MLB M's & A's to JPN in 2012

[Bucky]

Now MLB only has to hope that both Ichiro and Matsui are still playing for the M's and the A's when the season starts next year.

Major League Baseball (MLB) will open its season in Tokyo, for the first time in four years when the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics hold a two-game set to start the 2012 campaign, the league said on Wednesday.

The series, set for March 28-29 at the Tokyo Dome, marks MLB's fourth season-opening trip to Japan and first since the Boston Red Sox and Athletics played in 2008.

MLB said the games are being held in Japan to help assist with the rebuilding efforts in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year that left thousands dead and billions of dollars in damage.

I am kinda curious what assistance MLB will provide to Tohoku. Donate ticket proceeds to disaster relief perhaps?

[canman]

Wouldn't that be funny if the Mariners traded Ichiro in the off season, and the A's decided not to renew Matsui's contract! Mind you Matsui did have a pretty good second half, so I expect they will resign him. I can't believe that Ichiro, who we are always told is so competitive, can continue to stay on one of the worst teams in baseball. Demand a trade, go to the angels or Dodgers, or anybody else. Maybe he really is only interested in his individual statics, like a lot of US player have complained about!