Neither of their teams made the Central League Climax Series, but the 2007 season has been a pivotal one for Yakult Swallows slugger Alex Ramirez and Yokohama BayStars reliever Marc Kroon. The contracts of both expire at the end of the current dragging out season, and there is doubt whether either club will be able to afford to keep these all-star players and vibrant personalities.
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| Alex Ramirez became to first foreigner to reach 200 hits in a season and leads the Central League in batting. KYODO PHOTO |
Ramirez just turned 33, has already played seven years for Yakult and is concluding the best half-season of his career which has got to be one of the best three-month streaks by anyone in Japanese baseball history. Kroon, 34, is closing out his third stellar season with the 'Stars, and it's been his best.