Bay Area Baseball

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.