The Baseball Federation of Japan held a meeting today and reported that Japan withdrew from the 2012 15U Baseball World Championship in Mexico this year due to political instability in the region.  The US and Australia have also reportedly backed out of the tournament.

Games from May 22:

Texas Rangers 3 - Seattle Mariners 1
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 2-for-4: single to right, fly out to left, ground out to second (force), single to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Minnesota Twins 9 - Chicago White Sox 2
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a defensive replacement in right in the top of the 8th.   He did get one at bat in the bottom of the 9th: he grounded out to the pitcher. [Nikkan Sports]

San Francisco Giants 6 - Milwaukee Brewers 4
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-4: triple to right, strikeout swinging, ground out to third, RBI double to right (run scored), walk. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Charlotte 5 - Durham 2 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-4: ground out to first, fly out to center, fly out to right, strikeout swinging. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Pawtucket 5 - Norfolk 3 (AAA)
Junichi Tazawa (PAW) entered the game in the bottom of the 6th and gave up a run (unearned) over two innings of work.  He got the win and is now 1-1 on the year.  Tazawa also recorded his second blown save of the year.  Final line: 2 IP, 28-20 NP-S, 9 BF, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Gwinnett 3 - Rochester 1 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted eighth.  He went 0-for-2: pop out to the catcher in foul territory, walk, ground out to short. [Nikkan Sports]

===

The latest on Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS), from CBSSports.com:

Matsuzaka shifted to 60-day DL: Boston starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. Matsuzaka was recently shut down from his minor-league rehab assignment after developing pain in his neck that restricted his movement when he pitched. He reportedly had a cortisone injection on Sunday. Matsuzaka's move cleared an additional spot on the 40-man roster. 

===

Yu Darvish's (TEX) next start will come against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 27.

Games from May 21:

Seattle Mariners 6 - Texas Rangers 1
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 2-for-4: RBI triple to right, RBI single to center (run scored, advance to third on throwing error by center field), ground out to third (force), strikeout (foul tip). [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports]

Yu Darvish (TEX) started the game and allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings of work.  He took the loss and is now 6-2.  Final line: 4 IP, 96-56 NP-S, 22 BF, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Yoshinori Tateyama (TEX) entered the game in the bottom of the 6th, with the Rangers down, and gave up a run over two innings of work in relief.  Final line: 2 IP, 37-27 NP-S, 8 BF, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Kansas City Royals 6 - New York Yankees 0
Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) started the game and gave up three runs over 5.1 innings of work. He took the loss and dropped to 3-6 on the year.  Final line: 5.1 IP, 103-63 NP-S, 26 BF, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB (1 IBB), 4 SO, 1 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Oakland A's 2 - LA Angels 1
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the bottom of the 7th with a runner on first, one out, and the A's up 2-1.  Takahashi recorded one one out on a fly out to center.  The second out was picked off at first base.  Final line: 0.2 IP, 4-2 NP-S, 1 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

SF Giants 4 - Milwaukee Brewers 3
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in right and batted second.  He went 0-for-5: bunt ground out to third, strikeout swinging, ground out to third, reaches on fielding error by shortstop (run scored), strikeout swinging, walk. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Durham 3 - Charlotte 2 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 1-for-5: fly out to left, fly out to left, GIDP, line out to second, game-winning walk-off RBI single to right. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Las Vegas 10 - Nashville 8 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 9th and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  He also recorded his fourth save of the year.  Final line: 1 IP, 18-12 NP-S, 5 BF, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR.

===

Komatsu will be maintaining the spokesperson contract they have had with Hideki Matsui (TBR) since 2003.

The Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin has the following update on Matsui:

OF/DH Hideki Matsui seems likely to join the Rays this week, maybe for the weekend series in Boston.

And from the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith:

Though there's no official date for DH/OF Hideki Matsui to be called up from Triple-A Durham, Maddon said he and executive VP Andrew Friedman are monitoring him more closely. Maddon said part of the timing is Matsui being ready and the other is need, with the Rays having a lot of left-handed bats. Matsui hit an RBI single in the 10th Monday to lift the Bulls to a 3-2 victory.

