WBC Semifinal 2: United States v. Japan.
by andromache on Mar 22, 2009 7:00 PM EDT
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PrintIt sounds like a vaguely familar matchup, especially when you consider that both teams are competing for the right to invade korea, that is, meet them in the final game.
Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
Probable Pitchers: Daisuke Matsuzaka v. Roy Oswalt.
More after the cut.
Notes: You know, I have to agree with the couple of posts on here that have mentioned how nonchalant the US team seems to be about this whole thing. I'll add this to the mix - Chipper Jones complaining about how the city of Toronto is "not exactly Las Vegas." I'm sorry, Chipper, that Toronto doesn't boast the slot machines or call girls of the biggest waste of water ever, but there are lots of great things about Toronto. Granted, there's no Cher or Wayne Newton, but there's plenty of attractions. Plus, a Tim Horton's on every corner. Basically, what I'm getting at, is that maybe instead of whining about the lack of Wolfgang Puck, Chipper could've been conditioning a little more on his offdays, and not hurt himself.
But he's gone. Still, Team USA's choices for this game area bit strange. I can understand Oswalt over Peavy, as favoring the hot hand, so to speak, but Johnson is AGAIN putting Jeter at shortstop and designated hitting Jimmy Rollins. He's not starting Adam Dunn at first again, but has gone with Mark DeRosa instead, who has a played just less than 70 innings at first in the majors (and none in the minors). Of course, this isn't really Johnson's fault. DeRosa's less than 70 innings at first are the most on the roster (other than Adam Dunn) by about less than 70 innings. Defaulting to position players with greater defensive prowess in roster selection is not unwise, exactly - but as DeRosa himself points out, you necessarily end up with a guy at first who is not all that prepared to receive pick offs. I imagine the Japanese will take advantage of this and take some pretty adventurous leads off first tonight. Japan is tied with Korea for most stolen bases in the classic (9).
Japan, on the other hand, is missing Shuichi Murata, whose 2 HR, 7 RBI and .379 OBP were instrumental in getting Japan as far as its got.
Some pitcher v. batter (as a bonus: in poorly formatted tables!). Not enough PA to really matter, but a couple of US batters have had some success against Matsuzaka, in any case. And Ichiro fares well against Oswalt.
Daisuke Matsuzaka v. US players (career) (from bb-ref)
| PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | |
| Brian Roberts | 15 | .500 | .600 | .667 |
| Derek Jeter | 14 | .333 | .429 | .833 |
| Curtis Granderson | 10 | .444 | .500 | .889 |
| Ryan Braun | 4 | .500 | .500 | .500 |
| Evan Longoria | 4 | .500 | .750 | .500 |
| Brian McCann | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Roy Oswalt v. Japan players (career) (from bb-ref)
| PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | |
| Ichiro Suzuki | 7 | .571 | .571 | .571 |
| Akinori Iwamura | 4 | .250 | .250 | .250 |
| Kenji Johjima | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
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you should be more chipper
Made from 100% recycled awesome,
by chandrathan on Mar 22, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
really?
I’ve always liked Chipper and never met anyone who thought otherwise. What’s your beef?
...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield
I've never liked Chipper Jones
Not that I know him personally or anything. He just comes across as an arrogant SOB. IMVHO, of course.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
don't you remember the chants of "Larry, Larry, Larry?"
Don’t you remember the 1995 NLCS?
Round Tm Opp WLser G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB CS SH SF HBP
NLCS ATL CIN W 4 16 3 7 0 0 1 3 3 1 .438 .526 .625 1 0 0 0 0
that was his rookie year, too
since then, i’ve always found excuses to not like him. first impressions, and all. plus i hate that team.
don't remember the '95 NLCS
I think it was so bad that my dad wouldn’t let me watch the games…he wanted my memories to be of beating the Dodgers.
I always disliked the Braves, but had a grudging respect for them. I’d rather have them in then the Phils, Mets, or Marlins
...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield
it's kinda like watching someone you know win on Jeopardy
you’re happy that the team you are rooting for wins for once, and the people you are rooting for get lots of money.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
Holy cow
Bubba’s roommate homers off Matsuzaka.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Overheard on the Simpsons
“America is the New York Yankees of countries: powerful and respected until the year 2000.”
oh, and yes
that is really, really funny
...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield
Roommates are watching cartoons
It was like most new Simpsons (“new” being for the last eight years or so). Kind of funny in parts, pretty bad for the rest of it, and makes you ache for its heyday when it was the best show on TV.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 22, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions
their problem is that they've stuck with the same writers
instead of letting in new blood. twenty years is enough for anything to get stale. if you would be hired, you’d make it funny again. and i’m being serious when i say that!
