| The final match-up of the World Baseball Classic | | | | let them.""They didn't want me to get the |
| featured two teams from | | | | record," he acknowledged. "All records are for |
| countries where baseball is a beloved sport - | | | | the Japanese. The last 20 at-bats of the season, |
| Cuba and Japan. Both countries | | | | I think I only saw one strike."There are aspects |
| are noted for producing fine players, some of | | | | of the game with which MLB players have |
| whom are enjoying stellar careers | | | | difficulty. Cabrera |
| in America. Presently, Ishiro and Matsui from | | | | said it very clearly, when he complained, "Here, if |
| Japan are two of the best and | | | | you hit a home run your first |
| most consistent players in the majors. Making it | | | | at-bat, they walk you the next three. In |
| in the big leagues in America is | | | | America, you get a chance to hit more |
| a big deal in Japan, a country that loves baseball | | | | home runs. They challenge you."In the same |
| and embraces its own | | | | article, former Japanese player and present |
| professional teams.American teachers first | | | | Yankee Hideki Matsui |
| introduced the game to the island country in the | | | | observed, "In the past there has been more of |
| 1870's, | | | | that sort of unfairness," Matsui |
| and it firmly took root. By the turn of the | | | | said, sympathizing with Cabrera. "But it has been |
| century, it was a sport throughout the | | | | decreasing in the last couple |
| nation and in 1936 the first professional teams | | | | years and I just hope that in the future it will get |
| were established. The current | | | | better."Although Cabrera has found a home with |
| professional structure was created in 1950, with | | | | the Lions, he's certainly willing to |
| teams playing in either the | | | | come back and play in America. In fact, he's |
| Pacific League or the Central League.The | | | | anxious to prove that he can hit |
| exchange of players between the Japanese | | | | big league curveballs - something scouts claim he |
| leagues and Major League | | | | can't do - and pound 40-plus |
| baseball is not a one-way street. The first | | | | round trippers per season in the majors.Lou |
| American to play baseball in post- | | | | Merloni and Gabe Kapler both did their time in |
| World War II Japan was Wallace Kaname | | | | Japan for the same reasons |
| Yonamine, a Nisei Japanese | | | | and with similar results. Merloni and Kapler were |
| American who had played NFL Football but never | | | | enticed by the chance to play |
| had a spot on a Major | | | | every day, something that had eluded them |
| League Baseball club. Yonamine had a Hall of | | | | when they were both with the |
| Fame career in Japan.When major leaguers from | | | | Boston Red Sox.In 2000, Merloni went to the |
| America first started to compete in the Japanese | | | | Yokohama Bay Stars with the understanding that |
| | | | he would be the team's regular third baseman. |
| League, they were often at the end of their | | | | But the player he was supposed |
| careers. In 1962, right-handed | | | | to replace decided to stay with the team, and so |
| pitcher Don Newcombe became the first MLB | | | | Merloni spent much of the |
| player to sign and play with a | | | | season on the bench. Although he found it to be |
| team in Japan. During his 10 years in the majors, | | | | a frustrating season, he also |
| Newcombe posted a 149-90 | | | | thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime cultural |
| mark, with 1129 strikeouts and a 3.56 ERA. He is | | | | experience.The game is pretty much the same, |
| still the only player to win | | | | except there's a rule prohibiting tie games |
| Rookie of the Year, MVP and the Cy Young. | | | | from going more than 3 extra innings, which |
| Newcombe was the first of | | | | means the game ends in a tie. First, |
| many Americans to go to the Far East to play | | | | there are the pre-game workouts and |
| what many consider "the" | | | | warm-ups, lasting hours. Then there's all |
| American sport.In the past decade something | | | | the cigarette smoke - Japanese players light up a |
| has changed concerning the emigration of | | | | lot. Also, there's the fact that |
| professional players from America to Japan. The | | | | when the club is on the road everyone has to |
| men who go to the Japanese | | | | dress for the game at the hotel |
| League are no longer at the end of their careers. | | | | because there are no visiting locker rooms.The |
| They are now, more often than | | | | media never tired of asking the third baseman if |
| not, mid-career players who can't seem to find | | | | he'd like to marry a |
| an everyday role on a major | | | | Japanese woman. When Merloni answered |
| league team. Often, these players decide to go | | | | questions, he often felt his translator |
