prove or do with her, how they can explain that, what the show will gain from that.

[/Beware]

[Buffalobiian]

The pitcher probably isn't on par with Kou for speed, but on the other hand is very acurate and can target any place with the ball. He probably also masters all kinds of hooks and strange ball trajectories.

Kou lacks precision in his pitches, but the speed compensates for that for the moment. At those speed, there's probably a compromise to find beetween speed, acuracy, stamina, trajectory. He also lacks experience and tends to fail at the most critical moments in the match.

Kou's precision is pretty spot on. It's just that he has to drop his speed in order to achieve it. Likewise, if he was to pitch at his absolute maximum speed, he loses that control.

Stamina isn't a problem anymore, I don't think. It was a problem since he never actually pitched in a real game. After all that running, I'm pretty sure endurance is a thing of the past for him. Unless it's 20 innings.

Regarding Wakaba clone, I really do hope it's not some cheap scenario plot...
Like they in fact never found her body and she was floating for hours and was found far away from where she disapeared by some family that got her under their care for all those years to compensate for the fact they couldn't have children.

I really don't know why that Wakaba clone is there, what they want to prove or do with her, how they can explain that, what the show will gain from that.

The new character seems to be a Wakaba look-alike. She'd need that if she was to rival either the late Wakaba or Aoba as Kou's love rival. That guy's been hooked up on his Ex since she died. As for what the show will gain from this, it'll force Aoba to acknowledge her feelings, and make Kou realise that he has to move on, and he likes someone other than Wakaba already.

[shinta|hikari]

From his face upon seeing the Wakaba clone, he does not seem to have moved on at all.

[RyougaZell]

LOL... have any of you guys noticed that the 'clone' has been there since the first opening?