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the Hanshin starting pitcher, and the lineup generally? Had a hunch that MLB hitters were going to have a rough ride with NPB pitching if played on their home soil.
Was the crowd rooting Mariners, Tigers, or just doing a Marv Albert and cheering everything exciting?
Do you know whether they used an MLB baseball?
.........
Not taking anything away from Hanshin - maybe good NPB clubs can play with MLB clubs, like Bobby Valentine said.
But it suddenly occurs that MLB was farsighted in its decision to let the M's and A's get fully acclimated, with baseball included, before the counting games took place?