2008 Saitama Seibu Lions season explained

Year:	2008
Saitama Seibu Lions
Nickname:	Lions
League Champ:	yes
Record:	76–64–4 (.543)
League Place:	1st
League:	Pacific League
Parent Company:	Seibu Holdings
Manager:	Hisanobu Watanabe
Field:	Seibu Dome

The 2008 Saitama Seibu Lions season was the 59th season of the Saitama Seibu Lions franchise. The Lions played their home games at Seibu Dome in the city of Tokorozawa, Saitama as members of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League. The team was led by Hisanobu Watanabe on his first season as team manager.

Seibu finished the season in first place with a record of, winning the team its 21st PL pennant and qualifying them for the Climax Series. In the 2008 Pacific League Climax Series, the Lions defeated the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Second Stage and went on to win the 2008 Japan Series, its thirteenth, as well as the 2008 Asia Series.

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. Orix Buffaloes^[1]

Order	Player	Pos.
1	Yasuyuki Kataoka	2B
2	Takumi Kuriyama	DH
3	Hiroyuki Nakajima	SS
4	Craig Brazell	1B
5	G. G. Sato	RF
6	Takeya Nakamura	3B
7	Hiram Bocachica	CF
8	Toru Hosokawa	C
9	Kenta Matsusaka	LF
—	Hideaki Wakui	P

