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 Jason Coskrey

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Jason Coskrey
Jason Coskrey is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His primary focus is Japanese baseball, but he has also covered soccer, American football, boxing and basketball. He previously worked for the Marietta Daily Journal in Marietta, Ga. A native of Detroit, he is a graduate of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 1, 2018
Tigers ace Messenger turned uncertainty into sure thing
The Hanshin Tigers' newest reliever stepped out of a plane and into the unknown in 2010. Waiting for him was a different style of the game he'd played all his life, not to mention the impending adjustments to a new country, new culture and new teammates.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 31, 2018
Koji Uehara delights Giants fans in season debut after nine years in MLB
Koji Uehara returned to Japan in a flurry of energy, splitters and high-fives.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 30, 2018
Tigers hurler Randy Messenger silences Giants in season-opening triumph
Whoever wins the Sawamura Award this year might want to do whatever it takes to avoid Randy Messenger and the Hanshin Tigers on Opening Day next season.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB Preview
Mar 29, 2018
Carp look to remain on throne as Central League rivals prepare to mount challenge
The following is the second of a two-part NPB preview concluding with the 2018 Central League.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB Preview
Mar 28, 2018
Hawks look set to maintain stranglehold over Pacific League rivals
The following is the first of a two-part NPB preview beginning with the 2018 Pacific League.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 27, 2018
Slugger Wladimir Balentien alters focus going into new season
Wladimir Balentien switched things up a little this spring.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 26, 2018
Seibu ace Yusei Kikuchi refuses to rest on laurels
Yusei Kikuchi has put last year behind him. All the wins, the career numbers and accolades, firmly in the rearview mirror. His brush with the Sawamura Award, now just a fond memory.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 19, 2018
Laird confident Fighters can compete in 2018
Brandon Laird rounded third base wearing a big smile on Saturday afternoon at Jingu Stadium. As he headed for home, Laird held out his left hand and tapped his palm with the index and middle fingers of his right, pantomiming someone making sushi, as he does after all of his home runs.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Mar 18, 2018
NPB stars look to build momentum in spring
While most baseball fans know spring numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, some players make it hard to remember at times. Because however meaningless the actual numbers are during this time of year, the process is still fun to watch.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Feb 3, 2018
Now or never for Dragons hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka
Daisuke Matsuzaka stepped into the bullpen for the first time during camp on Friday and threw 32 pitches in his still unfamiliar white No. 99 Chunichi Dragons uniform.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jan 23, 2018
Samurai Japan skipper Atsunori Inaba begins preparations for March series against Australia
Atsunori Inaba managed a team of young players in his first tournament in charge of Samurai Japan. In March, he'll get his first chance to step into the dugout with the top team.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Jan 22, 2018
Ichiro wouldn't solve Chunichi's problems
While it's still improbable, Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka could both be wearing blue and white this summer if everything falls in place, as the Chunichi Dragons have interest in both players.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Jan 21, 2018
Japan's Hall of Fame players deserve own moment in sun
For all the ideas Japanese baseball has lifted from its MLB counterpart in North America, it's surprising a proper Hall of Fame ceremony hasn't been one of them.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Jan 8, 2018
Lions no strangers to posting system
While some NPB teams, such as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, may scoff at the posting system, don't count the Seibu Lions among them.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Jan 7, 2018
Hoshino's passion remained as strong as ever
Senichi Hoshino walked into a room full of reporters on a gray and rainy day in Sendai a few years back with a smile that lit up the room. This was the day after his Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles won the draft lottery for the rights to pitcher Yuki Matsui and the day prior to his team hosting Game 1 of...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Dec 31, 2017
Infielder Murata still searching for new home
One of the curious things about the current Hot Stove season in Japan has been Shuichi Murata's inability to find a job for 2018.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Dec 25, 2017
Fighters have to look for successor as Ohtani says goodbye
Generous Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters fans gathered at Sapporo Dome on Christmas Day to put a bow on the present they spent the last five seasons wrapping, one the Los Angeles Angels can't wait to open during spring training.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Dec 24, 2017
Hawks catch break with Yanagita
On one hand, Yuki Yanagita will be one of the most well-paid players in Japan next season. On the other, he'll be kind of a steal.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Dec 18, 2017
Giants, Tigers reel in sluggers in hopes of boosting offense
The Central League's two most historic clubs had a mini arms race last week, with each hoping to have added a little more power to their attacks.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Dec 17, 2017
Japanese players stay in swing of things even during winter
While it might be the time of year when temperatures are a little cooler and the regular season for almost every major baseball league is weeks in the rearview mirror, that doesn't mean there aren't a host of players still darting around a diamond somewhere.

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