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	<title>The Japan Times &#187; SPORTS SCOPE</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>Another challenge awaits Rakuten</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/baseball/another-challenge-awaits-rakuten/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=another-challenge-awaits-rakuten</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/baseball/another-challenge-awaits-rakuten/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:39:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=461939</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Clinching the Pacific League pennant a little early gave the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles a chance to really enjoy the moment. Ace Masahiro Tanaka, 22-0 this season, was on the mound for the last inning of the PL pennant race on Sept. 26 at Seibu Dome &#8212; for once in search of a save rather [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/baseball/another-challenge-awaits-rakuten/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kato&#8217;s attempt to change NPB doomed by lack of power</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/katos-attempt-to-change-npb-doomed-by-lack-of-power/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=katos-attempt-to-change-npb-doomed-by-lack-of-power</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/katos-attempt-to-change-npb-doomed-by-lack-of-power/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:19:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nippon Pro Baseball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryozo Kato]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=459522</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ryozo Kato had the ideas to be the commissioner Japanese baseball needed, but not the muscle. Early in his tenure, you could hear the sincerity with which he spoke of trying to make NPB better for both fans and players. It is somewhat ironic then that Kato&#8217;s most successful step toward that goal &#8212; introducing [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/katos-attempt-to-change-npb-doomed-by-lack-of-power/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Time to salute Ichiro&#8217;s amazing feat, leave debate aside</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/22/baseball/time-to-salute-ichiros-amazing-feat-leave-debate-aside/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=time-to-salute-ichiros-amazing-feat-leave-debate-aside</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/22/baseball/time-to-salute-ichiros-amazing-feat-leave-debate-aside/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Aug 2013 14:40:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[000 Hits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[4]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ichiro Suzuki]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=432972</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ichiro Suzuki took off his helmet to reveal a head a little more salt than pepper as he bowed in appreciation of the reception he was receiving after joining an exclusive club with the 4,000th professional hit of his career between Japan and the U.S. at Yankee Stadium. Before Wednesday night, the 4,000-hit list consisted [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/22/baseball/time-to-salute-ichiros-amazing-feat-leave-debate-aside/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>German giving master class in fine art of stealing bases</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/19/baseball/german-giving-master-class-in-fine-art-of-stealing-bases/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=german-giving-master-class-in-fine-art-of-stealing-bases</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/19/baseball/german-giving-master-class-in-fine-art-of-stealing-bases/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Aug 2013 14:54:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Esteban German]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seibu Lions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=431814</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Esteban German is looking for a sign. Not one of a divine nature, but something &#8212; anything from the movement of a shoulder to the shifting of weight &#8212; that can serve as his cue to leave the safe haven of first base and make a mad dash to second. Finally, the pitcher delivers, and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/19/baseball/german-giving-master-class-in-fine-art-of-stealing-bases/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>MLB chatter sure to increase as Tanaka dominates in NPB</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/12/baseball/mlb-chatter-sure-to-increase-as-tanaka-dominates-in-npb/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=mlb-chatter-sure-to-increase-as-tanaka-dominates-in-npb</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/12/baseball/mlb-chatter-sure-to-increase-as-tanaka-dominates-in-npb/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2013 13:44:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hisashi Iwakuma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yu Darvish]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=429544</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It was Friday morning in Japan when Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer earned his 17th win of the MLB season. As the visiting Tigers were wrapping up a 10-3 road drubbing of the Cleveland Indians, Masahiro Tanaka was an ocean away in Sendai, perhaps preparing for his game against the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks later that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/12/baseball/mlb-chatter-sure-to-increase-as-tanaka-dominates-in-npb/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Balentien, Ogawa keep Swallows in spotlight</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/05/baseball/balentien-ogawa-keep-swallows-in-spotlight/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=balentien-ogawa-keep-swallows-in-spotlight</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/05/baseball/balentien-ogawa-keep-swallows-in-spotlight/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:11:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yasuhiro Ogawa]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=424156</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There normally wouldn&#8217;t be many reasons to keep close tabs on a 35-57-1 team that&#8217;s 22&#189; games out of first place. Then again, most teams in that position don&#8217;t have a pair of players as worthy of the spotlight as the Tokyo Yakult Swallows&#8217; duo of Wladimir Balentien and Yasuhiro &#8220;Ryan&#8221; Ogawa. The Swallows are [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/08/05/baseball/balentien-ogawa-keep-swallows-in-spotlight/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Otani&#8217;s