2008 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters season explained

Year:	2008
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Nickname:	Fighters
Climax Berth:	yes
Record:	73–69–2 (.514)
League Place:	3rd
League:	Pacific League
Parent Company:	Nippon Ham
President:	Junichi Fujii
Manager:	Masataka Nashida
Captain:	Makoto Kaneko
Field:	Sapporo Dome

The 2008 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters season was the 63rd season of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters franchise. The Fighters played the majority of their home games at Sapporo Dome in the city of Sapporo, as well as at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo as members of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League. The team was led by Masataka Nashida on his first season as team manager.

Nippon-Ham finished the season in third place with a record of, qualifying them for the Climax Series. In the 2008 Pacific League Climax Series, the Fighters defeated the Orix Buffaloes in the First Stage, but were eliminated by the Saitama Seibu Lions in the Second Stage.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

Team!colspan=6

Central League opponents	Pacific League opponents
style=	BayStars	style=	Carp	style=	Dragons	style=	Giants	style=	Swallows	style=	Tigers	style=	Buffaloes	style=	Eagles	style=	Fighters	style=	Hawks	style=	Lions	style=	Marines
BayStars	—	11–13	7–17	5–18–1	9–15	10–13–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2
Carp	13–11	—	9–13–2	12–10–2	12–11–1	10–14	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1
Dragons	17–7	13–9–2	—	14–10	9–13–2	6–17–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	3–1
Giants	18–5–1	10–12–2	10–14	—	18–6	14–10	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	4–0
Swallows	15–9	11–12–1	13–9–2	6–18	—	10–13–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3
Tigers	13–10–1	14–10	17–6–1	10–14	13–10–1	—	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–3
Buffaloes	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	—	13–10–1	13–11	14–10	10–14	14–10
Eagles	4–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	10–13–1	—	13–10–1	12–12	10–14	7–16–1
Fighters	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	11–13	10–13–1	—	17–7	9–14–1	12–12
Hawks	4–0	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	10–14	12–12	7–17	—	10–11–3	10–14
Lions	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–3	14–10	14–10	14–9–1	11–10–3	—	13–11
Marines	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–1	10–14	16–7–1	12–12	14–10	11–13	—

Opening Day roster

Thursday, March 20, 2008, vs. Chiba Lotte Marines^[1]

Order	Player	Pos.
1	Hichori Morimoto	CF
2	Kensuke Tanaka	2B
3	Atsunori Inaba	RF
4	Terrmel Sledge	1B
5	Eiichi Koyano	3B
6	Yoshio Itoi	LF
7	Tomochika Tsuboi	DH
8	Shinya Tsuruoka	C
9	Makoto Kaneko	SS
—	Yu Darvish	P

