Baseball: Rakuten dominate All-star fan voting

Baseball: Rakuten dominate All-star fan voting

SENDAI, Japan - Seven Rakuten Eagles players named July 2 to the upcoming All-Star series pose for photographers at Fullcast Stadium in Sendai. (Back row, from L to R) rookie pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, slugger Takeshi Yamasaki, outfielder Teppei, catcher Motohiro Shima. (Front row, from L to R) outfielder Koichi Isobe, infielder Yosuke Takasu, pitcher Kazuo Fukumori. Yamasaki, who has hit 28 home runs and 61 RBIs this season -- both Pacific League highs -- was the top vote-getter overall with 1,094,803 as Rakuten, with eight players named to the All-Stars, dominated the 12 sections in the PL for the July 20-21 series at Tokyo Dome and Fullcast Stadium.

(2)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

(2)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

OSAKA, Japan - Kintetsu Buffaloes players association president Koichi Isobe answers reporters' questions Sept. 8 at Osaka Dome after the owners of Japan's 12 professional ballclubs approved the merger between the Orix BlueWave and Buffaloes and decided to keep the two-league system at an extraordinary meeting.

(2)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

(2)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

OSAKA, Japan - Kintetsu Buffaloes players association president Koichi Isobe answers reporters' questions Sept. 8 at Osaka Dome after the owners of Japan's 12 professional ballclubs approved the merger between the Orix BlueWave and Buffaloes and decided to keep the two-league system at an extraordinary meeting. (Kyodo)

Baseball: Rakuten dominate All-star fan voting

Baseball: Rakuten dominate All-star fan voting

SENDAI, Japan - Seven Rakuten Eagles players named July 2 to the upcoming All-Star series pose for photographers at Fullcast Stadium in Sendai. (Back row, from L to R) rookie pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, slugger Takeshi Yamasaki, outfielder Teppei, catcher Motohiro Shima. (Front row, from L to R) outfielder Koichi Isobe, infielder Yosuke Takasu, pitcher Kazuo Fukumori. Yamasaki, who has hit 28 home runs and 61 RBIs this season -- both Pacific League highs -- was the top vote-getter overall with 1,094,803 as Rakuten, with eight players named to the All-Stars, dominated the 12 sections in the PL for the July 20-21 series at Tokyo Dome and Fullcast Stadium. (Kyodo)