Tao gets axe as Rakuten to end season in cellar

Tao gets axe as Rakuten to end season in cellar

TOKYO, Japan - Rakuten Eagles manager Yasushi Tao (file photo) will be given his walking papers in a dismissal at the end of the season to take responsibility for the Pacific League club's dismal performance, team sources said Sept. 25. Tao signed a three-year contract to take the helm of Rakuten, which was the first team to be created in Japanese pro baseball in nearly half a century.

  • Product Code
  • ILEA001111193
  • Registered date
  • 2005/9/25 00:00:00
  • Credit
  • Kyodo / Kyodo News Images
  • Media source
  • 2005 Kyodo News
  • Media size
  • 1864 × 919 pixel
  • Resolution
  • dpi
  • Deployment size
  • 141.94(KB)*
  • Special instruction

*File size when opened in Photoshop, etc.

Similar Images & Videos
    Baseball: Reliever Matsui signs 5-year deal with Padres

    Baseball: Reliever Matsui signs 5-year deal with Padres

    Rakuten Eagles pitcher Yuki Matsui pitches against the Nippon Ham Fighters in their Pacific League game at Sendai's Rakuten Mobile Park on Sept. 23, 2023. The Japanese left-handed reliever has signed a five-year contract with the San Diego Padres, the major league club said Dec. 23, with the deal expected to be worth $28 million.
      Hawks manager Akiyama to step down at end of season

      Hawks manager Akiyama to step down at end of season

      FUKUOKA, Japan - Koji Akiyama (C), manager of the Softbank Hawks professional baseball club, is surrounded by reporters upon his arrival at Yafuoku Dome in the city of Fukuoka on Oct. 14, 2014. Akiyama, 52, who guided the club to its first Pacific League championship in three years, will step down from his post at the end of the season, team officials confirmed the same day.
        Swallows skipper Ogawa to step down

        Swallows skipper Ogawa to step down

        TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Sept. 17, 2014, shows Junji Ogawa (R back), manager of the Central League's Yakult Swallows, and the team's batting coach Mitsuru Manaka (L back), watching a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. Ogawa, 57, told a press conference on Sept. 22 that the club has accepted his decision to resign at the end of the season due to the cellar-dwelling club's poor results. Manaka, 43, is a strong candidate to take over.
          Swallows skipper Ogawa to step down

          Swallows skipper Ogawa to step down

          TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Sept. 17, 2014, shows Junji Ogawa (R back), manager of the Central League's Yakult Swallows, and the team's batting coach Mitsuru Manaka (L back), watching a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. Ogawa, 57, told a press conference on Sept. 22 that the club has accepted his decision to resign at the end of the season due to the cellar-dwelling club's poor results. Manaka, 43, is a strong candidate to take over. (Kyodo)
            Skipper Hoshino to quit Eagles at end of season

            Skipper Hoshino to quit Eagles at end of season

            SENDAI, Japan - Senichi Hoshino (L) speaks about his resignation as manager of Pacific League baseball club Rakuten Eagles at a news conference at the club's office in Sendai, northern Japan, on Sept. 18, 2014, with Hiroshi Mikitani, owner of the team, listening by his side. Hoshino, who managed the Eagles to the franchise's first Japan Series title the previous season, said he will resign at the end of the season due to the team's poor results. (Kyodo)
              Skipper Hoshino to quit Eagles at end of season

              Skipper Hoshino to quit Eagles at end of season

              SENDAI, Japan - Senichi Hoshino, who managed Pacific League baseball club Rakuten Eagles to the franchise's first Japan Series title the previous season, speaks about his resignation at a news conference at the club's office in Sendai, northern Japan, on Sept. 18, 2014. Hoshino said he will resign at the end of the season due to the team's poor results.
                Carp ace Maeda among 6 named to Samurai Japan squad

                Carp ace Maeda among 6 named to Samurai Japan squad

                TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on July 17, 2014, in Tokyo shows Japan baseball manager Hiroki Kokubo (C) and the first six members of this year's national team -- (from L) Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto, Rakuten Eagles catcher Motohiro Shima, Orix Buffaloes outfielder Yoshio Itoi, Buffaloes ace Chihiro Kaneko, Hiroshima Carp ace Kenta Maeda and Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Sho Nakata. The team's big test this autumn will be five games against a team of visiting major leaguers in November.
                  Yankees present Tanaka at Yankee Stadium

                  Yankees present Tanaka at Yankee Stadium

                  NEW YORK, United States - Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka puts on a New York Yankees uniform during a press conference at Yankee Stadium in New York on Feb. 11, 2014, where the Yankees introduced Tanaka to the media, as Yankees manager Joe Girardi looks on. The former ace of Japanese Pacific League baseball club Rakuten Eagles joined the team with a seven-year, $155 million contract.
                    Yankees present Tanaka at Yankee Stadium

                    Yankees present Tanaka at Yankee Stadium

                    NEW YORK, United States - Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka smiles during a press conference at Yankee Stadium in New York on Feb. 11, 2014, where the New York Yankees introduced Tanaka to the media. The former ace of Japanese Pacific League baseball club Rakuten Eagles joined the team with a seven-year, $155 million contract.
                      Yankees present Tanaka at Yankee Stadium

                      Yankees present Tanaka at Yankee Stadium

                      NEW YORK, United States - Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka speaks at a press conference at Yankee Stadium in New York on Feb. 11, 2014, where the Yankees introduced Tanaka to the media, in front of a photo of Lou Gehrig. The former ace of Japanese Pacific League baseball club Rakuten Eagles joined the team with a seven-year, $155 million contract.