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 Jason Coskrey

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Jason Coskrey
Jason Coskrey is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His primary focus is Japanese baseball, but he has also covered soccer, American football, boxing and basketball. He previously worked for the Marietta Daily Journal in Marietta, Ga. A native of Detroit, he is a graduate of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Dec 9, 2019
NPB stars no longer shy about expressing MLB aspirations
Kohei Arihara wants to pitch in the major leagues in the near future. Haruki Nishikawa wants to make the move as well. Hayato Sakamoto doesn't want to, but he had to address it all the same.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Dec 8, 2019
Handful of players from 'Matsuzaka Generation' still holding on
Daisuke Matsuzaka returned home on Wednesday, solidifying a deal to spend his 20th season in pro baseball with the Saitama Seibu Lions, the club he spent Year 1 with back in 1999.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Dec 2, 2019
New pieces present Marines with chance to alter fortunes
The Chiba Lotte Marines have gotten a makeover.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 27, 2019
Seemingly content without MLB, MVP Hayato Sakamoto on track for big things in Japan
Hayato Sakamoto is the one who stayed.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 26, 2019
Hayato Sakamoto, Tomoya Mori named league MVPs
It was pretty apparent early in the NPB season that it might be a special year for the Yomiuri Giants' Hayato Sakamoto and the Seibu Lions' Tomoya Mori.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 19, 2019
Will Yamaguchi's departure from Yomiuri Giants to MLB clear a path for Sugano?
The biggest question stemming from the Yomiuri Giants' decision to post pitcher Shun Yamaguchi to MLB is not how Yamaguchi might fare in the majors.
BASEBALL
Nov 18, 2019
Japan fights back to win Premier12 final
Four years ago, the Samurai Japan bullpen fell apart in a loss against South Korea in the Premier12 semifinals at Tokyo Dome.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 17, 2019
Efren Navarro's broken-bat single sends Mexico to Olympic baseball tournament
If one day Efren Navarro's bat from the bronze medal game of the 2019 Premier12 ends up in a hall of fame somewhere, it won't get there in one piece.
BASEBALL
Nov 16, 2019
Samurai Japan holds off South Korea in last game of Premier12 Super Round
Samurai Japan did just enough against rival South Korea during what amounted to an entertaining dress rehearsal for the Premier12 final.
BASEBALL
Nov 16, 2019
South Korea rallies past Mexico, secures 2020 Olympic berth
South Korea didn't just book a spot in the Premier12 final with its win over Mexico on Friday night.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 15, 2019
Buffaloes mainstay Brandon Dickson playing pivotal role for U.S. bullpen at Premier12
Playing in Japan is probably a unique experience for many of the players on the U.S. team at the Premier12.
BASEBALL
Nov 15, 2019
Brent Rooker's two-run blast in seventh propels U.S. to victory over Taiwan
All Brent Rooker knew was that it wasn't going to be another slider. He'd already been beaten with that pitch during two at-bats and his mind was made up.
BASEBALL
Nov 13, 2019
Japan drives past Mexico as Hayato Sakamoto breaks out of slump
Japan manager Atsunori Inaba professed his belief in shortstop Hayato Sakamoto, even as the star infielder struggled at the plate during the Premier12.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 13, 2019
Team Australia upsets U.S. with first-inning rush
Team Australia got all the runs it needed on one ball that just found a hole up the middle.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2019
U.S. hands Japan first loss at Premier12
Japan had usually been able to find a way to come up with the big hit or big play when it absolutely needed to at this Premier12.
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2019
Former NPB slugger Matt Clark helps spark Mexico in Premier12 victory over Australia
Matt Clark got the fastball he was looking for and crushed it. The ball landed near the stairs leading to the concourse in the rear portion of the stands in right field at Tokyo Dome and Clark took a slightly familiar trot around the bases.
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2019
Mexico blanks Australia to stay unbeaten at Premier12
The Mexican team had to travel to Japan from Mexico this week to compete in the Premier12 Super Round.
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2019
Seiya Suzuki tearing it up at the plate for Samurai Japan
Seiya Suzuki changed his bat for the Super Round of the Premier12, but he didn't really have a good reason for doing so.
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2019
Bases-loaded walk completes Samurai Japan comeback over Australia
For the second time in four games during the Premier12, Samurai Japan had its feet held to the fire.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 11, 2019
Trio's MLB dreams may impact Samurai Japan's gold medal quest
The Hiroshima Carp's Ryosuke Kikuchi, quite possibly the most dynamic defensive second baseman in the world (at least in the conversation), could be playing in MLB next season.

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past