tbh I don't really think Furuya is a useful Ace (Furuya fans dont kill me). Cuz his pitche...

True this. He only got speed. In terms of combinations, stamina and control Eijun got it.
Truth be told even Eijun's stats are better than Furuya. (technically speaking)

The sad thing is that Furura's pitches are very showy. It makes it hard to notice Eijun's usefulness as an ace. and this latest chapter proves it. :(

You're totally right. Because of that, Sawamura should improve his precision or accuracy.

I think that's what Miyuki's plan was in the latest chapters. Giving Eijun more experience on his pitches and polishing his accuracy and precision. BUT WHY IS EIJUN'S NUMBER STILL 18?!?!?! He did really well last season and he has a better pitcher stat compared to Furuya. Shouldn't he have gotten a higher number?

But showiness shouldn't matter for the team though. That's what kinda irks me. I mean, if the pitcher performs better than the other one based on results then it's only logical to give him the Ace number. Because if not, that only raises the issue of unfair treatment. Furuya gave up so much runs than Eijun and still had to keep the mound despite his results. Eijun gets to step on the mound because of strategy (and there's nothing wrong with that) but Furuya on the other hand gets to just because he's the "Ace"

Hahaha, yeah, if the number reflect his role in the team then I hope he get single digit number soon. At least 8. Although having 1 isn't bad at all. But, how could he when Furuya is there? I'm afraid we won't see Eijun-chan in ace number until his third year. And Here I am, actually hoping that I got to see Eijun as the ace with Miyuki as the lead catcher and captain. Furuya continues to improve too. Eijun should pick his pace faster. Miyuki doesn't have the whole time in the High School Baseball World, one more year, Miyuki is a third year afterall.

Eijun has something that Furuya doesn't has too. Eijun is the moodmaker and the glue. In a tight game situation, Eijun almost always able to improve the situation in the favor of his team. Eijun is their pinch pitcher. Miyuki also become a more responsible catcher when he's with Eijun. Eijun become somewhat a moral support for the team.

"Eijun should pick his pace faster."
No. Eijun doesn't need to increase his pace. He's deserved that number on his back for a very long time now. What we need is that the team along with the coaches to finally realize that he does.

For arguments' sake being a moodmaker doesn't really cuts it to earn you the Ace position. It's a plus factor for Eijun but I want to stick to the performance and stats which is more of a proof that Eijun deserves that #1.

actually, furuya is the secret protagonist of this manga ╮(￣▽￣)╭

i just guess but sensei seems he like #18, Sanada, Mei and another ace, all of them wear #18 before they became an ace too.

No, he's not. but if you think that, It's fine too, he's your MC. XD

yeah I just noticed after rewatching the first season. #FEELS
But I knew there were parallel with Eijun, Mei and Sanada but my god i never noticed the amount of them.

agree with you. Especially for Eijun and Sanada, they're way very similar. I also like Sanada very much, so I can tell with confidence that he has lots of affect on Sawamura.

For Mei, maybe they're both left-handed pitcher, many various pitching types.

About personality, I think Eijun's is very unique and I love him that way.

Sanada and Eijun are indeed similar. They both have fast moving pitches as well as being the team's mood maker. After watching it again, I could see that moment when Eijun started looking up to Sanada- Eijun subconsciously made him his goal as his ideal ace and pitcher. Seeing Sanada as the ace give me an idea of what Eijun might be like when he's the ace of Seido. Though he would have to mature mentally as well as emotionally (lol). Knowing Eijun he'll never mature the same way Sanada is.

Eijun and Mei have the parallel of losing control of their last pitch at an important inning. Mei experienced this in Koshien and Eijun when he was in middle school as well as hitting a dead ball to the head in the summer tournament (i can't remember the name ;-;). Those pitches dealt heavy blows on them mentally- Mei with his pride and Eijun getting yips. Mei suffered many sleepless nights until he finally accepted his weakness.

Funnily enough Furuya actually has some similarities with Mei. They both have pride with the power of their pitches. Though Furuya does it forcefully, so just plain brute force as a pitcher just to get a strike. Mei on the other hand has technique, speed and a range of pitches he can utilise. This pretty much tells me how amazing of a player Furuya is. It pains me to say that what makes him stands out as a player in comparison to Eijun. Eijun has to rely on tricks (not that it's a bad thing) to fool the batter and get a strike. Though it might seem really badass to us readers, I can see why Furuya is seen as the 'better' pitcher.

yep! I have to say that everytime Eijun saw Sanada, it's like he would discover new things, even Kuramochi joked him that " he's your upgraded version or why it's easy for you to get influence ? XD knowing Kuramochi, he's very sharp. I am also pretty sure Eijun the Ace of Seidou will be very similar to Sanada the Ace, he's calm in difficult situation, and he knows how to encourage the team. As you said, they're similar but they're not the same. Miyuki also comment about Eijun being special in his own way.

