Japan's new plan to beat deflation - more baseball

Taiwan's Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions base runner Chen Yung-chi (13) slides to the second base while Japans' Rakuten Golden Eagles Toshihito Abe throws the ball during the first inning of their Asia Series 2013 baseball game at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium November 19, 2013. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

TOKYO (Reuters) - Can more baseball save Japan -- or at least Abenomics?

A set of recommendations to lift growth in Japan's economy drafted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's party seen by Reuters calls for slashing corporate taxes, reforming public pensions, and -- in a curve ball -- increasing the number of professional baseball teams to 16 from 12.