Baseball: Japan play waiting game

Add as a preferred source on Google

Sydney: The worst kept secret in Japanese baseball will have to wait two more days before it is officially made public.

Widely expected to name young fast-baller Daisuke Matsuzaka to start the key opening Olympic baseball game with the United States on Sunday, manager Kozo Otagaki told a news conference on Friday he was waiting for American manager Tommy Lasorda to name his starter.

"I can't say right now. If the United States announces their starting pitcher, we will announce ours," Otagaki said.

So far the only name mentioned in the Japanese media's blanket coverage of the team's Olympic chances has been Matsuzaka, a star with the Seibu Lions who was rookie of the year last season.

"Every Japanese reporter believes he'll start," said a baseball reporter from one of Japan's big newspapers.

US baseball spokesman Dave Fannuchi said on Friday the starting US pitcher would be announced "probably on Sunday morning".

Otagaki did say he expected a tight game.

"I don't think it will be big-hitting game. It will be very close with one or two runs separating the teams," he said.

This Olympics is the first in which professionals are allowed, and Matsuzaka is one of eight pros from Japan.

Some Japanese professional teams did not want to release players because the season is still on, the same reason the US team is made up of former and future major leaguers on Sunday.

Defending Olympic champions Cuba, South Korea and host Australia are the other teams expected to battle for the four semi-final spots before the gold medal game on September 27.

Team captain Masanori Sugiura is back for a third attempt at a gold medal, after winning a bronze in Barcelona in 1992 when baseball made its debut as a full medal sport and a silver four years ago.

"I think all the players will be influenced by the professional players and I think it will be a positive influence on the team," Sugiura said.

The Olympic baseball tournament also includes Italy, the Netherlands and South Africa.



(c) Reuters Limited.