WBC Semifinals Game Thread: Japan (Matsuzaka) v. USA (Oswalt)

[TheKilo]

Gameday

 

US Lineup:

 

Roberts

Jeter

Rollins

Wright

Dunn

Braun

McCann

DeRosa

Granderson

 

Japan Lineup:

 

Suzuki

Nakajima

Aoki

Inaba

Ogasawara

Fukudome

Johjima

Iwamura

Kawasaki

[TheKilo]

Roberts leadoff bomb

[CrespoBlows]

The United States needs a better DH.

[CrespoBlows]

Nasty pitch by Dice-K to get Dunn.

[TheKilo]

The United States needs a better DH.

 

I agree, the lineup should have Rollins at SS and Longoria at DH (he did replace Jones, right)?

[CrespoBlows]

Coors Light commercials suck.

[CrespoBlows]

I agree' date=' the lineup should have Rollins at SS and Longoria at DH (he did replace Jones, right)?[/quote']

 

Yeah, he's on the roster.

[David Bowie]

for f***s sake man

 

this whole thing is horse s***

[CrespoBlows]

for f***s sake man

 

this whole thing is horse s***

 

tru

[CrespoBlows]

Ichiro catches that ball standing up.

 

2-1 USA on a Wright RBI double.

[Teddyballgame10]

Seen this before, 100 pitches in the 5th inning.

[Cocos Disciples]

Jon Miller: *Says something about the thrill of playing for one's country*

Joe Morgan: *Says what he thought Miller was going to say, responds to Miller's imaginary comment, ignores real comment*

 

It may be March, but Morgan is in mid-season form.

[CrespoBlows]

DeRosa should have two HR's. I think he learned his lesson. Hits a double down the left field line, that gets away from the LF. DeRosa to third, two runs in. 6-4, Japan.

 

Longoria in. Good move.

[CrespoBlows]

I like Mahara's arm. 96 mph on the fastball, and a good split.

[example1]

The US is about to go down to Japan.

 

Am I the only one who wants the US to win or at least prove that it is a good team? They've looked pretty awful to me and, frankly, it is kind of sad.

 

I'm not convinced that we could win this tournament even if we wanted to. If we wanted to win we would need some real no-nonsense pitchers.

[example1]

Yu Darvish is good.

[26 to 6]

Yu Darvish is good.

Yu Darvish is nasty.

 

I think Korea wins tomorrow though. I think Hara's gonna regret using Yu tonight. If they were protecting a 1 or 2 run lead that's one thing, but 5 runs up you save your ace for the Championship.

[example1]

I'm not sure who will win tomorrow. I think it is the 4th (?) time that Japan and Korea have faced each other in this tournament.

 

So, what's up with Japan and Korea being so good in two WBCs? They are clearly superior. Japan is a juggarnaught that is difficult to beat.

 

COULD the US team beat them if they had their best players?

[26 to 6]

Truthfully I dont think anyone could answer that question. It's two very different styles of ball, and both of them work some of the time, and neither of them work all of the time. But after seeing Japan beat the mighty Cubans in both WBC's it's really hard to disagree with the notion that they are indeed an international baseball juggernaut.

[TedWilliams101]

I think that if the US really tried to put together it's strongest roster, we would be tough to beat. There are many many great US players that weren't on the team. Heck, I'd take the Red Sox 1-2 starters (Beckett and Lester) over Peavy and Oswalt. IF the USA players or MLB teams really cared, they could put together a great, prepared team.

[Keeper]

Japan and Korea gear up for this. The U.S. does not. All you need to do is look at the pitching staff. Ted Lilly is a 3rd or 4th starter on most MLB teams. If the U.S. were serious about winning, they'd have the best of the best. The aces of the aces. The horses. The stoppers. And they'd be in mid-season form. Not still stretching their arms out and trying to locate their fastballs. If the U.S. is going to half ass it with its roster and its preparation, there's really no sense in even playing. But at the same time, you can't force the Sabathias and the Sizemores to play if they don't want to. There's the rub.

[David Bowie]

and thus why this thing is f***ing pointless. It's just glorified spring training.

[example1]

Japan and Korea gear up for this. The U.S. does not. All you need to do is look at the pitching staff. Ted Lilly is a 3rd or 4th starter on most MLB teams. If the U.S. were serious about winning' date=' they'd have the best of the best. The aces of the aces. The horses. The stoppers. And they'd be in mid-season form. Not still stretching their arms out and trying to locate their fastballs. If the U.S. is going to half ass it with its roster and its preparation, there's really no sense in even playing. But at the same time, you can't force the Sabathias and the Sizemores to play if they don't want to. There's the rub.[/quote']

 

Dice-K is Japan's ace, and as far as I know he's in spring shape--just pitching in more important situations. I agree that being prepared to play is a big part of it, but I think having a good pitcher pitch a good game is just as important.

 

Japan is able to turn to Matsuzaka or Darvish and both are as good as any pitcher in baseball on any given night. Darvish would probably be one of the best MLB pitchers if he were here.

 

I also agree that Lilly as a #3 is weak sauce.

 

Is there an American pitcher that anyone would want on the mound in a big situation more than Josh Beckett? I can't think of one.

[David Bowie]

john rocker comes to mind. What ever happened to that crazy redneck f***? He reminds me of kenny powers.

[riverside sluggers]

If players are coming off injuries or are committed to big contracts, I dont blame them for being wary about playing intense games in early March

[riverside sluggers]

I'm not sure who will win tomorrow. I think it is the 4th (?) time that Japan and Korea have faced each other in this tournament.

 

So, what's up with Japan and Korea being so good in two WBCs? They are clearly superior. Japan is a juggarnaught that is difficult to beat.

 

COULD the US team beat them if they had their best players?

 

It is the 5th time they will have faced

 

It helps a whole lot with Japan and Korea teams playing together for 2 months, rather US playing with each other for 2/3 weeks

[26 to 6]

Yeah the preparation by the Asian teams is completely unmatched. While many of us here on this side of the globe (myself not included) see this as a glorified exhibition, these guys, and even countries like Cuba take this thing very seriously.

 

So I'm pulling for Japan tonight, but banking on Korea.

[example1]

It is the 5th time they will have faced

 

It helps a whole lot with Japan and Korea teams playing together for 2 months, rather US playing with each other for 2/3 weeks

 

I'd say this still is indicative that there is no "natural" advantage that Americans have over their opponents anymore. If the main difference is that these other teams are more prepared/unified then the difference in talent probably isn't that big.

 

I can imagine just about every player on the japanese team having some role on an MLB club.

[example1]

I think this tournament could be improved by expanding the rosters and making them more flexible.

[26 to 6]

I think this tournament could be improved by expanding the rosters and making them more flexible.

I agree. A lot can be done to improve this thing.