USA v Japan: World Baseball Classic Finals – Live | World Baseball Classic
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Email from Olly Crawford-Ellis:
Hello everyone else following this!
It’s nice to know that the sports section of a major news website can have a global conversation about mutual sports turmoil. This is a detailed analysis at its best.
Cricket is easy. People say he stands in the fields for five days and only occasionally has tea and sandwiches. After this he may have a winner after 5 days, but usually not.
cheers!
Wait a minute and see if it’s too late for you to become professional cricket as an uncoordinated 41-year-old who doesn’t even understand the basic concepts of the sport.
USA 1-3 Japan bottom of 5th inning
Yoshida steals the ball. Then ball 2. Next is Strike. 2-1. He fouls the next and ends the count. He then bounces back to the pitcher, which is the book’s fifth inning.
USA 1-3 Japan bottom of 5th inning
Ohtani makes a big swing and becomes empty. 0-1. Then he takes the ball. 1-1.Next pitch, out he’s right in the corner. 2-1. Substitute grounder on the next pitch, and Kondo hit a double to put Yoshida in scoring position.
USA 1-3 Japan bottom of 5th inning
Freeland walked Kondo on five pitches and Ohtani bases loaded with two outs.
USA 1-3 Japan bottom of 5th inning
Freeland came back for another inning, possibly his last. He lets Nootbaar fly out with the first out in the bottom of the fifth.
Email from Rosemary Chiba:
Great to see G live!
I’m also ignorant about baseball, but I’m married to a Japanese man who enlightens me, lives literally one town down from Otani, and is married to Sasaki on our coast. , has been rooting for Japan’s winning comeback since 2009.
Japan won in 2009 and the United States are the defending champions without a doubt. Looking back, it couldn’t have been better.
USA 1-3 Japan Top 5
Schwarber wins 1 ball. Then he takes ball 2. Things are getting dangerous for Japan here. The next pitch is dirt. 3-0. Takahashi is one ball away from the bases loaded. Unfortunately, Schwalber has the green light as he skis the pitch into the outfield for the final out.
We are mid regulation and this is definitely a much more lively paced game than Saturday’s match between the US and Cuba.
USA 1-3 Japan Top 5
The Arenado was just an inch too low in pitch. That’s a good eye. 1-0. He goes out on a one-way street. 2-0. Arenado then pulls the splitter to get on base. It’s 2 in base, but it’s still 2 down.
USA 1-3 Japan Top 5
Takahashi defeated Gaultschmidt 1-2 and threw the ball into the ball 2 dart. 2-2.Then his knee fastball sees him and catches. Strike three! 2 down in the inning.
USA 1-3 Japan Top 5
Trout next, runner first. Takahashi reversed with 2-0. He makes a big tear on the next pitch, but does not make contact. 2-1. Trout fouled at the next pitch off. 2-2. The next pitch is… 3-2. He fouled the next pitch off. 3-2.
He swings and misses! It’s a major there! 1 down in the inning.
USA 1-3 Japan Top 5
Japan representative Hiroto Takahashi pitched. Betts hit a looper and apparently missed Japan’s Murakami throw to first. The referee calls out Betts, which is incorrect. The US objected to the play and was duly overturned.
Betts is out first, no one is out.
Joe Pearson:
I had a colleague from Sri Lanka who explained about cricket. I was completely stumped. Hello Olly from New Zealand!
My first editor is a die-hard cricket fan and would have liked to absorb some of his knowledge, but so far nothing.
I watched the clip and I was riveted, but watching a hole game requires a time commitment that even a baseball game in overtime isn’t ready for.
America 1-3 Japan bottom of 4th inning
Genda strikes out with a swing. 2 down in the inning. Nakamura hit the ball at third base to Arenado, who threw first to Goldschmidt to complete the out.
It was an early inning, but Japan extended their lead. Up to 5 times!
America 1-3 Japan bottom of 4th inning
Yamada takes the lead with two balls. Freeland keeps moving the line here, which is good, but Japan still scores him.
Solo home run! (Kazuma Okamoto, USA 1-3 Japan)
America 1-3 Japan bottom of 4th inning
Okamoto hits a home run from Freeland! Japan takes the lead!
Email from Alexandra Ashton:
Unfortunately, I am in the same boat as Olly Crawford Ellis. I was watching the match (match?) on the British side, but I somehow understood. But cricket doesn’t work for me.
I opened this page and read your comment trying to put something into my football brain. The cricket analogy may come up, but perhaps not enough to compare? (just a joke.)
