WBC Final Chat
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Re: WBC Final Chat
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Mar 21, 2006 3:54 PM
| YBS Fan
]
TRANSCRIPT generated on : 2006/03/21 15:13
CHATROOM : WBC Final/Japan vs. Cuba
07:57 : westbaystars - Welcome one and all to the chat room for the WBC final.
07:58 : westbaystars - Chat about Japan's pre-season is also welcome.
09:22 : BigManZam - What up all? I'm psyched about the game. Got my Team Japan shirt on.
09:23 : BigManZam - Going to the grocery store to get junk before the game starts. Making gyuudon.
10:11 : BigManZam - 50 minutes left
10:49 : Christopher - Good morning westbaystars
10:53 : Christopher - Bizarre - playing the Star Spangled Banner even though the American team didn't make it
10:57 : westbaystars - That's because the U.S. is the host. Can't play the Cuban Anthem without it.
10:58 : westbaystars - Matsuzaka's warming up to start.
10:58 : westbaystars - Good morning Christopher and BigManZam. Everyone have your snacks ready?
11:00 : westbaystars - I missed the lineup just now. Did they have Fukudome leading off? This morning's Nikkan Sports is predicting such.
11:02 : westbaystars - Japan is predicted to be sending Matsuzaka, Watanabe, then Ohtsuka to the mound today.
11:04 : BigManZam - is the chat only messed up for me?
11:04 : BigManZam - michael, that seems logical
11:05 : BigManZam - ESPN went into overtime here in the NIT between Notre Dame and Michigan
11:05 : BigManZam - so they're making Japan and Cuba wait it out
[Technical Difficulties]
12:49 : westbaystars - Fine play by Kawasaki, diving behind the second base bag to get the batter.
12:49 : westbaystars - Two down for Cuba in the bottom of the 4th.
12:50 : Dan - problem with the server?
12:50 : Christopher - Technical problems again?
12:50 : MichaelEng - What happened?
12:50 : westbaystars - Sorry, all. I've stopped the web crawlers.
12:51 : Christopher - Technical problems again?
12:51 : BMZ - awesome play by Munerin
12:52 : Dan - so are they having WBC viewing parties in japan? at tokyo dome etc?
12:52 : BMZ - Daisuke still rollin
12:52 : westbaystars - Web crawlers are taking all the bandwidth, which isn't usually a problem - except when several people are reloading ...
12:53 : westbaystars - ... every 30 seconds.
12:53 : westbaystars - I have a lot of work I need to do before I feel comfortable with the chat room.
12:54 : westbaystars - I don't think there are any viewing parties. They have been showing the games in the dugouts of pre-season games.12:54 : westbaystars - Maybe on the big boards as well, as it's about time for a few games to start.
12:55 : westbaystars - Ichiro slaps at least a double into the left field corner!
12:55 : westbaystars - And stops after rounding second.
12:55 : Dan - oh ok...i know in Korea, they had viewing parties at everyone of the baseball stadiums for the last couple of games
12:55 : MHStevie - Nice hit by Ichiro there...
12:55 : westbaystars - Time for me to go have lunch with the family. Be back in a little bit.
12:57 : BMZ - NIPPON CHA CHA CHA
12:58 : BMZ - Matsunaka's getting a lot of crap on 2ch for never hitting homeruns as the #4 batter
13:00 : MHStevie - ESPN's talking more about Matsunaka hitting for the situation, fairly complimentary...
13:00 : Dan - so if japan wins the WBC, will you guys be satisfied with Japan's showing etc?
13:02 : MHStevie - I think it's a fair showing by Japan... all their losses were really close games down to the wire...
13:02 : Dan - ok...was just wondering..im a korean baseball fan, and am quite pleased with their WBC performance
13:03 : MHStevie - Uehara really did well...
13:03 : MHStevie - I was really impressed by Korea's play too... that was an amazing run!
13:03 : MHStevie - I think both teams really showed the world the quality of play in Asia right now...
13:04 : Dan - yeah...i'm glad korea was able to suprise a lot of people..especially here in the US
13:04 : MHStevie - It's 5-1 now... runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out...
13:04 : Dan - most writers and XM radio focused on Japan...and China (their upcoming baseball program) when talking about the Asian po
13:05 : MHStevie - I remember a lot of U.S. commentators talking up how good the Korean MLB pitchers were doing...
13:05 : MHStevie - Yeah, Korea was a bit overlooked until they beat Japan in Japan...
13:06 : BMZ - Korea did a great job on the field. It's too bad they did some things that made me not like them too much.
13:06 : Dan - yeah...after the WBC started..haha. before than, no one took notice. MLB.com picked china and japan to advance from
13:06 : Dan - pool A
13:06 : BMZ - Chan Ho was awesome
13:06 : MichaelEng - Yadiel Pedroso gives up an single and sac and gets replaced
13:06 : Dan - what did korea do that upset u? flag on the mound?
13:07 : BMZ - Park's defense and that right fielder were great. Lee didn't impress me. We all know he can pull the ball.
13:07 : BMZ - flag on the mound and that third baseman talking trash to the dugout, then throwing the ball at Ichiro
13:07 : MHStevie - MLB.com picked China? That was an interesting pick... ^_^
13:07 : Dan - yeah...they thought they would suprise people in A
13:08 : Dan - haha
13:08 : MichaelEng - by Adiel Palma
13:08 : MHStevie - I was picking the Pool A based on the results of the Konami Cup at the end of last baseball season... Japan and Korea...
13:08 : Dan - throwing the ball at ichiro? u mean when he rolled it towards the dugout in the 9th?
13:09 : westbaystars - Touch up play, and Matsunaka scores as I reenter the room!
13:09 : westbaystars - Japan up 6-1.
13:09 : MHStevie - That was close, but Matsunaka gets in from third on the SAC fly...
13:11 : westbaystars - China and Japan? Why China? (Reading some of the transcript while I was gone.)
13:11 : MHStevie - Yeah, I was surprised by that too...
13:12 : westbaystars - Pretty much everyone here in Japan figured the order would be Japan, Korea, Taiwan, then China.
13:12 : westbaystars - Korea upset that, but they were the only two flip-flopped.
13:13 : Dan - jim street wrote:Japan and China will advance to the second round, which will be played March 12-16 in Anaheim.
13:13 : Dan - Japan has speed, power and the pitching to win all three games in Tokyo while upstart China relies on defense, pitching
13:13 : Dan - and fundamentals. That will be just enough to advance.
13:13 : westbaystars - Imae grounds out ending the inning. But not before Japan takes a 6-1 lead.
13:14 : Dan - i wrote to him after that article appeared and questioned his choice. he never responded. haha
13:14 : BMZ - China is still pretty much in their infancy when it comes to yakyu
13:14 : MHStevie - He must have been trying to pick an "upset special", like the analysts picking the college basketball brackets... ^_^
13:15 : westbaystars - I saw that ball rolling by Ichiro in the Korean game and thought it was a strange place for the ball to be rolling.
13:15 : westbaystars - Didn't think much of it until others said he threw the ball at Ichiro.
13:16 : BMZ - Michael, that guy seemed to talk some trash to the dugout before that
13:16 : westbaystars - Submariner Shunsuke takes the mound.
13:16 : westbaystars - ----
13:16 : BMZ - I'll hook you up with the YouTube link during the next break
13:16 : BMZ - oh snap
13:16 : westbaystars - Bottom of Fifth
13:16 : westbaystars - ----
13:16 : Dan - well...i re watched it after ppl commented in the forums
13:16 : Dan - to me...all he did was roll it towards the dugout
13:16 : Dan - after ichiro popped up
13:17 : Dan - unless im thinking of a different play. top of the 9th. 3rd out?
13:17 : MHStevie - Oh, and the U.S. WBC commentators *love* to talk about Bobby V... ^_^
13:17 : MHStevie - Of course, there are plenty of Marines on Japan's team...
13:17 : Dan - yeah..ESPN cold pizza had him on...talked up the japan team
13:17 : westbaystars - China's defense? The looked like the tired out after about five innings - in the Konami Cup and the WBC.
13:17 : Dan - wasnt impressed by the WBC
13:18 : westbaystars - They did look better for the WBC round at Tokyo Dome than last November.
13:18 : westbaystars - But their defense didn't impress me much.
13:19 : MHStevie - Nice play by Kawasaki there...
13:20 : westbaystars - Shunsuke throws the ball right by the final batter of the inning, swing and missing a pitch WAAAAY high and away.
13:20 : BMZ - Shunsuke is awesome
13:20 : BMZ - I am so glad the Marines have him
13:21 : MHStevie - Watanabe looks pretty good so far...
13:21 : BMZ - He's really coming into his own. I'd love to see him in the majors.
13:21 : Dan - http://youtube.com/watch?v=oXuDsJ1MIwQ
13:22 : Dan - thats the 3rd baseman rolling the ball at ichiro
13:22 : Dan - pretty harmless in my opinion
13:22 : t22 - t22 is Christopher who had problems
13:23 : MHStevie - Kinjo's in to pinch hit...
13:23 : westbaystars - I agree. It's odd to toss the ball there after the third out, but I didn't see any wrong doing.
13:23 : westbaystars - Maybe another angle showed something more?
13:23 : MHStevie - ...but he quickly pops out to center.
13:23 : torakichi - Hey all. Exciting stuff. I'm supposed to be working right now, but how can you work when there's a game like this on?13:24 : westbaystars - Kawasaki looked safe to me!
13:24 : Dan - i think korea and japan should have played for the 4th time...maybe would have been a bit more exciting to me....-_-
13:24 : westbaystars - Replay? Un. Pretty tough to call.
13:24 : Dan - cuba hasnt shown up
13:24 : Dan - yet
13:24 : Akagaminosteven - Was that...Davidson?
13:24 : MHStevie - That was real close...
13:25 : westbaystars - Kawasaki fails a safety bunt yet again.
13:25 : Akagaminosteven - Eh, it could go either way
13:25 : westbaystars - I thought it looked like the pitcher had pulled something while fielding.
13:26 : torakichi - It was indeed Bob Davidson...probably the most talked-about aspect of the WBC.
13:26 : westbaystars - And what was that call? It looked like the third baseman fielding the ball inside the line.
13:26 : Dan - they just need MLB umpires...KBO, japanese league every league involved
13:26 : Dan - umps
13:26 : westbaystars - Doesn't matter, as Nishioka grounds out to third.
13:27 : westbaystars - No Davidson-like calls, though.
13:27 : Dan - they should have brought back Eric Gregg for the WBC. haha
13:27 : yodo - Hi all...are you guys watching the game in Japanese?
13:27 : BMZ - Shunsuke is taking over this year
13:28 : MHStevie - I think some people are... I'm in the USA, watching on ESPN...
13:28 : westbaystars - I don't know if Japanese umpires would do much better. They don't seem to go through the training MLB umps do.
13:28 : BMZ - My favorite thing about the Marines is how Bobby makes them all believe so much
13:29 : BMZ - every other guy can have a multi-hit game. Just look at Hayasaka in the Nihon Series last year.
13:29 : westbaystars - I'm watching in Japanese, yes.
13:29 : yodo - I'm a little cheezed about the lack of sportsmanship by these announcers.I mean just ADMIT that call could go either way
13:29 : BMZ - Bobby's approach to batting orders is genius
13:29 : yodo - Especially the comment that yanks just boo all the time...jerk
13:29 : torakichi - Not likely. Japanese sports commentators are defacto cheerleaders.
13:31 : MHStevie - Ogasawara may not have hit too well, but his fielding's been great in the WBC...
13:32 : yodo - Wow, fielding error
13:32 : Dan - i wonder if the cuban hitters are gonna become more aggressive. haha
13:32 : MHStevie - Kawasaki anticipated the throw before the catch...
13:32 : torakichi - At last they've caught a couple of breaks.
13:33 : westbaystars - I took that comment (about booing) to mean that MLB audiences are open with the boos.
13:34 : Dan - booing is good. ^^
13:34 : Akagaminosteven - Cuba scores
13:34 : westbaystars - In context, the crowd was booing the odd foul ball call.
13:35 : westbaystars - Cuba looks to have figured out Watanabe's delivery.
13:35 : MHStevie - Cuba's threatening to get right back in this game...
13:35 : westbaystars - Another run in. Lead cut in half - 6- 3.
13:35 : torakichi - Watanabe's taking some stick here.
13:35 : yodo - wbstars> Well that was part of it.....Time to change pitchers btw?
13:36 : westbaystars - 4-6-3 double play ends the rally.
13:36 : Akagaminosteven - Phew double play
13:36 : yodo - Oops, forget I said that
13:36 : MHStevie - Double play ends the threat, but some damage done there...
13:36 : Akagaminosteven - Ichiro might wanna fix that
13:36 : BMZ - Oh man....they went off on Shunsuke. Dang.
13:37 : BMZ - Alright. It's Yabuta time.
13:37 : westbaystars - Talking with a BBC World reporter after the first game, I told him about Shunsuke's deliver.
13:37 : MHStevie - Did anyone see if Japan's got anyone warming in the pen?
13:38 : westbaystars - The reporter asked me if I really thought that the submarine delivery could fool -fill in MLB names here-.
13:38 : BMZ - Yabuta and Fujita were warming up earlier
13:38 : BMZ - Michael, I think Shunsuke would be very similar to Takatsu
13:38 : westbaystars - I told him that he could probably get through the lineup once before they figured it out.
13:38 : BMZ - they'd figure him out in the second year
13:39 : westbaystars - Cuba figured it out pretty quickly. So I may well have been wrong.
13:40 : t22 - Cuba have managed to figure out Watanabe before so it wasn't so surprising
13:41 : westbaystars - Two quick outs for Japan in the 7th. Ichiro grounds out to second, Matsunaka strikes out.
13:41 : westbaystars - That brings up Tamura, with 3 home runs in the WBC.
13:42 : MHStevie - Hey! Jon Miller on ESPN just tried to say "Oh-kantoku"... ^_^
13:42 : westbaystars - What I didn't tell the BBC World reporter was, "Who are they?" I really don't know many of the U.S. team members.13:43 : westbaystars - All right! Did he read my comment the other day, you think?
13:43 : BMZ - Welcome, Caesar lovers
13:43 : westbaystars - Tamura goes down, and it's 1-2-3- for Japan in the seventh.
13:44 : Akagaminosteven - Hahaha, he didn't nail it, but he gives a much better effort than Morgan
13:44 : MHStevie - I noticed Miller was calling him "Oh-san" a lot during the game, but that was the first "Oh-kantoku"...
13:44 : BMZ - May I present to you...the chicken Caesar salads?
13:44 : MHStevie - ...complete with appropriate explanation.
13:44 : BMZ - I want Oh to be my godfather
13:44 : westbaystars - ---
13:44 : westbaystars - Bottom of seventh
13:44 : westbaystars - ---
13:44 : MHStevie - But it came out more like "Oh-kontoku"...
13:45 : BMZ - Oh seems to be totally misunderstood by some people. He seems cool as hell to me.
13:45 : t22 - Still Watanabe - that's courageous
13:45 : BMZ - Oh is awesome
13:45 : BMZ - he has a lot of blind faith in his guys
13:45 : MHStevie - I still say Charley Steiner on XM's coverage has been the best at mispronunciation of Japanese names/phrases...
13:45 : westbaystars - Kawasaki fumbles the ball again!
13:46 : westbaystars - and after that incredible grab a couple of innings ago.
13:46 : MHStevie - Woah... Kawasaki's off his game now...
13:46 : t22 - Kawasaki seems to have gone to pieces
13:46 : Akagaminosteven - Whoa this is getting a lil tense
13:46 : yodo - The look on "Oh-kontoku"'s face after that error...
13:46 : Dan - they weren't too great with the korean names either
13:46 : Akagaminosteven - I hope this doesn't turn into a Grady Little/Pedro Martinez situation
13:46 : torakichi - Time for a change. Things are starting to go wrong. Replace Watanabe as a way to erase the darkening mood.
13:47 : Akagaminosteven - Ooo double play
13:47 : westbaystars - Kawasaki fumbles the ball yet again, but still manages to turn two.
13:47 : westbaystars - Whew.
13:47 : Akagaminosteven - Their bullpen has been active for a while
13:47 : MHStevie - Whew... even that was a little dicey from Kawasaki...
13:48 : t22 - Kawasaki seems to have gone to pieces
13:48 : Akagaminosteven - Another error!
13:48 : MHStevie - GAH!
13:48 : westbaystars - Watanabe drops the ball covering first!
13:48 : torakichi - As opposed to Japanese fielding hands.
13:48 : westbaystars - Argh! Sloppy, people.
13:48 : torakichi - Time for Oh to get off his derierre
13:48 : yodo - Is the ball wet or something?
13:49 : yodo - Covered in slime?
13:49 : Akagaminosteven - Maybe, but it was really a problem of Watanabe taking his eyes off when he shouldn't have
13:49 : Akagaminosteven - Pop-fly though
13:49 : westbaystars - Ichiro holds onto the pop out to right, and the side is retired.
13:49 : westbaystars - That inning was a bit more dramatic than necessary.
13:49 : t22 - But gentlemen - this final has everything
13:50 : BMZ - Alright. It's Kyuji Fujikawa time.
13:50 : torakichi - Valid comment by the commentator: Well done to Watanabe for escaping a two-error situation without giving up more runs.
13:50 : westbaystars - Time for Miyamoto to take over at short?
13:50 : westbaystars - He was the best fielding shortstop in the Central League last season.
13:51 : BMZ - Miyamoto has been great in this WBC. He should be in there, but Oh loves Munerin.
13:51 : t22 - Miyamoto would be a good move
13:51 : westbaystars - Kawasaki is his shortstop (Softbank).
13:52 : westbaystars - ---
13:52 : westbaystars - Top of Eighth
13:52 : westbaystars - ---
13:53 : westbaystars - It looked like Team Japan greeted Kawasaki at the dugout entry with words of encouragement.
13:53 : westbaystars - Satozaki grounds out for out number one.
13:54 : Akagaminosteven - Ganbare Nippon!
13:54 : westbaystars - Kawasaki was ranked 2nd for shortstops in the Pacific League last year, behind Lotte's Kosaka.
13:54 : MHStevie - I like ESPN's replay of Nishioka shaking Kawasaki's head around in the dugout after the last inning...
13:54 : westbaystars - Ogasawara grounds out. Two down.
13:55 : Akagaminosteven - Miller is such a cool egg-resembling guy
13:55 : t22 - It's interesting Davidson is ano bob on the TV commentary
13:55 : westbaystars - Yea, Kawasaki looked like he was beating himself over the head for his "bone head" play?
13:56 : westbaystars - Imae fails to check his swing, three down.
13:56 : Akagaminosteven - Hahaha--ano bob
13:57 : BMZ - I saw the Japanese call of Mexico vs. USA on YouTUbe
13:57 : BMZ - I think it was Kaz Sasaki saying, "Mata ka yo?"
13:57 : Akagaminosteven - Hilarious
13:58 : BMZ - Alright...Kyuji, Otsuka, or stick with Shunsuke?
13:58 : Akagaminosteven - Shunsuke!
13:58 : westbaystars - Shunsuke still on the mound?
13:58 : westbaystars - I'd have though three innings would have been enough.
13:58 : torakichi - In SanSpo, Davidson is "meiwaku shimpan"!
13:58 : BMZ - Wow...still Shunsuke...You gotta admire Oh's grapes
13:59 : westbaystars - Oh-kantoku wants to go have Ohtsuka throw the final only?
13:59 : Akagaminosteven - Pitching change now
13:59 : MHStevie - Yeah, don't some of the other Japanese pitchers need to work a bit at least?
13:59 : westbaystars - Pitching change after lead-off infield hit.
13:59 : MHStevie - Ah, here we go...
13:59 : BMZ - Taking bets on Fujita throwing the ball at the guy's head
13:59 : Akagaminosteven - Big inning here
14:00 : Dan - funniest sight of WBC: OH arguing with davidson via translator. haha
14:00 : BMZ - Fujita is TOUGHNESS SOUTHPAW
14:00 : yodo - bmz> On purpose or just lack of control?
14:00 : westbaystars - It's Ohtsuka in the bull pen.
14:00 : westbaystars - As Fujita takes the mound.
14:01 : BMZ - on purpose
14:01 : BMZ - he does it to throw them off
14:01 : torakichi - After all that bluster yesterday about being ready to change pitchers at any time... pshaw!
14:01 : BMZ - struck out Lee Seung Yeop and Ken Griffey with that
14:01 : torakichi - (It's not often you get to actually use words like "pshaw")
14:02 : westbaystars - Fujita doesn't hit too many batters. http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=614
14:04 : westbaystars - Full count.
14:04 : westbaystars - I hear a light "Nippon-cha-cha-cha" chant in the background.
14:05 : t22 - Nice - left fly
14:05 : yodo - I thought so too, but it might be "Cuba-cha-cha-cha"
14:06 : Dan - wonder how much these tix were going for on ebay etc
14:06 : westbaystars - I'd have thought that the Cuban oen-dan would be making the noise now.
14:07 : MHStevie - There's definitely a lot of Cuba cheering going on... I could hear them loudly before that pop-up.
14:07 : westbaystars - Deep to left!
14:07 : westbaystars - Going, going, gone.
14:07 : yodo - Oh oh....
14:07 : Dan - 2 Run HR
14:07 : westbaystars - One run ball game.
14:07 : Dan - 6-5
14:07 : Akagaminosteven - Cuba two-run blast
14:07 : Dan - we got ourselves a ball game now...
