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	<title>The Japan Times &#187; NPB NOTEBOOK</title>
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	<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp</link>
	<description>News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More</description>
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		<item>
		<title>Few issues left in play as season nears finish</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/few-issues-left-in-play-as-season-nears-finish/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=few-issues-left-in-play-as-season-nears-finish</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/few-issues-left-in-play-as-season-nears-finish/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:50:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hideto Asamura]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NPB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yuya Hasegawa]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=461522</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nippon Professional Baseball has crowned its 2013 league champions and most of the spots in the Climax Series have already been spoken for. Even so, there are still a number of questions remaining and storylines to be wrapped up as the season enters the home stretch. The most important matter still on the table is [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Home run king Balentien nearing another conquest</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/22/baseball/home-run-king-balentien-nearing-another-conquest/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=home-run-king-balentien-nearing-another-conquest</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/22/baseball/home-run-king-balentien-nearing-another-conquest/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Sep 2013 13:58:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kenta Maeda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=458669</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien has hit more home runs than any NPB player has ever hit in a single season and through Sunday had 13 games left to add to his record total which stood at 58. As if Balentien&#8217;s year wasn&#8217;t already impressive enough, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger is making a run at the first [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fighters pitcher Wolfe not ready to give up on season</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/04/baseball/fighters-pitcher-wolfe-not-ready-to-give-up-on-season/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=fighters-pitcher-wolfe-not-ready-to-give-up-on-season</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/04/baseball/fighters-pitcher-wolfe-not-ready-to-give-up-on-season/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Aug 2013 14:08:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Brian Wolfe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=423692</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Brian Wolfe&#8217;s confidence is not shaken. His Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters may be struggling and stuck in the Pacific League cellar, but Wolfe is not waving the white flag on the season just yet. The Fullerton, California, native won&#8217;t guarantee some miraculous run to the pennant &#8212; the Fighters are 13&#189; games out of first [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/04/baseball/fighters-pitcher-wolfe-not-ready-to-give-up-on-season/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lefty starter Kikuchi thriving for Lions</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/21/baseball/lefty-starter-kikuchi-thriving-for-lions/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=lefty-starter-kikuchi-thriving-for-lions</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/21/baseball/lefty-starter-kikuchi-thriving-for-lions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:10:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Seibu Lions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yusei Kikuchi]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=388516</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yusei Kikuchi is scheduled to toe the rubber for the Seibu Lions Friday night against the Orix Buffaloes as Japanese baseball gets back to intraleague competition this weekend. Kikuchi (7-2) has been among the best pitchers in Japan this season, and will take the mound after coming within two outs of a no-hitter in his [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/21/baseball/lefty-starter-kikuchi-thriving-for-lions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tigers continue early-season mastery of Giants</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/11/baseball/tigers-continue-early-season-mastery-of-giants/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=tigers-continue-early-season-mastery-of-giants</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/11/baseball/tigers-continue-early-season-mastery-of-giants/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2013 15:03:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=361996</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To say the Hanshin Tigers have been successful against the Yomiuri Giants is a somewhat of a misnomer. It&#8217;s probably more accurate to say the Tigers have owned the Giants in the early part of the season. Refer to the 2004 ALCS when Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez remarked, &#8220;I just tip my hat [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Morgan hopes to aid BayStars&#8217; climb out of CL cellar</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/12/baseball/morgan-hopes-to-aid-baystars-climb-out-of-cl-cellar/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=morgan-hopes-to-aid-baystars-climb-out-of-cl-cellar</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/12/baseball/morgan-hopes-to-aid-baystars-climb-out-of-cl-cellar/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:21:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nyjer Morgan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shohei Otani]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yokohama BayStars]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=347056</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are so many written and unwritten rules around baseball that sometimes people in the sport tend to take things a little too seriously. That&#8217;s not a problem for new Yokohama BayStars outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who has the utmost respect for his