Game log

|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 1 || March 20 || Marines || 1–0 || Darvish (1–0) || Kobayashi (0–1) || - || Sapporo Dome || 42,126 || 1–0–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 2 || March 22 || Marines || 2–3 || Naruse (1–0) || Sakamoto (0–1) || - || Sapporo Dome || 31,028 || 1–1–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 3 || March 23 || Marines || 1–4 || Watanabe (1–0) || Glynn (0–1) || Takagi (1) || Sapporo Dome || 32,215 || 1–2–0 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 4 || March 25 || Lions || 9–1 || Takeda (1–0) || Nishiguchi (0–1) || - || Sapporo Dome || 16,410 || 2–2–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 5 || March 26 || Lions || 0–8 || Kishi (1–0) || Yoshikawa (0–1) || - || Sapporo Dome || 19,206 || 2–3–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 6 || March 27 || Lions || 1–0 (10) || Takeda (1–0) || Wakui (0–2) || - || Sapporo Dome || 25,011 || 3–3–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 7 || March 29 || @ Eagles || 2–7 || Tanaka (1–0) || Hoshino (0–1) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 20,189 || 3–4–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 8 || March 30 || @ Eagles || 1–3 || Asai (1–1) || Glynn (0–2) || Aoyama (1) || Kleenex Stadium || 19,518 || 3–5–0 || L2|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 9 || April 1 || @ Hawks || 6–0 || Takeda (2–0) || Arakaki (0–1) || - || Yahoo Dome || 29,204 || 4–5–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|10 || April 2 || @ Hawks || 0–9 || Otonari (2–0) || Yoshikawa (0–2) || - || Kitakyushu Stadium || 17,721 || 4–6–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|11 || April 3 || @ Hawks || 6–2 || Darvish (2–0) || Guttormson (0–1) || - || Yahoo Dome || 32,144 || 5–6–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|12 || April 4 || @ Buffaloes || 3–2 || Sweeney (1–0) || Kamoshida (0–1) || Nakamura (1) || Kyocera Dome || 11,738 || 6–6–0 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|13 || April 5 || @ Buffaloes || 2–7 || Kondo (2–0) || Fujii (0–1) || - || Kyocera Dome || 18,129 || 6–7–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|14 || April 6 || @ Buffaloes || 3–2 || Glynn (1–2) || Kawagoe (1–1) || Nakamura (2) || Skymark Stadium || 14,111 || 7–7–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|15 || April 8 || Eagles || 8–7 || Takeda (3–0) || Lin (0–2) || Nakamura (3) || Sapporo Dome || 20,257 || 8–7–0 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|16 || April 9 || Eagles || 4–2 || Yoshikawa (1–2) || Nagai (2–1) || Nakamura (4) || Sapporo Dome || 19,044 || 9–7–0 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|17 || April 10 || Eagles || 1–0 || Darvish (3–0) || Iwakuma (2–1) || - || Sapporo Dome || 25,197 || 10–7–0 || W4|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|18 || April 11 || @ Marines || 3–2 || Sweeney (2–0) || Kobayashi (1–2) || Nakamura (5) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 15,161 || 11–7–0 || W5|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|19 || April 12 || @ Marines || 1–2 || Naruse (2–1) || Miyanishi (0–1) || - || Chiba Marine Stadium || 27,513 || 11–8–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|20 || April 13 || @ Marines || 1–2 (10) || Watanabe (2–1) || Takeda (1–1) || - || Chiba Marine Stadium || 16,282 || 11–9–0 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeaa"|21 || April 15 || @ Lions || 3–3 (12) || colspan=3|Game tied after 12 innings || Seibu Dome || 8,397 || 11–9–1 || T1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|22 || April 16 || @ Lions || 2–4 || Wakui (2–2) || Yoshikawa (1–3) || - || Seibu Dome || 11,263 || 11–10–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|23 || April 18 || Hawks || 3–1 || Darvish (4–0) || Sugiuchi (1–2) || - || Sapporo Dome || 18,107 || 12–10–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|24 || April 19 || Hawks || 4–2 || Fujii (1–1) || Oba (2–2) || Nakamura (6) || Sapporo Dome || 27,041 || 13–10–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|25 || April 20 || Hawks || 2–4 || Wada (1–0) || Glynn (1–3) || Houlton (2) || Sapporo Dome || 30,536 || 13–11–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|26 || April 22 || Buffaloes || 4–2 || Hoshino (1–1) || Takagi (1–2) || Nakamura (7) || Sapporo Dome || 14,253 || 14–11–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|27 || April 23 || Buffaloes || 0–5 || Yamamoto (2–0) || Sweeney (2–1) || - || Sapporo Dome || 14,358 || 14–12–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|28 || April 24 || Buffaloes || 3–2 (10) || Takeda (2–1) || Kato (0–1) || - || Sapporo Dome || 15,644 || 15–12–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|29 || April 25 || @ Eagles || 1–6 || Iwakuma (4–1) || Yoshikawa (1–4) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 13,213 || 15–13–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|30 || April 26 || @ Eagles || 0–4 || Guzmán (1–2) || Fujii (1–2) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 16,826 || 15–14–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|31 || April 27 || @ Eagles || 0–5 || Tanaka (3–1) || Glynn (1–4) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 20,634 || 15–15–1 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|32 || April 29 || @ Marines || 3–2 || Nakamura (1–0) || Sikorski (1–4) || - || Chiba Marine Stadium || 30,021 || 16–15–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"|33 || April 30 || @ Marines || 6–3 || Darvish (5–0) || Watanabe (3–2) || Nakamura (8) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 17,516 || 17–15–1 || W2|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 34 || May 1 || @ Marines || 6–1 || Yoshikawa (2–4) || Ono (2–1) || - || Chiba Marine Stadium || 17,143 || 18–15–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 35 || May 2 || Eagles || 5–1 || Tadano (1–0) || Iwakuma (4–2) || Nakamura (9) || Sapporo Dome || 41,124 || 19–15–1 || W4|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 36 || May 3 || Eagles || 12–5 || Sakamoto (1–1) || Kawagishi (0–1) || - || Sapporo Dome || 40,083 || 20–15–1 || W5|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 37 || May 4 || Eagles || 1–7 || Tanaka (4–1) || Glynn (1–5) || - || Sapporo Dome || 42,126 || 20–16–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 38 || May 5 || @ Lions || 6–8 || Onodera (2–2) || Takeda (2–2) || Graman (8) || Seibu Dome || 34,783 || 20–17–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 39 || May 6 || @ Lions || 1–3 || Ishii (5–1) || Miyanishi (0–2) || - || Seibu Dome || 27,340 || 20–18–1 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 40 || May 7 || @ Lions || 3–4 || Hoshino (2–0) || Darvish (5–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 15,574 || 20–19–1 || L4|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 41 || May 10 || Hawks || 0–1 || Sugiuchi (3–3) || Fujii (1–3) || - || Ocean Stadium || 16,822 || 20–20–1 || L5|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 42 || May 11 || Hawks || 4–3 || Miyanishi (1–2) || Kume (3–1) || Nakamura (10) || Ocean Stadium || 17,919 || 21–20–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 43 || May 13 || Marines || 2–8 || Karakawa (3–0) || Glynn (1–6) || - || Tokyo Dome || 19,828 || 21–21–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 44 || May 14 || Marines || 4–3 (11) || Nakamura (2–0) || Ogino (1–3) || - || Tokyo Dome || 22,265 || 22–21–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 45 || May 15 || Marines || 6–5 || Tateyama (1–0) || Abreu (1–1) || - || Tokyo Dome || 17,368 || 23–21–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 46 || May 16 || @ Hawks || 10–3 || Tadano (2–0) || Otonari (3–5) || - || Yahoo Dome || 30,948 || 24–21–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 47 || May 17 || @ Hawks || 2–3 || Sugiuchi (4–3) || Tateyama (1–1) || - || Yahoo Dome || 30,218 || 24–22–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 48 || May 18 || @ Hawks || 4–3 || Sweeney (3–1) || Oba (3–4) || Takeda (1) || Yahoo Dome || 32,494 || 25–22–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 49 || May 20 || BayStars || 6–3 || Glynn (2–6) || Nasuno (2–6) || Takeda (2) || Sapporo Dome || 16,957 || 26–22–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 50 || May 21 || BayStars || 4–3 || Hoshino (2–1) || Miura (2–5) || Takeda (3) || Sapporo Dome || 20,271 || 27–22–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 51 || May 23 || Dragons || 1–0 || Sakamoto (2–1) || Kawakami (2–3) || Takeda (4) || Sapporo Dome || 23,966 || 28–22–1 || W4|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 52 || May 24 || Dragons || 11–1 || Sweeney (4–1) || Kawai (1–2) || - || Sapporo Dome || 30,983 || 29–22–1 || W5|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 53 || May 25 || @ Giants || 4–6 || Nishimura (6–2) || Fujii (1–4) || Kroon (15) || Tokyo Dome || 43,813 || 29–23–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 54 || May 26 || @ Giants || 3–4 || Burnside (1–0) || Glynn (2–7) || Kroon (16) || Tokyo Dome || 39,278 || 29–24–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 55 || May 28 || @ Swallows || 7–3 || Darvish (6–1) || Muranaka (3–6) || - || Meiji Jingu Stadium || 18,050 || 30–24–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 56 || May 29 || @ Swallows || 3–2 || Miyanishi (2–2) || Oshimoto (2–1) || Takeda (5) || Meiji Jingu Stadium || 9,683 || 31–24–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 57 || May 31 || Tigers || 2–1 || Sweeney (5–1) || Iwata (5–2) || Takeda (6) || Sapporo Dome || 42,126 || 32–24–1 || W3|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 58 || June 1 || Tigers || 4–5 (10) || Kubota (3–1) || Takeda (2–3) || Fujikawa (18) || Sapporo Dome || 42,126 || 32–25–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 59 || June 3 || Carp || 4–2 || Glynn (3–7) || Otake (2–7) || - || Sapporo