14:08 : Dan - guess ill stop writing up my article critique to watch now...
14:08 : yodo - Here comes Oh
14:08 : westbaystars - Oh-kantoku is out there with a pitching change. Fujita didn't do his job.
14:08 : MHStevie - 8th inning seems to be Japan's "abunai" inning... be it Korea or Cuba...
14:08 : torakichi - Oh look, Oh's bring on a new pitcher. Gee, what a stroke of genius - and so well timed!
14:08 : westbaystars - Ohtsuka comes in.
14:08 : yodo - Dan, you were going to write the article before the game was over?!?
14:08 : BMZ - wow....what a game
14:09 : torakichi - Haha! Otsuka's theme song is Hell's Bells!
14:09 : Dan - well...im have no signifigant interest in the game, just watching it as a fan...
14:09 : Dan - korea's out..so just watching cuz i like baseball
14:10 : Dan - plus, the articles due tommorow
14:10 : Dan - haha
14:10 : BMZ - Fujita's theme song is We Will Rock You
14:10 : BMZ - and he got ROCKED
14:11 : t22 - Oh hasn't used his pitchers well at all today
14:11 : westbaystars - Comebacker - played perfectly by Ohtsuka!
14:11 : westbaystars - Whew. Two down.
14:11 : MHStevie - Otsuka... one pitch, one out.
14:11 : Akagaminosteven - Ohhh man I hope Japan can pick up some insurance next inning
14:12 : westbaystars - To "Area 51" - and the side is retired.
14:12 : BMZ - Otsuka is the man
14:12 : Akagaminosteven - Japan up
14:13 : BMZ - Otsuka and Ogasawara are samurai
14:13 : westbaystars - We've got a one run ball game going to the nineth.
14:13 : westbaystars - ----
14:13 : westbaystars - Top of Nineth
14:13 : westbaystars - ----
14:14 : BMZ - I gotta say, I didn't follow Otsuka much before this tourney, but he's made me a fan
14:14 : torakichi - He's pretty rock solid.
14:15 : westbaystars - He really wasn't much appriciated (or known) while with Kintetsu.
14:15 : westbaystars - Did well with Chunichi, then disappeared (to North America).
14:15 : MHStevie - Yeah, I liked his work setting up Hoffman for the Padres...
14:16 : westbaystars - Maybe he was appriciated more than I knew, for he did put up a lot of saves with Kintetsu.
14:16 : westbaystars - Error Cuba!
14:16 : westbaystars - Leadoff runner is on.
14:16 : 20X6!! - the errors pile on
14:16 : westbaystars - Ohtsuka in Japan: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=946
14:17 : westbaystars - That was Yokohama's Kinjyoh leading off.
14:17 : westbaystars - While he has speed, I wouldn't consider him a threat to steal.
14:18 : torakichi - All the pundits were saying yesterday that error's were the key. Cuba had 10 errors as of yesterday to Japan's 4.
14:18 : westbaystars - Sacrifice fails. Kinjyoh thrown out at second. Guess those throws to first kept him too close.
14:18 : MHStevie - ESPN noted that he only stole one bag for the BayStars last year...
14:18 : Akagaminosteven - Nice bunt by Nishioka
14:18 : westbaystars - Bunt to the right side, and the pitch doesn't cover - everyone's safe!
14:18 : 20X6!! - Kawasaki - fielders choice bunt
14:18 : MHStevie - Nishioka! Nice infield hit...
14:19 : westbaystars - First baseman was covering, but I guess the second baseman was upset that the pitcher didn't try to field the ball.
14:19 : MHStevie - Split the pitcher and the second baseman on the bunt...
14:19 : 20X6!! - (first time I've used this) - I've just discovered the refresh button!
14:19 : yodo - Cuba's fielding looks amateur compared to Japan or Korea
14:20 : westbaystars - I should refresh automatically every 30 seconds (unless you set your browser to ignore HTTP refresh).
14:20 : westbaystars - Japan hasn't been impressive this afternoon (evening).
14:20 : westbaystars - Defensively, that is.
14:20 : torakichi - This chat room is very refreshing, Westbaystars-san. It's very refreshing every 30 seconds.
14:20 : Akagaminosteven - Safe!
14:21 : westbaystars - Ichiro grounds through the right side - base hit!
14:21 : 20X6!! - let's see that replay . . .
14:21 : t22 - Ichiro came through
14:21 : westbaystars - It didn't look like Kawasaki touched home to me.
14:21 : 20X6!! - nope
14:21 : 20X6!! - well
14:21 : yodo - No way! He touched it with his hand!
14:21 : torakichi - Replay shows he did.
14:21 : Akagaminosteven - Yeah he made it
14:22 : westbaystars - The second replay showed that he did get a hand in under the catcher.
14:22 : MHStevie - Replay shows Kawasaki just got the plate with his hand...
14:22 : 20X6!! - not a good angle
14:22 : westbaystars - Wow! I wouldn't have expected an umpire to get that call right.
14:22 : Akagaminosteven - Probably isn't the place to talk about it, but Boston dealt Bronson Arroyo, huh.
14:22 : t22 - Matsunaka walked
14:23 : yodo - wbstars> no kidding
14:23 : 20X6!! - Keien
14:23 : westbaystars - Matsunaka intentionally walked to load the bases.
14:23 : westbaystars - and have a pitching change.
14:24 : BMZ - Munerin power
14:24 : 20X6!! - who's carrying the broadcast in Japan?
14:25 : westbaystars - NTV.
14:25 : yodo - Nihon terebi (channel 4)
14:25 : westbaystars - We've got some Yomiuri Giants' commercials now and then.
14:25 : westbaystars - Oh-kantoku is coming out. Pinch hitter? Pinch runner?
14:25 : BMZ - Ichiro is a warrior
14:26 : Akagaminosteven - Man, I can't wait to do JET and make yakyu a regular thing
14:26 : westbaystars - Fukudome starts swinging a bat.
14:26 : BMZ - LASER BEAM
14:26 : BMZ - DOME!
14:26 : torakichi - Chanell 10 if you're in Kansai
14:26 : Akagaminosteven - What time is it in Japan right now?
14:26 : 20X6!! - is that the channel that Yomiuri owns?
14:27 : yodo - Fukudome!
14:27 : westbaystars - Yes.
14:27 : westbaystars - Nihon Telebi is owned by Yomiuri.
14:27 : yodo - Homer again?
14:28 : 20X6!! - (so I knew it as FBS channel 37 in Fukuoka)
14:28 : westbaystars - A grand slam here would really make a mark.
14:28 : Dan - so, the 2 last teams to join the WBC are in the finals...wonder if MLB saw that one coming
14:29 : westbaystars - Slap to left! One run, two runs in!
14:29 : torakichi - Yeah!
14:29 : Akagaminosteven - 2 RBI single!
14:29 : westbaystars - Japan up 9-5.
14:29 : t22 - Fukudome came through
14:29 : BMZ - DOME DOME DOME DOME
14:29 : yodo - Wow, talk about a clutch hitter, that guy
14:29 : MHStevie - Fukudome thrives as the heroic pinch hitter!
14:29 : 20X6!! - Jon Miller fumbled over Oh-kantoku - but at least he tried
14:29 : BMZ - DAIDA NO KAMISAMA
14:30 : Dan - if japan wins, what will they send Mexico?
14:30 : MHStevie - 20X6: Yeah, I'm appreciating Miller's efforts... much better than Joe Morgan's "Matsuzaki" earlier in the game... ^_^
14:31 : westbaystars - Wonder if Ochiai-kantoku is watching. But I doubt Fukudome will become a pinch hitter during the regular season.
14:31 : 20X6!! - Well, it's too late for White Day - but I'd send them some white chocolate anyway
14:31 : Dan - what are some changes for the upcoming WBC u would like to see?
14:32 : westbaystars - Crossing groups going up the ladder.
14:32 : t22 - Neutral umpires
14:32 : Dan - yup...no more playing teams 3 times
14:32 : Dan - yeah..MLB umps
14:32 : westbaystars - First round being regional is very good. But after that, first and second place teams need to be separated.
14:32 : MHStevie - Yeah, I agree about crossing up the groups more... more international umps...
14:33 : Akagaminosteven - The USA caring
14:33 : torakichi - Neutral or not, BETTER umpires.
14:33 : 20X6!! - Possibly double elimination for undefeated teams (i.e. Korea)
14:34 : westbaystars - Satozaki draws a walk. Bases loaded again.
14:34 : t22 - bases loaded - intelligent batting by Satozaki
14:34 : 20X6!! - like the Pacific League playoffs - if they're a certain # of games ahead
14:34 : westbaystars - I like the idea of a double elimination bracket as well.
14:35 : Dan - yeah..would have been nice for Korea to have that this year...but oh well
14:35 : westbaystars - But if you do that, then just have round robin for the first round, double elimination bracket thereafter.
14:35 : 20X6!! - or have pool winners have home field throughout
14:35 : Dan - i would prefer crossing up the groups more than double elimination
14:35 : t22 - I don't like the double elimination - it smacks too much of loading things in teams favour
14:36 : BMZ - Real samurai coming up
14:36 : 20X6!! - is the WBC close to the FIFA world cup format?
14:36 : Dan - so is japan really gonna be regarded as the best team in the world? ro whats your take on the results of the WBC?
14:37 : westbaystars - That's a tough question.
14:37 : torakichi - Not yet. Because the WBC isn't the tournament it's aiming to be yet.
14:37 : 20X6!! - It's somewhat similar to the last NFL Wild Card team winning the Super Bowl
14:37 : westbaystars - In the Japanese press they will be.
14:37 : Akagaminosteven - I don't think the tournament determines the best in the world--it determines a big accomplishment in winning
14:37 : Akagaminosteven - But the champions
14:38 : Akagaminosteven - No matter who they are
14:38 : Akagaminosteven - Could be beaten on any day by any given team almost
14:38 : torakichi - Once there is true global interest, all countries send their best players, and the players actually play like they care
14:38 : MHStevie - Yeah, to me this tournament proved how even the baseball countries really are at this point...
14:39 : 20X6!! - yes, the best team overall doesn't always win
14:39 : t22 - That's the way these games go - yes Japan are the genuine world champions
14:39 : Dan - i guess the only way to find a true world champion is to have a club tourney of all leagues
14:39 : Dan - with best of series
14:39 : 20X6!! - usually the best team at the end of the season/pool play, etc
14:39 : westbaystars - Fly ball, not deep enough.
14:40 : westbaystars - But Matsunaka scores from third!
14:40 : Akagaminosteven - Sac-fly RBI
14:40 : t22 - Short series or long series - difficult question
14:40 : torakichi - Big guy!
14:40 : 20X6!! - whoa - Matsunaka the Speedster (*cough cough*) scores!
14:40 : MHStevie - Ogasawara has 3 RBI and no hits!
