Delayed but not deterred, Nippon Professional Baseball is up and running in what passes for normal in a world caught in the grips of a pandemic.
The new coronavirus pushed NPB's Opening Day back from March 20 all the way into June -- about three months.
But under strict stadium protocols, the Central and Pacific leagues hit the field on June 19 to echoes throughout cavernous domes and rows of barren stadium seats, some of which were dressed up to look like the baseball-mad fanatics who normally occupy those spots to cheer on the teams.
"It was a special day for me that I will always remember," Saitama Seibu Lions Opening Day starter Zach Neal told The Japan News on Friday.
"It was so great to be playing again, and I was happy to give the fans something to watch and look forward to during these strange times," said the second-year righty, who beat the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 3-0 with six innings of shutout ball at MetLife Dome to get the two-time defending PL champs off on the right foot.
"It's nice to get the season going and back into familiar routines and schedules."
NPB teams played a portion of the spring training schedule with no fans in attendance, and the practice games caused by delays in the schedule also took place in empty stadiums as it took measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Those practice games, however, were nothing but a preview. Once the actual pennant race started, it was a whole new ballgame.
"Man, I was so excited. You work so hard in the offseason, you work hard in Okinawa [in spring training], and then for that [COVID-19] to happen, it's crazy how it is," said Neftali Soto of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
"Even with no fans -- we're still playing, so that's a plus."
Soto said he could barely contain his excitement for the start of the season, but the reality of empty stadiums has presented an unexpected challenge for all the players.
"It's hard to play without fans," Soto said. "It's kind of tough because you get into the game more, I feel, with the fans. They give you more energy [throughout] the game.
"Actually, with no fans, you can hear everything," the utility player said. "You can hear the coaches, you can hear the bench, the balls sound different -- it's different. You concentrate more on the game.
"It's more of a mental game -- it's just tough because you're used to the fans, you're used to having fun and reacting with the fans. Now we've got to push each other to try to create that same feeling."
It's also tough on the fans, who have the challenge of curbing their enthusiasm and avoiding ballparks until NPB gives the greenlight. That might come to a limited number of fans as soon as July 10, but the league said the whole matter remains under consideration.
Either way, the boys of summer in Japan are playing through.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
