By This should be a heck of a final game as Korea and Japan face each other for the fifth and final time in the World Baseball Classic after Japan defeated the US last night:
It was just one ballgame, and it didn’t prove that Asian baseball is better than American baseball. That was the observation of United States manager Davey Johnson.
Just one ballgame, but it was one that put Japan into the World Baseball Classic final against South Korea and left America wondering about the sport it calls its national pastime.
Defending champion Japan, hitting balls in the gaps and getting its usual effective pitching, defeated the United States, 9-4, last night before a chilled but enthusiastic crowd of 43,630 in their WBC semifinal at Dodger Stadium.
So tonight it will be South Korea, a 10-2 winner over deflated Venezuela on Saturday night, against Japan in the final. And the response should be huge, with Los Angeles being home to large Korean and Japanese communities among its 3.2 million citizens. [Newsday]
I think you would have to say that Asia has passed up the United States maybe not in individual talent, but definitely in the play of team baseball. Both Korea and Japan have obviously shown that they play great team baseball and deserve to be in the WBC Final.
6:42 am on March 23rd, 2009 1
Dae Han Min Guk !!!!
9:25 am on March 23rd, 2009 2
US based teams should re-learn how to bunt, pitch, steal bases, sacrifice, hit and run, and move runners up. Because all they do these days is cheat by pumping themselves up with steroids and hitting for downtown. Playing station to station baseball relying on home runs will never beat Asian total baseball
11:25 am on March 23rd, 2009 3
Baseball is a thinking mans game. So much for the rote memory only learning Westerners think occurs with Asians.
2:16 pm on March 23rd, 2009 4
I am watching the Japan vs Korea game at a airport bar with most people interested in the game. I had to laugh though when the Korean fans held up Dokdo signs and people in the airport were wondering who the heck Dokdo is? Comment left via Kindle.
5:33 pm on March 23rd, 2009 5
Another factor is how much the players get into the game. For the Asians, it's a pretty big deal and the progress of the teams are front page news. For America, a lot of media outlets don't even cover it, and it certainly takes a backseat to college basketball finals. This has to have an effect on how the players prepare themselves for the game and work hard to come together as a team.
6:56 pm on March 23rd, 2009 6
I obviously can't speak for Team USA, but I suspect the attitude for the Americans is that this is like an exhibition series, and is not really taken that seriously. I think it is a much bigger deal for some of the other national teams.
10:31 pm on March 23rd, 2009 7
They should take it serious otherwise – if they don't want to run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.
2:38 am on March 24th, 2009 8
No, non-Asian players are far superior to most Asian players, not all, but most asian players. No, I do not believe it is due to ethnicity. Koreans generally think otherwise however.
TOM, please, please, please explain why the Korean national team couldn't even beat the Padre's and Dodgers in 2006. Give me a break. I mean the Padres and Dodgers, come off of it. Expalin that one TOM.
Tom, put your, superior to any other, SNU education to use and actually do some research about what steriods are used for in sports (other than bodybuilding) and what they do because you have no idea. Can't wait to hear what you have to say.
You also might try researching Specificity Hypothesis TOM. Please don't depend on your senior's anecdotal information.
One more thing, look at the fact that most Asian players go to the MLB and fail, or fail to be better than all the hype about them.
Congrats to Japan for slaughtering Korea. That has made my week. Japan is awesome.
4:02 am on March 24th, 2009 9
Congratulations to Japan.
They were respectable rivals and played better than Korea. Congratulations again.
Who knows the next tournament??
8:43 am on March 24th, 2009 10
Didn't Japan slaughter USA also??
At least Korea put up a good fight. You guys on drugs folded up like a cheap suitcase with all the usual whining excuses.
And take this, Korea 6, USA 1 in 2006 WC.