14:40 : yodo - For the second time
14:41 : 20X6!! - Just what I needed - another pitching change
14:41 : westbaystars - Matsunaka's legs look to be fully healed. He was seriously hobbling in the playoffs last October.
14:41 : Dan - i think the konami cup is a great idea
14:42 : yodo - Pretty soon we'll see infielders pitching for Cuba...
14:42 : BMZ - gotta give it up for Cuba
14:42 : yodo - If they keep changing all the time
14:42 : BMZ - they're not giving in
14:42 : westbaystars - I think of the Konami Cup as a predicessor to the "Real" World Series.
14:43 : BMZ - Konami Cup is great, especially when Chiba sweeps it
14:43 : t22 - Great game
14:43 : westbaystars - It's the last game. Use what you've got.
14:43 : westbaystars - Get everybody into the game.
14:43 : Dan - well, i hope samsung doesn't win the KBO this year
14:43 : Dan - they are the yankees of the KBO these days
14:43 : Dan - -_-
14:43 : MHStevie - Yeah, it would be nice to see the club championship concept extend worldwide...
14:44 : westbaystars - Interesting play by the shortstop to end the inning.
14:44 : Akagaminosteven - 3 more outs
14:44 : westbaystars - But not before Japan doubles their lead 10-5 going to the bottom of the nineth.
14:44 : 20X6!! - when was the Konami Cup?
14:44 : MHStevie - But don't expect MLB to get onboard anytime soon...
14:44 : BMZ - What do you guys think of this year's rookies?
14:44 : yodo - I guess every league needs a yankees/giants type team
14:45 : BMZ - I can't wait to see Fujii of the Dragons and Sumitani of the Lions
14:45 : 20X6!! - I remember it, I just can't remember when it was (I've slept since then)
14:45 : westbaystars - The Konami Cup was at the beginning of November last year.
14:45 : torakichi - Looks like this guys in for a big payday. http://japanesebaseball.com/forum/thread.jsp?forum=17&thread=20680
14:45 : BMZ - ha
14:45 : westbaystars - League champions from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, plus an all star team from China.
14:45 : Dan - hopefully, my Doosan bears can suprise people and win the KBO this year...but most likely they will finish around 500
14:46 : t22 - Every league needs a rivalry to drive it - For example Tigers/Giants, Boston/ New York
14:47 : Dan - wonder whose gonna be the tourney MVP and all tourney team
14:47 : westbaystars - Leadoff double for Cuba. They don't give up.
14:48 : torakichi - These guys aren't several-time world champs for no reason.
14:48 : 20X6!! - ESPN keeps cutting to Cuba - they probably didn't want to travel
14:49 : Akagaminosteven - Hahaha
14:49 : 20X6!! - whaaaaaa? dugout?
14:49 : westbaystars - Ah, the 20:1 odds for Japan?
14:49 : Dan - man..these umps are horrible...
14:49 : yodo - Who was that guy glaring at the ump with one foot on the field?
14:49 : Dan - trying to make up for missed calls in the WBC
14:49 : Dan - by being nit picky about being on the field
14:49 : Dan - haha
14:49 : westbaystars - The umpire was warning Japan that it's too early to celebrate - keep inside the dugout.
14:50 : torakichi - Hey, is ESPN a pay channel?
14:50 : 20X6!! - I bet the odds were even higher after the Korea loss
14:50 : 20X6!! - it's on cable - so you pay for the cable channel lineup
14:51 : westbaystars - In Japan, the J-Sports channel had other games bilingual (with the ESPN announcers on the sub channel).
14:51 : MHStevie - One down...
14:51 : 20X6!! - Christopher Walken would be proud of the Cuban fans (SNL - "gotta have more cowbell!")
14:51 : westbaystars - Unfortunately, it's on J-Sports 3 today, which is the one I don't get with my cable subscription.
14:52 : westbaystars - Runner now at third.
14:52 : torakichi - In that case, wouldn't purchasing scenes of Cuba and offering them to US viewers for profit...
14:52 : torakichi - ...violate some kind of trade embargo?
14:52 : MHStevie - Nice... Jon Miller on ESPN mentions the "O-N Cannon"... ^_^
14:52 : Akagaminosteven - Best not to think of it. =P
14:53 : 20X6!! - I think Cuba's donating all revenue
14:53 : westbaystars - Miyamoto at short keeps the ball from going into left, but can't throw anyone out.
14:53 : westbaystars - Now 10-6 in favor of Japan with two outs to go.
14:54 : 20X6!! - Jon and Joe keep talking about the Yomiuri Giants like they still dominate . . .
14:54 : westbaystars - Sounds like this Jon Miller character has really done his homework.
14:54 : yodo - These announcers can't mention a nice play by the other team without mentioning that Japan is beating such a strong team
14:55 : westbaystars - 三振!
14:55 : westbaystars - Two outs.
14:55 : t22 - ato hitori de
14:55 : westbaystars - And Oh-kantoku heads to the mound?
14:55 : 20X6!! - a meeting?
14:55 : MHStevie - Ato hitori!
14:56 : yodo - Just saying hi
14:56 : westbaystars - Ohtsuka still in there.
14:56 : 20X6!! - "I just wanted to tell you good luck, we're all counting on you"
14:56 : t22 - one more man
14:56 : westbaystars - Big swing and miss!
14:56 : Akagaminosteven - Ohhh that was high heat
14:56 : 20X6!! - Jon Miller FINALLY is explaining the Ichiro quote
14:56 : Dan - 30 years comment again. haha
14:56 : westbaystars - Next pitch drilled deep but foul.
14:56 : t22 - ato ikyu
14:56 : Dan - 30 years? took less than a week
14:56 : Dan - haha
14:57 : westbaystars - 三振
14:57 : westbaystars - 試合終了!
14:57 : MHStevie - There it is...
14:57 : Akagaminosteven - Wooooohooooo
14:57 : 20X6!! - someday - people will realise that flash bulbs only go about 2 metres
14:58 : westbaystars - On NTV, they're flashing "世界一" (World #1).
14:58 : torakichi - Good stuff. What an incredible end to a scintillating tournament.
14:58 : 20X6!! - 万歳 they all go
14:59 : MHStevie - Yeah, nice game in the end... omedetou!
14:59 : westbaystars - Now, let's interview a player other than Ichiro.
14:59 : 20X6!! - hey! congratulations from Cuba
14:59 : MHStevie - ESPN crew was nominating Ichiro for MVP earlier in the game...
14:59 : 20X6!! - I so wish Japan had done that against the game in Korea....
15:00 : westbaystars - The clock strikes 3:00.
15:00 : MHStevie - I'd have to say congrats to many teams and players in the tourney!
15:01 : westbaystars - So, who was the hero of this game?
15:01 : 20X6!! - Matsuzaka is apparently the MVP
15:01 : MHStevie - Did they say Matsuzaka was given MVP?
15:01 : MichaelEng - Great tournament, congrats to all.
15:01 : 20X6!! - Ichiro in a picture with Cuban players
15:01 : westbaystars - For this game, right? Not the tourny.
15:01 : Dan - WBC MVP
15:01 : 20X6!! - I think it's for the whole tourney....
15:02 : MHStevie - Yeah, congrats to all the teams! For all the problems, it was a truly memorable tourney!
15:02 : BMZ - NIPPON!
15:02 : westbaystars - Wasn't Uehara's performance better?
15:02 : westbaystars - Argh. They're interviewing Ichiro again.
15:03 : BMZ - Let's just hope Korean fans don't whine too much now
15:03 : Dan - whats he saying?
15:03 : BMZ - BUT WE BEAT THEM TWICE!
15:03 : 20X6!! - definitely - but I suppose it's the final game everyone looks at....
15:03 : 20X6!! - well ESPN's off
15:03 : BMZ - I don't see that Korean team scoring 10 runs on a team like Cuba anytime soon
15:03 : BMZ - maybe China
15:03 : Dan - why would we whine? korea had a hell of a tourney
15:03 : Dan - sux with the setup..but what can u do
15:03 : BMZ - Korean pitching was great
15:03 : westbaystars - He said that this was the best team to play for.
15:04 : BMZ - but the bats have a long way to go
15:04 : MHStevie - OK, way past my bedtime... thanks for the chatroom, Westbay-san!
15:04 : 20X6!! - *sigh* back to Split Squad spring training games . . . .
15:04 : Dan - yeah..and korea scored 7 runs against the US...
15:04 : MHStevie - BTW,did you get my e-mail about working on some sort of weekly NPB show?
15:04 : Dan - thats like me saying i dont see japan scoring 7 runs against the US anytime soon
15:04 : Dan - holds no water
15:04 : westbaystars - Happy to have you all.
15:05 : BMZ - meh
15:05 : westbaystars - Looking forward to the start of the regular season now.
15:05 : Akagaminosteven - Against a crappy D-train though
15:05 : Dan - anyways...korea had a great tourney..japan did too...i'm happy.
15:05 : westbaystars - Stevie-san, no, I don't see such a message.
15:06 : westbaystars - Let's Skype later tonight (tomorrow morning your time).
15:06 : BMZ - Now it's time for the Marines to get back home and get some of that Bobby Magic
15:06 : MHStevie - That's not good... I sent it weeks ago.
15:07 : MHStevie - I probably won't be able to Skype then... must get to work very early...
15:07 : 20X6!! - okie doke - I'm outta here お疲れ様でした Westbay-san
15:07 : westbaystars - MVP was announced as Matsuzaka.
15:07 : westbaystars - I guess it's because he got three wins.
15:08 : MHStevie - I will resend the e-mail sometime today, then maybe we can figure out a good Skype time soon...
15:08 : BMZ - Uehara was better, IMO
15:08 : Dan - whose on the all WBC team?
15:08 : BMZ - plus, Ichiro was way better for player moral
15:08 : Dan - hope park jin man is on for SS...
15:09 : westbaystars - The last mail I have from you was last January.
15:09 : westbaystars - Please, resend it.
15:09 : MHStevie - I definitely sent it more recently than that...
15:10 : BMZ - Dan, how did he bat?
15:10 : MHStevie - I will... nice seeing everyone! Good night!
15:11 : Dan - he struggled at the plate, but was golden in the infield
15:11 : BMZ - alright, everyone is leaving
15:11 : BMZ - I'll succumb to peer pressure
15:11 : BMZ - peace out
15:11 : westbaystars - Well, thanks for the commentary.
15:12 : westbaystars - Sorry about all the technical problems in the beginning.
15:12 : westbaystars - Any final words, then I'll post the transcript?
15:13 : Dan - nice chatting with everyone. bye
CHATROOM : WBC Final/Japan vs. Cuba
07:57 : westbaystars - Welcome one and all to the chat room for the WBC final.
07:58 : westbaystars - Chat about Japan's pre-season is also welcome.
09:22 : BigManZam - What up all? I'm psyched about the game. Got my Team Japan shirt on.
