THE HOT CORNER: Nothing new about NPB's latest trouble

Did Jim just call for the contraction of the Buffaloes?

When I initially read that NPB's top dog had made the decision here, I thought, "so this was approved by Tsuneo Watanabe?" Sorry.

I think this decision was correct, but I wonder if it will undermine Negoro's bid to give the commissioner's office more status than what it is now, a handmaiden to the Giants.

Nah, just joking. I honestly think there was no evil intent on Orix's part (at first) but rather a series of internal mistakes and miscommunication on both sides. After they started bad mouthing each other, then there was some economy with the truth on both sides. I wouldn't be surprised if lots of the people who were shouting on Orix's side were unfamiliar with what actually happened - other than that their team announced Powell had signed and then he signed with SoftBank.

Several people told me they would like to see NPB kick Powell out for causing trouble, but that would be unprecedented, as much as kicking Orix out for its annual difficulties.

The acting commissioner once quit because he couldn't prevent the 2004 strike. He reportedly told owners the players would be held liable for damages in case they struck, so they wouldn't and there was no need for NPB to deal fairly with them. Then when a court ruled the players did have the right to strike (without owing NPB damages), there was a strike, and Negoro resigned after helping indirectly instigate it.