Disturbed by repeated media reports saying Nippon Professional Baseball is dissatisfied with the organization and conditions of next year's proposed World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball's Managing Director in Japan Jim Small invited the media to a coffee session in his Tokyo office on May 30 to clearly state MLB's stance and explain its position vis-a-vis the NPB.
Small spoke first to a contingent of writers from Japanese sports papers and news services, then repeated his remarks in English in a second session for international media representatives.
His comments were consistent with those made by MLB senior vice president Paul Archey to The Associated Press and carried in the May 29 edition of The Japan Times.