Wayne: Have there been any negative or questioning press comments about Ichiro's (Suzuki) recent slump in batting here in Seattle? From my perspective it almost looks like he might be hiding a health problem; he seems to have no fire in the belly and is almost running on empty, so to speak. Also, do you think (Yomiuri Giants slugger Hideki) Matsui will head to the U.S. and most likely the New York Yankees? -- Don Green, Seattle

Don: I have not heard anything about Ichiro being ill or injured. I think, as you said, it was just a slump that took his batting average from .350 to .320, and I believe he and all the Mariners players may have gotten somewhat discouraged when the Oakland A's went through that 20-game winning streak and the Mariners' post-season appearance chances began slipping away. (If a slump indicates a sickness, the New York Mets have an epidemic with several players who have been in 'poor health' all season.) My answers to your second question are yes and yes.

* * * * *

Dear Mr. Graczyk: I love baseball and enjoy watching the Japanese version of the game. I am especially impressed by the pitching but am put off by the 9:24 p.m. TV cutoffs. -- James Hill, Gumma Pref.

Dear Mr. Hill: You are about the one zillionth fan who has written to me complaining about this during the 25 years I've been writing this column. Believe me, it is a lot better than it was in 1977. I hope you noticed, for example, the Giants games on NTV are allowed to go until 9:54 p.m. on week nights. Since the games begin at 6 p.m., most of them are over before 9:54.

Also, you should subscribe to a cable or satellite system. NTV's G+ (pronounced "jitas") shows all Giants home games from beginning to end, including pre-game activities. On SKY PerfecTV!, you can get all the other five games (except the Giants) every day, also from "Play Ball!" to "The Ball Game is Over," on Sky A (Channel 285), ESPN Sports-I(Channel 300), Gaora (302) and J-Sky Sports (Channels 306, 307 and 308).

Also, when the Giants road games are on the Fuji-TV network and get cutoff at 9:21 p.m., you could switch to Channel 739 and watch the end of the game. The SPTV! baseball package costs about 3,300 yen per month, and they can't cut you off if you're paying for it. Think about it for next season.

* * * * *

Hi Wayne: Do you know when tickets will be going on sale for this year's Major League All-Star Japan Tour? -- Rick Butler, Tokyo

Hi Rick: Several fans have asked about this. While the schedule and game times have been announced, I have not yet seen any information about ticket prices or date of sale, who will be playing or anything else about the tour. It has not even been decided yet which TV stations will televise which games.

Normally, a press conference would have been held around the beginning of August to announce details of the Nov. 9-17 event, but the threat of a work stoppage by the MLB Players Association caused a delay in the planning of the Japan tour, and the whole shebang was about to be canceled if a strike had occurred on Aug. 30.

It is the turn for the MLB team manager to come from the American League (they alternate) and, through the grapevine, I heard the first choice is Joe Torre of the Yankees, followed by Lou Piniella of the Mariners and then Art Howe of the Athletics. Of course the organizers are trying to get Ichiro to play for the visitors, and we may even be seeing a Yankees player or two.

Since the post-season tours went to the All-Star format in 1986, Yanks' owner George Steinbrenner has refused to allow his players to go to Japan, apparently in fear someone may be seriously injured. But since this is a Yomiuri-organized tour and, with respect to the apparently imminent tie-up between the Yankees and the Tokyo Giants and the rumored shift of slugger Hideki Matsui to the Bronx Bombers, we could be seeing Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Alfonso Soriano, Jason Giambi or Andy Pettitte on a lineup card filled in by Torre come November in Tokyo.

I also heard Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara will lead the Japanese team for all games of the tour, and his players will be selected by fan balloting.

* * * * *

Wayne Graczyk: I was so excited about the Arizona Diamondbacks Night. I think this is a great way to get rid of the stress from a day's hard work, to forget about all one's problems for a day and to just watch and enjoy. My friends and I really enjoyed that day. -- Arcecille Cantos, Tokyo

Arcecille Cantos: Well, thank you for such a nice, poetic note. I never thought that way about going to the ball park (where I do a lot of my hard work) but am happy you do and that you and your friends had a good time at Tokyo Dome last Saturday.

Thanks to all who attended Diamondbacks Night and special appreciation to the Nippon Ham Fighters for the free tickets and to our good friends at Tropicana for sponsoring the event. If you were among those who attended and would like to thank the Fighters management yourself, please send a brief note or postcard to: Mr. Takeshi Kojima, Nippon Ham Fighters, Roppongi Denki Bldg, 6th Floor, 6-1-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032.