Dodgers vs Cubs Preview || The MLB Outside of America
Edition #227
TOKYO, JAPAN1 - In just about an hour, the Dodgers and Cubs will face off to kick off the MLB season in Tokyo.
Japan and baseball have been interconnected for so long, and that region (Korea and Japan), has been producing amazing MLB players for a while now; Ichiro Suzuki, Hideo Nomo, and Yu Darvish are just some of the many players that Japan has produced.
So, Major League Baseball coming to Japan is a big deal, especially because you have 2 teams that have long been interconnected to Japan.
The Dodgers? They’re in on every Japanese player. Hideo Nomo, Yu Darvish, and Kenta Maeda before. Now? Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and it’s been said around Japan this week that the Munetaka Murakami interests are growing exponentially. (The Dodgers have had 6 other Japanese players play for them in their history.)
The Cubs? Think Shota Imanaga, Yu Darvish, Seiya Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Wada, Kyuji Fujikawa, Kosuke Fokudome, and more. The Cubs also have great interest in Munetaka Murakami, so just like for Roki Sasaki, the Cubs and the Dodgers are both going to have to compete.
One thing we all need to know, though, is that Mookie Betts is not going to be playing the series because he has flu-like symptoms and has lost 15 pounds. This means the Dodgers will be without their shortstop for the opener. Betts will most likely be ready for the domestic opener.
Now, the game is at 6 AM EST, 10 AM GMT, 3 AM PST, 6 PM Beijing time, and 7 PM Tokyo time. The game will be played at the incredibly iconic Tokyo Dome, home to the Yomiuri Giants. While the Yomiuri Giants haven’t produced any notable MLB talent in today’s game, they are the most successful team in the NPB.
"I think it's a great way to start a season in terms of team bonding. It's tough to think of a better way. We could go play laser tag or something like that. Or we could go to Japan. I like the Japan idea a little better. You could do trust falls or these team-building things. Or we could go to Japan. I like Japan better. Let's go to Japan and play the Dodgers. That seems like more fun."
Cubs Manager Craig Counsell
"The stadium doesn't hold 100 million people, which is approximately how many Japanese people would love to see Shohei and Yoshi and Roki. Everyone appreciates the historic significance unlike any other international adventure we've ever undertaken in baseball ... This is going to be off the charts."
Shan Kasten, Dodgers President
On Tuesday, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto will face LHP Shota Imanaga on FOX. On Wednesday, RHP Roki Sasaki will face LHP Justin Steele on FS1. Both games will be available on Fubo and will be at the same time.
Now, the disappointing part for all Japanese fans is that it will not be their beloved Ohtani on the mound, as he’s slowly finishing up elbow surgery rehab. But, in the end, the Dodgers and the Cubs have hopes of winning the World Series. The MLB, who’s only trying to put out a good show for the fans, should be disappointed, but even so, have sold out tickets for both games. A success.
This is the first Japan game since 2019.
This game 1 pitching matchup is historic, with it being the first time 2 Japanese-born players are starting in the MLB in the Tokyo Dome.
Each team brought 5 extra players.
There are no other REGULAR SEASON international games this season.
I want to go back to the MLB who’s only trying to put a good show on sentence, though. It’s the truth! What we’ve seen here from countries abroad, watching the World Series and more, is awesome. Shohei and Yoshinobu brought over a lot of attention from Japan over to the Dodgers and the MLB last year, and it’s led the MLB to begin expanding their global outreach.
After the MLB did the Korean games last year, the whole country has been tuned into the MLB. Mexico has always been the same.
Political issues are going to constrict a lot of international games and more, especially because 1 international game in China could really shake up the entire game of baseball for the better. Bigger population. Bigger outreach. Amazing. The question is, will there be any restrictions? The MLB is an American league, after all.
If there’s anything the MLB has done right the last couple of years, it would be that they’re using the world and expanding the game. Baseball was dead. Baseball is reviving. I do feel like some fun, captivating rule changes are needed to bring in the younger and older generations to the game, but the only other part to what they need is going abroad, and they’re doing exactly that.
I’m excited for the future of baseball. Things could get even better if they institute a salary floor, and if you haven’t read that article yet, don’t fret. I’ll be re-releasing it a couple of days before the season. So, without further ado, I wish you a Happy Baseball Season.
For all my baseball fans, I wanted to try something new.
I’m going to be hosting a pick-em competition that basically won’t be “applicable” to check until the end of the season, but it’s a sort of guessing game. There will be a link to the form below, and you can add who you think is going in what playoff spot and then who you think is going to win it all. Tiebreaks etc. It’s a fun game, and great chance to win a prize. It only takes 2 min to fill out, and it’s good competition with the readers of this publication. Hope you’ll choose to join!
Coming Up:
Red Sox/Dodgers Preview
One Owner Is Cheating The System
Best NBA GM
A New MLB Segment (!!!)
Lots of MLB-heavy posts as we head toward the season. Heavy NBA posts begin playoff time!
I’m going to start using a dateline for posts where I have sources and info from that location. For posts where I’m actually there, I’ll add a date. I know this is not how the rule works, but it felt really good when I was onfield reporting for the US Open and I know it would be great to add for every edition (which is unlikely).