Game log

|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 1 || March 20 || Buffaloes || 1–2 || Kaneko (1–0) || Wakui (0–1) || Kato (1) || Seibu Dome || 27,137 || 0–1–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 2 || March 22 || Buffaloes || 6–0 || Ishii (1–0) || Nakayama (0–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 12,288 || 1–1–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 3 || March 23 || Buffaloes || 1–2 || Kondo (1–0) || Kinney (0–1) || Kato (2) || Seibu Dome || 12,632 || 1–2–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 4 || March 25 || @ Fighters || 1–9 || Takeda (1–0) || Nishiguchi (0–1) || — || Sapporo Dome || 16,410 || 1–3–0 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 5 || March 26 || @ Fighters || 8–0 || Kishi (1–0) || Yoshikawa (0–1) || — || Sapporo Dome || 19,206 || 2–3–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 6 || March 27 || @ Fighters || 0–1 (10) || Takeda (1–0) || Wakui (0–2) || — || Sapporo Dome || 25,011 || 2–4–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 7 || March 28 || Hawks || 2–3 || Sugiuchi (1–0) || Onodera (0–1) || Nitkowski (1) || Seibu Dome || 9,184 || 2–5–0 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 8 || March 29 || Hawks || 10–4 || Ishii (2–0) || Standridge (0–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 16,044 || 3–5–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 9 || March 30 || Hawks || 5–1 || Kinney (1–1) || Oba (1–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 18,059 || 4–5–0 || W2|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 10 || April 1 || @ Buffaloes || 6–10 || Yamamoto (1–0) || Nishiguchi (0–2) || — || Skymark Stadium || 10,751 || 4–6–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 11 || April 2 || @ Buffaloes || 5–1 || Kishi (2–0) || Takagi (1–1) || — || Kyocera Dome || 8,616 || 5–6–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 12 || April 3 || @ Buffaloes || 4–3 || Hoshino (1–0) || Motoyanagi (0–1) || Graman (1) || Kyocera Dome || 9,163 || 6–6–0 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 13 || April 4 || Eagles || 4–2 || Hoashi (1–0) || Lin (0–1) || Graman (2) || Shikishima Stadium || 17,599 || 7–6–0 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 14 || April 5 || Eagles || 4–2 || Ishii (3–0) || Tanaka (1–1) || Onuma (1) || Seibu Dome || 23,902 || 8-6-0 || W4|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 15 || April 6 || Eagles || 4–3 || Kinney (2–1) || Asai (1–2) || Graman (3) || Seibu Dome || 18,213 || 9–6–0 || W5|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 16 || April 8 || Marines || 4–3 || Onodera (1–1) || Ogino (1–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 8,818 || 10–6–0 || W6|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 17 || April 9 || Marines || 1–10 || Shimizu (1–2) || Kishi (2–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 10,541 || 10–7–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 18 || April 10 || Marines || 15–5 || Wakui (1–2) || Kubo (1–2) || — || Seibu Dome || 7,702 || 11–7–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 19 || April 11 || @ Hawks || 8–3 || Onuma (1–0) || Sugiuchi (1–1) || Graman (4) || Yahoo Dome || 28,721 || 12–7–0 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 20 || April 12 || @ Hawks || 5–8 || Ogura (1–0) || Onodera (1–2) || Houlton (1) || Yahoo Dome || 29,692 || 12–8–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 21 || April 13 || @ Hawks || 4–5 || Kume (3–0) || Onuma (1–1) || — || Yahoo Dome || 29,545 || 12–9–0 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeaa"| 22 || April 15 || Fighters || 3–3 (12) || colspan=3|Game tied after 12 innings || Seibu Dome || 8,397 || 12–9–1 || T1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 23 || April 16 || Fighters || 4–2 || Wakui (2–2) || Yoshikawa (1–3) || Graman (5) || Seibu Dome || 11,263 || 13–9–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb"| - || April 19 || @ Eagles || colspan=4|Postponed (rain) – Makeup date: October 4 || Kleenex Stadium || - || - || - |-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 24 || April 20 || @ Eagles || 4–3 (10) || Iwasaki (1–0) || Aoyama (1–1) || Graman (6) || Kleenex Stadium || 19,601 || 14–9–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 25 || April 22 || @ Marines || 1–8 || Watanabe (3–1) || Ishii (3–1) || — || Chiba Marine Stadium || 16,856 || 14–10–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 26 || April 23 || @ Marines || 1–2 || Ono (2–0) || Wakui (2–3) || Ogino (5) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 16,059 || 14–11–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb"| - || April 24 || @ Marines || colspan=4|Postponed (rain) – Makeup date: October 1 || Chiba Marine Stadium || - || - || - |-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 27 || April 25 || Buffaloes || 9–5 (11) || Graman (1–0) || Junge (0–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 7,417 || 15–11–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 28 || April 26 || Buffaloes || 10–8 || Mitsui (1–0) || Yoshino (0–1) || Graman (7) || Seibu Dome || 20,130 || 16–11–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 29 || April 27 || Buffaloes || 10–3 || Hoashi (2–0) || Kondo (2–3) || — || Seibu Dome || 16,472 || 17–11–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 30 || April 29 || Hawks || 7–10 (12) || Houlton (1–0) || Mitsui (1–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 26,619 || 17–12–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 31 || April 30 || Hawks || 6–2 || Ishii (4–1) || Otonari (2–4) || — || Seibu Dome || 12,497 || 18–12–1 || W1|-|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 32 || May 1 || Hawks || 5–4 || Wakui (3–3) || Houlton (1–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 14,659 || 19–12–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 33 || May 2 || @ Marines || 5–0 || Kishi (3–1) || Shimizu (3–3) || — || Chiba Marine Stadium || 9,659 || 20–12–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 34 || May 3 || @ Marines || 1–10 || Karakawa (2–0) || Nishiguchi (0–3) || — || Chiba Marine Stadium || 30,014 || 20–13–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 35 || May 4 || @ Marines || 4–0 || Hoashi (3–0) || Kobayashi (1–5) || — || Chiba Marine Stadium || 30,023 || 21–13–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 36 || May 5 || Fighters || 8–6 || Onodera (2–2) || Takeda (2–2) || Graman (8) || Seibu Dome || 34,783 || 22–13–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 37 || May 6 || Fighters || 3–1 || Ishii (5–1) || Miyanishi (0–2) || — || Seibu Dome || 27,340 || 23–13–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 38 || May 7 || Fighters || 4–3 || Hoshino (2–0) || Darvish (5–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 15,574 || 24–13–1 || W4|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 39 || May 9 || @ Buffaloes || 3–2 || Kishi (4–1) || Ortiz (0–2) || Graman (9) || Kyocera Dome || 14,670 || 25–13–1 || W5|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb"| - || May 10 || @ Buffaloes || colspan=4|Postponed (rain) – Makeup date: September 5 || Skymark Stadium || - || - || - |-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 40 || May 11 || @ Buffaloes || 9–0 || Hoashi (4–0) || Kaneko (2–4) || — || Skymark Stadium || 12,678 || 26–13–1 || W6|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 41 || May 13 || @ Hawks || 2–4 || Wada (4–0) || Ishii (5–2) || Houlton (5) || Sun Marine Stadium || 20,606 || 26–14–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 42 || May 14 || @ Hawks || 11–4 || Wakui (4–3) || Guttormson (1–2) || — || Yahoo Dome || 33,629 || 27–14–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 43 || May 15 || @ Hawks || 10–3 || Nishiguchi (1–3) || Powell (1–2) || — || Yahoo Dome || 31,793 || 28–14–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 44 || May 16 || @ Eagles || 2–8 || Iwakuma (6–2) || Kishi (4–2) || — || Kleenex Stadium || 12,057 || 28–15–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 45 || May 17 || @ Eagles || 2–3 (12) || Kawagishi (1–1) || Okamoto (0–1) || — || Kleenex Stadium || 14,265 || 28–16–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 46 || May 18 || @ Eagles || 7–3 || Hsu (1–0) || Tanaka (4–3) || — || Kleenex Stadium || 20,253 || 29–16–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 47 || May 21 || Swallows || 4–5 || Rios (2–5) || Onodera (2–3) || Lim (13) || Seibu Dome || 15,683 || 29–17–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 48 || May 22 || Swallows || 7–2 || Wakui (5–3) || Muranaka (3–5) || — || Seibu Dome || 14,236 || 30–17–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 49 || May 23 || Giants || 10–1 || Kishi (5–2) || Greisinger (5–2) || — || Seibu Dome || 24,137 || 31–17–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 50 || May 24 || Giants || 4–2 || Hoashi (5–0) || Nomaguchi (1–2) || Graman (10) || Seibu Dome || 34,432 || 32–17–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 51 || May 25 || @ Tigers || 1–5 || Kubota (2–1) || Onodera (2–4) || — || Koshien Stadium || 43,516 || 32–18–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 52 || May 26 || @ Tigers || 1–2 (11) || Watanabe (2–0) || Graman (1–1) || — || Koshien Stadium || 41,970 || 32–19–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 53 || May 28 || @ Carp || 5–3 || Ishii (6–2) || Oshima (0–2) || Graman (11) || Fukuyama Stadium || 7,041 || 33–19–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 54 || May 29 || @ Carp || 1–3 || Lewis (7–4) || Wakui (5–4) || Nagakawa (6) || Hiroshima Stadium || 15,267 || 33–20–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 55 || May 31 || Dragons || 3–4 || Kawakami (3–3) || Onuma (1–2) || Iwase (16) || Seibu Dome || 32,788 || 33–21–1 || L2|-|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 56 || June 1 || Dragons || 10–3 || Hoashi (6–0) || Nakata (4–4) || — || Seibu Dome || 33,157 || 34–21–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 57 || June 3 || BayStars || 7–3 || Nishiguchi (2–3) || Oyamada (1–3) || — || Seibu