It is the World Baseball Classic, but WBC here could stand for "Whopping Big Crowds" or "Wildly Boisterous Cheering." The Japanese fans are going bonkers over Team Samurai Japan, with the No. 1 attraction being Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki.
I was in Miyazaki last week when manager Tatsunori Hara's club was wrapping up its camp at Sun Marine Stadium and preparing for "practice games" (that is, unofficial exhibitions) against the Yomiuri Giants. Capacity crowds of more than 30,000 filled the ballpark on Feb. 21, and the following day in a steady, cold rain.
Tickets were handed out at no charge and some fans camped out all night to get them. When the last of the freebies was given away, it was still dark outside early Saturday and Sunday morning.