A Happy New Year to all readers of The Japan Times and the Baseball Bullet-in.
Spring training for Japan's 12 pro baseball teams begins a mere 23 days from now, as the Central and Pacific League clubs break camp Feb. 1 in Shikoku, Okinawa and southern Kyushu, the local versions of Florida and Arizona.
One big rule change this year is the decision to allow four foreign players on the field during Japanese games. Each team's varsity roster will still be limited to four aliens registered at any given time but, besides the option of two non-Japanese position players and two pitchers, teams can now choose to list three position players and one pitcher or one fielder and three pitchers.