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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 / NPB NOTEBOOK
Apr 22, 2018
Kiyomiya shows off power on farm
After a slow start to his first season as a professional, Kotaro Kiyomiya provided fans with a small glimpse of what made him the most sought-after player in last fall's NPB draft.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 17, 2018
Timely homers, stellar relief pitching propel Fighters past Lions at Tokyo Dome
Usually when the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters face another Pacific League team at Tokyo Dome, they're the home team.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Apr 16, 2018
In Shohei Ohtani, Japan finally has its world-beater
It must take a considerable amount of willpower for Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama not to respond to questions about his former player Shohei Ohtani with a simple, "I told you so." Although the sly smile he lets slip on occasion more or less does the job.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 11, 2018
Pitcher Nick Martinez finding Japan to his taste after joining Nippon Ham from Rangers
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pitcher Nick Martinez is still making a lot of adjustments to his new baseball life in Japan. He's had to acclimate himself to a new style of baseball, a new culture, the travel and learn how to pack for NPB road trips.
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.

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A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami