Japan are going for a repeat at the 2009 World Baseball Classic as manager Tatsunori Hara leads the Asian powers who are just as loaded as usual.
Matsuzaka Brings 2006 Classic Glory To Japan
Under the watchful eye of legendary Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh, Japan worked through the Asian group in the first round of the 2006 Classic before eliminating the United States and Mexico in the second round to reach the semi-finals. There they knocked off Korea 6-0 to advance to the final. In the finale showdown with Cuba, Daisuke Matsuzaka beat the international giants 10-6 to win the Most Valuable Player award. All told, Dice-K went 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in three starts.
Home Field Advantage In Opening Round
Japan will have home field advantage when they face 2008 Olympic gold medalists Korea, China and Chinese Taipei in the first round of the World Baseball Classic from March 5-9 in Tokyo. The top two in the group will advance to a second round of eliminators against two teams from the Mexico City group consisting of 2006 runners-up Cuba, Mexico, South Africa and Australia.
Hara Replaces Hoshino After Disappointing Olympics
Senichi Hoshino was manager of the Japanese team last summer as the Asian powers slumped to fourth place at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. And Hoshino was replaced by Tatsunori Hara, who also serves as the skipper of Japanese powerhouse club Yomiuri Giants. Hara must cut his 45-man preliminary roster to 28 players - including a mandatory 13 pitchers - by February 24.
Japanese Stars On Board
Most of Japan's top stars are on board to help the proud baseball nation defend their Classic title in 2009. Matsuzaka, who rode his 2006 title run to a successful MLB career with the Boston Red Sox, is ready to lead Hara's rotation to another crown. And Seattle Mariners All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is also committed to giving the Japan attack its table-setter. Tampa Bay infielder Akinori Iwamura is expected to play as is Chicago Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who would love to use the Classic to find his old form after struggling in his rookie season in 2008 in Chicago. Seattle catcher Kenji Johjima did not play in 2006 and is hungry for a Classic title. Hiroki Kuroda of the Dodgers will provide Hara with another quality starter. And expected to help the bullpen will be Red Sox lefty Hideki Okajima, Dodgers righty Takashi Saito and Indians right-hander Masahide Kobayashi.
Top Japanese Players Ready To Shine
A trio of Japanese-based players are hoping to use the 2009 Classic as their coming-out party. The 22-year-old righty starter Yu Darvish is considered the best pitcher in Japan while right-handed hurler Hisashki Iwakuma won the 2008 Pacific League MVP and Shuichi Murata comes into the tournament as the reigning Central League home run leader.
Two Notable Absences
There were two notable names missing from Hara's roster. New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui will miss the tournament as he recovers from surgery. And 2006 semi-finalist winner Koji Uehara will be concentrating on his up-coming season with the Baltimore Orioles.
Japan's 24-Man Roster
Name, Bats/Throws, Height, Weight, Birth Date
PITCHERS
Yu Darvish, R/R, 6'4" (193cm), 187lbs (85kg), 08/16/1986
Kyuji Fujikawa, L/R, 6'0" (183cm), 185lbs (84kg), 07/21/1980
Hisashi Iwakuma, R/R, 6'3" (191cm), 169lbs (77kg), 04/12/1981
Minoru Iwata, L/L, 5'10" (178cm), 185lbs (84kg), 10/31/1983
Satoshi Komatsu, R/R, 5'11" (180cm), 176lbs (80kg), 10/29/1981
Takahiro Mahara, R/R, 5'11" (180cm), 163lbs (74kg), 12/08/1981
Daisuke Matsuzaka, R/R, 6'0" (183cm), 185lbs (84kg), 09/13/1980
Toshiya Sugiuchi, L/L, 5'9" (175cm), 185lbs (84kg), 10/30/1980
Masahiro Tanaka, R/R, 6'1" (185cm), 191lbs (87kg), 11/01/1988
Tetsuya Utsumi, L/L, 6'1" (185cm), 185lbs (84kg), 04/29/1982
Hideaki Wakui, R/R, 6'0" (183cm), 187lbs (85kg), 06/21/1986
Shunsuke Watanabe, R/R, 5'10" (178cm), 154lbs (70kg), 08/27/1976
Tetsuya Yamaguchi, L/L, 6'0" (183cm), 163lbs (74kg), 11/11/1983
CATCHERS
Shinnosuke Abe, L/R, 5'10" (178cm), 200lbs (91kg), 03/20/1979
Yoshiyuki Ishihara, R/R, 5'10" (178cm), 180lbs (82kg), 09/07/1979
Kenji Johjima, R/R, 6'0" (183cm), 205lbs (93kg), 06/08/1976
INFIELDERS
Akinori Iwamura, L/R, 5'9" (175cm), 175lbs (79kg), 02/09/1979
Yasuyuki Kataoka, R/R, 5'9" (175cm), 180lbs (82kg), 02/17/1983
Munenori Kawasaki, L/R, 5'10" (178cm), 155lbs (70kg), 06/03/1981
Shuichi Murata, R/R, 5'9" (175cm), 190lbs (86kg), 12/28/1980
Hiroyuki Nakajima, R/R, 5'11" (180cm), 183lbs (83kg), 07/31/1982
Michihiro Ogasawara, L/R, 5'10" (178cm), 185lbs (84kg), 10/25/1973
OUTFIELDERS
Norichika Aoki, L/R, 5'9" (175cm), 170lbs (77kg), 01/05/1982
Kosuke Fukudome, L/R, 6'0" (183cm), 185lbs (84kg), 04/26/1977
Atsunori Inaba, L/L, 6'2" (188cm), 187lbs (85kg), 08/03/1972
Yoshiyuki Kamei, L/R, 5'10" (178cm), 170lbs (77kg), 07/28/1982
Ichiro Suzuki, L/R, 5'11" (180cm), 170lbs (77kg), 10/22/1973
Seiichi Uchikawa, R/R, 6'0" (183cm), 180lbs (82kg), 08/04/1982