Dome || 11,477 || 35–21–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 58 || June 4 || BayStars || 2–1 || Ishii (7–2) || Kuwahara (0–1) || Graman (12) || Seibu Dome || 13,416 || 36–21–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 59 || June 6 || @ Swallows || 1–7 || Tateyama (5–1) || Wakui (5–5) || — || Iwaki Green Stadium || 7,733 || 36–22–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 60 || June 7 || @ Swallows || 5–3 || Kishi (6–2) || Kawashima (1–2) || Graman (13) || Hitachinaka Stadium || 11,232 || 37–22–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 61 || June 8 || @ Giants || 0–4 || Utsumi (4–4) || Hsu (1–1) || — || Tokyo Dome || 43,051 || 37–23–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 62 || June 9 || @ Giants || 9–3 || Nishiguchi (3–3) || Greisinger (6–4) || — || Tokyo Dome || 44,284 || 38–23–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 63 || June 11 || Tigers || 4–6 || Uezono (2–0) || Ishii (7–3) || Fujikawa (23) || Seibu Dome || 32,383 || 38–24–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 64 || June 12 || Tigers || 6–3 || Wakui (6–5) || Iwata (5–3) || — || Seibu Dome || 28,456 || 39–24–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 65 || June 14 || Carp || 1–8 || Hasegawa (3–5) || Kishi (6–3) || — || Seibu Dome || 30,374 || 39–25–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 66 || June 15 || Carp || 2–4 || Lewis (10–4) || Hoashi (6–1) || Nagakawa (11) || Seibu Dome || 28,657 || 39–26–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 67 || June 17 || @ Dragons || 4–5 || Iwase (2–2) || Okamoto (0–1) || — || Ishikawa Stadium || 10,944 || 39–27–1 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 68 || June 18 || @ Dragons || 2–3 || Ogasawara (7–4) || Wakui (6–6) || Iwase (21) || Alpen Stadium || 13,632 || 39–28–1 || L4|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 69 || June 21 || @ BayStars || 4–5 (10) || Terahara (3–5) || Graman (1–2) || — || Yokohama Stadium || 14,165 || 39–29–1 || L5|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb"| - || June 22 || @ BayStars || colspan=4|Postponed (rain) – Makeup date: June 23 || Yokohama Stadium || - || - || - |-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 70 || June 23 || @ BayStars || 5–10 || Wood (1–6) || Ishii (7–4) || — || Yokohama Stadium || 8,251 || 39–30–1 || L6|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 71 || June 27 || Marines || 4–1 || Hoashi (7–1) || Naruse (4–4) || Graman (14) || Omiya Stadium || 20,289 || 40–30–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 72 || June 28 || Marines || 3–11 || Watanabe (6–4) || Kishi (6–4) || — || Seibu Dome || 29,507 || 40–31–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 73 || June 29 || Marines || 9–5 || Nishiguchi (4–3) || Kobayashi (2–8) || — || Seibu Dome || 25,666 || 41–31–1 || W1|-|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 74 || July 1 || @ Fighters || 12–7 || Onodera (3–4) || Miyanishi (2–3) || — || Sapporo Dome || 22,125 || 42–31–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 75 || July 2 || @ Fighters || 8–6 || Wakui (7–6) || Glynn (3–11) || Graman (15) || Sapporo Dome || 17,682 || 43–31–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 76 || July 3 || @ Fighters || 4–6 || Darvish (9–3) || Hoashi (7–2) || Nakamura (14) || Sapporo Dome || 24,420 || 43–32–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 77 || July 5 || Eagles || 3–2 || Kishi (7–4) || Tanaka (6–5) || Graman (16) || Seibu Dome || 29,719 || 44–32–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 78 || July 6 || Eagles || 5–7 || Aoyama (2–2) || Hsu (1–2) || Kawagishi (1) || Seibu Dome || 25,654 || 44–33–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 79 || July 8 || Hawks || 2–5 || Sugiuchi (7–5) || Ishii (7–5) || — || Seibu Dome || 13,486 || 44–34–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 80 || July 9 || Hawks || 2–7 || Guttormson (4–4) || Wakui (7–7) || — || Seibu Dome || 15,674 || 44–35–1 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 81 || July 11 || @ Buffaloes || 12–4 || Hoashi (8–2) || Ortiz (3–6) || — || Skymark Stadium || 15,296 || 45–35–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 82 || July 12 || @ Buffaloes || 4–2 || Shotsu (1–0) || Kato (1–3) || Graman (17) || Skymark Stadium || 13,321 || 46–35–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 83 || July 13 || @ Buffaloes || 1–4 || Kaneko (5–6) || Nishiguchi (4–4) || Kato (19) || Kyocera Dome || 13,312 || 46–36–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 84 || July 15 || @ Hawks || 4–13 || Sugiuchi (8–5) || Ishii (7–6) || — || Yahoo Dome || 35,706 || 46–37–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 85 || July 16 || @ Hawks || 5–6 (12) || Mise (2–0) || Hoshino (2–1) || — || Yahoo Dome || 35,674 || 46–38–1 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 86 || July 18 || @ Marines || 8–6 || Hoashi (9–2) || Karakawa (5–2) || Graman (18) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 17,394 || 47–38–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 