It's been a decade since the Tokyo Yakult Swallows' last pennant and Japan Series title, but the leadership and experience of veteran Shinya Miyamoto is as precious as anything else for the Central League-leading ballclub.Yet Miyamoto humbly rejects the idea that he's leading the young team.Asked what he tries to do to guide the Swallows, whose last championship came in 2001, the 40-year-old infielder quickly responded, saying, "Nothing particularly.""I never thought I am leading the team, and I've never tried to," Miyamoto said before Thursday's game against the Hanshin Tigers at Jingu Stadium. "I'm just doing my part."
Miyamoto is the last remaining Swallows player from the aforementioned championship team. That year, under manager Tsutomu Wakamatsu, he played 125 games as a regular shortstop. Despite what he says and although it is often not visible, Miyamoto's influence on the team is huge.With less than 20 games remaining in the regular season and the second-place Chunichi Dragons trying to shrink the deficit and win the pennant, Tokyo Yakult has been forced to play every game with a monkey on its back.- By KAZ NAGATSUKA
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