2008 Nippon Professional Baseball season
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Nippon Professional Baseball season was the 59th season since the NPB was reorganized in . The regular season started on March 20 with the Pacific League
opener, and on March 28 with the Central League
opener. On March 25 and 26, the Boston Red Sox
and Oakland Athletics
played 2 regular season
Major League Baseball
games at Tokyo Dome
. During their visit, they also played exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants.
As to reduce the interference to teams whose main players would play in the Olympic games, this year's trade and new foreign players deadlines were pushed to the end of July, instead of the end of June. Also, teams having more than three players selected by National teams were given an extra quota of foreign player limit during the Olympic Games.
The postseason playoff ("Climax Series") regulations have changed to give more advantages to League Champions, now the second stage series will play for 6 games, while the League Champion will have a one-win advantage.
In late June, the Free Agency regulation was amended after negotiation between the players committee and owners. Players are now eligible for free agency after 8 years of service to a team (1 playing year = 145 days on the active roster), players drafted before 2007 are shortened to 7 (University/Company/Independent League) to 8 (High School) years. However, oversea FA right which allow them to play in the Major League Baseball
still needs 9 playing years. This amendment is also effective on non-Japanese players. Alex Ramírez
, who served 8 playing years in Japan, became a "local player" after the season.
Note: Whenever multiple teams have same number of wins, the team having better standings in last year's interleague games will have advantage, thus Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks won the interleague title, despite Hanshin Tigers beating the Hawks 3 out of 4 games. A similar rule applies to other teams tied in wins.
Japan Series
Saitama Seibu Lions win the series, 4-3
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
opener, and on March 28 with the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
opener. On March 25 and 26, the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
played 2 regular season
MLB Japan Opening Series 2008
The Major League Baseball Opening Series Japan 2008 was played on March 25 and 26, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan. The 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics split the two-game series at the Tokyo Dome....
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
games at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
. During their visit, they also played exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants.
Both League
- Season Format
- Regular Season
- Climax Series 1st Stage: Regular Season 2nd place vs. Regular Season 3rd place - Best of 3
- Climax Series 2nd Stage: Regular Season 1st place vs. Climax Series 1st Stage winner - Best of 7 (Regular Season 1st place take a one-win advantage)
- Regular Season 1st place is the champion
Japan Series
- Central League Climax Series 2nd Stage winner vs. Pacific League Climax Series 2nd Stage winner - Best of 7
Changes
The Seibu Lions added the prefecture name "Saitama" in front of the team name starting with this season.As to reduce the interference to teams whose main players would play in the Olympic games, this year's trade and new foreign players deadlines were pushed to the end of July, instead of the end of June. Also, teams having more than three players selected by National teams were given an extra quota of foreign player limit during the Olympic Games.
The postseason playoff ("Climax Series") regulations have changed to give more advantages to League Champions, now the second stage series will play for 6 games, while the League Champion will have a one-win advantage.
In late June, the Free Agency regulation was amended after negotiation between the players committee and owners. Players are now eligible for free agency after 8 years of service to a team (1 playing year = 145 days on the active roster), players drafted before 2007 are shortened to 7 (University/Company/Independent League) to 8 (High School) years. However, oversea FA right which allow them to play in the Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
still needs 9 playing years. This amendment is also effective on non-Japanese players. Alex Ramírez
Alex Ramírez
Alexander Ramón Ramírez is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who currently plays for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. He played in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, who served 8 playing years in Japan, became a "local player" after the season.
Central League
- Champions: Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri GiantsThe are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
- Advancing to Japan Series: Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri GiantsThe are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
Climax Series 1st Stage
Chunichi Dragons win the series, 2-1| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chunichi Dragons - 2, Hanshin Tigers - 0 | October 18 | Kyocera Dome Osaka Osaka Dome Osaka Dome is a baseball stadium located in Osaka, Japan. Beginning in 1997, the stadium was the home field of the Kintetsu Buffaloes. In 2005, the stadium became one of the homes of the Orix Buffaloes, a result of the merger between the Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes. Prior to the Osaka... |
33,824 |
| 2 | Chunichi Dragons - 3, Hanshin Tigers - 7 | October 19 | Kyocera Dome Osaka Osaka Dome Osaka Dome is a baseball stadium located in Osaka, Japan. Beginning in 1997, the stadium was the home field of the Kintetsu Buffaloes. In 2005, the stadium became one of the homes of the Orix Buffaloes, a result of the merger between the Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes. Prior to the Osaka... |
33,881 |
| 3 | Chunichi Dragons - 2, Hanshin Tigers - 0 | October 20 | Kyocera Dome Osaka Osaka Dome Osaka Dome is a baseball stadium located in Osaka, Japan. Beginning in 1997, the stadium was the home field of the Kintetsu Buffaloes. In 2005, the stadium became one of the homes of the Orix Buffaloes, a result of the merger between the Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes. Prior to the Osaka... |
