As the 2009 season unfolded in major league baseball, Kansas City Royals manager Trey Hillman may have caught himself recalling his time in Japan two seasons ago.
If so, it's easy to see why.
Watching pitcher Zack Greinke carve up American League batters en route to the 2009 Cy Young Award had to be a lot like bearing witness to Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish dominate during his Sawamura Award-winning year in 2007.