presence hard to ignore during NPB All-Star Series</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/22/baseball/otanis-presence-hard-to-ignore-during-npb-all-star-series-2/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=otanis-presence-hard-to-ignore-during-npb-all-star-series-2</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/22/baseball/otanis-presence-hard-to-ignore-during-npb-all-star-series-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:52:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shoei Otani]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=415808</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If this year&#8217;s NPB All-Star Series was about anything, it was about Shohei Otani. Media and fans couldn&#8217;t get enough of the 19-year-old Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters rookie, and it was a good thing too, because he was everywhere. He pitched, he hit, and he played the field, but no matter where he was, Otani [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/22/baseball/otanis-presence-hard-to-ignore-during-npb-all-star-series-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>Itoi trade not yet paying off for either Fighters or Buffaloes</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/15/baseball/itoi-trade-not-yet-paying-off-for-either-fighters-or-buffaloes/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=itoi-trade-not-yet-paying-off-for-either-fighters-or-buffaloes</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/15/baseball/itoi-trade-not-yet-paying-off-for-either-fighters-or-buffaloes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 2013 14:36:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=410537</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Orix Buffaloes hit their first home run of the year long before any games were played, or at least that was the common refrain. Orix fleeced the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters before the season by sending pitcher Hiroshi Kisanuki and infielder Keiji Obiki north to Sapporo while getting All-Star outfielder Yoshio Itoi in return. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/15/baseball/itoi-trade-not-yet-paying-off-for-either-fighters-or-buffaloes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tanaka hitting his stride as season progresses</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/08/baseball/tanaka-hitting-his-stride-as-season-progresses/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=tanaka-hitting-his-stride-as-season-progresses</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/08/baseball/tanaka-hitting-his-stride-as-season-progresses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jul 2013 10:59:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=407562</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The next time Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles he'll be trying to win his 12th consecutive decision since opening day.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/08/baseball/tanaka-hitting-his-stride-as-season-progresses/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Former Dodgers owner reflects on Nomo, friendships</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/02/baseball/former-dodgers-owner-reflects-on-nomo-friendships/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=former-dodgers-owner-reflects-on-nomo-friendships</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/02/baseball/former-dodgers-owner-reflects-on-nomo-friendships/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jul 2013 15:10:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hideo Nomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Los Angeles Dodgers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peter O'Malley]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=403882</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The paths of former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo and former owner and team president Peter O&#8217;Malley didn&#8217;t cross during the latter&#8217;s recent trip to Japan. O&#8217;Malley was in Tokyo on Saturday to open an exhibit in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame highlighting his family&#8217;s many ties and contributions to Japanese baseball &#8212; [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/02/baseball/former-dodgers-owner-reflects-on-nomo-friendships/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Marines need power bat to aid chase for Pa League crown</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/25/baseball/marines-need-power-bat-to-aid-chase-for-pa-league-crown/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=marines-need-power-bat-to-aid-chase-for-pa-league-crown</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/25/baseball/marines-need-power-bat-to-aid-chase-for-pa-league-crown/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:08:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Chiba Lotte Marines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Craig Brazell]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=390379</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Chiba Lotte Marines have done just fine without a real power hitter in their lineup for most of the season. With slugger Josh Whitesell limited to just 24 games, manager Tsutomu Ito&#8217;s squad has come up with clutch hits, scraped together just enough runs at opportune times, and bought into &#8216;Itonomics&#8217; in order to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/25/baseball/marines-need-power-bat-to-aid-chase-for-pa-league-crown/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ramirez keeps focus, waits for next opportunity to contribute</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/18/baseball/ramirez-keeps-focus-waits-for-next-opportunity-to-contribute/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ramirez-keeps-focus-waits-for-next-opportunity-to-contribute</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/18/baseball/ramirez-keeps-focus-waits-for-next-opportunity-to-contribute/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:11:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alex Ramirez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yokohama BayStars]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=385958</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s the waiting that&#8217;s the hardest part for Alex Ramirez. The wait for the next at-bat, for the next opportunity to contribute to the Yokohama BayStars, for another chance to show there is still life in his bat. The BayStars&#8217; final interleague series of the year, a two-game set at Seibu Dome over the weekend, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/18/baseball/ramirez-keeps-focus-waits-for-next-opportunity-to-contribute/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lack of transparency on ball changes causes NPB grief</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/14/baseball/lack-of-transparency-on-ball-changes-causes-npb-grief/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=lack-of-transparency-on-ball-changes-causes-npb-grief</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/14/baseball/lack-of-transparency-on-ball-changes-causes-npb-grief/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:12:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nippon Professional Baseball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryozo Kato]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=382723</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nippon Professional Baseball did not err when it introduced a standardized baseball two seasons ago. The change was needed. The league was also right to alter that ball after players noticed the game had changed too much. That was a problem, and NPB fixed it. No, the mistake here was NPB&#8217;s secrecy about it all. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/14/baseball/lack-of-transparency-on-ball-changes-causes-npb-grief/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Once a young phenom, Matsui now a veteran leader for upstart Eagles</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/12/baseball/once-a-young-phenom-matsui-now-a-veteran-leader-for-upstart-eagles/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=once-a-young-phenom-matsui-now-a-veteran-leader-for-upstart-eagles</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/12/baseball/once-a-young-phenom-matsui-now-a-veteran-leader-for-upstart-eagles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:04:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kazuo Matsui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rakuten eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=381133</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The plays aren&#8217;t as flashy or spectacular as they used to be, but Kazuo Matsui still makes them. His 37-year-old body doesn&#8217;t move the way it did when he was younger, but the former Pacific League MVP still does enough to warrant his place with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. At one time, Matsui may [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/12/baseball/once-a-young-phenom-matsui-now-a-veteran-leader-for-upstart-eagles/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Carp offense not doing Bullington any favors</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/28/baseball/carp-offense-not-doing-bullington-any-favors/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=carp-offense-not-doing-bullington-any-favors</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/28/baseball/carp-offense-not-doing-bullington-any-favors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 May 2013 15:03:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bryan Bullington]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=371862</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the more memorable marketing campaigns of the 1990s was a Nike ad centered around Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, at the time a pair of Cy Young winners pitching for the Atlanta Braves, who, jealous of the attention St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire was receiving for his home run exploits, devised a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/28/baseball/carp-offense-not-doing-bullington-any-favors/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fighters rookie Otani makes solid impression in mound debut</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/24/baseball/fighters-rookie-otani-makes-solid-impression-in-mound-debut/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=fighters-rookie-otani-makes-solid-impression-in-mound-debut</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/24/baseball/fighters-rookie-otani-makes-solid-impression-in-mound-debut/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 15:13:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shohei Otani]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=369760</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As far as debuts go, Shohei Otani's delivered. The celebrated rookie pitched fairly well on Thursday night, and though he finished outside the decision, he left the mound with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters well within striking distance of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/24/baseball/fighters-rookie-otani-makes-solid-impression-in-mound-debut/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Flawed strategy, mistakes jeopardizing Tokyo&#8217;s bid to host 2020 Olympics</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/22/general/flawed-strategy-mistakes-jeopardizing-tokyos-bid-to-host-2020-olympics/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=flawed-strategy-mistakes-jeopardizing-tokyos-bid-to-host-2020-olympics</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/22/general/flawed-strategy-mistakes-jeopardizing-tokyos-bid-to-host-2020-olympics/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 15:06:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jack Gallagher</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2020 Olympics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=368115</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever given your best effort while striving to achieve something but felt like what you were doing was futile? That&#8217;s the feeling I&#8217;m getting about Tokyo&#8217;s bid to host the 2020 Olympics. With just over three months to go until the IOC votes in Buenos Aires, the bid seems adrift and still lacking [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/22/general/flawed-strategy-mistakes-jeopardizing-tokyos-bid-to-host-2020-olympics/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Abe continues to be steadying force for Giants</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/21/baseball/abe-continues-to-be-steadying-force-for-giants/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=abe-continues-to-be-steadying-force-for-giants</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/21/baseball/abe-continues-to-be-steadying-force-for-giants/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 15:11:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Shinnosuke Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yomiuri Giants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=367650</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Yomiuri Giants have won the last 37 times Shinnosuke Abe has homered at Tokyo Dome. That&#8217;s an impressive streak, even if it is aided by a number of circumstances, not least of which the fact the Kyojin are normally very good at home. Yomiuri is 19-5-1 in home games this season. The Giants&#8217; run [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/21/baseball/abe-continues-to-be-steadying-force-for-giants/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Interleague