33,021 |
Climax Series 2nd Stage
Yomiuri Giants win the series, 3-1-1 (Yomiuri Giants have a one-win advantage)| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chunichi Dragons - 4, Yomiuri Giants - 3 | October 22 | Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium... |
44,072 |
| 2 | Chunichi Dragons - 2, Yomiuri Giants - 11 | October 23 | Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium... |
43,536 |
| 3 | Chunichi Dragons - 5, Yomiuri Giants - 5 (12 innings) | October 24 | Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium... |
45,846 |
| 4 | Chunichi Dragons - 2, Yomiuri Giants - 6 | October 25 | Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium... |
46,797 |
Pacific League
- Champions: Saitama Seibu Lions
- Advancing to Japan Series: Saitama Seibu Lions
Climax Series 1st Stage
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters win the series, 2-0| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters - 4, Orix Buffaloes - 1 | October 11 | Kyocera Dome Osaka Osaka Dome Osaka Dome is a baseball stadium located in Osaka, Japan. Beginning in 1997, the stadium was the home field of the Kintetsu Buffaloes. In 2005, the stadium became one of the homes of the Orix Buffaloes, a result of the merger between the Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes. Prior to the Osaka... |
25,532 |
| 2 | Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters - 7, Orix Buffaloes - 2 | October 12 | Kyocera Dome Osaka Osaka Dome Osaka Dome is a baseball stadium located in Osaka, Japan. Beginning in 1997, the stadium was the home field of the Kintetsu Buffaloes. In 2005, the stadium became one of the homes of the Orix Buffaloes, a result of the merger between the Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes. Prior to the Osaka... |
26,703 |
Climax Series 2nd Stage
Saitama Seibu Lions win the series, 4-2 (Saitama Seibu Lions have a one-win advantage)| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters - 3, Saitama Seibu Lions - 10 | October 17 | Omiya Park Baseball Stadium Omiya Park is a public park located 1 km northeast of Ōmiya Station and the most visited park in Saitama. The park encompasses a huge area of 67.9ha and is famous for Japanese Red Pine forest and cherry blossoms... |
20,500 |
| 2 | Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters - 5, Saitama Seibu Lions - 0 | October 18 | Seibu Dome Seibu Dome is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it... |
30,918 |
| 3 | Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters - 7, Saitama Seibu Lions - 4 | October 19 | Seibu Dome Seibu Dome is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it... |
33,078 |
| 4 | Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters - 4, Saitama Seibu Lions - 9 | October 21 | Seibu Dome Seibu Dome is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it... |
18,704 |
| 5 | Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters - 0, Saitama Seibu Lions - 9 | October 22 | Seibu Dome Seibu Dome is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it... |
21,731 |
Interleague Games
| Team | G | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were... |
24 | 15 | 9 | 0 |
| Hanshin Tigers Hanshin Tigers The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly... |
24 | 15 | 9 | 0 |
| Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,... |
24 | 14 | 10 | 0 |
| Yomiuri Giants Yomiuri Giants The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the... |
24 | 14 | 10 | 0 |
| Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles The is a baseball team founded in 2004; it played its first season in the Japanese Pacific League in 2005. It is simply called Rakuten . The team was created to fill the void left by the merger of the Orix Blue Wave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, after the 2004 season due to financial difficulties,... |
24 | 13 | 11 | 0 |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp Hiroshima Toyo Carp The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,... |
24 | 13 | 11 | 0 |
| Chunichi Dragons Chunichi Dragons The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:... |
24 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Orix Buffaloes Orix Buffaloes The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo.... |
24 | 11 | 13 | 0 |
| Tokyo Yakult Swallows Tokyo Yakult Swallows is a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei... |
24 | 11 | 13 | 0 |
| Chiba Lotte Marines Chiba Lotte Marines The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:... |
24 | 10 | 14 | 0 |
| Saitama Seibu Lions | 24 | 10 | 14 | 0 |
| Yokohama BayStars Yokohama BayStars The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium.... |
24 | 6 | 18 | 0 |
Note: Whenever multiple teams have same number of wins, the team having better standings in last year's interleague games will have advantage, thus Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks won the interleague title, despite Hanshin Tigers beating the Hawks 3 out of 4 games. A similar rule applies to other teams tied in wins.
Japan Series2008 Japan SeriesThe 2008 Japan Series was the 59th edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff between the respective champions of the Central League's and the Pacific League's Climax Series . The Series began on Saturday, November 1, 2008, and went the full seven games...
Saitama Seibu Lions win the series, 4-3
| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saitama Seibu Lions - 2, Yomiuri Giants - 1 | November 1 | Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium... |
44,757 |
| 2 | Saitama Seibu Lions - 2, Yomiuri Giants - 3 | November 2 | Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium... |
44,814 |
| 3 | Yomiuri Giants - 6, Saitama Seibu Lions - 4 | November 4 | Seibu Dome Seibu Dome is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it... |
24,495 |
| 4 | Yomiuri Giants - 0, Saitama Seibu Lions - 5 | November 5 | Seibu Dome Seibu Dome is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it... |
27,930 |
| 5 | Yomiuri Giants - 7, Saitama Seibu Lions - 3 | November 6 | Seibu Dome Seibu Dome is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it... |
28,763 |
| 6 | Saitama Seibu Lions - 4, Yomiuri Giants - 1 | November 8 | Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium... |
44,749 |
| 7 | Saitama Seibu Lions - 3, Yomiuri Giants - 2 | November 9 | Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium... |
44,737 |