Tag - npb

 
 

NPB

Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Jun 17, 2014
New Lions slugger Mejia relishes opportunity to play in NPB
Ernesto Mejia remembers the bus rides. Those long trips to games in rookie ball, Single-A and a notch up the ladder in Double-A. Some of those rides could last for seven, eight, nine hours.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 14, 2014
Proposed NPB expansion appears unlikely
The office of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a suggestion on May 22 that Japanese professional baseball should expand from its current 12 teams to 16. Prospective locations for four new franchises were listed, and the idea would be to help further economic growth in some of the more rural areas of the country. However, can a 33.3 percent expansion be successful — or would it be a disaster?
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 11, 2014
MLB All-Star squad to face Samurai Japan in November
Major League Baseball will organize an All-Star team and visit Japan this fall to play Samurai Japan, Nippon Professional Baseball announced on Tuesday.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
May 29, 2014
Young hurlers Norimoto, Sugano aiming for All-Star Series participation
Takahiro Norimoto's favorite NPB All-Star memory is of watching Norichika Aoki propel the Central League to a 10-8 win over the Pacific League with a ninth-inning two-run home run in Game 1 of the 2009 All-Star Series.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
May 5, 2014
O'Malley all smiles about return to NPB with Tigers
A wry smile played across Tom O'Malley's lips as he nodded in the direction of a group of Hanshin Tigers players stretching on the ground outside of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows' indoor facility on Sunday as the Swallows wrapped up practice inside.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 29, 2014
NPB delivers new shipment of baseballs
Nippon Professional Baseball switched to a uniform baseball in line with Japanese pro baseball specifications Tuesday following a controversy over baseballs that had been livelier than the permissible limit.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 15, 2014
Mizuno issues apology over NPB ball fiasco
Mizuno Corp. President Akito Mizuno apologized on Tuesday following revelations that baseballs his company had supplied to Nippon Professional Baseball this season were livelier than the permissible limit.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Apr 11, 2014
Ongoing ball issues disturbing for NPB, Mizuno
One has to wonder if former NPB commissioner Ryozo Kato cracked a smile when he opened his newspaper Friday morning and saw that there are more questions surrounding the official NPB ball, knowing that this time, he's far away from the fray.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 10, 2014
Mizuno baseballs appeared livelier than approved limit last month: NPB
Baseball manufacturer Mizuno may have been juicing this year's balls beyond the allowed limit without the knowledge of Nippon Professional Baseball.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Feb 13, 2014
Two-time CL MVP Ramirez to sign with independent league team
Alex Ramirez, the only foreign-born player with 2,000 hits in Nippon Professional Baseball history said Thursday he will sign with the Gunma Diamond Pegasus of the independent Baseball Challenge League.
BASEBALL
Jan 29, 2014
Buffaloes acquire MLB veteran Betancourt
The Orix Buffaloes have acquired infielder Yuniesky Betancourt on a one-year deal worth ¥100 million, the Pacific League club announced Wednesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jan 6, 2014
New NPB commissioner Kumazaki takes reins
Nippon Professional Baseball turned a page on Monday, when new commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki had his first official day at the office.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Dec 26, 2013
Tanaka says he must 'make an impact' in the major leagues
Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka said Thursday he intends to make an impact in the big leagues
BASEBALL
Dec 26, 2013
Kumazaki named NPB commissioner
Former prosecutor Katsuhiko Kumazaki was confirmed as Nippon Professional Baseball's next commissioner on Thursday at an extraordinary owners meeting.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Dec 25, 2013
Tanaka given chance to pursue dream in majors
Major League Baseball fans and executives finally found what they were looking for under the Christmas tree.
BASEBALL
Dec 11, 2013
Baseball Federation of Japan chief seeks NPB's help in Olympic reinstatement bid
The head of Japan's baseball federation visited Nippon Professional Baseball's offices on Wednesday and asked for help in getting baseball and softball included in the Olympic program for the 2020 Tokyo games.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NOTES ON A SCORECARD
Dec 3, 2013
Delay in agreement on new posting system just latest black eye for NPB
Pretty sad to see the negotiations over the new posting system between NPB and MLB continue to drag on. It's already December now and MLB teams are trying to set their rotations for next season.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Sep 29, 2013
Few issues left in play as season nears finish
Nippon Professional Baseball has crowned its 2013 league champions and most of the spots in the Climax Series have already been spoken for.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Sep 27, 2013
Third-party report on ball scandal critical of commissioner
An investigating body looking into the turmoil surrounding the secret modification of Nippon Professional Baseball's official ball, indicated Friday that commissioner Ryozo Kato is ultimately responsible.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 15, 2013
Status of posting system may put Tanaka in limbo
Masahiro Tanaka figures to be one of the most intriguing NPB exports if the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles decide to post the star right-hander after the season.

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces