WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 2009

Only four teams remain: USA, Venezuela, Japan and Korea. Sounds like an exciting final four, although I don't know how Venezuela made it with that pitching staff.

I know this tournament could have been better advertised, but they did talk about it at every opportunity during last year's MLB playoffs. It seemed that they talked about the Toronto pool every time a Canadian player was on the screen.

 

Do we know yet who plays whom in the semifinals?

 

At Dodger Stadium, Korea faces Venezuela Saturday at 9 Eastern time, and Japan meets the USA at 8 on Sunday. Winners meet in the final on Monday at 9.

 

I don't think it will be a good thing if that does happen.

 

And why is that?

 

The history of MLB's World Series is much longer than that of the WBC, and the WBC is a short tournament......................not the championship decided after a long season.

 

So who knew that starting Carlos Silva over Felix Hernandez would be a bad idea?

Oh that's right. Everyone but Luis Sojo.

 

It's weird to see a baseball game (at the pro level) at Dodger Stadium that's not a Dodger game.

 

Last night's game was good, especially Japan's five-run fourth inning. Overall, I think it's been a fun tournament to watch. They should keep Toronto as a first-round city since the games were good here.

Japan faces Korea (fifth time in the tournament) for the final tonight, 9:30 PM Eastern Time. Should be a good game!

 

It should be a very interesting game tonight, both these teams have played very well to get to the final.

 

This is a really sour ending for me. For the tournament to be this short, and the teams to have already played that many times in it, and then just call this meeting the final just seems off to me. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

Japan takes it again, 5-3 in 10 innings. They almost gave it away with two out in the ninth, but managed to come back.

CONGRATULATIONS JAPAN!

 

I caught some of the game, and the Japanese team was indeed very good...they deserved to win.

 

Agh Steve Phillips, Joe Morgan, and Bud Selig in the same broadcast booth for the final game. That was the most painful color commentary I've ever heard from a baseball game.

 

What gets me is why are Japanese imports so hit and miss in US ball? They are clearly the dominant country in producing ball players.

 

Having the best country team doesn't always equate to being dominant in producing players.

(this statement not meant to demean Japan in any way)

 

Tournament baseball is also WAY different than a 162-game grind