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What are you talking about? I've heard he finishes every challenge that's put in front of him...

Maybe he'll give back the $260,909 that his 4.1 IP cost the team then? I'm sure he will.

Ha Ha! f***ing Nady!

Well, he is getting older and nearing the end of his contract, so maybe he's just slowing down a bit. what? Oh, wait. My wife just told me he recently signed for a massive, franchise breaking contract with the Yankees. Is that true?

Hey Jacko, why is CC only hitting 90-91 in the 5th? Is he holding back for later in the year? Probably. He's probably holding back for later in the year.

I'm pretty sure that play to CF is one that Ellsbury makes. I'm willing to bet he's faster than Gardner. Anyone see the look on the face of CC when he missed it? He's like "I thought the Yankees were supposed to have elite players... let alone in a key position like CF! Jesus!" Love it.

I took the day off two months ago so I can watch the Sox. WIll probably be rained out... oh well, it's 75 degrees here so that's okay.

If they build a new stadium it would need to be a Fenway replica. That said, Henry/Theo/Luchino always look for the "undervalued commodity" and I hink they see that having an actual historical relic has its value. It is absolutely an American icon and has added value because of it. If they made the decision to build a new one I would get it, and I would love it, but I think for the next 10 years or so the history of Fenway will make it even more unique now that Yankee Stadium is gone.

What a little bitch he is. Not calling back your owners? Being pissy because they had the audacity to think about trading a valuable piece for more valuable pieces? I hope he goes to Detroit and sucks for the rest of his career.

Gibson was a beast.

I believe that Darvish has said he wants to stay in Japan. Smart things to say at 21 or 22. I think he'll end up here eventually but not by 2010. Buchholz has really pitched well this spring and I have a hard time believing he won't have a solid spot in the rotation very soon. They were ready to give him one last year.

Dice-K won the MVP again: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i2pGB5sWQyKw4fzr_kH9qZ5aGEZwD9747D880 Interesting. I think Darvish's line (2-1 in 13 IP, 20 K, 1.00 WHIP, 2.08 ERA) beat Dice's (3-0 in 14.2 IP, 13 K, 1.30 WHIP, 2.45 ERA) but I think Matsuzaka managed to beat Korea, Cuba and the US, so that's pretty impressive.

Just throw an uncontested steal of 3rd in there for the hell of it.

Of course they should, but most Red Sox fans (here at least) and most baseball fans think this is a stupid tournament and don't want to have it at a time of year that would be conducive to Boston or NY participating. Ichiro comes through again. I'll say it again, he's an amazing baseball player.

Let's see whether Ichiro hits the ball hard here or not. He usually does.

Joe Morgan is even analyzing how they play their positions differently in the OF with RISP. Subtle differences in strategy but they seem significant.

Seriously, what is there not to like about Ichiro? He just laid down a picture perfect bunt base hit at a crucial time. He's constantly a tough out, he's a killer once he's on base and he's great in the field. He really is the catalyst of the Japanese team and makes them very formidable indeed. This is a guy who has a career average of .331, averaging 228 H over 162 MLB Games. In 8 seasons the least # of games he's played is 157. Over the past 5 years he's played in 161, 162, 161, 161, and 162 games respectively. He should be a 1st ballot HOF in my opinion.

1-1 in the bottom of the 5th. Looks like there's a really good crowd in LA to see Korea vs. Japan.

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

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.

We shelled out all that money for his fastball? I thought we were getting a pitcher who would throw any of his 5 or 6 pitches and leave hitters baffled... I realize that he's stressful to watch, but is there any doubt about this guy's talent? If someone told you that after 2 seasons Dice-K would be 33-15 with 372 IP would you have been disappointed? I wouldn't have been. And if you like stats (like me) and someone said, in 372 IP he'll have 355 Ks and a 3.72 ERA I would be impressed. I would be shocked he had done that well with a 1.32 WHIP (same exact WHIP both seasons BTW), but I would be heartened with his .230/.324/.369/.693 averages against. If anything I think he's scared by the power of the major league game so he nibbles. He seems to prefer being forced to make his pitch or give up a walk, rather than throwing something that he knows is hitable by the world's best hitters. Seems like a smart use of his repetoir, but it doesn't stretch him out much in the 100 pitch-limit culture of 2009. He's a totally bizarre and unique pitcher. I think 2007 represents what "bad" Dice-K #s can look like, and 2008 represents what "good" Dice-K #s look like. There's no doubt that he likes pitching on a big stage and can have good outings in those situations. He's great underpressure... hell, he's his country's ace and his country is arguably the best baseball country in the world.

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?

Yu Darvish is good.