At first glance, you might think the new Japanese strike zone will benefit pitchers and be a hindrance to batters this coming season. The zone has been raised more than the diameter of one baseball, but I believe it will be the hitters -- not the hurlers -- who will get the most advantage out of the new rule.
The single-season home run record of 55, now shared by Tuffy Rhodes and Sadaharu Oh, is likely to be eclipsed, and I can see several players, especially in the Pacific League, hitting 50 or more roundtrippers in 2002. Don't be surprised if one or two men hit 60.
Why? Because the guys will be swinging more.