09:23 : BigManZam - Going to the grocery store to get junk before the game starts. Making gyuudon.
10:11 : BigManZam - 50 minutes left
10:49 : Christopher - Good morning westbaystars
10:53 : Christopher - Bizarre - playing the Star Spangled Banner even though the American team didn't make it
10:57 : westbaystars - That's because the U.S. is the host. Can't play the Cuban Anthem without it.
10:58 : westbaystars - Matsuzaka's warming up to start.
10:58 : westbaystars - Good morning Christopher and BigManZam. Everyone have your snacks ready?
11:00 : westbaystars - I missed the lineup just now. Did they have Fukudome leading off? This morning's Nikkan Sports is predicting such.
11:02 : westbaystars - Japan is predicted to be sending Matsuzaka, Watanabe, then Ohtsuka to the mound today.
11:04 : BigManZam - is the chat only messed up for me?
11:04 : BigManZam - michael, that seems logical
11:05 : BigManZam - ESPN went into overtime here in the NIT between Notre Dame and Michigan
11:05 : BigManZam - so they're making Japan and Cuba wait it out
[Technical Difficulties]
12:49 : westbaystars - Fine play by Kawasaki, diving behind the second base bag to get the batter.
12:49 : westbaystars - Two down for Cuba in the bottom of the 4th.
12:50 : Dan - problem with the server?
12:50 : Christopher - Technical problems again?
12:50 : MichaelEng - What happened?
12:50 : westbaystars - Sorry, all. I've stopped the web crawlers.
12:51 : Christopher - Technical problems again?
12:51 : BMZ - awesome play by Munerin
12:52 : Dan - so are they having WBC viewing parties in japan? at tokyo dome etc?
12:52 : BMZ - Daisuke still rollin
12:52 : westbaystars - Web crawlers are taking all the bandwidth, which isn't usually a problem - except when several people are reloading ...
12:53 : westbaystars - ... every 30 seconds.
12:53 : westbaystars - I have a lot of work I need to do before I feel comfortable with the chat room.
12:54 : westbaystars - I don't think there are any viewing parties. They have been showing the games in the dugouts of pre-season games.12:54 : westbaystars - Maybe on the big boards as well, as it's about time for a few games to start.
12:55 : westbaystars - Ichiro slaps at least a double into the left field corner!
12:55 : westbaystars - And stops after rounding second.
12:55 : Dan - oh ok...i know in Korea, they had viewing parties at everyone of the baseball stadiums for the last couple of games
12:55 : MHStevie - Nice hit by Ichiro there...
12:55 : westbaystars - Time for me to go have lunch with the family. Be back in a little bit.
12:57 : BMZ - NIPPON CHA CHA CHA
12:58 : BMZ - Matsunaka's getting a lot of crap on 2ch for never hitting homeruns as the #4 batter
13:00 : MHStevie - ESPN's talking more about Matsunaka hitting for the situation, fairly complimentary...
13:00 : Dan - so if japan wins the WBC, will you guys be satisfied with Japan's showing etc?
13:02 : MHStevie - I think it's a fair showing by Japan... all their losses were really close games down to the wire...
13:02 : Dan - ok...was just wondering..im a korean baseball fan, and am quite pleased with their WBC performance
13:03 : MHStevie - Uehara really did well...
13:03 : MHStevie - I was really impressed by Korea's play too... that was an amazing run!
13:03 : MHStevie - I think both teams really showed the world the quality of play in Asia right now...
13:04 : Dan - yeah...i'm glad korea was able to suprise a lot of people..especially here in the US
13:04 : MHStevie - It's 5-1 now... runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out...
13:04 : Dan - most writers and XM radio focused on Japan...and China (their upcoming baseball program) when talking about the Asian po
13:05 : MHStevie - I remember a lot of U.S. commentators talking up how good the Korean MLB pitchers were doing...
13:05 : MHStevie - Yeah, Korea was a bit overlooked until they beat Japan in Japan...
13:06 : BMZ - Korea did a great job on the field. It's too bad they did some things that made me not like them too much.
13:06 : Dan - yeah...after the WBC started..haha. before than, no one took notice. MLB.com picked china and japan to advance from
13:06 : Dan - pool A
13:06 : BMZ - Chan Ho was awesome
13:06 : MichaelEng - Yadiel Pedroso gives up an single and sac and gets replaced
13:06 : Dan - what did korea do that upset u? flag on the mound?
13:07 : BMZ - Park's defense and that right fielder were great. Lee didn't impress me. We all know he can pull the ball.
13:07 : BMZ - flag on the mound and that third baseman talking trash to the dugout, then throwing the ball at Ichiro
13:07 : MHStevie - MLB.com picked China? That was an interesting pick... ^_^
13:07 : Dan - yeah...they thought they would suprise people in A
13:08 : Dan - haha
13:08 : MichaelEng - by Adiel Palma
13:08 : MHStevie - I was picking the Pool A based on the results of the Konami Cup at the end of last baseball season... Japan and Korea...
13:08 : Dan - throwing the ball at ichiro? u mean when he rolled it towards the dugout in the 9th?
13:09 : westbaystars - Touch up play, and Matsunaka scores as I reenter the room!
13:09 : westbaystars - Japan up 6-1.
13:09 : MHStevie - That was close, but Matsunaka gets in from third on the SAC fly...
13:11 : westbaystars - China and Japan? Why China? (Reading some of the transcript while I was gone.)
13:11 : MHStevie - Yeah, I was surprised by that too...
13:12 : westbaystars - Pretty much everyone here in Japan figured the order would be Japan, Korea, Taiwan, then China.
13:12 : westbaystars - Korea upset that, but they were the only two flip-flopped.
13:13 : Dan - jim street wrote:Japan and China will advance to the second round, which will be played March 12-16 in Anaheim.
13:13 : Dan - Japan has speed, power and the pitching to win all three games in Tokyo while upstart China relies on defense, pitching
13:13 : Dan - and fundamentals. That will be just enough to advance.
13:13 : westbaystars - Imae grounds out ending the inning. But not before Japan takes a 6-1 lead.
13:14 : Dan - i wrote to him after that article appeared and questioned his choice. he never responded. haha
13:14 : BMZ - China is still pretty much in their infancy when it comes to yakyu
13:14 : MHStevie - He must have been trying to pick an "upset special", like the analysts picking the college basketball brackets... ^_^
13:15 : westbaystars - I saw that ball rolling by Ichiro in the Korean game and thought it was a strange place for the ball to be rolling.
13:15 : westbaystars - Didn't think much of it until others said he threw the ball at Ichiro.
13:16 : BMZ - Michael, that guy seemed to talk some trash to the dugout before that
13:16 : westbaystars - Submariner Shunsuke takes the mound.
13:16 : westbaystars - ----
13:16 : BMZ - I'll hook you up with the YouTube link during the next break
13:16 : BMZ - oh snap
13:16 : westbaystars - Bottom of Fifth
13:16 : westbaystars - ----
13:16 : Dan - well...i re watched it after ppl commented in the forums
13:16 : Dan - to me...all he did was roll it towards the dugout
13:16 : Dan - after ichiro popped up
13:17 : Dan - unless im thinking of a different play. top of the 9th. 3rd out?
13:17 : MHStevie - Oh, and the U.S. WBC commentators *love* to talk about Bobby V... ^_^
13:17 : MHStevie - Of course, there are plenty of Marines on Japan's team...
13:17 : Dan - yeah..ESPN cold pizza had him on...talked up the japan team
13:17 : westbaystars - China's defense? The looked like the tired out after about five innings - in the Konami Cup and the WBC.
13:17 : Dan - wasnt impressed by the WBC
13:18 : westbaystars - They did look better for the WBC round at Tokyo Dome than last November.
13:18 : westbaystars - But their defense didn't impress me much.
13:19 : MHStevie - Nice play by Kawasaki there...
13:20 : westbaystars - Shunsuke throws the ball right by the final batter of the inning, swing and missing a pitch WAAAAY high and away.
13:20 : BMZ - Shunsuke is awesome
13:20 : BMZ - I am so glad the Marines have him
13:21 : MHStevie - Watanabe looks pretty good so far...
13:21 : BMZ - He's really coming into his own. I'd love to see him in the majors.
13:21 : Dan - http://youtube.com/watch?v=oXuDsJ1MIwQ
13:22 : Dan - thats the 3rd baseman rolling the ball at ichiro
13:22 : Dan - pretty harmless in my opinion
13:22 : t22 - t22 is Christopher who had problems
13:23 : MHStevie - Kinjo's in to pinch hit...
13:23 : westbaystars - I agree. It's odd to toss the ball there after the third out, but I didn't see any wrong doing.
13:23 : westbaystars - Maybe another angle showed something more?
13:23 : MHStevie - ...but he quickly pops out to center.
13:23 : torakichi - Hey all. Exciting stuff. I'm supposed to be working right now, but how can you work when there's a game like this on?13:24 : westbaystars - Kawasaki looked safe to me!
13:24 : Dan - i think korea and japan should have played for the 4th time...maybe would have been a bit more exciting to me....-_-
13:24 : westbaystars - Replay? Un. Pretty tough to call.
13:24 : Dan - cuba hasnt shown up
13:24 : Dan - yet
13:24 : Akagaminosteven - Was that...Davidson?
13:24 : MHStevie - That was real close...
13:25 : westbaystars - Kawasaki fails a safety bunt yet again.
13:25 : Akagaminosteven - Eh, it could go either way
13:25 : westbaystars - I thought it looked like the pitcher had pulled something while fielding.
13:26 : torakichi - It was indeed Bob Davidson...probably the most talked-about aspect of the WBC.
13:26 : westbaystars - And what was that call? It looked like the third baseman fielding the ball inside the line.
13:26 : Dan - they just need MLB umpires...KBO, japanese league every league involved
13:26 : Dan - umps
13:26 : westbaystars - Doesn't matter, as Nishioka grounds out to third.
13:27 : westbaystars - No Davidson-like calls, though.
13:27 : Dan - they should have brought back Eric Gregg for the WBC. haha
13:27 : yodo - Hi all...are you guys watching the game in Japanese?
13:27 : BMZ - Shunsuke is taking over this year
13:28 : MHStevie - I think some people are... I'm in the USA, watching on ESPN...
13:28 : westbaystars - I don't know if Japanese umpires would do much better. They don't seem to go through the training MLB umps do.
13:28 : BMZ - My favorite thing about the Marines is how Bobby makes them all believe so much
13:29 : BMZ - every other guy can have a multi-hit game. Just look at Hayasaka in the Nihon Series last year.
13:29 : westbaystars - I'm watching in Japanese, yes.
13:29 : yodo - I'm a little cheezed about the lack of sportsmanship by these announcers.I mean just ADMIT that call could go either way
13:29 : BMZ - Bobby's approach to batting orders is genius
13:29 : yodo - Especially the comment that yanks just boo all the time...jerk
13:29 : torakichi - Not likely. Japanese sports commentators are defacto cheerleaders.
13:31 : MHStevie - Ogasawara may not have hit too well, but his fielding's been great in the WBC...
13:32 : yodo - Wow, fielding error
13:32 : Dan - i wonder if the cuban hitters are gonna become more aggressive. haha
13:32 : MHStevie - Kawasaki anticipated the throw before the catch...
13:32 : torakichi - At last they've caught a couple of breaks.
13:33 : westbaystars - I took that comment (about booing) to mean that MLB audiences are open with the boos.
13:34 : Dan - booing is good. ^^
13:34 : Akagaminosteven - Cuba scores
13:34 : westbaystars - In context, the crowd was booing the odd foul ball call.
13:35 : westbaystars - Cuba looks to have figured out Watanabe's delivery.
13:35 : MHStevie - Cuba's threatening to get right back in this game...
13:35 : westbaystars - Another run in. Lead cut in half - 6- 3.
13:35 : torakichi - Watanabe's taking some stick here.
13:35 : yodo - wbstars> Well that was part of it.....Time to change pitchers btw?
13:36 : westbaystars - 4-6-3 double play ends the rally.
13:36 : Akagaminosteven - Phew double play
13:36 : yodo - Oops, forget I said that
13:36 : MHStevie - Double play ends the threat, but some damage done there...
13:36 : Akagaminosteven - Ichiro might wanna fix that
13:36 : BMZ - Oh man....they went off on Shunsuke. Dang.
13:37 : BMZ - Alright. It's Yabuta time.
13:37 : westbaystars - Talking with a BBC World reporter after the first game, I told him about Shunsuke's deliver.
13:37 : MHStevie - Did anyone see if Japan's got anyone warming in the pen?
13:38 : westbaystars - The reporter asked me if I really thought that the submarine delivery could fool -fill in MLB names here-.
13:38 : BMZ - Yabuta and Fujita were warming up earlier
13:38 : BMZ - Michael, I think Shunsuke would be very similar to Takatsu
13:38 : westbaystars - I told him that he could probably get through the lineup once before they figured it out.
13:38 : BMZ - they'd figure him out in the second year
13:39 : westbaystars - Cuba figured it out pretty quickly. So I may well have been wrong.
13:40 : t22 - Cuba have managed to figure out Watanabe before so it wasn't so surprising
13:41 : westbaystars - Two quick outs for Japan in the 7th. Ichiro grounds out to second, Matsunaka strikes out.
13:41 : westbaystars - That brings up Tamura, with 3 home runs in the WBC.
13:42 : MHStevie - Hey! Jon Miller on ESPN just tried to say "Oh-kantoku"... ^_^
13:42 : westbaystars - What I didn't tell the BBC World reporter was, "Who are they?" I really don't know many of the U.S. team members.13:43 : westbaystars - All right! Did he read my comment the other day, you think?
13:43 : BMZ - Welcome, Caesar lovers
13:43 : westbaystars - Tamura goes down, and it's 1-2-3- for Japan in the seventh.
13:44 : Akagaminosteven - Hahaha, he didn't nail it, but he gives a much better effort than Morgan
13:44 : MHStevie - I noticed Miller was calling him "Oh-san" a lot during the game, but that was the first "Oh-kantoku"...
13:44 : BMZ - May I present to you...the chicken Caesar salads?
13:44 : MHStevie - ...complete with appropriate explanation.
13:44 : BMZ - I want Oh to be my godfather
13:44 : westbaystars - ---
13:44 : westbaystars - Bottom of seventh
13:44 : westbaystars - ---
13:44 : MHStevie - But it came out more like "Oh-kontoku"...
13:45 : BMZ - Oh seems to be totally misunderstood by some people. He seems cool as hell to me.
13:45 : t22 - Still Watanabe - that's courageous
13:45 : BMZ - Oh is awesome
13:45 : BMZ - he has a lot of blind faith in his guys
13:45 : MHStevie - I still say Charley Steiner on XM's coverage has been the best at mispronunciation of Japanese names/phrases...
13:45 : westbaystars - Kawasaki fumbles the ball again!
13:46 : westbaystars - and after that incredible grab a couple of innings ago.
13:46 : MHStevie - Woah... Kawasaki's off his game now...
13:46 : t22 - Kawasaki seems to have gone to pieces
13:46 : Akagaminosteven - Whoa this is getting a lil tense
13:46 : yodo - The look on "Oh-kontoku"'s face after that error...
13:46 : Dan - they weren't too great with the korean names either
13:46 : Akagaminosteven - I hope this doesn't turn into a Grady Little/Pedro Martinez situation
13:46 : torakichi - Time for a change. Things are starting to go wrong. Replace Watanabe as a way to erase the darkening mood.
13:47 : Akagaminosteven - Ooo double play
13:47 : westbaystars - Kawasaki fumbles the ball yet again, but still manages to turn two.
13:47 : westbaystars - Whew.
13:47 : Akagaminosteven - Their bullpen has been active for a while
13:47 : MHStevie - Whew... even that was a little dicey from Kawasaki...
13:48 : t22 - Kawasaki seems to have gone to pieces
13:48 : Akagaminosteven - Another error!
13:48 : MHStevie - GAH!
13:48 : westbaystars - Watanabe drops the ball covering first!
13:48 : torakichi - As opposed to Japanese fielding hands.
13:48 : westbaystars - Argh! Sloppy, people.
13:48 : torakichi - Time for Oh to get off his derierre
13:48 : yodo - Is the ball wet or something?
13:49 : yodo - Covered in slime?
13:49 : Akagaminosteven - Maybe, but it was really a problem of Watanabe taking his eyes off when he shouldn't have
13:49 : Akagaminosteven - Pop-fly though
13:49 : westbaystars - Ichiro holds onto the pop out to right, and the side is retired.
13:49 : westbaystars - That inning was a bit more dramatic than necessary.
13:49 : t22 - But gentlemen - this final has everything
13:50 : BMZ - Alright. It's Kyuji Fujikawa time.
13:50 : torakichi - Valid comment by the commentator: Well done to Watanabe for escaping a two-error situation without giving up more runs.
13:50 : westbaystars - Time for Miyamoto to take over at short?
13:50 : westbaystars - He was the best fielding shortstop in the Central League last season.
13:51 : BMZ - Miyamoto has been great in this WBC. He should be in there, but Oh loves Munerin.
13:51 : t22 - Miyamoto would be a good move
13:51 : westbaystars - Kawasaki is his shortstop (Softbank).
13:52 : westbaystars - ---
13:52 : westbaystars - Top of Eighth
13:52 : westbaystars - ---
13:53 : westbaystars - It looked like Team Japan greeted Kawasaki at the dugout entry with words of encouragement.
13:53 : westbaystars - Satozaki grounds out for out number one.
13:54 : Akagaminosteven - Ganbare Nippon!
13:54 : westbaystars - Kawasaki was ranked 2nd for shortstops in the Pacific League last year, behind Lotte's Kosaka.
13:54 : MHStevie - I like ESPN's replay of Nishioka shaking Kawasaki's head around in the dugout after the last inning...
13:54 : westbaystars - Ogasawara grounds out. Two down.
13:55 : Akagaminosteven - Miller is such a cool egg-resembling guy
13:55 : t22 - It's interesting Davidson is ano bob on the TV commentary
13:55 : westbaystars - Yea, Kawasaki looked like he was beating himself over the head for his "bone head" play?
13:56 : westbaystars - Imae fails to check his swing, three down.
13:56 : Akagaminosteven - Hahaha--ano bob
13:57 : BMZ - I saw the Japanese call of Mexico vs. USA on YouTUbe
13:57 : BMZ - I think it was Kaz Sasaki saying, "Mata ka yo?"
13:57 : Akagaminosteven - Hilarious
13:58 : BMZ - Alright...Kyuji, Otsuka, or stick with Shunsuke?
13:58 : Akagaminosteven - Shunsuke!
13:58 : westbaystars - Shunsuke still on the mound?
13:58 : westbaystars - I'd have though three innings would have been enough.
13:58 : torakichi - In SanSpo, Davidson is "meiwaku shimpan"!
13:58 : BMZ - Wow...still Shunsuke...You gotta admire Oh's grapes
13:59 : westbaystars - Oh-kantoku wants to go have Ohtsuka throw the final only?
13:59 : Akagaminosteven - Pitching change now
13:59 : MHStevie - Yeah, don't some of the other Japanese pitchers need to work a bit at least?
13:59 : westbaystars - Pitching change after lead-off infield hit.
13:59 : MHStevie - Ah, here we go...
13:59 : BMZ - Taking bets on Fujita throwing the ball at the guy's head
13:59 : Akagaminosteven - Big inning here
14:00 : Dan - funniest sight of WBC: OH arguing with davidson via translator. haha
14:00 : BMZ - Fujita is TOUGHNESS SOUTHPAW
14:00 : yodo - bmz> On purpose or just lack of control?
14:00 : westbaystars - It's Ohtsuka in the bull pen.
14:00 : westbaystars - As Fujita takes the mound.
14:01 : BMZ - on purpose
14:01 : BMZ - he does it to throw them off
14:01 : torakichi - After all that bluster yesterday about being ready to change pitchers at any time... pshaw!
14:01 : BMZ - struck out Lee Seung Yeop and Ken Griffey with that
14:01 : torakichi - (It's not often you get to actually use words like "pshaw")
14:02 : westbaystars - Fujita doesn't hit too many batters. http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=614
14:04 : westbaystars - Full count.
14:04 : westbaystars - I hear a light "Nippon-cha-cha-cha" chant in the background.
14:05 : t22 - Nice - left fly
14:05 : yodo - I thought so too, but it might be "Cuba-cha-cha-cha"
14:06 : Dan - wonder how much these tix were going for on ebay etc
14:06 : westbaystars - I'd have thought that the Cuban oen-dan would be making the noise now.
14:07 : MHStevie - There's definitely a lot of Cuba cheering going on... I could hear them loudly before that pop-up.
14:07 : westbaystars - Deep to left!
14:07 : westbaystars - Going, going, gone.
14:07 : yodo - Oh oh....
14:07 : Dan - 2 Run HR
14:07 : westbaystars - One run ball game.
14:07 : Dan - 6-5
14:07 : Akagaminosteven - Cuba two-run blast
14:07 : Dan - we got ourselves a ball game now...
14:08 : Dan - guess ill stop writing up my article critique to watch now...
14:08 : yodo - Here comes Oh
14:08 : westbaystars - Oh-kantoku is out there with a pitching change. Fujita didn't do his job.
14:08 : MHStevie - 8th inning seems to be Japan's "abunai" inning... be it Korea or Cuba...
14:08 : torakichi - Oh look, Oh's bring on a new pitcher. Gee, what a stroke of genius - and so well timed!
14:08 : westbaystars - Ohtsuka comes in.
14:08 : yodo - Dan, you were going to write the article before the game was over?!?
14:08 : BMZ - wow....what a game
14:09 : torakichi - Haha! Otsuka's theme song is Hell's Bells!
14:09 : Dan - well...im have no signifigant interest in the game, just watching it as a fan...
14:09 : Dan - korea's out..so just watching cuz i like baseball
14:10 : Dan - plus, the articles due tommorow
14:10 : Dan - haha
14:10 : BMZ - Fujita's theme song is We Will Rock You
14:10 : BMZ - and he got ROCKED
14:11 : t22 - Oh hasn't used his pitchers well at all today
14:11 : westbaystars - Comebacker - played perfectly by Ohtsuka!
14:11 : westbaystars - Whew. Two down.
14:11 : MHStevie - Otsuka... one pitch, one out.
14:11 : Akagaminosteven - Ohhh man I hope Japan can pick up some insurance next inning
14:12 : westbaystars - To "Area 51" - and the side is retired.
14:12 : BMZ - Otsuka is the man
14:12 : Akagaminosteven - Japan up
14:13 : BMZ - Otsuka and Ogasawara are samurai
14:13 : westbaystars - We've got a one run ball game going to the nineth.
14:13 : westbaystars - ----
14:13 : westbaystars - Top of Nineth
14:13 : westbaystars - ----
14:14 : BMZ - I gotta say, I didn't follow Otsuka much before this tourney, but he's made me a fan
14:14 : torakichi - He's pretty rock solid.
14:15 : westbaystars - He really wasn't much appriciated (or known) while with Kintetsu.
14:15 : westbaystars - Did well with Chunichi, then disappeared (to North America).
14:15 : MHStevie - Yeah, I liked his work setting up Hoffman for the Padres...
14:16 : westbaystars - Maybe he was appriciated more than I knew, for he did put up a lot of saves with Kintetsu.
14:16 : westbaystars - Error Cuba!
14:16 : westbaystars - Leadoff runner is on.
14:16 : 20X6!! - the errors pile on
14:16 : westbaystars - Ohtsuka in Japan: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=946
14:17 : westbaystars - That was Yokohama's Kinjyoh leading off.
14:17 : westbaystars - While he has speed, I wouldn't consider him a threat to steal.
14:18 : torakichi - All the pundits were saying yesterday that error's were the key. Cuba had 10 errors as of yesterday to Japan's 4.
14:18 : westbaystars - Sacrifice fails. Kinjyoh thrown out at second. Guess those throws to first kept him too close.
14:18 : MHStevie - ESPN noted that he only stole one bag for the BayStars last year...
14:18 : Akagaminosteven - Nice bunt by Nishioka
14:18 : westbaystars - Bunt to the right side, and the pitch doesn't cover - everyone's safe!
14:18 : 20X6!! - Kawasaki - fielders choice bunt
14:18 : MHStevie - Nishioka! Nice infield hit...
14:19 : westbaystars - First baseman was covering, but I guess the second baseman was upset that the pitcher didn't try to field the ball.
14:19 : MHStevie - Split the pitcher and the second baseman on the bunt...
14:19 : 20X6!! - (first time I've used this) - I've just discovered the refresh button!
14:19 : yodo - Cuba's fielding looks amateur compared to Japan or Korea
14:20 : westbaystars - I should refresh automatically every 30 seconds (unless you set your browser to ignore HTTP refresh).
14:20 : westbaystars - Japan hasn't been impressive this afternoon (evening).
14:20 : westbaystars - Defensively, that is.
14:20 : torakichi - This chat room is very refreshing, Westbaystars-san. It's very refreshing every 30 seconds.
14:20 : Akagaminosteven - Safe!
14:21 : westbaystars - Ichiro grounds through the right side - base hit!
14:21 : 20X6!! - let's see that replay . . .
14:21 : t22 - Ichiro came through
14:21 : westbaystars - It didn't look like Kawasaki touched home to me.
14:21 : 20X6!! - nope
14:21 : 20X6!! - well
14:21 : yodo - No way! He touched it with his hand!
14:21 : torakichi - Replay shows he did.
14:21 : Akagaminosteven - Yeah he made it
14:22 : westbaystars - The second replay showed that he did get a hand in under the catcher.
14:22 : MHStevie - Replay shows Kawasaki just got the plate with his hand...
14:22 : 20X6!! - not a good angle
14:22 : westbaystars - Wow! I wouldn't have expected an umpire to get that call right.
14:22 : Akagaminosteven - Probably isn't the place to talk about it, but Boston dealt Bronson Arroyo, huh.
14:22 : t22 - Matsunaka walked
14:23 : yodo - wbstars> no kidding
14:23 : 20X6!! - Keien
14:23 : westbaystars - Matsunaka intentionally walked to load the bases.
14:23 : westbaystars - and have a pitching change.
14:24 : BMZ - Munerin power
14:24 : 20X6!! - who's carrying the broadcast in Japan?
14:25 : westbaystars - NTV.
14:25 : yodo - Nihon terebi (channel 4)
14:25 : westbaystars - We've got some Yomiuri Giants' commercials now and then.
14:25 : westbaystars - Oh-kantoku is coming out. Pinch hitter? Pinch runner?
14:25 : BMZ - Ichiro is a warrior
14:26 : Akagaminosteven - Man, I can't wait to do JET and make yakyu a regular thing
14:26 : westbaystars - Fukudome starts swinging a bat.
14:26 : BMZ - LASER BEAM
14:26 : BMZ - DOME!
14:26 : torakichi - Chanell 10 if you're in Kansai
14:26 : Akagaminosteven - What time is it in Japan right now?
14:26 : 20X6!! - is that the channel that Yomiuri owns?
14:27 : yodo - Fukudome!
14:27 : westbaystars - Yes.
14:27 : westbaystars - Nihon Telebi is owned by Yomiuri.
14:27 : yodo - Homer again?
14:28 : 20X6!! - (so I knew it as FBS channel 37 in Fukuoka)
14:28 : westbaystars - A grand slam here would really make a mark.
14:28 : Dan - so, the 2 last teams to join the WBC are in the finals...wonder if MLB saw that one coming
14:29 : westbaystars - Slap to left! One run, two runs in!
14:29 : torakichi - Yeah!
14:29 : Akagaminosteven - 2 RBI single!
14:29 : westbaystars - Japan up 9-5.
14:29 : t22 - Fukudome came through
14:29 : BMZ - DOME DOME DOME DOME
14:29 : yodo - Wow, talk about a clutch hitter, that guy
14:29 : MHStevie - Fukudome thrives as the heroic pinch hitter!
14:29 : 20X6!! - Jon Miller fumbled over Oh-kantoku - but at least he tried
14:29 : BMZ - DAIDA NO KAMISAMA
14:30 : Dan - if japan wins, what will they send Mexico?
14:30 : MHStevie - 20X6: Yeah, I'm appreciating Miller's efforts... much better than Joe Morgan's "Matsuzaki" earlier in the game... ^_^
14:31 : westbaystars - Wonder if Ochiai-kantoku is watching. But I doubt Fukudome will become a pinch hitter during the regular season.
14:31 : 20X6!! - Well, it's too late for White Day - but I'd send them some white chocolate anyway
14:31 : Dan - what are some changes for the upcoming WBC u would like to see?
14:32 : westbaystars - Crossing groups going up the ladder.
14:32 : t22 - Neutral umpires
14:32 : Dan - yup...no more playing teams 3 times
14:32 : Dan - yeah..MLB umps
14:32 : westbaystars - First round being regional is very good. But after that, first and second place teams need to be separated.
14:32 : MHStevie - Yeah, I agree about crossing up the groups more... more international umps...
14:33 : Akagaminosteven - The USA caring
14:33 : torakichi - Neutral or not, BETTER umpires.
14:33 : 20X6!! - Possibly double elimination for undefeated teams (i.e. Korea)
14:34 : westbaystars - Satozaki draws a walk. Bases loaded again.
14:34 : t22 - bases loaded - intelligent batting by Satozaki
14:34 : 20X6!! - like the Pacific League playoffs - if they're a certain # of games ahead
14:34 : westbaystars - I like the idea of a double elimination bracket as well.
14:35 : Dan - yeah..would have been nice for Korea to have that this year...but oh well
14:35 : westbaystars - But if you do that, then just have round robin for the first round, double elimination bracket thereafter.
14:35 : 20X6!! - or have pool winners have home field throughout
14:35 : Dan - i would prefer crossing up the groups more than double elimination
14:35 : t22 - I don't like the double elimination - it smacks too much of loading things in teams favour
14:36 : BMZ - Real samurai coming up
14:36 : 20X6!! - is the WBC close to the FIFA world cup format?
14:36 : Dan - so is japan really gonna be regarded as the best team in the world? ro whats your take on the results of the WBC?
14:37 : westbaystars - That's a tough question.
14:37 : torakichi - Not yet. Because the WBC isn't the tournament it's aiming to be yet.
14:37 : 20X6!! - It's somewhat similar to the last NFL Wild Card team winning the Super Bowl
14:37 : westbaystars - In the Japanese press they will be.
14:37 : Akagaminosteven - I don't think the tournament determines the best in the world--it determines a big accomplishment in winning
14:37 : Akagaminosteven - But the champions
14:38 : Akagaminosteven - No matter who they are
14:38 : Akagaminosteven - Could be beaten on any day by any given team almost
14:38 : torakichi - Once there is true global interest, all countries send their best players, and the players actually play like they care
14:38 : MHStevie - Yeah, to me this tournament proved how even the baseball countries really are at this point...
14:39 : 20X6!! - yes, the best team overall doesn't always win
14:39 : t22 - That's the way these games go - yes Japan are the genuine world champions
14:39 : Dan - i guess the only way to find a true world champion is to have a club tourney of all leagues
14:39 : Dan - with best of series
14:39 : 20X6!! - usually the best team at the end of the season/pool play, etc
14:39 : westbaystars - Fly ball, not deep enough.
14:40 : westbaystars - But Matsunaka scores from third!
14:40 : Akagaminosteven - Sac-fly RBI
14:40 : t22 - Short series or long series - difficult question
14:40 : torakichi - Big guy!
14:40 : 20X6!! - whoa - Matsunaka the Speedster (*cough cough*) scores!
14:40 : MHStevie - Ogasawara has 3 RBI and no hits!
14:40 : yodo - For the second time
14:41 : 20X6!! - Just what I needed - another pitching change
14:41 : westbaystars - Matsunaka's legs look to be fully healed. He was seriously hobbling in the playoffs last October.
14:41 : Dan - i think the konami cup is a great idea
14:42 : yodo - Pretty soon we'll see infielders pitching for Cuba...
14:42 : BMZ - gotta give it up for Cuba
14:42 : yodo - If they keep changing all the time
14:42 : BMZ - they're not giving in
14:42 : westbaystars - I think of the Konami Cup as a predicessor to the "Real" World Series.
14:43 : BMZ - Konami Cup is great, especially when Chiba sweeps it
14:43 : t22 - Great game
14:43 : westbaystars - It's the last game. Use what you've got.
14:43 : westbaystars - Get everybody into the game.
14:43 : Dan - well, i hope samsung doesn't win the KBO this year
14:43 : Dan - they are the yankees of the KBO these days
14:43 : Dan - -_-
14:43 : MHStevie - Yeah, it would be nice to see the club championship concept extend worldwide...
14:44 : westbaystars - Interesting play by the shortstop to end the inning.
14:44 : Akagaminosteven - 3 more outs
14:44 : westbaystars - But not before Japan doubles their lead 10-5 going to the bottom of the nineth.
14:44 : 20X6!! - when was the Konami Cup?
14:44 : MHStevie - But don't expect MLB to get onboard anytime soon...
14:44 : BMZ - What do you guys think of this year's rookies?
14:44 : yodo - I guess every league needs a yankees/giants type team
14:45 : BMZ - I can't wait to see Fujii of the Dragons and Sumitani of the Lions
14:45 : 20X6!! - I remember it, I just can't remember when it was (I've slept since then)
14:45 : westbaystars - The Konami Cup was at the beginning of November last year.
14:45 : torakichi - Looks like this guys in for a big payday. http://japanesebaseball.com/forum/thread.jsp?forum=17&thread=20680
14:45 : BMZ - ha
14:45 : westbaystars - League champions from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, plus an all star team from China.
14:45 : Dan - hopefully, my Doosan bears can suprise people and win the KBO this year...but most likely they will finish around 500
14:46 : t22 - Every league needs a rivalry to drive it - For example Tigers/Giants, Boston/ New York
14:47 : Dan - wonder whose gonna be the tourney MVP and all tourney team
14:47 : westbaystars - Leadoff double for Cuba. They don't give up.
14:48 : torakichi - These guys aren't several-time world champs for no reason.
14:48 : 20X6!! - ESPN keeps cutting to Cuba - they probably didn't want to travel
14:49 : Akagaminosteven - Hahaha
14:49 : 20X6!! - whaaaaaa? dugout?
14:49 : westbaystars - Ah, the 20:1 odds for Japan?
14:49 : Dan - man..these umps are horrible...
14:49 : yodo - Who was that guy glaring at the ump with one foot on the field?
14:49 : Dan - trying to make up for missed calls in the WBC
14:49 : Dan - by being nit picky about being on the field
14:49 : Dan - haha
14:49 : westbaystars - The umpire was warning Japan that it's too early to celebrate - keep inside the dugout.
14:50 : torakichi - Hey, is ESPN a pay channel?
14:50 : 20X6!! - I bet the odds were even higher after the Korea loss
14:50 : 20X6!! - it's on cable - so you pay for the cable channel lineup
14:51 : westbaystars - In Japan, the J-Sports channel had other games bilingual (with the ESPN announcers on the sub channel).
14:51 : MHStevie - One down...
14:51 : 20X6!! - Christopher Walken would be proud of the Cuban fans (SNL - "gotta have more cowbell!")
14:51 : westbaystars - Unfortunately, it's on J-Sports 3 today, which is the one I don't get with my cable subscription.
14:52 : westbaystars - Runner now at third.
14:52 : torakichi - In that case, wouldn't purchasing scenes of Cuba and offering them to US viewers for profit...
14:52 : torakichi - ...violate some kind of trade embargo?
14:52 : MHStevie - Nice... Jon Miller on ESPN mentions the "O-N Cannon"... ^_^
14:52 : Akagaminosteven - Best not to think of it. =P
14:53 : 20X6!! - I think Cuba's donating all revenue
14:53 : westbaystars - Miyamoto at short keeps the ball from going into left, but can't throw anyone out.
14:53 : westbaystars - Now 10-6 in favor of Japan with two outs to go.
14:54 : 20X6!! - Jon and Joe keep talking about the Yomiuri Giants like they still dominate . . .
14:54 : westbaystars - Sounds like this Jon Miller character has really done his homework.
14:54 : yodo - These announcers can't mention a nice play by the other team without mentioning that Japan is beating such a strong team
14:55 : westbaystars - 三振!
14:55 : westbaystars - Two outs.
14:55 : t22 - ato hitori de
14:55 : westbaystars - And Oh-kantoku heads to the mound?
14:55 : 20X6!! - a meeting?
14:55 : MHStevie - Ato hitori!
14:56 : yodo - Just saying hi
14:56 : westbaystars - Ohtsuka still in there.
14:56 : 20X6!! - "I just wanted to tell you good luck, we're all counting on you"
14:56 : t22 - one more man
14:56 : westbaystars - Big swing and miss!
14:56 : Akagaminosteven - Ohhh that was high heat
14:56 : 20X6!! - Jon Miller FINALLY is explaining the Ichiro quote
14:56 : Dan - 30 years comment again. haha
14:56 : westbaystars - Next pitch drilled deep but foul.
14:56 : t22 - ato ikyu
14:56 : Dan - 30 years? took less than a week
14:56 : Dan - haha
14:57 : westbaystars - 三振
14:57 : westbaystars - 試合終了!
14:57 : MHStevie - There it is...
14:57 : Akagaminosteven - Wooooohooooo
14:57 : 20X6!! - someday - people will realise that flash bulbs only go about 2 metres
14:58 : westbaystars - On NTV, they're flashing "世界一" (World #1).
14:58 : torakichi - Good stuff. What an incredible end to a scintillating tournament.
14:58 : 20X6!! - 万歳 they all go
14:59 : MHStevie - Yeah, nice game in the end... omedetou!
14:59 : westbaystars - Now, let's interview a player other than Ichiro.
14:59 : 20X6!! - hey! congratulations from Cuba
14:59 : MHStevie - ESPN crew was nominating Ichiro for MVP earlier in the game...
14:59 : 20X6!! - I so wish Japan had done that against the game in Korea....
15:00 : westbaystars - The clock strikes 3:00.
15:00 : MHStevie - I'd have to say congrats to many teams and players in the tourney!
15:01 : westbaystars - So, who was the hero of this game?
15:01 : 20X6!! - Matsuzaka is apparently the MVP
15:01 : MHStevie - Did they say Matsuzaka was given MVP?
15:01 : MichaelEng - Great tournament, congrats to all.
15:01 : 20X6!! - Ichiro in a picture with Cuban players
15:01 : westbaystars - For this game, right? Not the tourny.
15:01 : Dan - WBC MVP
15:01 : 20X6!! - I think it's for the whole tourney....
15:02 : MHStevie - Yeah, congrats to all the teams! For all the problems, it was a truly memorable tourney!
15:02 : BMZ - NIPPON!
15:02 : westbaystars - Wasn't Uehara's performance better?
15:02 : westbaystars - Argh. They're interviewing Ichiro again.
15:03 : BMZ - Let's just hope Korean fans don't whine too much now
15:03 : Dan - whats he saying?
15:03 : BMZ - BUT WE BEAT THEM TWICE!
15:03 : 20X6!! - definitely - but I suppose it's the final game everyone looks at....
15:03 : 20X6!! - well ESPN's off
15:03 : BMZ - I don't see that Korean team scoring 10 runs on a team like Cuba anytime soon
15:03 : BMZ - maybe China
15:03 : Dan - why would we whine? korea had a hell of a tourney
15:03 : Dan - sux with the setup..but what can u do
15:03 : BMZ - Korean pitching was great
15:03 : westbaystars - He said that this was the best team to play for.
15:04 : BMZ - but the bats have a long way to go
15:04 : MHStevie - OK, way past my bedtime... thanks for the chatroom, Westbay-san!
15:04 : 20X6!! - *sigh* back to Split Squad spring training games . . . .
15:04 : Dan - yeah..and korea scored 7 runs against the US...
15:04 : MHStevie - BTW,did you get my e-mail about working on some sort of weekly NPB show?
15:04 : Dan - thats like me saying i dont see japan scoring 7 runs against the US anytime soon
15:04 : Dan - holds no water
15:04 : westbaystars - Happy to have you all.
15:05 : BMZ - meh
15:05 : westbaystars - Looking forward to the start of the regular season now.
15:05 : Akagaminosteven - Against a crappy D-train though
15:05 : Dan - anyways...korea had a great tourney..japan did too...i'm happy.
15:05 : westbaystars - Stevie-san, no, I don't see such a message.
15:06 : westbaystars - Let's Skype later tonight (tomorrow morning your time).
15:06 : BMZ - Now it's time for the Marines to get back home and get some of that Bobby Magic
15:06 : MHStevie - That's not good... I sent it weeks ago.
15:07 : MHStevie - I probably won't be able to Skype then... must get to work very early...
15:07 : 20X6!! - okie doke - I'm outta here お疲れ様でした Westbay-san
15:07 : westbaystars - MVP was announced as Matsuzaka.
15:07 : westbaystars - I guess it's because he got three wins.
15:08 : MHStevie - I will resend the e-mail sometime today, then maybe we can figure out a good Skype time soon...
15:08 : BMZ - Uehara was better, IMO
15:08 : Dan - whose on the all WBC team?
15:08 : BMZ - plus, Ichiro was way better for player moral
15:08 : Dan - hope park jin man is on for SS...
15:09 : westbaystars - The last mail I have from you was last January.
15:09 : westbaystars - Please, resend it.
15:09 : MHStevie - I definitely sent it more recently than that...
15:10 : BMZ - Dan, how did he bat?
15:10 : MHStevie - I will... nice seeing everyone! Good night!
15:11 : Dan - he struggled at the plate, but was golden in the infield
15:11 : BMZ - alright, everyone is leaving
15:11 : BMZ - I'll succumb to peer pressure
15:11 : BMZ - peace out
15:11 : westbaystars - Well, thanks for the commentary.
15:12 : westbaystars - Sorry about all the technical problems in the beginning.
15:12 : westbaystars - Any final words, then I'll post the transcript?
15:13 : Dan - nice chatting with everyone. bye
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This is a site about Pro Yakyu (Japanese Baseball), not about who the next player to go over to MLB is. It's a community of Pro Yakyu fans who have come together to share their knowledge and opinions with the world. It's a place to follow teams and individuals playing baseball in Japan (and Asia), and to learn about Japanese (and Asian) culture through baseball.
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(aka westbaystars)
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Some rights reserved.
I'll be posting the chat session below when we're finished.
I'll be there for most of the game, although I will have to go out to pick up the son from baseball practice before the game is over.
The chat room isn't limited to the talking about the WBC. Pre-season chatter about the upcoming season in Japan is also welcome. (If there are knowledgable people, Korean and Taiwanese pre-season overviews would also be welcome.)
Hope to see many of you there this morning (JST).