===

The latest on Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS), from the Providence Journals Tim Britton:

Daisuke Matsuzaka was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list effective Saturday with a strain in his right trapezius.

Matsuzaka received an injection in that trapezius over the weekend.

"The same area flared up a little maybe three weeks ago. It was the same symptoms," Matsuzaka said through interpreter Jeff Cutler. "It seemed to have cleared up, but it came up again. It restricts my movement when I throw. At this point, that's why I got the shot. Hopefully it gets better from here. MY rehab so far had been going really well, so it is a setback and it is a little disappointing."

===

Yoshinori Tateyama (TEX) made it back to the Majors on Monday.  From MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan:

Yoshinori Tateyama is back in the big leagues.

The Rangers called up Tateyama on Monday from Triple-A Round Rock after placing pitcher Neftali Feliz on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow. Tateyama goes into the bullpen while Scott Feldman will take Feliz's spot in the rotation.

Tateyama, who began the season on the disabled list with tightness in his lower back, pitched in 12 games for Round Rock and was 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA. In 16 2/3 innings, he allowed 12 hits and four walks while striking out 14.

===

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) kept himself busy during Monday's game by catching in the bullpen.

Games from May 20:

Seattle Mariners 6 - Colorado Rockies 4
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 1-for-4: strikeout swinging, double to right (run scored), fly out to center, GIDP.  The double was Ichiro's 500th of his career (NPB+MLB). [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Chicago White Sox 6 - Chicago Cubs 0
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) started the game in right and batted sixth.  He went 1-for-4: infield single (advanced to second on throwing error by pitcher), ground out to the catcher, ground out to the catcher, strikeout swinging. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

San Diego Padres 3 - LA Angels 2
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the bottom of the 10th, with the scored tied at two, and retired the first two batters he faced before putting the next two on and leaving with runners on first and second and two out.  Final line: 0.2 IP, 13-6 NP-S, 4 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Milwaukee Brewers 16 - Minnesota Twins 4
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Ryan Braun in the bottom of the 7th inning and hit an RBI infield single.  He then came around to score on a grand slam by Jonathan Lucroy.  Aoki took over in left in the top of the 8th. [Nikkan Sports]

Washington Nationals 9 - Baltimore Orioles 3
Wei-Ying Chen (BAL) started the game and gave up six runs (all earned) over 4.1 innings of work.  He took the loss and is now 4-1.  Final line: 4.1 IP, 92-58 NP-S, 23 BF, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 2 HR. [Sponichi]

Durham 6 - Charlotte 0 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 1-for-3: sac fly to left, single to right (run scored), strikeout looking, fly out to left. [Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports, Sponichi, Sponichi]

Las Vegas 5 - Memphis 2 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 8th and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 15-10 NP-S, 4 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

===

Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) will miss his next rehab start on May 22 because of tightness that extends from the right side of his neck to his back.  A little more from the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham:

The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end on Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle. Matsuzaka received an injection in the area.

"That's been nagging him for quite a while and we've got to make sure that that's 100 percent before he's going out there again," manager Bobby Valentine said. "I talked to him [Saturday] about it being sore. He said he would maybe pitch through it. They examined him and didn't think it was wise."

And some more from ESPN's Gordon Edes:

The Red Sox have recalled Matsuzaka from his rehab assignment, and he remains on the 15-day disabled list. But he cannot begin a new rehab assignment until seven days after he was "returned from rehab," which the Red Sox did on Saturday.

Major League Baseball must approve any new rehab assignment, which is expected to be a formality, given the injury. As with any rehab assignment, Matsuzaka must give his approval, another expected formality.

===

A brief bit on Tsuyoshi Nishioka (MIN) from the Star Tribune's La Velle E. Neal III:

It's true. Tsuyoshi Nishioka homered yesterday for Class AAA Rochester, and manager Ron Gardenhire said he's getting favorable reports on Nishi's play of late.