87 || July 19 || @ Marines || 17–10 || Hoshino (3–1) || Naruse (6–5) || Onodera (1) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 25,823 || 48–38–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 88 || July 20 || @ Marines || 0–16 || Watanabe (8–4) || Nishiguchi (4–5) || — || Chiba Marine Stadium || 26,365 || 48–39–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 89 || July 21 || Eagles || 6 - 4 || Shotsu (2-0) || Koyama (2-5) || Graman (19) || Seibu Dome || 25,431 || 49–39–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 90 || July 22 || Eagles || 14–2 || Wakui (8–7) || Hasebe (0–2) || — || Seibu Dome || 16,103 || 50–39–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 91 || July 23 || Eagles || 14–5 || Hirano (1–0) || Guzmán (2–6) || — || Seibu Dome || 17,028 || 51–39–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 92 || July 25 || @ Fighters || 1–2 || Tadano (6–3) || Hoashi (9–3) || Nakamura (18) || Sapporo Dome || 23,323 || 51–40–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 93 || July 26 || @ Fighters || 6–3 || Iwasaki (2–0) || Kanamori (0–1) || Graman (20) || Sapporo Dome || 33,538 || 52–40–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 94 || July 27 || @ Fighters || 3–2 (10) || Graman (2–2) || Takeda (3–4) || — || Sapporo Dome || 36,064 || 53–40–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 95 || July 28 || Buffaloes || 2–6 || Komatsu (7–3) || Wakui (8–8) || — || Seibu Dome || 14,768 || 53–41–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 96 || July 29 || Buffaloes || 4–2 || Ishii (8–6) || Yoshino (1–3) || Graman (21) || Seibu Dome || 17,016 || 54–41–1 || W1|- align="center"|colspan="11" bgcolor="#bbffff"|All-Star Break: CL and PL split series, 1–1|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 97 || August 3 || Marines || 3–4 || Watanabe (9–4) || Hirano (1–1) || Ogino (16) || Nagano Olympic || 14,134 || 54–42–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 98 || August 4 || Marines || 16 –2 || Kishi (8–4) || Shimizu (8–7) || — || Nagano Olympic || 11,355 || 55–42–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 99 || August 10 || Fighters || 11–2 || Hoashi (10–3) || Tadano (6–5) || — || Seibu Dome || 30,024 || 56–42–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 100 || August 11 || Fighters || 3–0 || Kishi (9–4) || Takeda (6–4) || Graman (22) || Seibu Dome || 19,260 || 57–42–1 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 101 || August 12 || Fighters || 8–4 || Onodera (4–4) || Takeda (3–5) || — || Seibu Dome || 19,055 || 58–42–1 || W4|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 102 || August 13 || @ Eagles || 7–11 || Nagai (6–6) || Ishii (8–7) || — || Kleenex Stadium || 20,405 || 58–43–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 103 || August 14 || @ Eagles || 8–2 || Nishiguchi (5–5) || Aoyama (2–6) || — || Kleenex Stadium || 19,227 || 59–43–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 104 || August 15 || @ Eagles || 4–9 || Asai (8–7) || Hirano (1–2) || — || Kleenex Stadium || 19,981 || 59–44–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 105 || August 16 || Buffaloes || 8–7 (10) || Graman (3–2) || Shimizu (4–1) || — || Seibu Dome || 27,363 || 60–44–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 106 || August 17 || Buffaloes || 4–1 || Kishi (10–4) || Yamamoto (8–3) || — || Seibu Dome || 19,027 || 61–44–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 107 || August 18 || Buffaloes ||4–7 || Katsuki (2–0) || Okamoto (0–2) || Kato (26) || Seibu Dome || 12,160 || 61–45–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 108 || August 19 || Hawks || 12–3 || Ishii (9–7) || Houlton (4–4) || — || Seibu Dome || 16,161 || 62–45–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 109 || August 20 || Hawks || 7–1 || Nishiguchi (6–5) || Arakaki (0–4) || — || Seibu Dome || 17,513 || 63–45–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 110 || August 21 || Hawks || 5–9 || Powell (2–6) || Okamoto (0–2) || — || Seibu Dome || 18,195 || 63–46–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 111 || August 24 || @ Fighters || 3–9 || Tadano (7–5) || Hoashi (10–4) || — || Starffin Stadium || 22,583 || 63–47–1 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 112 || August 25 || @ Fighters || 4–3 || Onodera (5–4) || Takeda (3–7) || Graman (23) || Sapporo Dome || 21,840 || 64–47–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 113 || August 26 || Eagles || 2–7 || Iwakuma (17–3) || Kinney (2–2) || — || Seibu Dome || 13,491 || 64–48–1 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 114 || August 27 || Eagles || 7–2 || Ishii (10–7) || Asai (8–8) || Graman (24) || Seibu Dome || 17,760 || 65–48–1 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 115 || August 28 || Eagles || 5–4 || Nishiguchi (7–5) || Kitani (0–1) || Graman (25) || Seibu Dome || 16,555 || 66–48–1 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeaa"| 116 || August 29 || @ Hawks || 4–4 (12) || colspan=3|Game tied after 12 innings || Yahoo Dome || 32,998 || 66–48–2 || T1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeaa"| 117 || August 30 || @ Hawks || 2–2 (12) || colspan=3|Game tied after 12 innings || Yahoo Dome || 33,051 || 66–48–3 || T2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeaa"| 118 || August 31 || @ Hawks || 0–0 (12) || colspan=3|Game tied after 12 innings || Yahoo Dome || 33,288 || 66–48–4 || T3|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 119 || September 2 || @ Marines || 5–8 || Watanabe (12–5) || Ishii (10–8) || — || Chiba Marine Stadium || 14,269 || 66–49–4 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 120 || September 3 || @ Marines || 2–0 || Nishiguchi (8–5) || Kubo (2–7) || Graman (26) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 17,361 || 67–49–4 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 121 || September 4 || @ Marines || 3–4 || Kawasaki (2–4) || Wakui (8–9) || Ogino (22) || Chiba Marine Stadium || 16,534 || 67–50–4 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 122 || September 5 || @ Buffaloes || 3–8 || Kishida (3–0) || Hoashi (10–5) || — || Skymark Stadium || 11,284 || 67–51–4 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 123 || September 6 || @ Buffaloes || 7–1 || Kishi (11–4) || Yamamoto (9–5) || — || Kyocera Dome || 16,385 || 68–51–4 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 124 || September 7 || @ Buffaloes || 2–6 || Kaneko (10–8) || Kinney (2–3) || — || Kyocera Dome || 18,431 || 68–52–4 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 125 || September 9 || Fighters || 1–4 || Darvish (13–4) || Ishii (10–9) || Nakamura (24) || Seibu Dome || 14,554 || 68–53–4 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 126 || September 10 || Fighters || 5–6 || Sakamoto (4–1) || Nishiguchi (8–6) || Nakamura (25) || Seibu Dome || 14,292 || 68–54–4 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 127 || September 11 || Fighters || 5–3 || Wakui (9–9) || Sweeney (11–4) || Graman (27) || Seibu Dome || 14,016 || 69–54–4 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 128 || September 13 || @ Eagles || 12–0 || Hoashi (11–5) || Katayama (2–6) || — || Kleenex Stadium || 17,909 || 70–54–4 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 129 || September 14 || @ Eagles || 4–5 || Arime (2–2) || Onodera (5–5) || Gwyn (3) || Kleenex Stadium || 19,956 || 70–55–4 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 130 || September 15 || @ Eagles || 6–5 || Shotsu (3–0) || Gwyn (1–1) || Graman (28) || Kleenex Stadium || 17,188 || 71–55–4 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 131 || September 16 || Marines || 4–3 || Ishii (11–9) || Watanabe (12–7) || Graman (29) || Seibu Dome || 14,250 || 72–55–4 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 132 || September 17 || Marines || 5–4 (10) || Onuma (2–2) || Kawasaki (2–5) || — || Seibu Dome || 14,493 || 73–55–4 || W3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 133 || September 18 || Marines || 3–6 || Shimizu (12–9) || Wakui (9–10) || Ogino (26) || Seibu Dome || 14,075 || 73–56–4 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 134 || September 20 || @ Hawks || 1–0 (10) || Hoshino (4–1) || Wada (8–6) || Graman (30) || Yahoo Dome || 29,788 || 74–56–4 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 135 || September 21 || @ Hawks || 10–5 || Kishi (12–4) || Guttormson (4–7) || Graman (31) || Yahoo Dome || 32,108 || 75–56–4 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 136 || September 22 || Eagles || 1–6 || Iwakuma (20–3) || Ishii (11–10) || — || Seibu Dome || 26,361 || 75–57–4 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 137 || September 23 || Eagles || 7–10 || Kawagishi (3–3) || Graman (3–3) || — || Seibu Dome || 33,229 || 75–58–4 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 138 || September 24 || Marines || 1–9 || Kubo (3–7) || Wakui (9–11) || — || Seibu Dome || 28,613 || 75–59–4 || L3|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 139 || September 26 || @ Fighters || 0–2 || Sweeney (12–5) || Hoashi (11–6) || Tateyama (2) || Sapporo Dome || 28,331 || 75–60–4 || L4|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 140 || September 27 || @ Fighters || 4–5 || Glynn (7–14) || Hsu (1–3) || Nakamura (28) || Sapporo Dome || 35,460 || 75–61–4 || L5|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 141 || September 28 || Buffaloes || 2–7 || Komatsu (5–3) || Kinney (2–4) || — || Seibu Dome || 33,229 || 75–62–4 || L6|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 142 || September 29 || Buffaloes || 3–4 (10) || Katsuki (4–0) || Onuma (2–3) || — || Seibu Dome || 27,611 || 75–63–4 || L7|-|-align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 143 || October 1 || @ Marines || 9–5 || Wakui (10–11) || Watanabe (13–8) || — || Chiba Marine Stadium || 24,752 || 76–63–4 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 144 || October 4 || @ Eagles || 3–4 (10) || Kawagishi (4–3) || Onuma (2–4) || — || Kleenex Stadium || 14,063 || 76–64–4 || L1|-|-| Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie = Postponement
Bold = Lions team member

