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Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 9, 2013

Darvish impressing experts with his strikeout ability

If you watch the home broadcast for one of Yu Darvish's starts for the Texas Rangers, you will, at some point, hear play-by-play man Steve Busby exhorting, "got him swinging," after Darvish fans a batter.
SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
May 22, 2013

Costas lamer than the young Astros

It must irk major leaguers to no end when a media twerp like MLB-TV's Bob Costas ? the type who has never worn a protective cup ? makes snarky, disparaging remarks about their playing abilities.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 19, 2013

Carp looking to turn things around after disappointing start

There were high hopes for the Hiroshima Carp heading into the 2013 NPB season but, almost a third of the way into the schedule, the results so far might well be described as a still wait-and-see situation.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Apr 12, 2013

Morgan hopes to aid BayStars' climb out of CL cellar

There are so many written and unwritten rules around baseball that sometimes people in the sport tend to take things a little too seriously.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 3, 2013

Lewis relishing challenge after joining Carp

Fred Lewis' first season with the Hiroshima Carp will be mostly spent getting used to Japanese, ouendans and games that can end in ties. Luckily, the 32-year old is already used to playing baseball at a high level, and for now that's enough.
SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Mar 27, 2013

Dodgers gone, but memories remain

The Dodgers MLB franchise sure has a way of breaking the hearts of towns that love them.
MORE SPORTS / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 24, 2013

WBC delivered quality drama on the diamond

The third World Baseball Classic is now history, and congratulations to the Dominican Republic on the victory. The WBC has gotten better each time, I believe, and it has become an excellent showcase for the game on a worldwide basis, especially since baseball was removed as an Olympic event following...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Mar 21, 2013

Dominicans claim WBC title

The Dominican Republic wins all eight of its games in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, capturing the title with a 3-0 shutout against Puerto Rico.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Mar 18, 2013

Maeda relaxed as Japan prepares to face Puerto Rico

If Kenta Maeda gets the start for Japan against Puerto Rico on Sunday, he'll be pitching in the biggest game of his life.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Mar 18, 2013

Scouts gather for precious look at global talent at WBC

With the World Baseball Classic acting as a showcase in front of major league scouts, Team Japan has obviously been one of the countries attracting attention from the men with stop watches and speed guns in the stands.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Mar 12, 2013

Dutch shock Cuba to make WBC semifinals

The Netherlands' players began spilling out of the dugout after Xander Bogaerts' soft fly ball touched down in right field, and Andruw Jones rounded third representing the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of what may have been the most important game in the history of baseball in the Netherlands....
Japan Times
BASEBALL / WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Mar 10, 2013

Cuba belts four homers, crushes Taiwan in mercy rule-shortened game

Facing elimination, mighty Cuba knocked balls out of the park almost as fast at it knocked Taiwan out of the World Baseball Classic.
BASEBALL / HIT AND RUN
Dec 11, 2012

Kuriyama's approach helped Fighters change Otani's mind

Hideki Kuriyama is a man who thought it was good luck that he happened to see a fox on his way home from Sapporo Dome after Game 3 of the Japan Series, although maybe it was, the Fighters won 1-0 on a sayonara single in Game 4.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / HIT AND RUN
Dec 4, 2012

NPB players should speak out about posting system

The Japan Professional Baseball Players Association showed rare backbone two years ago when, in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the players banded together and succeeded in getting the start of the season pushed back as the nation dealt with the disaster.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Nov 11, 2012

WBC squad may be hurting for top-line pitching

Japan manager Koji Yamamoto said his World Baseball Classic team would mirror previous Japan squads and be built around pitching and defense.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 7, 2012

Gruff Ochiai needs to change if return is in cards

The Pacific League's Orix Buffaloes announced on Sept. 25 manager Akinobu Okada will not return to run the club next season, and speculation about his replacement indicates Japanese baseball Hall of Famer and former Chunichi Dragons skipper Hiromitsu Ochiai is one of the candidates who might be appointed...
Japan Times
LIFE / WEEK 3
Sep 16, 2012

'Cheating' robot poses tech and ethical issues

Like a child eagerly trying to win some trading cards during a playground huddle, I scrunch up my fingers behind my back before unleashing my hand in time-honored fashion with the Japanese phrase: "Saisho wa gu, janken ... pon!"
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Aug 26, 2012

Stalling tactics being abused in time-limit games

Japanese pro baseball has stayed with the three-and-a-half-hour game time limit rule in 2012 and, while this may be helping to save energy and shorten the length of games, there are signs teams are abusing the rule, playing for a tie rather than a win. This is disappointing.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 20, 2012

Yokohama star Ramirez keeps family close to his heart

Alex Ramirez is dressed in his full uniform and standing a few feet in front of the Yokohama BayStars clubhouse, but baseball is the furthest thing from his mind right now.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Aug 5, 2012

MLB's trade deadline frenzy has yet to take hold among Japanese teams

One of the potential game-changers in Major League Baseball is the annual late-July trade activity of quality players from teams lower in the standings with little or no chance to make the postseason. Every year, these guys are dealt to playoff-contending clubs for young prospects, supposedly stars of...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 29, 2012

No need for NPB to push back start times

As mentioned in this column last week, the July 25 Central League game between the Yomiuri Giants and Yokohama DeNA Baystars at Tokyo Dome had a starting time of 7 p.m., an hour later than usual for weekday night games in Japanese baseball. It was a "test" to see if fans would turn out for a game...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 1, 2012

Poor record not stopping BayStars from aggressive marketing

A professional sports team has essentially two goals: Trying to win a championship and promoting the team to attract fans.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHO'S WHO
Jun 26, 2012

British drama coach Gavin Bantock at top of his game; casts take a bow

If drama were a sport, then the name Gavin Bantock would probably be known throughout Japan.

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