Games from May 19:

Seattle Mariners 10 - Colorado Rockies 3
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 1-for-5: fly out to center, infield single (run scored), line out to short, ground out to third (force), ground out to short (force, run scored). [Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports, Sponichi]

Minnesota Twins 5 - Milwaukee Brewers 4
Norichika Aoki (MIL) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Taylor Green in the bottom of the 7th and struck out (foul tip).  Aoki did not remain in the game for the top of the 8th. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

San Diego Padres 3 - LA Angels 2
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game with a runner on second, two out, and the Angels down 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th.  He retired the one batter he faced.  Final line: 0.1 IP, 2-2 NP-S, 1 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Charlotte 7 - Durham 1 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-4: strikeout swinging, fly out to right, fly out to center, strikeout swinging. [Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports, Sponichi]

Rochester 6 - Gwinnett 4 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted first.  He went 1-for-5: line out to first, reaches on fielding error (E4), two-run homer (1) to right, pop out to short, fly out to center. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

===

Yu Darvish (TEX) threw about thirty pitches in the bullpen on Saturday in preparation for his next start on May 21.

Games from May 18:

Seattle Mariners 4 - Colorado Rockies
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batter third.  He went 2-for-4: ground out to short, single to left, single to center (stole second and advanced to third on throwing error E2, run scored), ground out to first. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Texas Rangers 4 - Houston Astros 1
Koji Uehara (TEX) entered the game in the bottom of the 8th, with the Rangers up 4-1, and retired the side in order.  Final line: 1 IP, 13-8 NP-S, 3 BF, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports] 

Minnesota Twins 11 - Milwaukee Brewers 3
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in center and batted second.  He went 2-for-4: single to left, RBI double to center, ground out to the pitcher, ground out to second. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Durham 6 - Pawtucket 5 (AAA) [Nikkan Sports]
Hideki Matsui (DUR) started in left and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-3: pop out to third, strikeout swinging, walk, ground out to first.  Matsui also threw out Alex Hassan at home plate on a fly out to left in the top of the 2nd. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Junichi Tazawa (PAW) entered the game in the bottom of the 7th and allowed four runs (none earned) over 1.2 innings of work.  He took the loss (including his first blown save) and is now 0-1.  Final line: 1.2 IP, 34-22 NP-S, 12 BF, 4 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Fresno 5 - Round Rock 2 (AAA)
Yoshinori Tateyama (RRE) entered the game in the top of the 8th and tossed two shutout innings in relief.  Final line: 2 IP,  21-18 NP-S, 7 BF, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Memphis 9 - Las Vegas 6 (AAA)
Ryota Igarashi (LV) entered the game in the top of the 8th and did not allow a run over an inning of work.  Final line: 1 IP, 14-10 NP-S, 4 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]

Rochester 5 - Louisville 3 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted first.  He went 1-for-4: fly out to right, single to left (run scored), ground out to short, walk (run scored), ground out to third (force). [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

===

Brad Penny signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.  From the SF Chronicle's John Shea:

Brad Penny is a Giant again. Well, at least he’s a Giants minor-leaguer. The pitcher who  went 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA in six September starts for the 2009 Giants, signed a minor-league deal and will report to extended spring training on Monday.

The Giants see him as a possible reliever. Brian Wilson is done for the season, and Guillermo Mota is serving a 100-game drug suspension.

There's also a short bit about Japan:

On Japan: "It just didn't work out. He wasn't happy where he was over there. He wanted to come back here. The shoulder or elbow, that's not an issue. He showed it today in the bullpen. We'll make sure he is healthy and make sure he will help us. It'll take a little time. When he thinks he's ready and he thinks he's ready, it'll be a mutual agreement, and we'll have him here to help us."

Sanspo posted portions of Hideki Matsui (TBR) and Daisuke Matsuzaka's (BOS) press conference from Friday.

First, Matsui:

How did your last at bat feel?

It felt like I go all of it.  But it did not have enough carry.  I did, however, hit the ball with the sweet spot.

What about your at bats against [Daisuke] Matsuzaka?