Dome || 17,815 || 33–25–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 60 || June 4 || Carp || 2–3 || Lewis (8–4) || Darvish (6–2) || Nagakawa (8) || Sapporo Dome || 23,870 || 33–26–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 61 || June 6 || @ Dragons || 7–3 || Sakamoto (3–1) || Sato (0–1) || - || Nagoya Dome || 36,725 || 34–26–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 62 || June 7 || @ Dragons || 1–4 || Kawakami (4–3) || Sweeney (5–2) || Iwase (18) || Nagoya Dome || 38,247 || 34–27–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 63 || June 8 || @ BayStars || 9–3 || Fujii (2–4) || Nasuno (4–7) || - || Yokohama Stadium || 17,842 || 35–27–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 64 || June 9 || @ BayStars || 3–13 || Oyamada (2–3) || Glynn (3–8) || - || Yokohama Stadium || 9,796 || 35–28–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 65 || June 11 || Giants || 0–1 || Nomaguchi (2–3) || Darvish (6–3) || Kroon (18) || Sapporo Dome || 35,298 || 35–29–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 66 || June 12 || Giants || 3–2 || Tadano (3–0) || Burnside (2–1) || Nakamura (11) || Sapporo Dome || 30,135 || 36–29–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 67 || June 14 || Swallows || 2–1 (10) || Takeda (3–3) || Lim (1–3) || - || Sapporo Dome || 40,058 || 37–29–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 68 || June 15 || Swallows || 1–3 || Muranaka (4–7) || Glynn (3–9) || Lim (16) || Sapporo Dome || 31,556 || 37–30–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 69 || June 17 || @ Carp || 8–7 || Darvish (7–3) || Otake (2–9) || Nakamura (12) || Hiroshima Stadium || 19,860 || 38–30–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 70 || June 18 || @ Carp || 1–2 || Maeda (1–0) || Tadano (3–1) || Nagakawa (12) || Hiroshima Stadium || 18,527 || 38–31–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 71 || June 21 || @ Tigers || 4–0 || Sweeney (6–2) || Iwata (5–4) || - || Koshien Stadium || 43,528 || 39–31–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 72 || June 22 || @ Tigers || 3–5 || Atchison (5–4) || Glynn (3–10) || Fujikawa (25) || Koshien Stadium || 43,524 || 39–32–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 73 || June 27 || @ Buffaloes || 4–3 || Darvish (8–3) || Kawagoe (1–3) || Nakamura (13) || Kyocera Dome || 14,654 || 40–32–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 74 || June 28 || @ Buffaloes || 1–5 || Kaneko (3–6) || Tadano (3–2) || - || Kyocera Dome || 16,809 || 40–33–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 75 || June 29 || @ Buffaloes || 9–4 || Takeda (4–0) || Kondo (5–7) || Tateyama (1) || Kyocera Dome || 18,153 || 41–33–1 || W1|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 76 || July 1 || Lions || 7–12 || Onodera (3–4) || Miyanishi (2–3) || - ||| Sapporo Dome || 22,125 || 41–34–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 77 || July 2 || Lions || 6–8 || Wakui (7–6) || Glynn (3–11) || Graman (15) || Sapporo Dome || 17,682 || 41–35–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 78 || July 3 || Lions || 6–4 || Darvish (9–3) || Hoashi (7–2) || Nakamura (14) || Sapporo Dome || 24,420 || 42–35–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 79 || July 5 || Buffaloes || 4–3 || Tadano (4–2) || Ortiz (3–5) || Nakamura (15) || Kushiro Stadium || 17,892 || 43–35–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 80 || July 6 || Buffaloes || 5–8 || Kaneko (4–6) || Takeda (4–1) || Kato (17) || Obihiro Stadium || 21,063 || 43–36–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 81 || July 8 || @ Marines || 2–5 || Shimizu (7–6) || Sweeney (6–3) || - || Chiba Marine Stadium || 18,562 || 43–37–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 82 || July 9 || @ Marines || 5–7 || Kawasaki (1–3) || Glynn (3–12) || Ogino (11) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 28,198 || 43–38–1 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 83 || July 11 || Hawks || 3–2 || Darvish (10–3) || Otonari (7–7) || - || Sapporo Dome || 22,712 || 44–38–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 84 || July 12 || Hawks || 9–6 || Tadano (5–2) || Oba (3–5) || Nakamura (16) || Sapporo Dome || 31,882 || 45–38–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 85 || July 13 || Hawks || 1–10 || Wada (8–3) || Takeda (4–2) || - || Sapporo Dome || 32,127 || 45–39–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeaa"| 86 || July 15 || Eagles || 4–4 (12) || colspan=3|Game tied after 12 innings || Tokyo Dome || 16,186 || 45–39–2 || T1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 87 || July 16 || Eagles || 2–5 || Katayama (2–1) || Miyanishi (2–4) || Kawagishi (2) || Tokyo Dome || 16,249 || 45–40–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 88 || July 17 || Eagles || 3–1 || Darvish (11–3) || Guzmán (2–5) || - || Tokyo Dome || 20,773 || 46–40–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 89 || July 19 || @ Buffaloes || 2–6 || Yamamoto (7–2) || Tadano (5–3) || - || Skymark Stadium || 20,016 || 46–41–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 90 || July 20 || @ Buffaloes || 1–4 || Kaneko (6–6) || Takeda (4–3) || Kato (20) || Kyocera Dome || 16,068 || 46–42–2 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 91 || July 22 || Marines || 3–2 || Sweeney (7–3) || Kobayashi (2–9) || Nakamura (17) || Sapporo Dome || 25,845 || 47–42–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 92 || July 23 || Marines || 2–3 || Shimizu (8–6) || Fujii (2–5) || Ogino (14) || Sapporo Dome || 26,902 || 47–43–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 93 || July 24 || Marines || 2–5 || Omine (1–2) || Darvish (11–4) || Ogino (15) || Sapporo Dome || 27,825 || 47–44–2 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 94 || July 25 || Lions || 2–1 || Tadano (6–3) || Hoashi (9–3) || Nakamura (18) || Sapporo Dome || 23,323 || 48–44–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 95 || July 26 || Lions || 3–6 || Iwasaki (2–0) || Kanamori (0–1) || Graman (20) || Sapporo Dome || 33,538 || 48–45–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 96 || July 27 || Lions || 2–3 (10) || Graman (2–2) || Takeda (3–4) || - || Sapporo Dome || 36,064 || 48–46–2 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 97 || July 28 || @ Hawks || 10–2 || Takeda (5–3) || Powell (1–5) || - || Yahoo Dome || 34,222 || 49–46–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 98 || July 29 || @ Hawks || 5–2 || Sweeney (8–3) || Yang (1–2) || Nakamura (19) || Yahoo Dome || 32,653 || 50–46–2 || W2|- align="center"|colspan="11" bgcolor="#bbffff"|All-Star Break: CL and PL split series, 1–1|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 99 || August 3 || @ Eagles || 4–11 || Asai (7–7) || Tadano (6–4) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 20,516 || 50–47–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 100 || August 4 || @ Eagles || 6–2 || Takeda (6–3) || Aoyama (2–5) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 18,760 || 51–47–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 101 || August 5 || @ Eagles || 7–2 || Sweeney (9–3) || Guzmán (2–7) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 17,942 || 52–47–2 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 102 || August 10 || @ Lions || 2–11 || Hoashi (10–3) || Tadano (6–5) || - || Seibu Dome || 30,024 || 52–48–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 103 || August 11 || @ Lions || 0–3 || Kishi (9–4) || Takeda (6–4) || Graman (22) || Seibu Dome || 19,260 || 52–49–2 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 104 || August 12 || @ Lions || 4–8 || Onodera (4–4) || Takeda (3–5) || - || Seibu Dome || 19,055 || 52–50–2 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 105 || August 13 || Buffaloes || 2–4 || Komatsu (9–3) || Glynn (3–13) || Kato (24) || Sapporo Dome || 24,416 || 52–51–2 || L4|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 106 || August 14 || Buffaloes || 0–2 (11) || Kato (2–3) || Takeda (3–6) || Shimizu (1) || Sapporo Dome || 22,476 || 52–52–2 || L5|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 107 || August 15 || Buffaloes || 3–5 (10) || Kawagoe (2–3) || Nakamura (2–1) || Kato (25) || Sapporo Dome || 22,829 || 52–53–2 || L6|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 108 || August 16 || @ Hawks || 5–1 || Yagi (1–0) || Standridge (0–2) || - || Yahoo Dome || 33,687 || 53–53–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 109 || August 17 || @ Hawks || 1–2 || Otonari (11–8) || Takeda (6–5) || Mahara (5) || Yahoo Dome || 33,533 || 53–54–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 110 || August 18 || @ Hawks || 7–0 || Sweeney (10–3) || Hoshino (0–1) || - || Yahoo Dome || 30,636 || 54–54–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 111 || August 19 || Marines || 4–0 || Glynn (4–13) || Kobayashi (3–11) || - || Tokyo Dome || 20,061 || 55–54–2 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 112 || August 20 || Marines || 3–6 || Shimizu (9–8) || Fujii (2–6) || Ogino (20) || Tokyo Dome || 21,034 || 55–55–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 113 || August 24 || Lions || 9–3 || Tadano (7–5) || Hoashi (10–4) || - || Starffin Stadium || 22,583 || 56–55–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 114 || August 25 || Lions || 3–4 || Onodera (5–4) || Takeda (3–7) || Graman (23) || Sapporo Dome || 21,840 || 56–56–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 115 || August 26 || @ Marines || 3–2 || Sweeney (11–3) || Watanabe (11–5) || Nakamura (20) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 20,764 || 57–56–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 116 || August 27 || @ Marines || 1–0 || Glynn (5–13) || Kubo (2–6) || Nakamura (21) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 22,038 || 58–56–2 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 117 || August 