The number of Japanese people in Baltimore is about to double. Former Japanese super star baseball players will be facing each other at Camden Yards, where the Orioles and Yankees are playing tomorrow.

It’s always a news worthy event whenever a superstar pitcher faces Hideki Matsui, the Godzilla of baseball player from Japan. The Orioles will send newly acquired Koji Uehara, a former teammate of Matsui back when they both played for the Yomiuri Giants, to face Hideki and the rest of the New York Yankees. Matsui and Uehara were part of many good teams and in 2002 they each won the top awards for the league’s best hitter and pitcher. Now they are on rival teams in the baseball’s most competitive division.

Most scouts say that Uehara, already in his decline phase physically, won’t be more than an average pitcher in Major League Baseball. That basically says to me that he has a low threshold to become a surprising good player which I personally believe he can do. Hideki has already proven himself as a professional hitter in Japan and MLB.

To make this game even more Asian special, the Yankees are sending pitching ace Chien-Ming Wang to the mound. Wang, a man who would be king of Taiwan if they were a monarchy, is easily the most underrated person on the Yankees because of his quiet demeanor. Many sports pundits have said Wang is the key to the Yankees winning a championship this year.

Well if you live in NYC or Balitmore or have satellite, I would recommend watching this game. I’ll be routing for the Yankees of course but wouldn’t mind seeing Uehara do well.