Free Republic

TOKYO – Japanese baseball officials are being criticized for secretly switching balls for this season without notifying players. With close to 60 games already played, Nippon Professional Baseball admitted this week for the first time that a new ball was being used. The new, livelier ball has resulted in more home runs.

Sweet home Chicago Takatsu leaves Swallows for White Sox NEW YORK (AP) While Kazuhiro Sasaki is leaving the major leagues, Shingo Takatsu is joining.Shingo Takatsu, seen here pitching for the Yakult Swallows last April, is set to join the Chicago White Sox. Japan's career-saves leader agreed to a single-year, $1 million contract with the American League team.Japan's career saves leader agreed Wednesday to a $1 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox.The deal, which includes a team option for 2005, is expected to be announced Friday, a baseball source said on condition of anonymity. The agreement is contingent on...