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Baseball: NPB, amateur baseball body agree to stop illegitimate scouting+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) TOKYO, Oct. 4_(Kyodo) _ Nippon Professional Baseball and the Japan Student Baseball Association signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday that prohibits pro clubs from trying to lure high school and college players with cash and gifts. Designed to prevent any repeat of a scouting scandal surrounding the Seibu Lions earlier this year, the memorandum states that violators will face severe punishments. The scandal rocked both professional and amateur baseball in Japan following the revelation in March that former Waseda University player Katsuhito Shimizu had been involved in a secret deal with Seibu. In April, the Yokohama BayStars admitted to paying left-hander Takumi Nasuno a 530 million yen signing bonus, more than five times the maximum amount allowed, when they acquired him from Nihon University after the 2004 season. "This memorandum is a big step for the future of baseball in Japan. It helps better relations between pros and amateurs," association head Tatsuro Matsumae said. "It's best that pros and amateurs create common rules and act based on the rules," acting Japanese baseball commissioner Yasuchika Negoro said. Copyright 2007 Kyodo News International, Inc. |