One game down, 2429 to go. The Seattle Mariners came out on top of the Oakland Athletics in the Major League Baseball season opener in Tokyo overnight 3-1 in an extra-innings affair.
With the second and final game of their two-game set tonight, both sides will return to America before resuming regular season play next week.
For Australians the brief series was a chance to see MLB action in a prime time slot, which offers the potential for new fans of the game.
But what do we need to capitalise on these new fans and bring the game the prominence it deserves in an already sports mad country?
We need our own Ichiro Suzuki.
For those who don’t know, Ichiro became the first Japanese-born position player to play in the Major League, and has since become one of the faces of the game. He holds the outstanding distinction of being the only player in the history of baseball to have ten consecutive 200 hit seasons.
To have an Australian player become one of the faces of the league would offer the MLB the incentive that they would need to bring a series to Australia.
Who is the right player for the role? The obvious choice is a position player, as unfortunately (and no disrespect to) pitchers, not playing every day makes it tough for them.
This is a shame given the depth of Australian pitching in the bigs, including Josh Spence, Rich Thompson, Shane Lindsay, and as many are predicting, Dan McGrath.
The fact that Luke Hughes is 27 years of age is something of a concern, as he is our biggest name at the moment. He probably doesn’t have the time left in his career to make a lasting impact on the majors.
I’m not going to be as brave as to suggest who I think could be the one who changes everything, but I will say that it all starts at home.
If you haven’t been to an ABL game you are being denied one of the greatest sporting pleasures in Australia.
While it isn’t MLB quality, according to many players who have played in the league it floats between AA and AAA.
Furthermore fans have the opportunity to be closer to the action that at any other sport in Australia, and the level of professionalism shown by the players when they interact with the fans is something that major sports could learn from.
Without the grassroots support of the ABL there is no reason for the MLB to bring a series to Australia, so to all of the MLB fans here (and the television ratings and MLBAM data suggests there are plenty), if you haven’t embraced the ABL, what are you waiting for?
B.A Sports
Guest
I think it is fair to say Ichiro is a pretty special player, The US have rouble replicating Ichiro. so not withstanding producing a future hall-of-famer, I think something that would help baseball grow in Aust would to get an everyday player in a major market team. If for example Adrian Gonzalez or a Mark Texeria were aussie's or a couple of cult heros in big markets like Youkilis or Swisher, that might attract some more local interest as well as get the Americans showing some interest down here. I think that, while still long odds, is more of a likely scenario that will help grow the game than creating a Hall of Famer
Chop
Guest
The could to it at the olympic baseball stadium and add temporary seating down the baselines and into the outfield. I'd love to see MLB down here, going to LA to watch my dodgers is an expensive exercise.
Nicholas R.W. Henning
Guest
That's a good idea for MLB to bring a series to Australia. The NFL brought a preseason game to Australia, on August 7, 1999, which was the first American Bowl pro football game to be held in the Southern Hemisphere between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers at Stadium Australia in Sydney. The game attendance was announced at 73,811 spectators. Baseball could be played at a big stadium in Australia, but the field dimensions might not be perfect.
Nicholas R.W. Henning
Guest
Balfour's name will become even bigger now that he has the A's closing job. Plus as an A's player his uniform is Aussie colours!
Nicholas R.W. Henning
Guest
Softball players have much better career opportunities playing professional baseball. Kiwi Scott Campbell was a gun softball player and he came across to baseball. He reached AAA with the Blue Jays. I have included his career statistics below: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=campbe003sco Softball and baseball in Australia have different goals and operate independently of each other. Softball is actually played by more people though, and it is played in many schools. Softball is no longer an Olympic sport but it deserves a spot, which has caused the sport a bit of a setback as that was the apex event for softball. I think there is a good chance that softball will return to the Olympics.
Nicholas R.W. Henning
Guest
Luke Hughes already brings plenty of attention to Australia. American reporters mention his Aussie background frequently. The Twins have a lot of Aussie news because of the number of Australians to have played within their organisation, and more Aussies have played MLB with the Twins than any other club, which to date is seven.
DJ
Guest
I think it will be a long time before we produce a player of Ichiro's standard... The guy is a legend (litterally - and I dont use that term lightly), a first ballot hall of famer and humble to boot... I can only imagine what he COULD have done, had he began his career in MLB... He has ammassed 2,428 hits in only 11 season.. If he played the other 7-8 season avering 180 hits (being ultra conseratvie) you are looking at 3,868 career hits and you are looking at the opportunity of someone breaking the all times hits record, current held by Pete Rose at 4,256... add his stolen bases, rocket of an arm and you dont just have one of the finest players of his generation, you have one of the best ever. Maybe MLB need to bring a series here first, before we have a genuine superstar... To try and influence it... the ABL is owned by MLB anyway so the head of the ABL here should be talking to mLB to get it happening... The only problem? We dont have a purpose built baseball stadium capable of holding a decent crowd...
Nicholas R.W. Henning
Guest
Xavier this is an interesting article. The first Japanese born player to play MLB was Masanori Murakami in 1964. The next was Hideo Nomo who played MLB from 1995 - 2008. Even though both these players were pitchers Nomo created massive interest in 1995 and during the late 1990s. Ichiro Suzuki has had the most successful career of any Japanese MLB player. I remember when Nomo hit the scene and he received a lot more attention than Ichiro did, when comparing their first few years playing MLB. My theory is that a film based on Peter Moylan's career is the spark baseball needs in Australia, as his inspiring story has the potential to engage a broad range of viewers. The ABL is pretty good quality baseball but Australian baseball culture and an Australian baseball brand needs greater development for the sport to grow in Australia. Nicholas R.W. Henning - Australian Baseball Author
Fivehole
Guest
I'd say Balfour is a bigger name than Hughes, but that may be just me. I also like Moylan. However both being relievers, if Hughes cements a spot being an everyday player he'll attract more attention.
JJV
Guest
Do you find more Softballer's are deciding to play baseball? Or is there a clear choice for young kids to choose to play Softball or Baseball. I know in NZ Baseball is growing steadily and is getting more exposure thanks to a couple of very talented softballers getting contracts with major American teams. Does Softball and Baseball have a good relationship in Aus?
Chop
Guest
I think if Luke Hughes can get a good start to the year he'll bring some publicity to Australa about the MLB. He'll never be the Ichiro standard thoughl. There are more and more Aussies over in the systems, hopefully one of them can make the step up to the big show. As for the ABL, I agree, it's a great night out. I've only been to Canberra Cavilary games, but the ticket price is right, the food and drink prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is fantastic. I can't wait for the official opening day....