NEW YORK, March 18 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball on Tuesday canceled the season-opening, two-game series in Japan between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics on the eve of possible military action by the United States.
The decision was made amid the increasing likelihood of war in Iraq and after Major League Baseball executives huddled with Japanese baseball representatives and officials at the U.S. Office of Homeland Security.
Citing the "tense world situation," MLB Commisioner Bud Selig rescheduled both games stateside later in the season.
"I have consulted with Don Fehr, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, which is our partner in this event," Selig said. "Given the uncertainty that now exists throughout the world, we believe the safest course of action for the players involved and the many staff personnel who must work the games is to reschedule the opening series.
"It would be unfair and terribly unsettling for them to be half a world away, away from their families, at this critical juncture."
Under the new schedule, the major league opener will be March 30 and will feature the world champion Anaheim Angels and the Texas Rangers.
The A's and Mariners will open their seasons against each other on April 1 at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland.
"Baseball is a social institution with enormous social responsibilities and it is with that in mind, along with great regret, that I take this action," Selig added. "I hope our fans and business partners in Japan understand that this difficult decision is only made in response to the most serious of circumstances."
"Major League Baseball and the Players Association value our relationship with Japanese baseball and have looked forward to Japanese stars Ichiro Suzuki, Kaz Sasaki and Shigetoshi Hasegawa returning to their homeland to compete in regular-season games," Fehr said. "With world tensions so high, this is the prudent course of action. We do regret, though, having to take it."
The games, both of which were Oakland home dates, were rescheduled for April 3 and June 30. Both the Mariners and Athletics will have their Cactus League schedules modified.
After President Bush addressed the nation on Monday night, word spread quickly Tuesday that the overseas trip for both clubs was in trouble. Early Tuesday afternoon, MLB Vice President Bob DuPuy addressed the media and began laying the groundwork for potential changes.
Dupuy went so far as to call Japan, "the safest country in the world in terms of internal security."
Teams were expected to arrive in Tokyo for news conferences Thursday. DuPuy was quick to point out that an eventual return to Japan is in the plans.
"We will sit down and discuss the possibilities of another All-Star tour and another opener in Japan at a later date," he said.
