Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners has never been on the disabled list – until now. Due to a bleeding ulcer that has led to discomfort and fatigue, Ichiro will begin the 2009 MLB campaign on the disabled list. The Mariners will try to get off on the right foot without arguably their best player.
This offseason has been an extremely busy time for Ichiro. Playing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for Japan, he had the entire pressure of the country on him to bring home back-to-back WBC titles. Thanks to Ichiro’s game-winning hit, he was able to do just …read more

When Japan needed a big hit to win their second straight World Baseball Classic, they got the needed hit from their biggest star. Ichiro, who has been one of the best baseball players in the world over the last decade, hit a single in the top of the tenth inning to score two runs for Japan.
After ending South Korea’s chances in the bottom of the 10th, Japan became successful in their bid to go 2-for-2 in the World Baseball Classic. In 2006, they won the inaugural WBC event.
Japan got up early in this ballgame but could never put South Korea …read more

Japan won the initial World Baseball Classic in 2006. On Monday, they will try to win the 2009 World Baseball Classic after defeating the United States on Sunday night by a final score of 9-4 to advance to the championship game.
The night started off well for the U.S. as they scored in the top of the first inning. After Japan tied it at one, the United States went up 2-1 on a David Wright RBI double in the third inning.
However, the wheels came off for the U.S. in the bottom of the fourth. Facing starter Roy Oswalt, Japan scored five …read more

For their semifinal game against Japan, the United States will put the ball in Roy Oswalt’s hand. In his last outing, Oswalt delivered four shutout innings against the Netherlands in a must-win game.
Facing another must-win game, the US is going back to the pitcher who is regarded by many as the best big game starter on the roster. The 31-year-old has spent his entire career with the Houston Astros.
Although Japan hasn’t officially named their starter, most followers expect Daisuke Matsuzaka to get the start. Last year with the Boston Red Sox, Matsuzaka had an 18-3 record with a 2.90 ERA.
The …read more

South Korea beat Cuba in the gold medal game in a game considered by many to be a major upset. Cuba has long been a power in Olympic baseball, however South Korea proved to be too good and too clutch as they won all nine of their games in the tournament.
Going into the tournament, many experts claimed that Cuba and Japan were the favorites. However, South Korea is the team that will go home with the gold medal for baseball.
Leading 3-2 in the ninth inning, the South Koreans forced a game-ending double play with the bases loaded. …read more

That’s the question Jackson Broder asks at East Windup Chronicle. He profiles several hitters and pitchers playing in Japan’s NPB who could make the jump to North America.
Kosuke Fukudome of the Chunichi Dragons has been getting a fair amount of play as a potential impact outfielder should he cross the pond. Jackson compares him to Bob Abreu, with the caveats that Fukudome recently underwent elbow surgery and that some of his power could be lost in translation on moving to MLB (sometimes you get Hideki Matsui, sometimes you get Kazuo Matsui).
The pitching side is less clear. As Akinori Otsuka, Shingo …read more