The Japanese channel was one of many shows Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins tuned into as a kid in his hometown of Oakland, Calif. He remembers watching scores and highlights of baseball games played in Japan.

He didn't catch any of the language -- and he still doesn't -- but figured out the power structure in the Japanese game with relative ease: perennially, the Yomiuri Giants are the team to beat.

"I know they win every year. I know that much," said Rollins, whose Major League All-Star team faces the Japan Series champion Yomiuri at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday in an exhibition match. "It was in Japanese. I didn't understand it, but I can tell who won the games and what not."

The MLB All-Stars might have a tougher time, especially without Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki in the lineup.

Officials announced Friday that Ichiro has a long-standing commitment to participate in the Little League baseball program back in his hometown of Nagoya and that he decided to skip Saturday's exhibition.

Art Howe, the manager for the New York Mets and the skipper for this year's MLB team, said he will need Ichiro's services sooner rather than later. Ichiro will return to the team for the first game of the series on Sunday.

"As soon as I can get him in there, he's going to play," Howe said.

The Giants are expected to start Yusaku Iriki, who went 5-4 with a 3.05 ERA this year. Baltimore Orioles' Rodrigo Lopez (15-9, 3.57) will start for the MLB team.

"I don't know the guys on the other team, so I'm going to pitch my own game," Lopez said.

Howe and the players do not know individual players on the Giants squad -- of course, with the exception of slugger Hideki Matsui.

But they're not taking Saturday's game lightly. After Friday's workouts at the Tokyo Dome, Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees and several others stayed after for extra batting practice.

"They have more than just one good player on their team. They won their championship and they must be a very solid team," Howe said. "We're treating this very seriously."

Heart of order set

Art Howe, the manager for the major league squad, said very little about the starting lineup for the exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants on Saturday.

Except for the obvious heart of the order, that is.

Howe lined up three long-ball hitters -- New York Yankees Bernie Williams, San Francisco's Barry Bonds and Yankees' Jason Giambi -- to form the Nos. 3-5 spots for Saturday's game.

"Pretty good, huh?" said Howe of the trio which combined for 106 homers this year. "I'll sleep pretty good tonight."

Penny to start Game 1

Manager Art Howe refused to announce his starting pitchers on Friday, but team members said Florida Marlins right-hander Brad Penny will likely start Game 1 of the MLB-Japan All-Star Series on Sunday.

Penny, the 24-year-old, went 8-7 with a 4.66 ERA this season, finishing above .500 for the third straight season. Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Randy Wolf (11-9, 3.20) is also expected to pitch in the opener.

"It's very likely," Howe said when asked if Penny will start the series.