WBC isn't Boxing Anymore

[GuyJean]

I'm just watching the ESPN coverage and the commentary team are wondering which pitcher Japan should use against the US if they hold on to win against Korea. One guy argues for Darvish because he thinks the US line-up is too familiar with Matsuzaka. Another says it ought to be Matsuzaka because he has the right attitude to beat team of MLB players. Any thoughts?

I think Matsuzaka because, when he's dialed in, he can beat anyone..

But that's my point]all[/I] your pitchers ready for Venezuela?

GJ

[Captain Japan]

[quote="GuyJean"]Too bad they're playing these games in pretty weak baseball areas]

Before the WBC started a Japanese friend told me that he was a little irritated (though not surprised) that the Japanese dailies seemed to be saying: forget winning the WBC, let's just beat Korea.

[GuyJean]

.. forget winning the WBC, let's just beat Korea.

Sounds like a convenient excuse if they lose the WBC..

GJ

[Captain Japan]

I'm just watching the ESPN coverage and the commentary team are wondering which pitcher Japan should use against the US if they hold on to win against Korea. One guy argues for Darvish because he thinks the US line-up is too familiar with Matsuzaka. Another says it ought to be Matsuzaka because he has the right attitude to beat team of MLB players. Any thoughts?

Darvish was rattled a bit in the first inning of his last start. Perhaps due to the pressure? I don't know, but Japan couldn't come back. Matsuzaka, like in '06, has been lights out. I'd go with the hot hand.

Personally, I'd be playing hard in this one if it ensured I could play the beaten up U.S. team instead of Venezuela, which is hammering the ball right now.

[Behan]

If Korea and Japan win their next games they'll meet in the finals. And it will be the fourth game for them, I think. A lot of Chrysanthemums will be glued to their sets for that. (Just to say what everyone knows anyway...)

[GuyJean]

If Korea and Japan win their next games they'll meet in the finals. And it will be the fourth game for them, I think...

This is the 4th game; Korea leads the matchup so far; 2 to 1..

GJ

[Behan]

Oops...Then it would be a fifth game.

[GuyJean]

Oops...Then it would be a fifth game.

No worries.

Japan starting to look shaky.. Home-run ties it up 2 - 2.. Young Tanaka on the mound..

[IkemenTommy]

Oh YES!! 3-2

[IkemenTommy]

5-2 with Iwamura's hit.

[Captain Japan]

Looks like it will indeed be Japan-U.S. in the semis. Should be interesting.

[IkemenTommy]

SK looks mentally devastated and in a really deep rut. They are still a threat if they can manage to pull themselves together in the next inning.

[Takechanpoo]

Hey Kimchese, you already are starting to insist that deadball to Lee Yongkyu, who was nominated as key person for Kimchi's win, is filthy intrigue of Japs, aren't you?

[Taro Toporific]

Looks like it will indeed be Japan-U.S. in the semis. Should be interesting.

Japan beats South Korea 6-2, will face Team USA
Associated Press - March 20, 2009 1:03 AM ET
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The World Baseball Classic is heading to Hollywood, and what could be more marquee than Daisuke Matsuzaka against Jake Peavy at Dodger Stadium?
That's the expected pitching matchup for the second semifinal Sunday night in Los Angeles, when defending WBC champion Japan will face hobbled Team USA.
Japan earned that matchup - and an extra day of rest - by rallying for three runs in the eighth inning Thursday night to beat South Korea 6-2 and win Pool 1. Japan and South Korea had already clinched semifinal berths.
Korea, held to six hits by seven Japanese pitchers, will play Pool 2 winner Venezuela in the first semifinal on Saturday night.

[Marked Trail]

Japan beats South Korea 6-2, will face Team USA
Associated Press - March 20, 2009 1:03 AM ET.

[Greji]

Hey Kimchese, you already are starting to insist that deadball to Lee Yongkyu, who was nominated as key person for Kimchi's win, is filthy intrigue of Japs, aren't you?

No, just dirty baseball Take. A professional pitcher will knock batters down in certain situations, but you don't go for their head in that manner unless you are meaning to hurt the batter. It could have been a very bad control miss on a dust off, but from what I saw of it, it was intentional head hunting and that's wrong, he should have been thrown out immediately and the Japan bench warned. That at the least for whatever team did it. So if I were Japan I would talk too much about it.

