An unclassic finesh.

The Calvary never rode in. Team U.S.A. had their Classic run end last night when they fell in a single elimination game to Japan. Hard fought all the way through the classic they were one of three teams that were left standing when they lost to the defending champions. The next Classic will be held in four years...I am already looking forward to it.

On a further note Japan will match up against Korea in the finals. Which brings me to the quote of the year. "The two greatest rivalries in the World Baseball Classic are, the Japan vs Korea rivalry and the U.S.A. vs the World rivalry."

Robert L.

A Blast From the Past.

Three years ago I sat out in my father's home office, watching the computer screen. On was the game-day feed from MLB.com of the U.S.A. vs Mexico game in the World Baseball Classic. Roger Clemens had pitched in that game for the U.S.A. and had only given up two runs. Problem was the U.S.A. batters had only managed one run. However the U.S.A. were coming back it seemed. The ninth inning had come, Johnny Damon was on first base, and Vernon Wells was at the plate. I think we had a runner on third or second, or maybe we had just lost a runner in a fielders choice. I cannot recall but it looked like things may have been coming together for us. When the animated pitch on the screen finished in the strike zone as a blue dot meaning that the ball had been put in play, my heat beat doubled. I waited for the computer to update and tell me what the result of the ball being put in play was. Finally the words "In-play out(s) recorded" came up. That meant we would be down to one out, the U.S.A. had just one more chance to come back and beat Mexico to advance, and by doing so bump the soon to be Classic Champions Japan out of the World Baseball Classic. But then words appeared on my screen as a further update. "V. Wells grounds to second baseman (someone) to shortstop (someone) J. Damon out, to first basemen (someone) V. Wells out. Doubleplay. The U.S.A. would not have another chance. It was over, we were out.


Three years later.

I sat out in my father's home office, watching the computer screen. On was the game-day feed from MLB.com of the U.S.A. vs Porto Rico game in the World Baseball Classic. Ted Lilly had pitched for the U.S.A. that night, and given up three runs. The team from Porto Rico had added two more runs one of which had just been put up against Johnathan Broxton in the top of the ninth. That run was big for the Porto Rico team seeing as the U.S.A. had only pushed three runs across all game. Now Porto Rico had a two run lead. Again we were in the bottom of the ninth. Derrek Jeter had just flied out to the right fielder and the runner from second advanced. This was it, I had been here three year ago. A ground ball could end the game, and the U.S.A. would go home again with a loss. Every second seemed like a minute. J. Jollins would walk. Minutes seemed like hours. K. Yukalis would have to face a new relief pitcher as Fernando Cabrera. Fernando Cabrera found his command lacking however against the batter he was brought in to face. K. Yukalis was walk which forced in a run the score to 5-4. And David Wright came to the plate. Know what had happened three years earlier. What was going to happen this time. A homerun like Joe Carter? A single like Luis Gonzalez? A error like Bill Buckner? Or a doubleplay...like Vernon Wells? Wright's at bat. (Commercial may proceed clip.)

The World Baseball Classic.

Pool A. Korea won Pool A with a 3-1 record after they beat rival Japan 1-0 in the final game of the round, Japan also advanced with a 2-1 record. China and Chinese Taipei were eliminated with 1-2 and 0-2 records.
Pool B. Cuba won Pool B with a 3-0 record. The runner up was Mexico with a 2-2 record. (Mexico was in three mercy-rule games with a 1-2 record in those games.) Australia and Republic of South Africa were eliminated with 1-2 and 0-2 records.
Pool C. Venezuela won Pool C after beating Team U.S.A. 5-3 in the final game of the pool, after both teams had already advanced. Venezuela had a 3-1 record with a mercy-rule lose to the U.S.A. who had beat them in the second game of the pool. Team U.S.A. advanced with a 2-1 record. Canada and Italy were eliminated with 0-2 and 1-2 records.
Pool D. Porto Rico won Pool D with a 3-0 record. The Netherlands were the Runner-up with a 2-2 record. (The Netherlands two wins both came in huge upsets over the Dominican Republic.) Dominican Republic and Panama were eliminated with 1-2 and 0-2 records.

Robert L.

Double Dutch!

Two post ago I said something that I would like to retract. I said that the Netherlands beating the Dominican Republic, 3-2 in the first game they played was most likely the biggest upset of the Classic. Last night I was proved wrong. That game was only half of the upset. The same two teams played each other again, and the result was even more fantastic then the first one. The Netherlands, a team that has hardly any MLB players on it, if any at all. Against a team that has a former A.L. MVP, a cleanup hitter from a team that has won two World Series from 2004-2007, two of the fastest players at the top of their order, and many, many more stars. And for 11 inning the two teams that are so far separated in "talent" remained scoreless. That ended how every when in the top of the 11th, Jose Reyes, (Mets) scored from first when an error was committed by the Netherlands. This put the Dominican Republic up 1-0, and only needing three outs to avenge them selves on the Netherlands (The Dutch). However the Dutch found a way to get men on base. And the rest would fall in place for them. An RBI single brought in the run the tied the game, at 1-1. And with two outs in the 11th and the Dominicans only needing one more out to go to the 12th where they would have a chance to go up on the Dutch again, but an error by the first basemen after a failed pick off attempted that went wide and move the winning run 90 feet away from home, bought the Dutch another upset of the Dominican team. Watch the Comeback!

We move on.

Team U.S.A. will advance to the second round. After pounding the stuffing out of Venezuela 15-6 in a mercy-rule shorten game. The U.S.A. will now wait to either play Venezuela again, or the winner of the Italy vs Canada game. (Right now Italy is up 3-0 in the 4th)
Other news would be that our rivals to the south, the Mexican team got pounded by the boy down under. The Australians surprised the team from Mexico early and late. In the first World Baseball Classic, back in 2006, the Australians only scored four runs in the three games they played. This time they scored three run before making an out. This game also had the Mercy-rule invoked.

I will post the results of the first round of play after everything is in.

Robert L.

World Baseball Classic.

The World Baseball Classic started today for the U.S.A. as they played their first game of the tournament today. Already some of the other teams have played a few of their games. Of note, the Chinese Taipei team has been eliminated after losing their first two games. Japan has already clinched a second round spot after routing Korea, a team that had upset them twice in the first Classic played back in 2006. Earlier today the upset of the Classic may have taken place. The Netherlands, "The Dutch" beat the Dominican Republic 3-2. You can equate that to a AA team beating the Red Sox.
Then our team played. Though the Canadians scored first to take a 1-0 lead, and again to take another lead after we had tied it at 1-1. The U.S.A. would hit a solo homer in the fourth to tie again, and then McCann (Braves)would hit a two run shot later that inning to put the U.S.A. up for good. However Canada would push it to 4-3, and then again 6-5, after another two run homer had the U.S.A. up 6-3. The U.S.A. would end up dropping the Canadians into the loser bracket, where they will need to win their next two games to advance. Both teams are waiting to see who they will play, based on who wins the Italian, Venezuela game.

Robert L.

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