Charming baseball movie - not unlike 2002's "The Rookie" in both feel and main character -- a promising pitcher who gave up on his dream of playing pro ball because of an injury. Ohara Koji is given a second chance at baseball and becomes the Hanshin Tigers' secret weapon out of the pen. He is dubbed "Mr. Rookie" by the team's manager and wears a spandex tiger mask to hide his identity - he still has his day job and family to think of. He soon becomes a media sensation, as he continues to win and the media try to find out his identity.
You'll root for Ohara and the Tigers, boo his arch-rival, laugh at the baseball in-jokes, and wish for a happy ending. The only nit to pick is that even for this baseball lover, some of the baseball scenes went on a little too long. (viewed at Cinequest - the San Jose Film Festival)