I’ll be honest. I became a sports fan after graduating from college, but it took me so long to understand the rules of baseball that I really understand that it’s a lot.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to compare footy, which is very much a team sport compared to baseball. Only when in play (that is, when the batter has made contact and the ball remains in fair territory). At that point, the entire team’s defenses are activated and often have to work together to throw out the base runners.
Does it make sense? Probably not! got it. The best way to learn is to sit and watch with fans who enjoy rambling about the game.
USA 1-2 Japan Top 4
Anderson pops out on two pitches and ah, Japan wins a 1-2-3 inning. I have to tip my hat. (Notice he’s not wearing a hat. Tilt his bangs instead.)
USA 1-2 Japan Top 4
Cedric Mullins is behind 0-2 but has taken two pitches outside. 2-2. Eventually he lines out to the left. he is two away.
USA 1-2 Japan Top 4
Togo would face Real Mut in the next innings, but Real Mut went short ground after falling behind 1-2.
Email from Boris Feigin:
Hello Hunter.
how are you? Following work from Australia, hehe :)
Definitely a great competition so far!
If you only get one, there’s definitely something that could haunt Japan later…
cheers,
Boris
Nice to know that this is really getting attention all over the world. When MLB first announced his WBC, it was an open question whether the WBC would survive. I feel like it’s becoming a really important event for fans all over the world.
When it comes to Japan, two runs are not enough to beat an American attack.
USA 1-2 Japan bottom of 3rd inning
Yoshida hit all the first three pitches outside. 3-0. He then induced a double play and that’s it in the third.
It’s kind of 1-2-3 innings. Or 1-3-4 innings? I don’t know what to call it exactly.
USA 1-2 Japan bottom of 3rd inning
Kyle Freeland is next pitching for the United States national team, and manager Mark DeRosa hopes to take a few innings off the bullpen. His first job? Bring out Otani. No big deal, right? Ohtani works his full count before taking three strikes.
It must feel good for Freeland.
Email from Sachiko Sato:
When can I watch the club team WBC? Some Japanese professional teams deserve the opportunity to play against MLB teams and Cuban League teams.
It’s a tempting idea, but one that MLB doesn’t see coming to fruition outside of certain Spring Training exhibitions. It would be interesting if the various international leagues made a deal with each other and something would happen, which is unlikely but not impossible.
Still, I see 100%.
USA 1-2 Japan Top 3
The Togo order is very vague here. He fell behind Turner. Turner was a dangerous man to deal with and the first pitch was far away. Turner fouls the next pitch off, 1-1. Turner chops the next foul. 1-2. He then swung and missed on the next pitch, ending the top of the third. 3 times to the bottom!
USA 1-2 Japan Top 3
After defeating Togo 3-1, Schwalber fouled on the next pitch and went for a walk. We now have a runner in 1st and his 2nd.
Again, this US offense doesn’t give many 1-2-3 innings.
USA 1-2 Japan Top 3
Arenado comes next and leads the count 3 to 1 before going for a walk.
USA 1-2 Japan Top 3
Togo fly Goldschmidt. It’s pretty efficient.
USA 1-2 Japan Top 3
Shosei Togo pitched to Trout and struck out on four pitches. In any context, especially with a title, it always does something impressive.
Email from Olly Crawford-Ellis:
I’m in New Zealand and should be working now, but I think it’s important to let you and Joe Pearson know you’re not alone.
I don’t know or understand baseball, so could you explain everything with a cricket analogy?
I fear we are at a crossroads here. I’ve spent the last 12 or so years desperately trying to figure out the first thing about how cricket should work, and I’m nowhere near as close as I started, but thanks for reading.
America 1-2 Japan Bottom of the 2nd
Japan has runners on second and third base, and currently has two outs. Kondo burned the pitch with a 1-2 count, which became a foul. Instead, it’s still 1-2.
Kondo made a check swing and fouled the next ball. 1-2. Kondo pops up one for the final out of the inning. The United States will limit the damage, but Japan will take the initiative. Good news for America. With so many innings left, it’s hard to imagine the Japanese pitching staff trying to limit this team to his two runs.
RBI Groundout (Lars Notvaal, USA 1-2 Japan)
America 1-2 Japan Bottom of the 2nd
Loop on with the bass loaded and just one out. The first ball strikes a nut bar showing a bunt. A sacrifice bunt in this situation? it feels weird.
The next pitch is a fastball for strikes. After Lu led 0-2, Japan took the lead with an RBI grounder. It’s as good as a sack bunt in my eyes.
Joe Pearson:
Technically, he says, Rambo didn’t draw First Blood.
Is someone else emailing you or is it just me?
I have never seen a single “Rambo” movie and have only read the MAD magazine parodies.
Yes, so far it was just you. It’s okay, I’m very good at talking to myself.
America 1-1 Japan Bottom of the 2nd
And then Aaron Loup comes to put out the fire. Let’s see how this works.
America 1-1 Japan Bottom of the 2nd
Next is catcher Yuhei Nakamura. The US is starting the bullpen early here. Aaron Loup throwing up and getting warm. With the pitch 2–0, Kakamura fouled the ball into his territory. 2-1. He strikes in the zone. 2-2. The next pitch is just inside. 3-2. And also miss the next one. Bases loaded, 1 out. This is an opportunity for Japan to do a lot of damage.
America 1-1 Japan Bottom of the 2nd
Sou Genda batted left-handed, two-on-one-out.
America 1-1 Japan Bottom of the 2nd
No base runner, first base runner first base runner. Next is Tetsuto Yamada. He went ahead on the count 2-0 and fouled off the pitch. 2-1. Yamada must stoop from the next pitch. 3-1. He swings and misses the next. 3-2. He fouls the following. 3-2 again. He hit a fly ball to Betts for the first out.
America 1-1 Japan Bottom of the 2nd
The right is Kazuma Okamoto’s single. Japan fights back this inning.
Solo home run! (Munetaka Murakami USA 1-1 Japan)
America 1-1 Japan Bottom of the 2nd
It was fast. Munetaka Murakami, who spent a good week, immediately hit a solo home run to catch up with the tie.
Summarize this content to 100 words important eventShow only major eventsPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureEmail from Olly Crawford-Ellis:Hello everyone else following this! It’s nice to know that the sports section of a major news website can have a global conversation about mutual sports turmoil. This is a detailed analysis at its best. Cricket is easy. People say he stands in the fields for five days and only occasionally has tea and sandwiches. After this he may have a winner after 5 days, but usually not. cheers!Wait a minute and see if it’s too late for you to become professional cricket as an uncoordinated 41-year-old who doesn’t even understand the basic concepts of the sport.USA 1-3 Japan bottom of 5th inningYoshida steals the ball. Then ball 2. Next is Strike. 2-1. He fouls the next and ends the count. He then bounces back to the pitcher, which is the book’s fifth inning.USA 1-3 Japan bottom of 5th inningOhtani makes a big swing and becomes empty. 0-1. Then he takes the ball. 1-1.Next pitch, out he’s right in the corner. 2-1. Substitute grounder on the next pitch, and Kondo hit a double to put Yoshida in scoring position.USA 1-3 Japan bottom of 5th inningFreeland walked Kondo on five pitches and Ohtani bases loaded with two outs.USA 1-3 Japan bottom of 5th inningFreeland came back for another inning, possibly his last. He lets Nootbaar fly out with the first out in the bottom of the fifth.Email from Rosemary Chiba:Great to see G live! I’m also ignorant about baseball, but I’m married to a Japanese man who enlightens me, lives literally one town down from Otani, and is married to Sasaki on our coast. , has been rooting for Japan’s winning comeback since 2009.Japan won in 2009 and the United States are the defending champions without a doubt. Looking back, it couldn’t have been better.USA 1-3 Japan Top 5Schwarber wins 1 ball. Then he takes ball 2. Things are getting dangerous for Japan here. The next pitch is dirt. 3-0. Takahashi is one ball away from the bases loaded. Unfortunately, Schwalber has the green light as he skis the pitch into the outfield for the final out.We are mid regulation and this is definitely a much more lively paced game than Saturday’s match between the US and Cuba.USA 1-3 Japan Top 5The Arenado was just an inch too low in pitch. That’s a good eye. 1-0. He goes out on a one-way street. 2-0. Arenado then pulls the splitter to get on base. It’s 2 in base, but it’s still 2 down.USA 1-3 Japan Top 5Takahashi defeated Gaultschmidt 1-2 and threw the ball into the ball 2 dart. 2-2.Then his knee fastball sees him and catches. Strike three! 2 down in the inning.USA 1-3 Japan Top 5Trout next, runner first. Takahashi reversed with 2-0. He makes a big tear on the next pitch, but does not make contact. 2-1. Trout fouled at the next pitch off. 2-2. The next pitch is… 3-2. He fouled the next pitch off. 3-2.He swings and misses! It’s a major there! 1 down in the inning.USA 1-3 Japan Top 5Japan representative Hiroto Takahashi pitched. Betts hit a looper and apparently missed Japan’s Murakami throw to first. The referee calls out Betts, which is incorrect. The US objected to the play and was duly overturned.Betts is out first, no one is out.Joe Pearson:I had a colleague from Sri Lanka who explained about cricket. I was completely stumped. Hello Olly from New Zealand!My first editor is a die-hard cricket fan and would have liked to absorb some of his knowledge, but so far nothing.I watched the clip and I was riveted, but watching a hole game requires a time commitment that even a baseball game in overtime isn’t ready for.America 1-3 Japan bottom of 4th inningGenda strikes out with a swing. 