In short, I love Eijun and Sanada's ideal of an Ace. On the other hand, I really hate Furuya's idea of an Ace - who pitch the whole 9 innings and only me can take the team to Koshien - that makes me sick. I wonder who the hell will enjoy that kind of game ? Baseball 's absolutely not a one man team game. I will never acknowledge him as an Ace.

It's also easy to see why he much more stands out in comparison to Eijun since it's highschool baseball, his speed now is around 150km/h is like being gifted from god. Even for pro baseball, it's fast, and it's safe for normal highschool batters, but there're also many cons of his pitching type. I like to say his abilities are limited.

On the other hand, Eijun is still a rough diamond, unlike Furuya, he's unlimited, Miyuki and him are currently working on drawing all of Eijun's power. He has spirit, he has a great aibou, and many things in store for him.

Eijun and Furuya have completely different viewpoints, while Furuya believe only in himself to make him the strongest, to take the team to Koshien. Eijun is like " i can still better ... if Miyuki is with me " his bonds for the catcher is much much stronger. When people talked about Eijun pitching , that they talked about Miyuki's calling game and Eijun aggressive pitching, for Furuya is just Furuya speed. That's aslo one of reason makes him seems more standing out. I don't care much about though, I like how they play baseball as a battery not just catcher and pitcher seperately.

I can't wait for Eijun to get that Ace number and when he does I'm gonna cry. PROUD tears for my sunshine son- I'm pretty sure everyone will. I mean when Eijun finally got over his yips everyone on the bleacher cheered for him. Just a single pitch to the inside made everyone cheer for him. They know how hard Sawamura practice. Zono often reminds us that Eijun is ALWAYS the first in and the last out during training.

I agree with what you're saying with Furuya's idea of being an Ace. Being the Ace of a team means you have to support them in dire times. Furuya's idea is too naive- Brute strength can only take him so far as an ace. But his idea of an Ace, I think, is pretty similar to Mei. Though Mei had the support of amazing fielders the mangaka never ceases to remind us how terrifying Mei as a pitcher. It reminds me of that time in season 1 semi finals. When they were versing Sakura something school. Their defence were just as good as Inashiro but it was Mei's pitching that destroyed them.

Eijun is truly a rough diamond. Kataoka and many others could see from the very beginning the potential Eijun has. Kataoka also mentioned that he out of all the pitchers (season 1) in Seido he had the most potential. Though in recent chapters it feels as though he's regressing to being a relief (GODAMNIT Mangaka-sama), but Furuya too is slowly losing his usefulness as an ace. As mean as that may sound. I don't hate him but the fact that he gets more spotlight when Eijun is often the one saving his butt just... ughhhhh

No.. the battery dynamic with Miyuki and Eijun stirs my shipper heart. Shhh... I've been reading the Wiki and it says that Miyuki has a deep trust and respects Eijun's tenacity on the mound. As well as his fighting spirit when the team is on a tight spot. *ship feels*

Exactly same here <3 to be honest, I cried many times while watching the anime already, it's very touching and really moved my heart. If possible I want to see Eijun Ace number this summer Koushien, since this will be Miyuki's last summer so it's very special.

Absolutely, Eijun is the most hardworking person in this whole series, he motivate me in my real life a lot too ( the same goes for his teammates ). Eijun's for sure the most adorable character in my anime and manga history.

Yep, I also think the same as you about Furuya and Mei share the same Ace's idea, and it is wrong that's why Mei got his ultimate defeat in the beginning of SS2.

Eijun deserves more than a relief but reliever is also very important especialy when they has such a restricted ace like Furuya, Sanada is like a reliever too, it makes him cooler XD he changes the momentum, reverses circumstance, ... so cool, right ? I'm supposed that the ace job.

I'm absolutely into MiyukixSawamura too. They're unbearably cute. In Episode 47 SS2 Miyuki and Sawamura flashed back about their first met and what make a great battery, this scene really touched my heart, I re-watched it so many times, the music is great too >_< Not only us, many characters in the anime admitted how much they saw how much compatible this battery is, even Mei went as far as tell that they had ultimate trust for each other. I bet even Furuya feels that too, despite being ace of Seidou, he currently practice with a new catcher. Well, for him, anyone is fine as long as they can catch Furuya fast balls.