Baseball Japan v. United States

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BaseballJapan v. United States

• Nate Ruff

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Areas of Contrast

• Discipline

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Areas of Contrast

• Discipline
• Fan Support

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Areas of Contrast

• Discipline
• Fan Support
• Salaries

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Areas of Contrast

• Discipline
• Fan Support
• Salaries
• Skill Level

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Areas of Contrast

• Discipline
• Fan Support
• Salaries
• Skill Level
• Rules

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Discipline

• United States
• Serious lack of discipline
• Steroid Use
• Focus more on the individual
• Periodic suspensions
• Fighting
• Throwing at batters intentionally

• Japan
• Strict rules
• Team oriented
• Extremely hard work ethic

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Fan Support

• United States
• Attendance
• MLB averaged 30,000 fans/game
• Total Attendance increased 2.4 from 2004
• Higher appeal to the youth
• Fans mostly just cheer mildly, some exceptions

• Japan
• Attendance
• Pacific league averaged 31,000 fans/game- 5.8
  increase
  
• Die hard fans drums, trumpets, noise makers
• Often care about cheering more than the game
  itself
  
• Cheering can even be distracting

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Salaries/Endorsements

• United States
• Top Salary 26 Million
• Many high paid players in the MLB
• Based upon skill
• All players receive endorsements

• Japan
• Top Salary 6.5 Million Yen
• Very few players make over 1 million Yen
• Japanese players are paid more
• Only the best team is marketable

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Skill Level

• United States
• One main league- MLB
• AAA
• AA
• A
• More talented players in the U.S
• With some exceptions, the players of the NBP are
  about equal to the MLB AA players. Joe
  Morgan.
  

• Japan
• Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB)
• Other minor leagues throughout Japan- no
  affiliation
  
• Want a true World Series
• MLB v. NPB

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Rules

• United States
• Fields have grass on infield
• No ties allowed extra innings are played until
  there is a winner
  
• No time limit on games
• 162 games/season
• Playoffs consist of 8 teams and 3 separate
  series
  

• Japan
• Baseball is 3-4 millimeters smaller
• Umpires have wider strike zones
• No malicious contact permitted
• 146 games/season
• No designated hitter allowed

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A few similarities

• Fundamental Rules
• Game is played with 9 players on the field
• Standard equipment (glove, bat, shoes, etc)
• Trading of players is allowed
• MLB and NPB have an all-star game
• Year end awards
• A World Champion is crowned at the end of the
  playoffs
  
• Level of play ranges from little league through
  college to the professional ranks
  
• Similar field dimensions in ball parks