THE United States would be too strong for Japan in a 'real World Series', according to two big-name Major League players.
Chicago White Sox's Frank Thomas and Detroit Tigers' Cecil Fielder, in Hong Kong on a Reebok-sponsored Asian tour, both feel that Japanese baseball has yet to match the Major Leagues in depth and quality.
And it's not just idle talk from Fielder, who played for the Hanshin Tigers for two years in the Japanese Central League. At the end of 1989, Fielder was leading the Central League's figures for homers, RBIs, batting and slugging average.
'We are the superior athletes in this sport,' said Fielder, 32.
'There is a lot more depth to our sport and I'm sure whichever team wins the World Series would beat the top Japanese team. I think we would beat them every time.' There has been talk lately about a possible real World Series between the top teams from the US and Japan.
Although Thomas would like to play in such a game, he fears it would be almost impossible to stage.
