After failing to win a medal four years ago, Japan's baseball team is going all out in its quest for Olympic gold this month at Athens.
For the first time, Japan's national team will be made up entirely of players from the professional ranks, leaving teams from the Central and Pacific Leagues without some of their best players during the crucial pennant drive.
Infielder Michihiro Ogasawara is putting up some Most Valuable Player-like numbers for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters this season and will miss a handful of games when he heads to Athens for the Olympic baseball tournament.