With the 2020 NPB season upon us, I figured it was time to challenge myself and find more differences since the last time I wrote something. You can see Part I and Part II here.
MLB and NPB have their share of differences that goes beyond language itself. Here's what is noticeable or unmentioned from previous posts:
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For 2020 only, games will end after 10 innings
With the recent social distancing protocols taking place around the the world, NPB will call a tie game if 10 innings are concluded. In a normal year, 12 innings was the limit.
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In a 2020 special, the ichi-gun roster will expand to 31 with a foreign player cap at 5.
NPB usually allows four players at the top team, but with COVID-19 happening, more can travel and accrue service time. This year, five foreigners can be on the roster at once, but only four can be active in a single game with no boundary crossing of four pitchers or four position players.
The total roster will increase from 29 to 31 and the active can go from 25 to 26 in 2020 only. Compared with MLB, there is a larger number, though their agreement could be coming soon to change as that story develops.
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It is easier to buy visiting team merchandise at ballparks in NPB than MLB
Japanese usually believe in the fair opportunity for things as it shows in the draft. However, if you're a displaced fan in another market, you'll have no trouble finding goods from caps, jerseys and more from the ballpark stores themselves compared to MLB. That being said, the selection of goods is limited compared to buying at the home team's stadium.
In any stateside sports scenario, you're better off buying things online as a displaced fan as most stores will only sell the home team or market's gear while only a handful of sports stores in malls will be expensive and overpriced with hard to find stuff. The only exception to this is the Seattle Mariners when going to T-Mobile Park, who are fittingly owned by Nintendo. Other teams may capitalize only on certain opponents if they have a large visiting fanbase.
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There are more fans of individuals in NPB than MLB
It's easy to like a star player such as Mike Trout or Aaron Judge, but how about Brock Holt, Brad Miller or Gregory Polanco having his own fanbase? Japan will have fans of individuals following someone in a larger quantity than what you'd see stateside. While it is easy to find uniforms of great players, you'll also see the random ones of role players, bench players and even farm players depending on who they followed.
Some will have a larger following if they did something at the high school Koshien tournament, putting them on a national radar. Others may have come from an industrial league or a college out of the way, but they'll have a following beyond family and friends.
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Teams in Japan will not trade a player for his high value or expiring contract
The trade deadline in MLB will always have some intrigue on players who could be rentals or sold high because they have years of control. Japanese teams don't see the same reason of letting go of a star while in his prime in the same way, as it would be a loss of an asset and investment.
It's clear NPB teams will market and invest in their stars at least through their seven years of service time at minimum before they could hit domestic free agency. The last trade of someone being sent off in their prime was Yoshio Itoi, which had a complex contract negotiation situation. Of course the compensation in free agency also makes it easier if someone walks in comparison.
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For some players, there is no offseason or time off. They continue to train at the team facilities
Players under control can stay in the area and still train in the offseason. Many will become workaholics when at the weight machines or batting practice cage besides extra hours before and after a scheduled session. In the States, players are usually on their own living elsewhere until Spring Training.
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You cannot keep a ball from batting practice, but only in-game in NPB
During batting practice when a home run or foul ball happens, several stadiums have ushers ready to take the ball from you. In the States, the rules are more loose with some ballparks/players able to give a ball away without issues. Even then, the practice baseballs are not the same depending on the park you go to. Getting a home run or foul ball in Japan becomes even more rewarding if you get it. Fans can also buy baseballs at the shop without issue, including some autographed baseballs already on the shelves since it may not happen before an actual game.
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Excluding foreigners, an agent isn't doing contract negotiations in NPB. It's face to face.
In November and December, it's the time of the year to come to an agreement (assuming he's under control) for the following season and deciding a salary. Foreigners will usually have the agent represent them, but domestically each players is scheduled to talk to team representatives to discuss everything. It is a cultural thing to meet face to face in Japan more times than not, though social distancing has loosened up some restrictions.
Teams usually have a baseball analytics expert with someone in charge of financial operations with all the data, factoring in what the player did the previous season and an offer is presented based on results. The player then takes the offer or tries to appeal and make a case, but more times than not, they have no choice but to sign the dotted line. There have been holdouts and it can cause some tension, but usually the team has leverage when looking at the work the player did to come up with a number. When the agreement is reached, the player has a formal press conference discussing the reported salary (never 100% accurate) and talks about their goals for next year and more.
There are exceptions and times a lawyer/representative could make a case, but more times than not, it's a face to face meeting.
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The minimum wage for a minor leaguer in NPB is higher than someone in MiLB away from the 40-man roster.
If a player is under a developmental contract (iksuei), then his reported wages are around ¥3 million ($28,000) at the lowest. He also receives a place to stay as well as being fed without trouble. In the States, minor leaguers are dependent on their signing bonus and depending on what level you're at, it's likely they make less than $10,000 in a season while also not making anything extra in the playoffs.
In the event someone is on the 70-man roster, but stays in ni-gun, the reported minimum salary is about ¥5 million ($46,600). For stateside players, the ladder is tough, but making it to MLB on a 25-man roster means a minimum wage of at least $563,500 (¥60.3 million), though it's prorated if a player is called up midseason. Being on a 40-man roster is around $40,000 a year, if they make it there.
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Are there more missed things? Be sure to click around Part I and Part II for other details missed.
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