The Athletics play two exhibition games against Japanese teams before taking on the Mariners on Wednesday to open the major league season. The teams won’t be using the same equipment, however:

Japanese baseballs are slightly smaller and harder than major-league baseballs; in the exhibition games, the Yomiuri and Hanshin pitchers will throw Mizuno-made Japanese balls, and the A’s pitchers will throw standard Rawlings baseballs.

I understand why each side would want to throw their own baseballs. Teams don’t want to screw up their pitchers forcing them into different grips than normal. I wonder if this gives either side an edge? The Japanese players get a bigger ball to hit, although the MLB ball might have higher seams, which means more movement could be imparted. During the offensive boom years of the 1990s, MLB pitchers were known to complain about smaller, tighter balls and low seams. Will see if the Giants and Tigers pound the A’s pitchers.

Update: The A’s beat the Giants 5-0. The other Suzuki, Kurt, hit a two-run homer. I guess MLB hitters don’t mind small balls.