28 || @ Marines || 0–3 || Shimizu (10–8) || Fujii (2–7) || - || Chiba Marine Stadium || 16,522 || 58–57–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 118 || August 29 || @ Buffaloes || 4–7 || Kishida (2–0) || Kanazawa (0–1) || Kato (29) || Skymark Stadium || 20,279 || 58–58–2 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 119 || August 30 || @ Buffaloes || 2–7 || Yamamoto (9–4) || Yagi (1–1) || - || Kyocera Dome || 18,169 || 58–59–2 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 120 || August 31 || @ Buffaloes || 1–5 || Kaneko (9–8) || Tadano (7–6) || - || Kyocera Dome || 18,033 || 58–60–2 || L4|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 121 || September 2 || Hawks || 2–0 || Darvish (12–4) || Guttormson (4–5) || Nakamura (22) || Sapporo Dome || 20,118 || 59–60–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 122 || September 3 || Hawks || 3–4 || Sato (3–1) || Takeda (6–6) || Mahara (7) || Sapporo Dome || 17,702 || 59–61–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 123 || September 4 || Hawks || 4–3 || Takeda (4–7) || Sato (3–2) || - || Sapporo Dome || 16,975 || 60–61–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 124 || September 5 || Eagles || 3–5 (10) || Gwyn (1–0) || Nakamura (2–2) || - || Sapporo Dome || 22,692 || 60–62–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 125 || September 6 || Eagles || 4–1 || Fujii (3–7) || Katayama (2–5) || Nakamura (23) || Sapporo Dome || 33,197 || 61–62–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 126 || September 7 || Eagles || 2–5 || Satake (1–0) || Tadano (7–7) || Arime (2) || Sapporo Dome || 33,224 || 61–63–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 127 || September 9 || @ Lions || 4–1 || Darvish (13–4) || Ishii (10–9) || Nakamura (24) || Seibu Dome || 14,554 || 62–63–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 128 || September 10 || @ Lions || 6–5 || Sakamoto (4–1) || Nishiguchi (8–6) || Nakamura (25) || Seibu Dome || 14,292 || 63–63–2 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 129 || September 11 || @ Lions || 3–5 || Wakui (9–9) || Sweeney (11–4) || Graman (27) || Seibu Dome || 14,016 || 63–64–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 130 || September 13 || Buffaloes || 7–4 || Glynn (6–13) || Yamamoto (9–6) || Nakamura (26) || Sapporo Dome || 25,074 || 64–64–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 131 || September 14 || Buffaloes || 9–6 || Sakamoto (5–1) || Kaneko (10–9) || Nakamura (27) || Sapporo Dome || 30,457 || 65–64–2 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 132 || September 15 || Buffaloes || 5–4 || Darvish (14–4) || Kato (2–4) || - || Sapporo Dome || 31,473 || 66–64–2 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 133 || September 16 || @ Eagles || 1–6 || Iwakuma (19–3) || Takeda (6–7) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 11,966 || 66–65–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 134 || September 17 || @ Eagles || 7–15 || Asai (9–10) || Sweeney (11–5) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 12,430 || 66–66–2 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 135 || September 18 || @ Eagles || 2–5 || Tanaka (8–6) || Fujii (3–8) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 13,697 || 66–67–2 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 136 || September 20 || @ Buffaloes || 1–6 || Yamamoto (10–6) || Glynn (6–14) || - || Kyocera Dome || 20,222 || 66–68–2 || L4|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 137 || September 21 || @ Buffaloes || 10–5 || Sakamoto (6–1) || Motoyanagi (2–7) || - || Kyocera Dome || 25,036 || 67–68–2 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 138 || September 22 || @ Hawks || 9–0 || Darvish (15–4) || Arakaki (2–6) || - || Yahoo Dome || 30,491 || 68–68–2 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 139 || September 23 || @ Hawks || 5–2 || Takeda (7–7) || Sugiuchi (10–7) || - || Yahoo Dome || 30,278 || 69–68–2 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 140 || September 26 || Lions || 2–0 || Sweeney (12–5) || Hoashi (11–6) || Tateyama (2) || Sapporo Dome || 28,331 || 70–68–2 || W4|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 141 || September 27 || Lions || 5–4 || Glynn (7–14) || Hsu (1–3) || Nakamura (28) || Sapporo Dome || 35,460 || 71–68–2 || W5|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 142 || September 28 || Marines || 1–4 || Naruse (8–6) || Tateyama (1–2) || Ogino (29) || Sapporo Dome || 42,126 || 71–69–2 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 143 || September 29 || Marines || 2–1 || Darvish (16–4) || Kobayashi (5–12) || - || Sapporo Dome || 42,126 || 72–69–2 || W1|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 144 || October 1 || @ Eagles || 17–0 || Takeda (8–7) || Tanaka (9–7) || - || Kleenex Stadium || 14,953 || 73–69–2 || W2|-|-| Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie = Postponement
Bold = Fighters team member

