JAPANESE WBC TEAM STARTS PRACTICE IN MIYAZAKI

Japan officially began their quest for a second consecutive World Baseball Classic title Monday when they opened training sessions in front of 37,000 fans at Sun Marine Stadium in the city of Miyazaki. The camp was scheduled to last one week, leading to Japan’s first WBC game on March 5 at the Tokyo Dome when they face China in the tournament’s first contest.


Japan’s WBC roster presently has 33 players listed, including Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. Suzuki raised eyebrows back in Seattle when he said he’d love to try pitching in the WBC. However, the response from the Mariners to Suzuki’s desire to pitch can be summed up in two words: Forget it.

Japanese manager Tatsunori Hara will release his final 28-man roster next weekend prior to playing two exhibition games against Australia before the WBC opener.