Bay Area Baseball

You couldn’t have asked for much more as a baseball fan Monday night as Korea and Japan played to an incredible 3-3 tie after 9 innings. Starters Iwakuma and Bong were outstanding, Iwakuma went 7 2/3 IP allowing just two runs while Bong labored but allowed just one unearned run in four innings.

The defense was outstanding as Korea danced around several jams including an incredible game from the shortstop pictured above.

Bum Ho Lee came up big for Korea in the bottom of the ninth after Yu Darvish struck out two. He hit a sharp ground ball through the left side to tie it and send the game to extra innings.

Ichiro quickly answered back with a 9 pitch at bat that resulted in a two run double in the top of the tenth. He fouled off some tough pitches including a 95 mph sidearm fastball and an offspeed pitch that bounced before he was able to foul it off.

Darvish walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the tenth and struck out the next man. He then got a popup and struck out the final hitter to end it. Darvish hit 95 mph with the fastball and was throwing a devastating slider.

An incredible game by both teams, one with intensity that matched any game at the major league level.

Japan showed Sunday why it was one of the tournament favorites outclassing the United States at Dodger Stadium 9-4. Daisuke Matsuzaka threw effectively after allowing a leadoff home run to Brian Roberts - allowing just two runs. Oswalt allowed six runs in less than four innings, getting slapped around for six hits while his defense made errors at every infield position except first base.

Leaving Oswalt in was a joke. The managing by the US was about as bad as it could have been. COUNTLESS mistakes.

Starting an injured Wright at third when Longo is available.
DH’ing Rollins instead of Wright who has a cracked toenail.
Starting Jeter and DH’ing Rollins.
Using three consecutive left handed relievers to combat Japan’s lefthanded lineup - despite a four run deficit, imagine if they had tied it and the US had needed a lefty later in the game when it was close.
Not hitting for Dunn when Daisuke was taken out for the lefty - would have been a perfect time to bring in Victorino.

Japan was the better team but the US didn’t do anything to try and change that. Defensively they looked far inferior and offensively their approaches resulted in nothing more a number of popups and strikeouts.

Japan plays what can only be described as a clean style of baseball based on speed, defense and situational hitting. They have perfected the art of offensively taking what their opponents give them, walks, the opposite field and the power alleys. Japan faces Korea tomorrow at 6:30 PST.

Shuichi Murata won’t be available for Japan after tearing his hamstring against Korea. The power hitter had three home runs in the WBC and was one of japans major sources of run production. They’ll lean even more heavily on their outstanding starting pitching. Japan should start Daisuke Matsuzaka against the United States on Sunday - Bay Area Baseball will be there!

Team USA will start Roy Oswalt from Houston. Oswalt has been solid but shouldn’t be expected to throw a shutout. The Americans will need to hope for solid performances from relievers Heath Bell, JJ Putz and the rest of the bullpen. Evan Longoria has been added to the roster and should play third base while David Wright DH’s. The game is at 5pm pacific at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Winner goes to the final.