Postseason

Climax Series

See main article: 2008 Pacific League Climax Series.

Game log

|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 1 || October 11 || @ Buffaloes || 4–1 || Darvish (1–0) || Kondo (0–1) || - || Kyocera Dome || 25,532 || 1–0–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 2 || October 12 || @ Buffaloes|| 7–2 || Fujii (1–0) || Komatsu (0–1) || - || Kyocera Dome || 26,703 || 2–0–0 || W2|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 1 || October 17 || @ Lions || 3–10 || Wakui (1–0) || Glynn (0–1) || - || Omiya Park Stadium || 20,500 || 0–1–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 2 || October 18 || @ Lions|| 5–0 || Darvish (1–0) || Kishi (0–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 30,918 || 1–1–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 3 || October 19 || @ Lions || 7–4 || Takeda (1–0) || Hoashi (0–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 33,078 || 2–1–0 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 4 || October 21 || @ Lions || 4–9 || Ishii (1–0) || Sweeney (0–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 18,704 || 2–2–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 5 || October 22 || @ Lions || 0–9 || Wakui (2–0) || Glynn (0–2) || - || Seibu Dome || 21,731 || 2–3–0 || L2|-|-| Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie = Postponement
Bold = Fighters team member

Roster

2008 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Roster
Pitchers		CatchersInfielders		Outfielders	ManagerCoaches

Player statistics

Batting

Player! width="5%"

align=left	^†	55	142	14	36	9	0	5	16	0	14	53	.254	.327	.423	60
align=left		25	8	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	3	.125	.125	.250	2
align=left		19	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	.500	.500	.500	2
align=left		26	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		74	49	3	8	2	0	0	2	0	3	13	.163	.212	.204	10
align=left		1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		9	11	1	5	1	0	0	1	1	1	1	.455	.500	.545	6
align=left		127	448	71	135	25	5	20	82	2	56	85	.301	.380	.513	230
align=left		99	185	10	41	1	1	0	12	3	6	13	.222	.254	.238	44
align=left		63	188	19	45	14	1	5	21	13	10	53	.239	.285	.404	76
align=left	^‡	8	27	2	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	10	.111	.111	.148	4
align=left		96	291	24	63	16	0	2	29	0	20	76	.216	.267	.292	85
align=left		6	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		89	140	32	33	4	1	1	6	14	9	40	.236	.287	.300	42
align=left		120	379	32	95	21	1	6	60	0	29	83	.251	.303	.359	136
align=left		104	199	20	51	11	1	0	12	8	9	42	.256	.307	.322	64
align=left		17	28	5	8	2	0	0	2	0	2	7	.286	.333	.357	10
align=left		121	478	66	121	15	1	0	21	12	49	81	.253	.327	.289	138
align=left		15	34	5	8	0	0	0	1	0	2	12	.235	.297	.235	8
align=left		22	4	1	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	.750	.750	.750	3
align=left		64	141	13	41	5	0	3	16	0	11	33	.291	.342	.390	55
align=left		27	29	3	5	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	.172	.200	.207	6
align=left		8	15	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.133	.133	.133	2
align=left		7	12	1	1	0	0	1	2	0	1	4	.083	.154	.333	4
align=left		113	395	41	114	21	2	16	69	0	44	88	.289	.361	.473	187
align=left		29	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	.250	.250	.250	1
align=left		20	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.200	.200	.200	1
align=left		74	167	12	36	5	4	0	14	1	7	49	.216	.272	.293	49
align=left		108	357	33	102	19	0	9	58	3	24	74	.286	.333	.415	148
align=left		*144*	536	89	159	32	9	11	63	21	62	80	.297	.379	.451	242
align=left		26	50	2	11	2	0	0	1	0	1	7	.220	.250	.260	13
align=left		97	248	24	52	14	0	1	18	0	12	49	.210	.247	.278	69
align=left		11	20	3	6	1	0	0	2	0	1	3	.300	.364	.350	7
align=left		4	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.250	.250	.500	2
align=left		44	111	7	16	0	1	2	4	1	6	31	.144	.193	.216	24
Total：36 players	1,875	4,726	533	1,206	224	27	82	516	79	380	1,010	.255	.316	.366	1,730

^†Denotes player joined the team mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Fighters only.

^‡Denotes player left the team mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Fighters only.