2 down in the inning. Nakamura hit the ball at third base to Arenado, who threw first to Goldschmidt to complete the out.It was an early inning, but Japan extended their lead. Up to 5 times!America 1-3 Japan bottom of 4th inningYamada takes the lead with two balls. Freeland keeps moving the line here, which is good, but Japan still scores him.Solo home run! (Kazuma Okamoto, USA 1-3 Japan)America 1-3 Japan bottom of 4th inningOkamoto hits a home run from Freeland! Japan takes the lead!Email from Alexandra Ashton:Unfortunately, I am in the same boat as Olly Crawford Ellis. I was watching the match (match?) on the British side, but I somehow understood. But cricket doesn’t work for me.I opened this page and read your comment trying to put something into my football brain. The cricket analogy may come up, but perhaps not enough to compare? (just a joke.)I’ll be honest. I became a sports fan after graduating from college, but it took me so long to understand the rules of baseball that I really understand that it’s a lot.Unfortunately, it’s not easy to compare footy, which is very much a team sport compared to baseball. Only when in play (that is, when the batter has made contact and the ball remains in fair territory). At that point, the entire team’s defenses are activated and often have to work together to throw out the base runners.Does it make sense? Probably not! got it. The best way to learn is to sit and watch with fans who enjoy rambling about the game.USA 1-2 Japan Top 4Anderson pops out on two pitches and ah, Japan wins a 1-2-3 inning. I have to tip my hat. (Notice he’s not wearing a hat. Tilt his bangs instead.)USA 1-2 Japan Top 4Cedric Mullins is behind 0-2 but has taken two pitches outside. 2-2. Eventually he lines out to the left. he is two away.USA 1-2 Japan Top 4Togo would face Real Mut in the next innings, but Real Mut went short ground after falling behind 1-2.Email from Boris Feigin:Hello Hunter. how are you? Following work from Australia, hehe :) Definitely a great competition so far! If you only get one, there’s definitely something that could haunt Japan later… cheers, BorisNice to know that this is really getting attention all over the world. When MLB first announced his WBC, it was an open question whether the WBC would survive. I feel like it’s becoming a really important event for fans all over the world.When it comes to Japan, two runs are not enough to beat an American attack.USA 1-2 Japan bottom of 3rd inningYoshida hit all the first three pitches outside. 3-0. He then induced a double play and that’s it in the third.It’s kind of 1-2-3 innings. Or 1-3-4 innings? I don’t know what to call it exactly.USA 1-2 Japan bottom of 3rd inningKyle Freeland is next pitching for the United States national team, and manager Mark DeRosa hopes to take a few innings off the bullpen. His first job? Bring out Otani. No big deal, right? Ohtani works his full count before taking three strikes.It must feel good for Freeland.Email from Sachiko Sato:When can I watch the club team WBC? Some Japanese professional teams deserve the opportunity to play against MLB teams and Cuban League teams.It’s a tempting idea, but one that MLB doesn’t see coming to fruition outside of certain Spring Training exhibitions. It would be interesting if the various international leagues made a deal with each other and something would happen, which is unlikely but not impossible.Still, I see 100%.USA 1-2 Japan Top 3The Togo order is very vague here. He fell behind Turner. Turner was a dangerous man to deal with and the first pitch was far away. Turner fouls the next pitch off, 1-1. Turner chops the next foul. 1-2. He then swung and missed on the next pitch, ending the top of the third. 3 times to the bottom!USA 1-2 Japan Top 3After defeating Togo 3-1, Schwalber fouled on the next pitch and went for a walk. We now have a runner in 1st and his 2nd.Again, this US offense doesn’t give many 1-2-3 innings.USA 1-2 Japan Top 3Arenado comes next and leads the count 3 to 1 before going for a walk.USA 1-2 Japan Top 3Togo fly Goldschmidt. It’s pretty efficient.USA 1-2 Japan Top 3Shosei Togo pitched to Trout and struck out on four pitches. In any context, especially with a title, it always does something impressive.Email from Olly Crawford-Ellis:I’m in New Zealand and should be…
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/mar/21/usa-v-japan-world-baseball-classic-final-live USA v Japan: World Baseball Classic Finals – Live | World Baseball Classic