Why is it that MLB players' stats tend to be lower or worse than Japanese stats

[baseballfan123]

Many of the Japanese players over there hit over .300, yet over here only the good players do. Over there their average ERA is like 3.30 while here it is 4.3.

Can anyone here explain these stats? I would be interested to hear some answers.

[natsnsoxfan]

This is pretty obvious to me but ill give you my take.

The MLB is a MUCH stronger league and has MUCH better players than the Japanese league. The level of competition is much higher in MLB than Japanese leagues too. You have to be one of the best in the world to play at a Major League level.

[Dodgerfan1]

Many of the Japanese players over there hit over .300, yet over here only the good players do. Over there their average ERA is like 3.30 while here it is 4.3.

Can anyone here explain these stats? I would be interested to hear some answers.

Logic tells us that if more Japanese players hit .300 than American players, then they get more men on base, (unless Japanese players walk at a lesser rate than American players) and logic also tells us that more of those runners should score... BUT... since their ERAs are a run lower than MLBs pitchers, then logic also dictates that either more runners are being left on base in Japan, or more errors are being committed by the fielders allowing unearned runs to score which don't register on the pitchers' ERA.

That's logic 101, but that's about the extent of my input for today. :shrug:

[Mattingly]

I think this thread will get far more traffic if moved to the International forum, where it may be much more adequately replied to. Does the thread starter agree?

As to the decrease in stats, it could be that between the different league, different players, the ball being a different size and a crowd which speaks a different language, it may take some getting used to.

I believe that Japanese players have to adjust to pitches they've never seen before, which may account for some of the reduction in offensive stats. Perhaps a coach with MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball may greatly help players making the adjustment.

How would folks here feel if they needed a translator whenever they had to do an interview, or all the local sports pages were in a different language? I think it would take some getting used to for myself.