Have a friend/neighbor who just returned back from the Japanese PCL. A few things he related (he's a pitcher, so that has a bearing):
They don't field well. It's not neccessarily that they are individually bad fielders, but the infield is most often oddly positioned. Corners are in even in non-bunting situations, and middle infielders play almost at prevent position. As a result, lots of grounders end up in the outfield. Not a lot of double plays.
From the start of the game, the bullpen is going double barrel. They will pull a starter two innings into the game after giving up a run.
Hitters are uncoventional and will hit pitches that American hitters would not swing at or would not be able to hit if they tried. Think Suzuki. They will also adjust quicker than American hitters.
When pitchers go in and are making their warmup pitches, the pitching coach will stand next to the pitcher. This is mostly for show as neither the coach nor the American pitcher can understand each other. The interpreter will also stand there but is never needed.
If a batter is hit by a pitch, they'll take him into the clubhouse for examination or whatever. While this is occuring, the game stops until he returns back to the field.
If a player screws up, he'll have to stand in front of the manager with his head bowed for however long it takes for the manager to chew him out or until he's satisfied the guy has been properly chastised. Sometimes, they'll even slap the player. This occurs in the dugout while the team is batting. Of course, this method is not implemented on the foreign players due to problems associated with having bats rammed up the manager's ass.
Umpires will overturn decisions. They'll also squeeze the shit out of foreign pitchers.
The visiting teams dress at the hotel and go to the game with their uniform on and return to the hotel afterward in uniform. Not unusual to see players catching taxis or trains in uniform.
They don't mud up the baseballs, so they're a little slick. Also, the seams are a little more pronounced and the ball is slightly smaller.
Bobby Valentine is a creep.
The games stop in the fifth inning for the home team's cheerleaders to come on the field to lead cheers. The players sit in the dugout while this is occuring.
Mixed bag as far as interpreters go. Some are good while others have a very limited grasp of English. Foreign players often just make up stuff while interviewed because no one can really understand each other.
Rain outs are all made up at the end of the season regardless of effect on the standings.
Teams will play their infields in with a guy on third while leading 7-0 in the 7th inning (well, maybe TB needs to do that, come to think of it).
Only advice he received from his pitching coach was to "get the first guy out." That was quite a revelation--that thought had never occured to him. The manager once critiqued him for "throwing too many strikes."
