Marc Kroon was cut just prior to opening day after trying to make the San Francisco Giants. The six-year Japan veteran closer with the Yokohama BayStars and Yomiuri Giants was attempting to return to the majors with the defending World Series champions, and he did not make the team — but why not?
In pre-season exhibition games, Kroon won two games, lost none, saved one, struck out 13 and racked up a 1.69 earned run average in 10 and two-thirds innings of work. Still, he was dropped, and you have to wonder what it would have taken for him to make the San Francisco roster. If those numbers were not good enough, what was it that kept him from making the club?
Age was certainly against him, as he turned 38 on April 2. Also, players with Japan experience-no matter how successful they may have been in the Central or Pacific League-often go into those major league camps with a mark (the Rising Sun?) on them, and it seems to be a handicap.