craft, but is careful to remember that baseball is a game, and games [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/12/baseball/morgan-hopes-to-aid-baystars-climb-out-of-cl-cellar/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Giants hope Bowker, Lopez end foreign scouting drought</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/06/baseball/giants-hope-bowker-lopez-end-foreign-scouting-drought/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=giants-hope-bowker-lopez-end-foreign-scouting-drought</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/06/baseball/giants-hope-bowker-lopez-end-foreign-scouting-drought/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:18:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alex Ramirez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Bowker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jose Lopez]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=342590</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The last &#8216;homegrown&#8217; foreign player to make any major impact for the Yomiuri Giants was volatile pitcher Balvino Galvez, whose reign of terror lasted from 1996-2000. Before him, there was Warren Cromartie, the 1989 Central League MVP who hit .321 with 171 home runs, 558 RBIs over seven years with the Kyojin. The Giants have [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/06/baseball/giants-hope-bowker-lopez-end-foreign-scouting-drought/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>Trading four-time All-Star Itoi doesn&#8217;t make sense for Fighters</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/24/baseball/trading-four-time-all-star-itoi-doesnt-make-sense-for-fighters/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=trading-four-time-all-star-itoi-doesnt-make-sense-for-fighters</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/24/baseball/trading-four-time-all-star-itoi-doesnt-make-sense-for-fighters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:45:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiroshi Kisanuki]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orix Buffaloes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoshio Itoi]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=89649</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So why did the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters trade away arguably the best player on their team, if not in the entire Pacific League?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/24/baseball/trading-four-time-all-star-itoi-doesnt-make-sense-for-fighters/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>Yoshikawa&#8217;s MVP award puts pitcher in elite company</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/27/baseball/yoshikawas-mvp-award-puts-pitcher-in-elite-company/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=yoshikawas-mvp-award-puts-pitcher-in-elite-company</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/27/baseball/yoshikawas-mvp-award-puts-pitcher-in-elite-company/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/27/%sports_category%/yoshikawas-mvp-award-puts-pitcher-in-elite-company/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week, pitcher Mitsuo Yoshikawa became the first Pacific League MVP winner from the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters since 2009. The last Fighters player to earn the honor was former ace Yu Darvish, who won in both 2007 and 2009. Yoshikawa&#8217;s triumph also marks the sixth time a pitcher has won the award since 2005. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/27/baseball/yoshikawas-mvp-award-puts-pitcher-in-elite-company/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>WBC squad may be hurting for top-line pitching</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/11/baseball/wbc-squad-may-be-hurting-for-top-line-pitching/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=wbc-squad-may-be-hurting-for-top-line-pitching</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/11/baseball/wbc-squad-may-be-hurting-for-top-line-pitching/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/11/%sports_category%/wbc-squad-may-be-hurting-for-top-line-pitching/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan manager Koji Yamamoto said his World Baseball Classic team would mirror previous Japan squads and be built around pitching and defense. An admirable ideal, if not for the small issue of his best pitcher not wanting to play. What&#8217;s more, the second or third-best options might not be available either. Yu Darvish announced earlier [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/11/baseball/wbc-squad-may-be-hurting-for-top-line-pitching/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Yoh motivated by possibility of trip to Busan</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/02/baseball/yoh-motivated-by-possibility-of-trip-to-busan/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=yoh-motivated-by-possibility-of-trip-to-busan</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/02/baseball/yoh-motivated-by-possibility-of-trip-to-busan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kaz Nagatsuka</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/02/%sports_category%/yoh-motivated-by-possibility-of-trip-to-busan/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stretching on the field hours before Thursday&#8217;s Game 5 of the Japan Series, Hokkaido Nippon Ham outfielder Daikan Yoh smilingly said that he hoped to go to South Korea. That meant that he wanted to advance to the Asia Series in Busan by winning the Japan Series title against the Yomiuri Giants. &#8220;Hopefully, we&#8217;ll be [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/02/baseball/yoh-motivated-by-possibility-of-trip-to-busan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Former boxer Sugiya not interested in watching son, Fighters at ballpark</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/01/baseball/former-boxer-sugiya-not-interested-in-watching-son-fighters-at-ballpark/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=former-boxer-sugiya-not-interested-in-watching-son-fighters-at-ballpark</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/01/baseball/former-boxer-sugiya-not-interested-in-watching-son-fighters-at-ballpark/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:01:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kaz Nagatsuka</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/01/%sports_category%/former-boxer-sugiya-not-interested-in-watching-son-fighters-at-ballpark/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters youngster Kenshi Sugiya and his father, Mitsuru, are a unique father-son tandem. Both of them have been professional athletes. Mitsuru Sugiya was a Japan featherweight champion boxer, who also fought in a WBC world title match, in the mid-1980s. But it seems like baseball isn&#8217;t really meant for the elder Sugiya. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/01/baseball/former-boxer-sugiya-not-interested-in-watching-son-fighters-at-ballpark/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Giants on both sides of Pacific stand tall together</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/31/baseball/giants-on-both-sides-of-pacific-stand-tall-together/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=giants-on-both-sides-of-pacific-stand-tall-together</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/31/baseball/giants-on-both-sides-of-pacific-stand-tall-together/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kaz Nagatsuka</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/31/%sports_category%/giants-on-both-sides-of-pacific-stand-tall-together/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You could call it a coincidence, but going into Game 3 of the Japan Series on Tuesday there was a chance something uncanny could happen in baseball on both sides of the Pacific. Both the Giants of the United States and Japan had the opportunity to win their respective championships in exactly the same fashion; [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Fighters skipper Kuriyama maintains light mood after opening setback</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/29/baseball/fighters-skipper-kuriyama-maintains-light-mood-after-opening-setback/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=fighters-skipper-kuriyama-maintains-light-mood-after-opening-setback</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/29/baseball/fighters-skipper-kuriyama-maintains-light-mood-after-opening-setback/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:01:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kaz Nagatsuka</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/29/%sports_category%/fighters-skipper-kuriyama-maintains-light-mood-after-opening-setback/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Despite a lopsided 8-1 loss to the Yomiuri Giants in Game 1 of the Japan Series, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama came out in front of the media throng in a cheerful mode before Sunday&#8217;s Game 2 at Tokyo Dome. And the first word that came out of his mouth was sort of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/29/baseball/fighters-skipper-kuriyama-maintains-light-mood-after-opening-setback/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Murata enjoying first playoff appearance</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/28/baseball/murata-enjoying-first-playoff-appearance/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=murata-enjoying-first-playoff-appearance</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/28/baseball/murata-enjoying-first-playoff-appearance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kaz Nagatsuka</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/28/%sports_category%/murata-enjoying-first-playoff-appearance/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Perhaps Shuichi Murata is the one who&#8217;s psyched up the most on the 21-time NPB champion Yomiuri Giants in the Japan Series. The 31-year-old slugger joined the club via free agency before this season after playing for nine years with the always-struggling Yokohama BayStars. With the &#8216;Stars, Murata had never even played in the Climax [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/28/baseball/murata-enjoying-first-playoff-appearance/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Race for Pacific League crown likely going down to wire</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/24/baseball/race-for-pacific-league-crown-likely-going-down-to-wire/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=race-for-pacific-league-crown-likely-going-down-to-wire</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/24/baseball/race-for-pacific-league-crown-likely-going-down-to-wire/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:01:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/24/%sports_category%/race-for-pacific-league-crown-likely-going-down-to-wire/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Yomiuri Giants wrapped up the Central League pennant last week. Now the spotlight shifts to the Pacific League race, which is getting tighter by the day. Entering this week, there are three teams &#8212; the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Seibu Lions and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks &#8212; with realistic aspirations of winning the title. The [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Balentien having a blast during second season in Japan</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/07/08/baseball/balentien-having-a-blast-during-second-season-in-japan/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=balentien-having-a-blast-during-second-season-in-japan</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/07/08/baseball/balentien-having-a-blast-during-second-season-in-japan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Jul 2012 00:01:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/07/08/%sports_category%/balentien-having-a-blast-during-second-season-in-japan/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien&#8217;s cousins began calling him &#8220;Coco&#8221; when he was 4-years old, because it was easier to say than his name, and the moniker stuck. The way he&#8217;s swinging the bat, opposing pitchers are now probably busy trying to come up with easier methods of dealing with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger. After a slump [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/07/08/baseball/balentien-having-a-blast-during-second-season-in-japan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Blanco has last laugh, garners CL All-Star nod</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/07/02/baseball/blanco-has-last-laugh-garners-cl-all-star-nod/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=blanco-has-last-laugh-garners-cl-all-star-nod</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/07/02/baseball/blanco-has-last-laugh-garners-cl-all-star-nod/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:01:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/07/02/%sports_category%/blanco-has-last-laugh-garners-cl-all-star-nod/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After last season&#8217;s Japan Series, there were questions about whether or not Tony Blanco would be back with the Chunichi Dragons this year. When the club signed veteran first baseman Takeshi Yamasaki, who spent years starring for other teams after coming up in the Dragons&#8217; system, many wondered how much playing time Blanco would get. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/07/02/baseball/blanco-has-last-laugh-garners-cl-all-star-nod/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Sugiuchi usually at his best in month of May</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/06/02/baseball/sugiuchi-usually-at-his-best-in-month-of-may/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=sugiuchi-usually-at-his-best-in-month-of-may</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/06/02/baseball/sugiuchi-usually-at-his-best-in-month-of-may/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:01:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/06/02/%sports_category%/sugiuchi-usually-at-his-best-in-month-of-may/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Toshiya Sugiuchi is a former Pacific League MVP and Sawamura award winner and has been among NPB&#8217;s elite pitchers for years. As good as he is under normal circumstances &#8212; and a 110-56 record with a 2.84 ERA and 1,677 career strikeouts say that&#8217;s pretty good &#8212; for some reason he seems to ratchet it [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/06/02/baseball/sugiuchi-usually-at-his-best-in-month-of-may/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Overuse could be a factor in Asao&#8217;s drop in efficiency this season</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/12/baseball/overuse-could-be-a-factor-in-asaos-drop-in-efficiency-this-season/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=overuse-could-be-a-factor-in-asaos-drop-in-efficiency-this-season</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/12/baseball/overuse-could-be-a-factor-in-asaos-drop-in-efficiency-this-season/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/12/%sports_category%/overuse-could-be-a-factor-in-asaos-drop-in-efficiency-this-season/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Chunichi Dragons reliever Takuya Asao gave up an earned run against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows during the eighth inning of Thursday&#8217;s game at Nagoya Dome. After allowing four all of last season, Asao has given up four earned runs &#8212; five overall &#8212; this year. Asao has been solid for the Dragons thus far, but [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/12/baseball/overuse-could-be-a-factor-in-asaos-drop-in-efficiency-this-season/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>No changes to draft, posting system forthcoming says NPB commissioner</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/16/baseball/no-changes-to-draft-posting-system-forthcoming-says-npb-commissioner/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=no-changes-to-draft-posting-system-forthcoming-says-npb-commissioner</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/16/baseball/no-changes-to-draft-posting-system-forthcoming-says-npb-commissioner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:01:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/16/%sports_category%/no-changes-to-draft-posting-system-forthcoming-says-npb-commissioner/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In October the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pulled off a minor shocker by drafting highly-touted Tokai University pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. Sugano had previously stated it was his dream to play for the Yomiuri Giants, managed by his uncle Tatsunori Hara. With this known, most teams passed on Sugano, leaving him free to go to Yomiuri. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/16/baseball/no-changes-to-draft-posting-system-forthcoming-says-npb-commissioner/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Aggressive Ishikawa impressive in opener</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/01/baseball/aggressive-ishikawa-impressive-in-opener/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=aggressive-ishikawa-impressive-in-opener</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/01/baseball/aggressive-ishikawa-impressive-in-opener/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:01:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/01/%sports_category%/aggressive-ishikawa-impressive-in-opener/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The 2012 NPB season opened Friday and it wasn&#8217;t bereft of a little bit drama on Opening Day. The fans at Tokyo Dome nearly saw a bit of history as Tokyo Yakult Swallows pitcher Masanori Ishikawa flirted with the first no-hitter in Opening Day history. Ishikawa kept the Yomiuri Giants totally off balance in a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/01/baseball/aggressive-ishikawa-impressive-in-opener/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Iwakuma, Chen intriguing options for major league clubs</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/12/24/baseball/iwakuma-chen-intriguing-options-for-major-league-clubs/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=iwakuma-chen-intriguing-options-for-major-league-clubs</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/12/24/baseball/iwakuma-chen-intriguing-options-for-major-league-clubs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/12/24/%sports_category%/iwakuma-chen-intriguing-options-for-major-league-clubs/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yu Darvish and Tsuyoshi Wada have been spoken for, but there are still two high-profile NPB pitchers looking to make the jump to the majors next season. With the majority of the baseball world caught up in the hoopla surrounding Darvish&#8217;s posting, and the record &#36;51.7 million fee the Texas Rangers doled out for his [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/12/24/baseball/iwakuma-chen-intriguing-options-for-major-league-clubs/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Eagles soar into race for final playoff spot</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/08/29/baseball/eagles-soar-into-race-for-final-playoff-spot/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=eagles-soar-into-race-for-final-playoff-spot</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/08/29/baseball/eagles-soar-into-race-for-final-playoff-spot/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/08/29/%sports_category%/eagles-soar-into-race-for-final-playoff-spot/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The gauntlet