I try to approach every at bat the same way, regardless of who is pitching.  But I may have been thinking about him somewhere in the back of my mind.

What did you think of his pitches?

I think he is still working on his pitches.  That said, he was throwing well.

He threw a difficult pitch during your second at bat.

It was like a shuto in that it went away from me.  I ended up hitting the ball off the end of the bat.

And your fourth at bat?

I do not think it was bad.  In terms of feel, I think things are improving.

There was another catcher's interference, second time in as many days.

I am not really sure what the problem is.  I am sure there is a problem with my swing as well.  But I am not really sure.

And Matsuzaka:

How is your right elbow?

I think it is fine, but my pitches are not going where I want them to.  It if was a minor difference it would not be a problem, but it is fairly big difference.  I am feeling some stress from that.

On facing [Hideki] Matsui.

I was looking forward to it.  While watching other pitchers face him, I felt I could get him to hit grounders if I threw my pitches well.  I went with what the catcher put down.

There was a catcher's interference in his third at bat.

Things like that happen at both the minor league and major league level.  I needed to adjust accordingly.

What do you need to work on next?

I need to work on my change, slider, everything.  I need to properly throw all my pitches, otherwise they will catch up.  And if I can slowly work on the movement so pitches miss the sweet spot, then I will be able throw deeper into games.

Eri Yoshida just made an appearance on Wake Up Plus (Nippon TV in Kanto) and announced that she will be playing for Na Koa Ikaika Maui next month.

I just noticed now that The Maui News posted an article back on March 14 that Yoshida signed a deal with the Na Koa Ikaika Maui.  A snip:

Eri Yoshida, who last year became the the first female pitcher to earn a win in a North American professional baseball league in 13 years, has re-signed with Na Koa Ikaika Maui, the team said Tuesday.

"I am glad that Eri will be back for the 2012 season," said Maui manager Jamie Vermilyea. "We are looking to build on her solid start last season. She is a specialty pitcher, mainly working off of a knuckleball. We are thinking about developing another pitch. Most likely we will be looking to use her as a starter."

Games from May 17:

Cleveland Indians 6 - Seattle Mariners 5 [Sponichi, Daily Sports]
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third.  He went 0-for-6: fly out to left, ground out to first, fly out to center, ground out to short, line out to short, ground out to short. [Nikkan Sports]

Munenori Kawasaki (SEA) entered the game as a pinch-runner for Justin Smoak in the top of the 10th and remained in the game at second in the bottom of the 10th. [Nikkan Sports]

Chicago White Sox 6 - LA Angels 1
Hisanori Takahashi (LAA) entered the game in the top of the 6th, with the Angels down 4-0, and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 20-10 NP-S, 4 BF, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports]

Houston Astros 4 - Milwaukee Brewers 0
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in center and batted first.  He went 3-for-4: ground out to second, double to right, single to right, HBP, single to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]

Durham 5 - Pawtucket 0 (AAA) [Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-3: ground out to first (force), fly out to left, reaches on catcher interference (run scored), fly out to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Daisuke Matsuzaka (PAW) started the game and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 6.2 innings of work.  Final line: 6.2 IP, 95-64 NP-S, 28 BF, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2 HR, 1 HBP. [Sponichi, Sponichi, Nikkan Sports]

Louisville 4 - Rochester 2 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted first.  He went 1-for-4: ground out to first, fly out to left, single to center, strikeout swinging, walk. [Nikkan Sports]

===

The Hideki Matsui - Daisuke Matsuzaka game will be shown on J-Sports 2/3 in Japan at 6pm today and against a 8am on Saturday.

===

The Durham Bulls plan to begin selling Hideki Matsui (TBR) t-shirts on Friday for $24.99.

Depending on how things turn out, Matsui could join the MLB roster as early as May 22.

===

Yu Darvish's (TEX) next start will come on May 21 against the Seattle Mariners.  Darvish will be going for his 100th career victory (currently at ninety-three NPB victories and six MLB victories).

Incidentally, Darvish tweeted that he threw at about seventy to eighty percent during his last start in order to give hitters something else to think about.