The 2009 edition of the WBC is underway, with defending champion Japan beating China 4-0 on Thursday to kick off the tournament. Today the Americans play their first game (vs Canada) as they attempt to redeem themselves from a disappointing finish in '06. Joining Japan and USA as favorites are Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Will Youk and the Destoya lead the Americans to victory? Will Dice-K help the Japanese go back-to-back? Will Big Papi help make the Domincans World Champs? Or will Jason Bay help the Canadians win the entire tourney to pull off one of the great upsets in sports history? Make your WBC predictions and follow all of the results and reaction right here!
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Team USA squeaks by Canada 6-5 today. Not a comfortable win, but at least they got the W and that is really all that counts.
Youk went 1-2, walked twice, hit a solo home run and scored 3 runs. In other words, Player of the Game.
Pedroia = 1-5
Bay = 1-2, run, 3 walks
There are 4 pools of 4 and the top 2 in each pool will advance to the next round. The pools are....
POOL A
China
Chinese Tapei
Japan
Korea
POOL B
Australia
Cuba
Mexico
South Africa
POOL C
Canada
Italy
USA
Venezuela
POOL D
Dominican Republic
Netherlands
Panama
Puerto Rico
POOL A UPDATE......
Each team has played 2 games. Chinese Tapei (0-2) has been eliminated and Japan (2-0) is definitely going to advance.
China plays Korea. Loser is eliminated and winner advances and plays Japan for the #1 seed our of Pool A.
Dice-K started Japan's 2nd game vs Korea and got the win: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR.
POOL B UPDATE.....
Play begins tomorrow in Mexico City with:
South Africa vs Cuba
Australia vs Mexico
Cuba and Mexico are definitely the favorites to advance.
POOL C UPDATE.....
As mentioned the USA beat Canada 6-5. In today's other game Venezuela beat Italy 7-0.
USA vs Venezuela tomorrow night at 8. The winner automatically advances to the Pool Championship while the loser plays the Canada/Italy winner for a chance to advance.
POOL D UPDATE.....
Netherland 3, Dominican Republic 2
Puerto Rico 7, Panama 0
Amazing upset for Netherlands over the Dominicans.
Ortiz 0-2 with 2 walks. But they pinch ran for him in the 7th and the guy who ran for him ended up getting up with 1 on and 2 out in the 9th....and struck out. Sweet managing job Felipe Alou!
Pedro pitched 3 innings, struck out 4 and faced the minimum despite allowing 1 single.
Netherlands only had 5 baserunners but 3 of them scored.
Sidney Ponson with the win: 4 innings, 2 runs.
massive win for the Netherlands. So good. Edinson Volquez's hair is out of control
For the record I am predicting a USA vs Puerto Rico final.
I love the WBC
Dominican team - Hanley Ramirez DOES NOT START!!! and he is ok with it! So great. Tejada starts - as he is such a legit captain.
Ortiz had a big hit today and Cueto looked awesome.
Tavarez came in and pitched well
My favorite thing about the WBC is the MLB guys that pitch well yet are considered washed up by MLB standards - Pedro, Tavarez, Chan Ho Park, Ramiro Mendoza, etc. Goes to show that there are true "gamers" out there
So fun
i havent seen anything yet but i am definitely watching the game tonight with usa vs venezuela. should be good
i think dominicans are going to come back from yesterdays loss and win it all. not rooting for it but i think that is what will happen
why isnt pujols playing?
Rollins starts off with a single. Great work.
I can't express how much I love baseball. So fun to have competitive baseball in March
CUNT. Rollins thrown out at 2nd by catcher. bad attempt by pedroia to bunt. Needs to lay that down
wow. Pedroia whiffs...then Chipper whiffs. Bad inning after a first hit.
Oswalt is pissed as the ump granted the guy time out as he was about to throw. BLATANT F-BOMBS
Abreu and Youk chatting up a STORM. clearly have respect for each other
I really like this US team.
Oswalt just threw back to back 97 mph. He has come to play.
Luis Sojo manager of Venezuela. Isn't he still in the Yankees system still?
Oswalt blows a fastball by Miguel Cabrera....
Youk is up...he is such a good hitter/great eye. worked a 3-2 count after down 0-2. Grounded out to 3rd...but still was a pest
David Wright is TINY. Why didn't I know how small he was?
Here's Adam Dunn....3 pitches. 3 strikes. Terrible at at bat
Every uniform in the WBC is solid.
Iannetta playing tonight instead of McCann. Interesting.
first and second 2 outs....
ground out to pitcher...
Venezuela takes a 3-2 lead. Youk makes a great pickup to get out of the inning.
Let's go USA
Great game
wow. announcers calling out the US team...as Rollins had 3 good at bats and now Jeter is in at SS. Said: "are you trying to win or is this a pageant show" ---- OUCH
Youk let the AL in RBIs per at bat last year.
He strikes out - but gets on first - skipped over back stop! Good stuff. Huge break.
"are you trying to win or is this a pageant show"
Could not agree more!!!
Venezuela was actually my pick to win in '06 when they had Johan Santana, Carlos Zambrano and Carlos Silva as their top 3 starters. Not sure what happened to them.
first and second - 0 out. Dunn up. Need to get runs home. Come on!
(so much easier to blog during baseball as opposed to basketball)
HORRIBLE CALL - should be bases loaded with a walk. but...now 2-2.
Let's go Dunn. Funny to play a game in a neutral site. no real cheers in either direction
3-2. Here we go. WOW. Ump made up for the bad call - he walks. Good make up
Bases loaded - no outs - let's go USA
It was low - good call
WALK! tie game
Walking in the tying run (Youk)....ouch!
Victor Zambrano is garbage.
Baseball blogging is easier for sure. You have time to type without missing anything.
I think I'll put up a new post for each round of the WBC.
I can't believe that we have Mike Schmidt as our 3rd base coach. That is amazing!
loving ianetta right now!!!!! USA UP 6-3 - BASES LOADED HIT!
Would be nice to see Pedroia do something here, only 1-8 so far.
2 RBI Double for the Destroya!!!!
8-3 USA. I love it!
I really hope Youk doesn't K twice in the same inning here.....
Funny that Schmidt as a 3rd base coach had priority for #20 over Youk.
HUGE HIT PEDROIA!
Youk is so frustrating to pith against.
2 run ding for Youk!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE IT!
When I turned this game on it was 3-2 Venezuela and now it's 10-3 USA!
Chipper injury...thanks
Rick Sutcliffe can not annouce good when he is drunk, which is like always around the 5th inning...
after 2 games - Youk is MVP
Love that Bert Blyleven is the coach of the Netherlands
This Netherlands - Puerto Rico game is amazing. Anyone watching? 1-0 Netherlands in he 8th - PR left the bases loaded - Beltran choked big time
See that Korea beat Japan for the Pool A #1 seed? 1-0 game. That could end up being huge in terms of who they match up against next round.
Great for figuring out the games:
http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/schedule/brackets.jsp
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