schedule will pit PL hurlers against Blanco</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/14/baseball/interleague-schedule-will-pit-pl-hurlers-against-blanco/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=interleague-schedule-will-pit-pl-hurlers-against-blanco</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/14/baseball/interleague-schedule-will-pit-pl-hurlers-against-blanco/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 15:12:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tony Blanco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yokohama BayStars]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=363372</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On a bright day earlier this season, Tony Blanco wrapped up batting practice and headed back to the Yokohama BayStars clubhouse after sending a litany of balls all over &#8212; and a few out of &#8212; Yokohama Stadium. On the way he was greeted by BayStars reliever Jorge Sosa, who, as he watched Blanco disappear [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/14/baseball/interleague-schedule-will-pit-pl-hurlers-against-blanco/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lions counting on Kikuchi to begin living up to potential</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/30/baseball/lions-counting-on-kikuchi-to-begin-living-up-to-potential/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=lions-counting-on-kikuchi-to-begin-living-up-to-potential</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/30/baseball/lions-counting-on-kikuchi-to-begin-living-up-to-potential/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:11:51 +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=355489</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Everything was working for Yusei Kikuchi Sunday afternoon. With Golden Week having gotten under way, Kikuchi put on a show for the season-high crowd of 28,930 that filed into Seibu Dome and saw the Lions deliver a 15-1 mauling of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. It didn&#8217;t seem to matter what Kikuchi threw, because the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/30/baseball/lions-counting-on-kikuchi-to-begin-living-up-to-potential/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Early trouble will test Golden Eagles&#8217; mettle</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/23/baseball/early-trouble-will-test-golden-eagles-mettle/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=early-trouble-will-test-golden-eagles-mettle</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/23/baseball/early-trouble-will-test-golden-eagles-mettle/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Andruw Jones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kaz Matsui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=352030</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The grind of a 144-game season will usually, over time, weed out the pretenders from the contenders, often with ruthless precision. While any baseball season is littered with peaks and valleys, some extremes being higher or lower than others, there are usually signs throughout that hint at which teams fall into which category. We don&#8217;t [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/23/baseball/early-trouble-will-test-golden-eagles-mettle/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Taking cues from soccer could help baseball reach goal</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/16/baseball/taking-cues-from-soccer-could-help-baseball-reach-goal/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=taking-cues-from-soccer-could-help-baseball-reach-goal</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/16/baseball/taking-cues-from-soccer-could-help-baseball-reach-goal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:33:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[baseball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[olympics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soccer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World Baseball Classic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[world cup]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=348427</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Judging by popular opinion, many seem to think convincing MLB to commit to sending its top players to the Olympics is the key to getting the sport back into the program in the future, preferably in time for the 2020 Games. Well, that&#8217;s not likely to happen. Considering that, it may be beneficial for baseball&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/16/baseball/taking-cues-from-soccer-could-help-baseball-reach-goal/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>King&#8217;s election richly deserved, but long overdue</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/10/basketball/kings-election-richly-deserved-but-long-overdue-2/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kings-election-richly-deserved-but-long-overdue-2</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/10/basketball/kings-election-richly-deserved-but-long-overdue-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:15:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jack Gallagher</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Basketball Hall of fame]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bernard King]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=347290</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It was nothing short of a travesty that basketball great Bernard King was passed over by Hall of Fame voters on five previous occasions.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/10/basketball/kings-election-richly-deserved-but-long-overdue-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bar set high for rookie stars Sugano, Otani</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/02/baseball/bar-set-high-for-rookie-stars-sugano-otani/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=bar-set-high-for-rookie-stars-sugano-otani</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/02/baseball/bar-set-high-for-rookie-stars-sugano-otani/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:01:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shohei Otani]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tomoyuki Sugano]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yomiuri Giants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=336783</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have spent a first-round draft pick on the top pitching prospect in Japan in each of the last two years, and in both instances that player has initially said thanks, but no thanks. For Tomoyuki Sugano the allure of pitching in Tokyo Dome for the Yomiuri Giants and his uncle, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/02/baseball/bar-set-high-for-rookie-stars-sugano-otani/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Offensive woes too much for Samurai Japan to overcome</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/20/baseball/offensive-woes-too-much-for-samurai-japan-to-overcome/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=offensive-woes-too-much-for-samurai-japan-to-overcome</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/20/baseball/offensive-woes-too-much-for-samurai-japan-to-overcome/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:03:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hirokazu Ibata]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinnosuke Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WBC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=326498</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Atsushi Nomi walked through Union Square alongside teammate Takashi Toritani, heading south on San Francisco&#8217;s Powell Street in the direction of Samurai Japan&#8217;s hotel, a little after midnight Monday morning, just hours after Japan was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic. The square was lit by the soft glow of street lamps and the light [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/20/baseball/offensive-woes-too-much-for-samurai-japan-to-overcome/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Second-round resurgence makes Samurai Japan a legitimate title contender</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/15/baseball/second-round-resurgence-makes-samurai-japan-a-legitimate-title-contender/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=second-round-resurgence-makes-samurai-japan-a-legitimate-title-contender</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/15/baseball/second-round-resurgence-makes-samurai-japan-a-legitimate-title-contender/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:30:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Samurai Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WBC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=309216</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Two-time defending champion Japan has shown signs of improvement after a shaky start in the World Baseball Classic. Or as infielder Atsunori Inaba put it: "We've become a better team as the tournament has progressed.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/15/baseball/second-round-resurgence-makes-samurai-japan-a-legitimate-title-contender/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japan will be forced to dig deep to defend WBC crown</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/02/26/baseball/japan-will-be-forced-to-dig-deep-to-defend-wbc-crown/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=japan-will-be-forced-to-dig-deep-to-defend-wbc-crown</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/02/26/baseball/japan-will-be-forced-to-dig-deep-to-defend-wbc-crown/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:02:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[WBC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=180724</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s debatable whether or not a team needs to play &#8220;perfect defensively&#8221; to beat Japan as Australia manager Jon Deeble lamented after his team&#8217;s 10-3 loss on Sunday night. First, it helps to not commit four errors or allow five unearned runs the way the Australians did, but that same Aussie squad was far, far [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/02/26/baseball/japan-will-be-forced-to-dig-deep-to-defend-wbc-crown/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Buffaloes need pitchers to succeed in search for redemption</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/28/baseball/buffaloes-need-pitchers-to-succeed-in-search-for-redemption/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=buffaloes-need-pitchers-to-succeed-in-search-for-redemption</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/28/baseball/buffaloes-need-pitchers-to-succeed-in-search-for-redemption/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:41:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[NPB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orix Buffaloes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=107198</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tomoya Yagi will be attempting to revive his career when the 2013 NPB season begins. So will Shun Tono, Takahiro Mahara, and Kei Igawa. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/28/baseball/buffaloes-need-pitchers-to-succeed-in-search-for-redemption/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hall of Fame long overdue for another foreign member</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/15/baseball/hall-of-fame-long-overdue-for-another-foreign-member/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hall-of-fame-long-overdue-for-another-foreign-member</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/15/baseball/hall-of-fame-long-overdue-for-another-foreign-member/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:38:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alex Ramirez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chunichi Dragons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese baseball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Randy Bass]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=34074</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Victor Starffin was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1960. Wally Yonamine was enshrined in 1994. Despite the long and rich history of foreign players in Japan, it only takes those two sentences to sum up the non-Japanese wing of the Hall of Fame — and if you really want to be [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/15/baseball/hall-of-fame-long-overdue-for-another-foreign-member/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Matsui should be remembered as one of Japan&#8217;s best</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/12/30/baseball/matsui-should-be-remembered-as-one-of-japans-best/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=matsui-should-be-remembered-as-one-of-japans-best</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/12/30/baseball/matsui-should-be-remembered-as-one-of-japans-best/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:00:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/12/30/%sports_category%/matsui-should-be-remembered-as-one-of-japans-best/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In 2001 Ichiro Suzuki shattered expectations about what Japanese players could and could not do in Major League Baseball. Except when it came to hitting for power. Back then, even with Ichiro tearing it up for the Seattle Mariners, Japanese hitters were looked upon with skepticism and mostly regarded as speedy slap hitters. Ichiro for [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/12/30/baseball/matsui-should-be-remembered-as-one-of-japans-best/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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