No, all the good writers left to do The Critic, Futurama, Pixar films, and be Conan O'Brien
by Brendanukkah on Mar 22, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
The Critic is funnier than Futurama
/ducks
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
In what world
is Jeter a better fielder at short than Jimmy Rollins?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
It's probably Japanese music
I think they both use pentatonic scales.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Hey baby...
wanna hear a pentatonic scale?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
Holy crap, jeter actually did something useful...
a single!
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
Is Dunn still at bat?
So says the yahoo box score, but I’m not buyin’ it.
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
I assume the pitcher they brought in to face him
was a lefty, right?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
Did the '07 Devil Rays really have the "worst bullpen in baseball history"?
I feel like Steve Phillips is probably making shit up.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
yes, they were the worst
until they were traded to the Tigers for Prince Fielder
"How big IS your magic wand?"
It's the country where the corporations
have the least power, right?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
Tanaka's yellow glove has to be distracting for hitters
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Just setting up the game-tying grand slam for Dunner...
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
somehow i am not encouraged that this bw's
showing only baseball and women’s basketball on it’s twenty-five screens – it feels like baseball is as important as the other.
Wait, so it's not showing baseball?
I’m confused.
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
i was equated baseball with women's basketball in popularity
did you know that 48% of minor leaguers are not americans? i don’t have any problem with others playing baseball – i’m ecstatic about it and wish the whole world would – but i do have a problem with americans not playing the game. i’m making connections between a small town chain bar in a suburb and a larger issue. but of course, reading minds is hard enough – reading minds through the realm of the interwebs is pretty impossible.
6-4!
Thank you, Mark DeRosa, for not being on the Cubs anymore so I can cheer for you guilt free.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Darvish warming up...
ohhhh snap
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Why did he whine?
And why is nobody willing to point to his one error per game as justification?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
you didn't hear?
apparently he threw a fit because he wasn’t in the lineup, so johnson put him in as DH and he still pouted. the announcers said they’ve never seen him like that.
I hate Derek Jeter because he hates America
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Who the hell cares?
Seriously. WTF?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
well, it's enough to hurt team USA tonight, so it's important
he may have lost the game. a two run deficit is not insurmountable. five runs in the ninth? this isn’t the deadbirds, circa 2005.
No, I mean...
Who cares about hurting Jeter’s feelings?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
It's not just that
Jeter supported the WBC when a lot of other players wouldn’t, so they kind of feel they owe him something. That he would be the starting SS was probably a condition on his participation this year.
And it’s not just his ego. He needs the playing time, since he’s missing spring training for this.
I think that last really handicaps the US. The other teams aren’t playing that way – using the WBC as replacement spring training.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
i cursed outloud when i read this
these guys have plenty of time to train. they know they are going to play long before the tournament begins and can start whenever they want. i wont accept that as an argument. if you want to be ready for Opening Day, sack up and take care of it on your own time. youre wearing my flag now and i wont accept your excuses.
fuck Derek Jeter, his ego, and his need for playing time. i want my country to prove to the rest of the world that we are better than them, and i will not stand for some faded prima-donna dragging us home in failure because of his bloated sense of entitlement. he’s gonna pout about not getting to play shortstop? he can go back to Florida and do it in pinstripes. he’s wearing the Red White and Blue now. if he doesnt want to do it with dignity and reverence then i dont want him.
i dont often wear the hat of grizzled old flag-waving Luddite because it doesnt fit me well. but when i heard about Jeter and his pouting i started thinking about Ted Williams and Jackie Robinson. what if the WBC were played 60 years ago? something tells me these men would be fighting back tears of pride when asked to play for their country. and if they were asked to DH a bit so someone else could experience the feeling of taking the field wearing the flag then they would do it with a smile and a “go get ’em pal”.
fuck you, Derek Jeter. i deserve better than you.
