Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Baseball fans the boys of summer are stepping up to the plate in Japan to open the '04 campaign at 5:05AM EST this morning. So set your alarm clock early or fly with the owls not to miss the opening pitch of the Season! The Bronx Bombers invade Japan for the first time in 49 years where the Japanese phenom Hideki Matsi returns to the Tokyo Dome surely making for a monsterous game on foriegn soil.
Yesterday the crowd favorite Matsi hit a homer in the Tokyo Dome to the delight of the Japanese baseball followers to help lift his Yankees to a 6-2 victory over the Yomiuri Giants. Even though the win or the long ball blasted by Matsi won't count in the standings as this was a scrimage game, it sets the stage for this morning's game that will begin the season. Fans in the Tokyo Dome will be treated to American MLB play and it's a safe bet to say the Dome will be packed and all eyes will be on Matsi watching his Yanks do battle Japan style against the Devil Rays of Tampa Bay. This is a teaser to MLB lovers world wide, literally, because the regular season isn't scheduled to begin in the States until April 5, '04. But make no bones about it, this game will be hard fought by both clubs as it counts towards the '04 standings!
The Yankees as usual are the heavy chalk as Mike Mussina takes to the hill facing his counter-part for the D'Rays in Carlos Zambrano. Tampa Bay also finished their preseason game in Japan in winning fashion as they also downed the Yomiuri Giants 7-1 this morning (Last night). The D'rays played long ball as the Tokyo Dome field couldn't hold the deep ball off the bats of Jose Cruz Jr. and Robert Fick. With both clubs entering this mornings game coming off wins, this may make for a thriller. Expect a low scoring game with two of the finest pitchers in the A.L. showcasing their arms in front of the Japanese crowd. In the last four games that Zambrano faced the Yankees, the under cashed three times. The Yankees when playing Tampa Bay with the "Moose" on the mound have also engaged in low scoring affairs with the under prevailing 12 out of the last 14 times. The Japanese crowd will expect and prefer fireworks provided by offense but they'll be witness to a low scoring pitching duel.
Also common baseball smarts will help us here. Considering the Yanks and D'Rays combined for just 4 homers in their final prep games against the Yomiuri Giants, which doesn't own nearly the pitching as the boys in the Bigs and tonight's hurlers. So with both offensive facing stronger pitching, expect less offense. Early in the season pitchers have well rested "lively" arms, which yearly I give this to be a big advantage over the batters. Offense will be less productive this early in the season as batters need time to find their stride and rhythm at the plate. Advantage pitching!
Play under the total in this one and get yourself a win under your belt before the '04 season's first pitch is thrown on American soil!
-Chance
The MLB is finally here!
Baseball fans the boys of summer are stepping up to the plate in Japan to open the '04 campaign at 5:05AM EST this morning. So set your alarm clock early or fly with the owls not to miss the opening pitch of the Season! The Bronx Bombers invade Japan for the first time in 49 years where the Japanese phenom Hideki Matsi returns to the Tokyo Dome surely making for a monsterous game on foriegn soil.
Yesterday the crowd favorite Matsi hit a homer in the Tokyo Dome to the delight of the Japanese baseball followers to help lift his Yankees to a 6-2 victory over the Yomiuri Giants. Even though the win or the long ball blasted by Matsi won't count in the standings as this was a scrimage game, it sets the stage for this morning's game that will begin the season. Fans in the Tokyo Dome will be treated to American MLB play and it's a safe bet to say the Dome will be packed and all eyes will be on Matsi watching his Yanks do battle Japan style against the Devil Rays of Tampa Bay. This is a teaser to MLB lovers world wide, literally, because the regular season isn't scheduled to begin in the States until April 5, '04. But make no bones about it, this game will be hard fought by both clubs as it counts towards the '04 standings!
The Yankees as usual are the heavy chalk as Mike Mussina takes to the hill facing his counter-part for the D'Rays in Carlos Zambrano. Tampa Bay also finished their preseason game in Japan in winning fashion as they also downed the Yomiuri Giants 7-1 this morning (Last night). The D'rays played long ball as the Tokyo Dome field couldn't hold the deep ball off the bats of Jose Cruz Jr. and Robert Fick. With both clubs entering this mornings game coming off wins, this may make for a thriller. Expect a low scoring game with two of the finest pitchers in the A.L. showcasing their arms in front of the Japanese crowd. In the last four games that Zambrano faced the Yankees, the under cashed three times. The Yankees when playing Tampa Bay with the "Moose" on the mound have also engaged in low scoring affairs with the under prevailing 12 out of the last 14 times. The Japanese crowd will expect and prefer fireworks provided by offense but they'll be witness to a low scoring pitching duel.
Also common baseball smarts will help us here. Considering the Yanks and D'Rays combined for just 4 homers in their final prep games against the Yomiuri Giants, which doesn't own nearly the pitching as the boys in the Bigs and tonight's hurlers. So with both offensive facing stronger pitching, expect less offense. Early in the season pitchers have well rested "lively" arms, which yearly I give this to be a big advantage over the batters. Offense will be less productive this early in the season as batters need time to find their stride and rhythm at the plate. Advantage pitching!
Play under the total in this one and get yourself a win under your belt before the '04 season's first pitch is thrown on American soil!
-Chance
The MLB is finally here!
