Jason Coskrey - The Japan Times

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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

Apr 9, 2018

Fighters hit machine Kensuke Kondo has fans wondering if batting .400 is possible

There are some who think Kensuke Kondo could've hit .400 last season.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Apr 6, 2018

Nick Martinez tosses first nine-inning complete game as Fighters top Marines

Going into Friday night, Nick Martinez had never thrown a full nine innings or earned an NPB victory.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts

Apr 2, 2018

Yomiuri reliever Takagi gets rude welcome in NPB return

Yomiuri Giants reliever Kyosuke Takagi made his return to baseball essentially under cover of darkness Friday. But even with the Tokyo Dome lights off for the opening-day ceremony, Takagi's presence was illuminated by the chorus of boos emanating from the Hanshin Tigers fans in left field.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Apr 1, 2018

Tigers ace Messenger turned uncertainty into sure thing

The Hanshin Tigers' newest reliever stepped out of a plane and into the unknown in 2010. Waiting for him was a different style of the game he'd played all his life, not to mention the impending adjustments to a new country, new culture and new teammates.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Mar 31, 2018

Koji Uehara delights Giants fans in season debut after nine years in MLB

Koji Uehara returned to Japan in a flurry of energy, splitters and high-fives.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Mar 30, 2018

Tigers hurler Randy Messenger silences Giants in season-opening triumph

Whoever wins the Sawamura Award this year might want to do whatever it takes to avoid Randy Messenger and the Hanshin Tigers on Opening Day next season.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB Preview

Mar 29, 2018

Carp look to remain on throne as Central League rivals prepare to mount challenge

The following is the second of a two-part NPB preview concluding with the 2018 Central League.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB Preview

Mar 28, 2018

Hawks look set to maintain stranglehold over Pacific League rivals

The following is the first of a two-part NPB preview beginning with the 2018 Pacific League.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Mar 27, 2018

Slugger Wladimir Balentien alters focus going into new season

Wladimir Balentien switched things up a little this spring.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Mar 26, 2018

Seibu ace Yusei Kikuchi refuses to rest on laurels

Yusei Kikuchi has put last year behind him. All the wins, the career numbers and accolades, firmly in the rearview mirror. His brush with the Sawamura Award, now just a fond memory.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Mar 19, 2018

Laird confident Fighters can compete in 2018

Brandon Laird rounded third base wearing a big smile on Saturday afternoon at Jingu Stadium. As he headed for home, Laird held out his left hand and tapped his palm with the index and middle fingers of his right, pantomiming someone making sushi, as he does after all of his home runs.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK

Mar 18, 2018

NPB stars look to build momentum in spring

While most baseball fans know spring numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, some players make it hard to remember at times. Because however meaningless the actual numbers are during this time of year, the process is still fun to watch.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK

Feb 3, 2018

Now or never for Dragons hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka

Daisuke Matsuzaka stepped into the bullpen for the first time during camp on Friday and threw 32 pitches in his still unfamiliar white No. 99 Chunichi Dragons uniform.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Jan 23, 2018

Samurai Japan skipper Atsunori Inaba begins preparations for March series against Australia

Atsunori Inaba managed a team of young players in his first tournament in charge of Samurai Japan. In March, he'll get his first chance to step into the dugout with the top team.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN

Jan 22, 2018

Ichiro wouldn't solve Chunichi's problems

While it's still improbable, Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka could both be wearing blue and white this summer if everything falls in place, as the Chunichi Dragons have interest in both players.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK

Jan 21, 2018

Japan's Hall of Fame players deserve own moment in sun

For all the ideas Japanese baseball has lifted from its MLB counterpart in North America, it's surprising a proper Hall of Fame ceremony hasn't been one of them.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK

Jan 8, 2018

Lions no strangers to posting system

While some NPB teams, such as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, may scoff at the posting system, don't count the Seibu Lions among them.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN

Jan 7, 2018

Hoshino's passion remained as strong as ever

Senichi Hoshino walked into a room full of reporters on a gray and rainy day in Sendai a few years back with a smile that lit up the room. This was the day after his Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles won the draft lottery for the rights to pitcher Yuki Matsui and the day prior to his team hosting Game 1 of...

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN

Dec 31, 2017

Infielder Murata still searching for new home

One of the curious things about the current Hot Stove season in Japan has been Shuichi Murata's inability to find a job for 2018.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN

Dec 25, 2017

Fighters have to look for successor as Ohtani says goodbye

Generous Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters fans gathered at Sapporo Dome on Christmas Day to put a bow on the present they spent the last five seasons wrapping, one the Los Angeles Angels can't wait to open during spring training.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.

What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji

By Alex K.T. Martin

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