the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles faced the past 11 games, could&#8217;ve all-but ended their season. Instead, it might have been just the push they needed. Once in fifth place and all but left for dead in the playoff race with nine consecutive games against the top two teams in Japanese baseball looming, the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/08/29/baseball/eagles-soar-into-race-for-final-playoff-spot/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Nakamura thriving despite new baseball</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/07/18/baseball/nakamura-thriving-despite-new-baseball/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=nakamura-thriving-despite-new-baseball</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/07/18/baseball/nakamura-thriving-despite-new-baseball/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/07/18/%sports_category%/nakamura-thriving-despite-new-baseball/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Takeya Nakamura is making a mockery of the NPB&#8217;s new ball. Earlier this year, one Central League slugger wondered aloud whether or not anyone would make it to 30 home runs. The better question is, can Okawari-kun hit 50? While many players are struggling with the effect the new ball &#8212; which doesn&#8217;t carry as [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/07/18/baseball/nakamura-thriving-despite-new-baseball/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>PL struggled at gate in interleague</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/06/24/baseball/pl-struggled-at-gate-in-interleague/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=pl-struggled-at-gate-in-interleague</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/06/24/baseball/pl-struggled-at-gate-in-interleague/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/06/24/%sports_category%/pl-struggled-at-gate-in-interleague/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Pacific League, led by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, got the best of the Central League on the field, but couldn&#8217;t keep pace in the stands. The PL saw a 6.7 percent decline in average attendance during interleague play this season compared with last year&#8217;s figures. The interleague champion Hawks were the only PL team [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/06/24/baseball/pl-struggled-at-gate-in-interleague/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Hawks, Pa. League stage another dominant interleague campaign</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/06/20/baseball/hawks-pa-league-stage-another-dominant-interleague-campaign/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hawks-pa-league-stage-another-dominant-interleague-campaign</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/06/20/baseball/hawks-pa-league-stage-another-dominant-interleague-campaign/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/06/20/%sports_category%/hawks-pa-league-stage-another-dominant-interleague-campaign/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Another interleague season is in the books and, as has been the case in each of the previous seven years, a Pacific League team is raising the interleague pennant. Pa. League teams rolled over their Central League counterparts, combining to finish with an above .500 mark for the sixth time in seven seasons. While the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/06/20/baseball/hawks-pa-league-stage-another-dominant-interleague-campaign/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Falkenborg feels right at home with Hawks</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/30/baseball/falkenborg-feels-right-at-home-with-hawks/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=falkenborg-feels-right-at-home-with-hawks</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/30/baseball/falkenborg-feels-right-at-home-with-hawks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/30/%sports_category%/falkenborg-feels-right-at-home-with-hawks/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fukuoka Softbank Hawks reliever Brian Falkenborg raised a few eyebrows with his performance on the mound last season. And not just in Japan. The 200-cm right-hander caught the attention of a few major league clubs after making 60 appearances for the Hawks and posting a 1.02 ERA with 39 holds. After going over his options [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/30/baseball/falkenborg-feels-right-at-home-with-hawks/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>Sledge: PL franchises expect to top CL rivals</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/23/baseball/sledge-pl-franchises-expect-to-top-cl-rivals/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=sledge-pl-franchises-expect-to-top-cl-rivals</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/23/baseball/sledge-pl-franchises-expect-to-top-cl-rivals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/23/%sports_category%/sledge-pl-franchises-expect-to-top-cl-rivals/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since the interleague format was introduced in Japan in 2005, the Pacific League has gotten the better of the Central League. The PL is 520-487-25 against the CL in interleague play, with every title going to a PL team (Chiba Lotte Marines, 2005-06, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, &#8217;07, Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, &#8217;08-09, Orix Buffaloes 2010). [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/23/baseball/sledge-pl-franchises-expect-to-top-cl-rivals/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nakata finally paying off for Fighters brass</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/16/baseball/nakata-finally-paying-off-for-fighters-brass/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=nakata-finally-paying-off-for-fighters-brass</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/16/baseball/nakata-finally-paying-off-for-fighters-brass/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/16/%sports_category%/nakata-finally-paying-off-for-fighters-brass/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters got next to nothing out of Sho Nakata for the better part of two seasons after selecting the heralded high school power hitter in the 2007 draft. Things just didn&#8217;t work out as planned initially as Nakata failed to earn a permanent spot on the top team roster, struggled in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/05/16/baseball/nakata-finally-paying-off-for-fighters-brass/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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