My millions are unconventional!
by Charlie Scrabbles on Mar 23, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
rec'd
Take a breather, Chuck, well done. It pisses me off too that the US team has the audacity to act like they’re the best team in the world because they make the rules, and then half-ass it on the field because getting ready for spring training is more important. Turning down the invitation because you want to get ready for the regular season with your teammates is a helluva lot more patriotic than donning the red, white, and blue and half-assing anything on the field.
And after seeing the teams play this tournament, I’ve noticed that the US is the only team with this problem. Even the Canadians had a sense of pride playing for their country that went above adhering to strict pitch counts, demanding playing time, and throwing a bitch fit when you’re benched for the good of the team.
As much as it pains me to say it, watching the US team was the biggest problem I had with an otherwise exciting international tournament, and Derek Jeter personified that the most. At least the US lost, so Bud will be compelled to make some changes to “fix” the problems with the tournament, ensuring a US victory in 2013.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
by BK on Mar 23, 2009 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't think this is reasonable
It’s not a matter of conditioning. Of course they can train all year, and most of them do.
What they need in spring is actual playing time. Playing their positions and getting at-bats against major league level opponents.
You may have a point about turning down the WBC being more patriotic choice…but that’s not what MLB wants. They want the big name players to participate. The teams would rather they didn’t, so you can’t expect Team USA to use the roster like it’s an actual World Series or something.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Jimmy Rollins is the ultimate American hero
Sacrificing his ST so he can DH and act as Jeter’s caddy.
It’s been argued that there should be more games in the WBC just to help the players get ready. Even if they’re exhibition games it would allow everyone to get more playing time.
That could work
Especially if they’re exhibition games. Since Team USA is playing like they’re exhibition games anyway.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
7-4 Japan
On an E-6 by Jeter. How the hell can Yankee fans root for this guy?
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Agreed, Rollins makes that play with his goddamn eyes closed
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
this disappointment
is just getting me used to when the reds get to october this year and lose in the division series
I would definitely not be disappointed...
if the Reds made it to the division series this year.
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
According to ESPN's score crawl on the bottom of the screen
Some guy named Garrard scored 3 goals for Liverpool today. I think he’s the quarterback in Jacksonville, actually. If you’re going to make an effort to promote soccer in America, spell the fucking names right and don’t mock its highlights on SportsCenter top plays. Goddammit, I hate ESPN.
/cue ’than “futball!” post
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
I'm too pissed off at the ref for calling a handball against Rodney Wallace, when the ball clearly hit his thigh
Up 2-0 in the 79th minute, and the Galaxy manages to come back and tie the game. Jesus!
by Brendanukkah on Mar 22, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Crew had a goal called back on a foul where two Houston players ran into each other
I feel your pain.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Oh, I totally didn't realize he's playing RF.
When did he last play RF in the majors?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
yes
"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast
by Colin Auscapee on Mar 22, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions
no one said he played it well
"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast
by Colin Auscapee on Mar 22, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe Davey Johnson?
Seriously, the DeRosa-Dunn positioning is befuddling, even if Dunn didn’t look graceful at 1B the other day. DeRosa’s range and arm (he was a decent Div I-AA QB) should make this a no-brainer.
Dammit Jon Miller, quit making fucking excuses for Jeter
Instead of accurately reporting that Jeter threw the ball 5 feet off the bag at first, apparently his error was “forced” by Kawasaki’s speed.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
5 runs against Darvish?
I’m gonna go out on a limb here, and say not fucking happening.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Does this mean he can't pitch at all tomorrow?
Somebody who knows the rules, enlighten me
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Jeter must have had a bug in his eye
that is the only reason i can think of for that groundout
"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast
by Colin Auscapee on Mar 22, 2009 11:17 PM EDT reply actions
I can think of another reason
1. He sucks
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Look BK, there are some things I know for certain
1. the earth is flat
2. God is in the sky watching over me always
3. Derek Jeter is the baddest, most clutchiest son-of-a-bitch to ever strap on some cleats.
"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast
by Colin Auscapee on Mar 22, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Jeter 1-5 today
Yeah, we really needed that bat in the lineup
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Dunner up with 2 outs in the 9th on the brink of elimination
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
Strikes out looking
Daugherty has a column about this tomorrow, or I’ll name my first kid Peter Edward
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
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