The more attention it gets, the more it will escalate. If a team gets, or has a reputation for throwing at batters, it travels with them. Then the next time their pitcher even comes close to another team's batter, the opposing team and their pitcher, will feel the need to immediately reciprocate and throw at the offending team's batters. It goes down hill from there.

[Mulboyne]

This is more a question about baseball in the US so I'll put it here rather than the "dead ball" thread. Here's an article entitled "Balance of baseball power most definitely has shifted" which looks beyond the reasons the US team at the WBC was undercooked and wonders whether the US has slipped more permanently.

I'm reminded a little of the when England realized they weren't the best footballers in the world. When you invent a game as a country and it becomes part of your national identity you have no god-given right to remain forever better than every other country who adopts the game but it can take a while for the penny to drop. In the same way that the US doesn't appear to take international baseball competition very seriously, England didn't enter the first three World Cup competitions. By the time we got around to doing so, it was clear that the world had passed us by with better skills, tactics and fitness.

Many US fans will no doubt point to the quality of Major League Baseball but there is also a counterpart there with English football. England arguably has the world's best football league. For many years it has certainly been the wealthiest and has drawn the best players from all over the world, just as the MLB does. However, while English Premiership teams such as Manchester United and Liverpool regularly win international trophies, the England national team hasn't won a major championship since 1966.

My question for US fans of baseball is whether you would be happy not winning international baseball competitions so long as you had the best league in the world with the best clubs?

[GuyJean]

Didn't Korea invent 'soccer'?

.. My question for US fans of baseball is whether you would be happy not winning international baseball competitions so long as you had the best league in the world with the best clubs?

I think the US would do better if they used Minor Leaguers. Maybe sprinkle in a few Major League guys for experience and guidance.. This would also let the Minor players show off their stuff.

I just don't see the intensity with the MLB guys compared to other, less professional, teams..

GJ

[GuyJean]

[AssKissinger]

Excellent article. The Korea/Japan match-up is getting a little tired but I'm still pumped for a good game tonight. I'm not sure what I think of the double elimination thing in the first round.

[Behan]

[quote="GuyJean"]Didn't Korea invent 'soccer'? ]

I think you have a good idea. The US Olympic squad did pretty well with mostly (all?) minor leaguers and college players.

[BO-SENSEI]

I took the US loss pretty easily, I have a strong feeling that Japan did its best to send the best Japanese baseball players to represent them at the WBC. Do you think the US did its best to send its best? No, not by a long shot, the team was made up by its best volunteers. The infield was decimated by injury and if Pedroia was healthy during that game, he would have been able to make that key play and got the 4th inning over.

[IkemenTommy]

I took the US loss pretty easily, I have a strong feeling that Japan did its best to send the best Japanese baseball players to represent them at the WBC. Do you think the US did its best to send its best? No, not by a long shot, the team was made up by its best volunteers. The infield was decimated by injury and if Pedroia was healthy during that game, he would have been able to make that key play and got the 4th inning over.

The U.S. baseball team was far from calling it the dream team like the basketball team.

[nottu]

[Mike Oxlong]

1-0 for Japan in the final...3rd inning. From the announcer's x-treme excitement whenever a j-bat even clips a pitch, you suspect he might be playing favorites...

[IkemenTommy]

1-0 for Japan in the final...3rd inning. From the announcer's x-treme excitement whenever a j-bat even clips a pitch, you suspect he might be playing favorites...

At least he hasn't choked on his own tears like that dumb bitch from the softball final, yet.

Damn, this replacement dude Klithara sucks a big dick. Bases loaded and he just caused a double play.

[Captain Japan]

[Captain Japan]

This is a really good game that is unfolding. Japan has had chances but those Jojima double plays have been killers, the last of which was really the result of slick fielding.

Up 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Japan will probably be now looking to get the game to Darvish.

[Captain Japan]

Tied up now in the ninth. Darvish walked two straight, then a strikeout, then a single for the third run.

I have to question Hara bringing in Darvish in relief yesterday (and at all). He's started games during the WBC. Making the switch to relief this quickly can't be easy.

Got the third K of the inning. Going to extras. Still, a great game.

[IkemenTommy]

2 out and runners on 1st and 3rd with Ichiro up at bat. Will he save the day?