| to Japan because they will have | | | | was editing his comments along with reporters' |
| a chance to contribute every day.Some players | | | | queries.Along with the possibility of being an |
| find a home away from home in Japan, while | | | | everyday player, there's the bump in |
| others go and get | | | | salary a player who's been in the states realizes. |
| some daily experience and come back to parlay | | | | Usually they're making six to |
| that into a starting role in | | | | 10 times what they made in MLB! That's quite a |
| MLB. Still, others struggle in their foreign environs | | | | payday. After Japan, Merloni |
| and come back looking to | | | | came back to the Red Sox and played for them |
| play in the big leagues, even if it's as a utility | | | | and the AAA team for the next |
| player.Alex Cabrera is an example of the first | | | | three seasons before going to various other |
| type of player, while Lou Merloni | | | | major league clubs. He seemed like |
| seemed as though he might fit the bill for the | | | | he might have found a starting role with San |
| second category but didn't quite | | | | Diego part way through the 2003 |
| get a break in Japan or make the cut when he | | | | season, but after 65 games, they dealt him back |
| came back to his homeland. | | | | to the BoSox.Gabe Kapler was offered a similar |
| Gabe Kapler illustrates a player in the final and | | | | opportunity in 2005, and like Merloni, he |
| least desirable of the three | | | | took it. With a contract valued at approximately |
| groups.First baseman Alex Cabrera, who spent | | | | $2 million, the utility outfielder |
| nine seasons in the minors with the | | | | was excited about getting to play every day and |
| Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and | | | | experience an entirely different |
| Arizona Diamondbacks, finally got | | | | culture. But after being a part of Boston's first |
| his chance to play Major League Baseball in 2000. | | | | World Series winning team in 86 |
| In 31 games he hit 5 homer | | | | years, Japanese ball seemed to lack the spark of |
| runs, scored 10 runs, knocked in 14 RBI and | | | | the game played in his |
| accumulated a .262 BA. Then, in | | | | homeland.Missing were the overly expressive |
| 2001, the Seibu Lions of the Japan Pacific League | | | | fans, the rich heritage, and the knock 'em |
| bought his contract from the | | | | down rivalries. Kapler also didn't perform up to |
| Diamondbacks. For Cabrera it was the perfect | | | | expectations and found himself |
| move at exactly the right time.Cabrera | | | | sitting on the bench by the second-half of the |
| immediately became a star in Japan. In his first | | | | season. When he got back to the |
| season he hit .282 with | | | | states and was signed by Boston for the rest of |
| 124 RBI and 49 HR. In 2002, his second season, | | | | the 2005 season, he was |
| he won the Pacific League's | | | | overjoyed as were many Red Sox fans, who |
| MVP award and tied the single season homerun | | | | always admired Kapler's hustle, |
| mark (55) set by the Babe | | | | work ethic and intelligent play.In a strange twist |
| Ruth of Japan, Sadaharu Oh. (Tuffy Rhodes, | | | | of fate, the outfielder, who was on first base |
| another former MLB player also | | | | when Tony |
| tied the record in 2001.)In 2004, Cabrera hit two | | | | Graffanino hit a homer, ruptured his Achilles |
| homeruns in game three, including a grand slam, | | | | tendon after rounding second. As |
| and a | | | | Kapler lay in the base path unable to get up and |
| massive dinger in the seventh game of the | | | | in agonizing pain, it was clear |
| Japan Series to help the Seibu Lions | | | | that his 2005 season was over.In 2006, he was |
| defeat the Chunichi Dragons 7-2, leading his team | | | | no longer on a major league roster and neither |
| to their first championship | | | | was Merloni, |
| since 1992.Cabrera totes a .308 BA with 413 RBI | | | | who had played a utility role with Cleveland in |
| and 147 HR in his first four years with | | | | 2004. For both players, Japan |
| the Lions. Life is great for the first baseman and | | | | never panned out, while Alex Cabrera has |
| he loves Japanese ball. Except | | | | achieved more than most Japanese |
| for one thing. In an interview with he | | | | players. The irony for Cabrera is that despite his |
| acknowledged his frustration | | | | winning ways, the Japanese |
| at not being allowed to break the record set by | | | | League will never accept him. That |
| Sadaharu Oh.Cabrera noted, "All my teammates | | | | non-acceptance, which seems to affect |
| wanted me to break the record. A lot of the | | | | every foreign player, is one thing that definitely |
| players on other teams wanted me to break it, | | | | separates baseball in Japan from |
| too. The pitchers want to throw | | | | baseball in America. |
| me strikes but the managers and coaches don't | | | | |