The most glowing comparison I've ever seen of Japanese baseball to MLB was Clay Davenport's series on Baseball Prospectus last winter. Part I contends the overall quality is closer to the majors than to AAA, which contradicts my instinctive opinion, and Part II examines the stats of homegrown and gaijin stars in the Japanese leagues.

I believe Davenport's numbers are badly skewed, as the "best" American players don't go to Japan, where Bonds could hit 100 HR and Johnson might strike out 500. I believe that a top Japanese team would be in the thick of the pennant race in either AAA league, maybe even the favourite to win. Does that make them as good as Tampa Bay or Milwaukee? Tougher question, but I doubt it.