1.  But the gulf between the major leagues and Japanese pro ball is shrinking.

2.  Gullickson was the first player in the history of Japanese ball to be granted a three-day paternity leave to be with his wife while she gave birth.

3.  Many believe a rule will be added to contracts stating that anyone leaving to play elsewhere will be banned for life from returning to Japanese ball.

4.  Robert Whiting, who has written books on Japanese ball, notes that players practice to near-collapse.

5.  Nilsson, the first Australian major leaguer ever to play Japanese ball, was expected to post big numbers for Chunichi.

6.  There are lots of unusual traditions in Japanese ball, actually.

7.  China was the biggest provider of Japanese ball imports, followed by Thailand and Vietnam, the customs office said.