Postseason

Climax Series

See main article: 2008 Pacific League Climax Series.

Japan Series

See main article: 2008 Japan Series.

Asia Series

See main article: 2008 Asia Series.

Game log

|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 1 || October 17 || Fighters || 10–3 || Wakui (1–0) || Glynn (0–1) || - || Omiya Stadium || 20,500 || 1–0–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 2 || October 18 || Fighters || 0–5 || Darvish (1–0) || Kishi (0–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 30,918 || 1–1–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 3 || October 19 || Fighters || 4–7 || Takeda (1–0) || Hoashi (0–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 33,078 || 1–2–0 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 4 || October 21 || Fighters || 9–4 || Ishii (1–0) || Sweeney (0–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 18,704 || 2–2–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 5 || October 22 || Fighters || 9–4 || Wakui (2–0) || Glynn (0–2) || - || Seibu Dome || 21,731 || 3–2–0 || W2|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 1 || November 1 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Wakui (1–0) || Uehara (0–1) || Graman (1) || Tokyo Dome || 44,757 || 1–0–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 2 || November 2 || @ Giants|| 2–3 || Ochi (1–0) || Okamoto (0–1) || - || Tokyo Dome|| 44,814 || 1–1–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 3 || November 4 || Giants || 4–6 || Utsumi (1–0) || Ishii (0–1) || Kroon (1) || Seibu Dome || 24,495 || 1–2–0 || L2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 4 || November 5 || Giants || 5–0 || Kishi (1–0) || Greisinger (0–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 27,930 || 2–2–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 5 || November 6 || Giants || 3–7 || Nishimura (1–0) || Wakui (1–1) || - || Seibu Dome || 28,763 || 2–3–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 6 || November 8 || @ Giants || 4–1 || Kishi (2–0) || Takahashi (0–1) || - || Tokyo Dome || 44,749 || 3–3–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 7 || November 9 || @ Giants || 3–2 || Hoshino (1–0) || Ochi (1–1) || Graman (2) || Tokyo Dome || 44,737 || 4–3–0 || W2|-|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 1 || November 13 || @ Wyverns || 3–4 || Lee (1–0) || Hoashi (0–1) || - || Tokyo Dome || 9,277 || 0–1–0 || L1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 2 || November 14 || Lions || 2–1 || Kishi (1–0) || Pan (0–1) || Onodera (1) || Tokyo Dome || 8,443 || 1–1–0 || W1|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 3 || November 15 || @ Lions || 16–2 (7) || Onuma (1–0) || Wei (0–2) || - || Tokyo Dome || 8,478 || 2–1–0 || W2|-align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 4 || November 16 || Lions || 1–0 || Okamoto (1–0) || Pan (0–2) || - || Tokyo Dome || 18,370 || 3–1–0 || W3|-|-| Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie = Postponement
Bold = Lions team member

Roster

2008 Saitama Seibu Lions
Roster
Pitchers		CatchersInfielders		Outfielders		ManagerCoaches

Player statistics

Batting

Player! width="5%"

align=left		68	160	29	39	7	1	2	13	2	14	37	.244	.305	.338	54
align=left		78	239	43	60	13	0	20	47	3	24	76	.251	.344	.556	133
align=left		130	471	59	110	19	0	27	87	0	30	139	.234	.294	.446	210
align=left		42	97	9	20	1	0	7	17	0	13	21	.206	.297	.433	42
align=left		49	166	34	50	14	0	12	27	0	16	31	.301	.370	*.602*	100
align=left		3	6	1	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.500	.571	.667	4
align=left		55	93	15	24	4	0	2	9	1	3	23	.258	.293	.366	34
align=left		27	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		3	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		133	404	42	96	20	1	16	58	0	12	129	.238	.263	.411	166
align=left		17	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		25	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		108	306	31	85	21	1	4	29	0	25	53	.278	.328	.392	120
align=left		139	*582*	85	*167*	25	6	4	46	50	24	57	.287	.322	.371	216
align=left		26	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		138	527	76	*167*	31	3	11	72	17	49	61	.317	.376	.450	237
align=left		18	38	7	8	2	0	1	5	0	4	5	.211	.302	.342	13
align=left		55	91	11	24	6	3	1	12	2	2	29	.264	.316	.429	39
align=left		8	7	1	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	.286	.375	.286	2
align=left		17	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	—	1.00	—	0
align=left		124	486	75	161	32	0	21	81	25	55	96	.331	*.410*	.527	256
align=left		143	524	90	128	24	4	46	101	2	53	*162*	.244	.320	.569	298
align=left		22	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	.250	.400	.250	1
align=left		9	9	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	.111	.111	.111	1
align=left		52	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		5	9	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	.111	.111	.222	2
align=left		38	74	6	18	4	0	2	7	0	10	14	.243	.333	.378	28
align=left		105	388	62	117	30	1	21	62	1	31	62	.302	.368	.546	212
align=left		59	126	23	38	8	1	1	11	4	6	23	.302	.341	.405	51
align=left		46	64	5	8	4	0	0	5	0	2	30	.125	.149	.188	12
align=left		1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	0
align=left		25	42	6	10	2	0	0	3	0	1	10	.238	.256	.286	12
align=left		17	14	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	.071	.071	.143	2
align=left		25	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	.000	.000	.000	0
Total：34 players	1,810	4,952	715	1,339	270	21	198	693	107	378	1,093	.270	.330	.453	2,245

