YOKOHAMA — Hiroshima Carp veteran Tomonori Maeda was returning to the dugout after fielding practice before the second game of the Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series on Friday at Yokohama Stadium when Chunichi Dragons manager Hiromitsu Ochiai decided it was time to have some fun.
Before long Maeda, who had his hat in his hand and glove tucked under his arm, was locked in a sinister game of fetch near the home dugout. Ochiai had a manic grin spread across his face as he had Maeda chasing balls left and right, often hitting a ball before Maeda had retrieved the last, for a few minutes as the Carp veteran begged for relief.
"Please, please," a laughing Maeda said as he chased balls bare-handed while trying to hang on to his hat. "Stop. It's too much."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.