Interesting article I found on WSI...but originated on a Cards page...Take it for what its worth though.... http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NA...s_stl&fext=.jsp
Soon after the season ended, Ray King participated in MLB's All-Star tour of Japan, and he came away impressed with some of the opponents he faced.
"They've got a couple guys who could come over and do what Ichiro is doing in the game, if not better," King said. "We saw a little center fielder, we knew this guy was gonna bunt and we couldn't get him out. He'd get on first and we'd pitch out, did everything, and the guy still stole. I think there will be a lot more guys coming over from the Japanese league to the U.S. to play baseball."
King was less impressed with second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, who may come to the states this year. He suggested that while Iguchi may have success eventually, the second baseman could endure a significant adjustment period due to the greater velocity of many American pitchers' fastballs.