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

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

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

Pitching

Player! width="5%"

	3	3	1.42	55	0	31	57	47	12	9	13	42
	1	2	8.28	11	3	0	25	41	29	23	11	21
	11	6	2.63	27	26	0	174.2	169	59	51	38	115
	4	1	2.38	63	0	0	34	22	9	9	15	23
	1	3	5.12	17	2	0	31.2	37	21	18	22	11
	11	10	4.32	25	25	0	135.1	150	78	65	40	108
	2	0	5.57	20	0	0	21	32	16	13	4	10
	2	4	4.48	17	15	0	80.1	87	47	40	35	64
	12	4	3.42	26	26	0	168.1	151	65	64	48	138
	1	1	7.50	23	0	0	24	33	20	20	10	12
	8	6	5.03	22	21	0	116.1	125	69	65	48	92
	0	2	5.51	14	1	0	16.1	30	16	10	10	9
	0	2	3.83	47	0	0	42.1	38	18	18	21	42
	5	5	3.56	50	0	1	55.2	54	26	22	22	38
	2	4	3.69	52	0	1	83	79	34	34	36	64
	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	1.1	1	0	0	0	1
	3	0	2.35	32	0	0	30.2	26	11	8	13	16
	0	0	2.77	11	0	0	13	14	4	4	3	11
	10	11	3.90	25	25	0	173	173	80	75	51	122
	0	0	5.40	4	0	0	8.1	9	8	5	2	2
	0	0	6.35	3	0	0	5.2	6	4	4	7	3
Total：21 players	76	64	3.86	545	144	33	1,297	1,324	626	556	449	944

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

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

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

Awards and honors

Nippon Life Monthly MVP Award^[4]

Takayuki Kishi - August (pitcher)
G. G. Sato - May (batter)
Craig Brazell - June (batter)

Best Nine Award^[5]

Toru Hosokawa - catcher
Yasuyuki Kataoka - second baseman
Takeya Nakamura - third baseman
Hiroyuki Nakajima - shortstop
Takumi Kuriyama - outfielder

Climax Series Second Stage MVP

Hideaki Wakui

Japan Series MVP

Takayuki Kishi

Matsutaro Shoriki Award

Hisanobu Watanabe

Mitsui Golden Glove Award^[6]

Toru Hosokawa - catcher
Hiroyuki Nakajima - shortstop

All-Star Series selections^[7]

Kazuyuki Hoashi - pitcher
Toru Hosokawa - catcher
Yasuyuki Kataoka - second baseman
Takeya Nakamura - third baseman
Hiroyuki Nakajima - infielder
G. G. Sato - outfielder

JA Zen-Noh Go-Go Awards^[8]

Most Doubles and Triples Award (August)

Takumi Kuriyama

Strong Shoulder Award (September)

G. G. Sato

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 Saitama Seibu Lions Draft selections^[9] !Round!Name!Position!Affiliation!Signed?
1	Yuta Nakazaki	Pitcher	Nichinan Gakuen High School	yes
2	Ryoma Nogami	Pitcher	Nissan	yes
3	Hideto Asamura	Infielder	Osaka Toin High School	yes
4	Ryo Sakata	Outfielder	Hakodate University	yes
5	Tatsuya Takeno	Catcher	Fukuoka University	yes
6	Kazuki Miyata	Pitcher	Koka Health and Medical College	yes

Notes and References

Web site: Thursday, March 20, 2008 . . February 8, 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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 2021.
Web site: 2008年度ＪＡ全農Ｇｏ・Ｇｏ賞 . 2008 JA Zen-Noh Go-Go Award . ja . . March 15, 2021.
Web site: 埼玉西武ライオンズ選択選手一覧 . Saitama Seibu Lions Selected Player List. . February 10, 2021.