Bold/italics denotes best in the league^[2]

Pitching

Player! width="5%"

	16	4	1.88	25	24	0	200.2	136	44	42	44	208
	0	0	0.00	1	1	0	5	4	1	0	3	2
	3	8	3.25	19	19	0	110.2	115	46	40	41	76
	7	14	3.64	26	25	0	163.1	160	74	66	61	99
	2	1	4.94	23	0	0	23.2	31	17	13	6	11
	0	0	5.40	4	0	0	3.1	7	3	2	0	2
	0	1	4.50	10	0	0	12	14	7	6	5	7
	0	1	6.00	4	3	0	18	23	12	12	7	8
	0	0	8.44	14	0	0	10.2	16	11	10	4	7
	0	0	9.90	11	0	0	10	17	11	11	3	4
	0	0	5.40	9	0	0	8.1	11	9	5	4	6
	2	4	4.37	50	0	0	45.1	47	24	22	15	25
	2	2	2.14	46	0	28	46.1	32	11	11	12	47
	6	1	3.18	31	0	0	51	41	18	18	18	35
	12	5	3.48	28	25	0	163	139	65	63	72	90
	7	7	4.78	19	19	0	105.1	107	57	56	22	61
	4	7	4.40	62	0	6	61.1	68	31	30	19	40
	8	7	2.96	20	19	0	121.2	110	44	40	19	68
	1	2	3.07	58	0	2	67.1	61	23	23	12	53
	0	0	0.00	2	0	0	2	1	0	0	1	0
	0	0	3.00	2	0	0	3	3	1	1	3	0
	1	1	6.75	2	2	0	10.2	14	8	8	2	10
	2	4	6.23	7	7	0	34.2	39	24	24	22	23
Total：23 players	73	69	3.54	473	144	36	1,277.1	1,196	541	503	395	882

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Eagles. Stats reflect time with the Eagles only.

^‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Eagles only.

Bold/italics denotes best in the league^[3]

Awards

Nippon Life Monthly MVP Award^[4]

Yu Darvish - March/April, September (pitcher)

Best Nine Award^[5]

Atsunori Inaba - outfielder

Mitsui Golden Glove Award^[6]

Yu Darvish - pitcher
Kensuke Tanaka - second baseman
Atsunori Inaba - outfielder
Hichori Morimoto - outfielder

All-Star Series selections^[7]

Masataka Nashida - manager
Yu Darvish - starting pitcher
Hisashi Takeda - relief pitcher
Kensuke Tanaka - second baseman
Atsunori Inaba - outfielder
Hichori Morimoto - outfielder

Farm team

Team! width="6%"

G	W	L	T	Win%	GB	Home	Away
Tokyo Yakult Swallows	96	55	34	7	.618	-	35–10–3	20–24–4
Yomiuri Giants	96	58	36	2	.617	-	29–15–1	29–21–1
Shonan Searex	96	50	43	3	.538	7	23–24–1	27–19–2
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles	96	46	45	5	.505	10	24–21–3	22–24–2
Saitama Seibu Lions	96	42	51	3	.452	15	23–25–2	19–26–1
Chiba Lotte Marines	96	37	53	6	.411	18½	21–24–3	16–29–3
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	96	33	61	2	.351	24½	22–26–1	11–35–1

Nippon Professional Baseball draft

2008 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Draft selections^[8] !Round!Name!Position!Affiliation!Signed?
1	Shota Ono	Catcher	Toyo University	yes
2	Ryo Sakakibara	Pitcher	Kansai University of International Studies	yes
3	Toshiyuki Yanuki	Pitcher	Mitsubishi Fuso Kawasaki	yes
4	Kenji Tsuchiya	Pitcher	Yokohama High School	yes
5	Takuya Nakashima	Infielder	Fukuoka Technical High School	yes
6	Kenshi Sugiya	Infielder	Iizuka High School	yes
7	Keisuke Tanimoto	Pitcher	VITAL-NET	yes

Notes and References

Web site: Thursday, March 20, 2008 . . February 6, 2021.
Web site: 2008 Japan Pacific League Batting Leaders . . February 6, 2021.
Web site: 2008 Japan Pacific League Pitching Leaders . . February 6, 2021.
Web site: 2008年度日本生命月間MVP賞 . 2008 Nippon Life Month MVP Award . ja . . February 6, 2021.
Web site: 2008年度表彰選手（パシフィック・リーグ） . 2008 Awarded Players (Pacific League) . ja . . February 6, 2021.
Web site: 歴代受賞選手〜ポジション別〜 . Award Winners by Position . ja . Mitsui Public Relations Committee . February 5, 2021.
Web site: 出場者 . Participants . ja . . February 6, 2021.
Web site: 北海道日本ハムファイターズ選択選手一覧 . Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Selected Player List. . February 6, 2021.