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Around SBN: The Animated GIFs Of January

WBC Semifinal 2: United States v. Japan.

It 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.

Star-divide

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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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

by Cy Schourek on Mar 22, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

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?

by BubbaFan on Mar 22, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by Daedalus on Mar 22, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Daedalus on Mar 22, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by Cy Schourek on Mar 22, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

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?"

by Slyde on Mar 22, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Holy cow

Bubba’s roommate homers off Matsuzaka.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Mar 22, 2009 8:11 PM EDT reply actions  

Overheard on the Simpsons

“America is the New York Yankees of countries: powerful and respected until the year 2000.”

by Brendanukkah on Mar 22, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions  

Matt Groenig said it,

not Dane Cook

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Mar 22, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

oh, and yes

that is really, really funny

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Mar 22, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

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  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions  

USA manager’s world

by ol Pete on Mar 22, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

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?

by BubbaFan on Mar 22, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hey baby...

wanna hear a pentatonic scale?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

dink dunk

slap, poke… sort of Japanese water boarding

by ol Pete on Mar 22, 2009 9:27 PM EDT reply actions  

That's racist?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

I could call it Chinese water torture… I think that was really an Italian invention, but the way the Chinese and Japanese get along, I’ll just toss the CIA out there. They’re an equal opportunity employer.

by ol Pete on Mar 22, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

What happened to Oswalt?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 9:33 PM EDT reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 9:44 PM EDT reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 9:50 PM EDT reply actions  

He struck out.

Very un-clutch.

Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.

by andromache on Mar 22, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

But very Dunn!

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

yes… something like shugiyuchi

by ol Pete on Mar 22, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 10:09 PM EDT reply actions  

Stop the presses!

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

yes, they were the worst

until they were traded to the Tigers for Prince Fielder

"How big IS your magic wand?"

by Slyde on Mar 22, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

There is something strange seeing that McDonalds logo on the Japanese helmets. I’d feel better if I knew how to say quarter pounder with cheese in Japanese though.

by ol Pete on Mar 22, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Daedalus on Mar 22, 2009 10:42 PM EDT reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Daedalus on Mar 22, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 10:48 PM EDT reply actions  

Darvish warming up...

ohhhh snap

"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Daedalus on Mar 22, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Who the hell cares?

Seriously. WTF?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Daedalus on Mar 22, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

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?

by BubbaFan on Mar 22, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

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?

by BubbaFan on Mar 23, 2009 6:57 AM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by ken on Mar 23, 2009 7:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

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?

by BubbaFan on Mar 23, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions  

this disappointment

is just getting me used to when the reds get to october this year and lose in the division series

by Daedalus on Mar 22, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions  

What'd he do?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by Gray on Mar 22, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

yes

"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast

by Colin Auscapee on Mar 22, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

I don’t know but what he just did was odd as hell.

by ol Pete 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.

by ken on Mar 23, 2009 7:08 AM EDT up reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:17 PM EDT reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:23 PM EDT reply actions  

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

by BK on Mar 22, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh, Adam.

Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.

by andromache on Mar 22, 2009 11:28 PM EDT reply actions  

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