A-rod gets game winning hit vs Japan

[Blackout]

what a game

team Japan is loaded with MLB-talent players

[Edgartohof]

team Japan is loaded with MLB-talent players

I was literally drooling over some of those players, wishing I could have them on my team.

[RedSoxVT92]

I was quite impressed although ive known that Japan has alot of talent out there. But its too bad because Japan should not have lost or lost because of that hit by A-rod. That Japenese player was called out in the 8th on the tag up to home which would of made it a 4-3 ball game at the time. Too bad the WBC couldnt of had Major Leauge umpires. I cant complain though the U.S. did win but not fair and square.

[Jake83]

That game is just the opening act for the bigger matchup this evening

[Sultan_1895-1948]

what a game

team Japan is loaded with MLB-talent players

Do you think Japanese players in general are more well rounded? More fundamentals, hustle, respect for the game, less ego, etc?

ps. not a loaded or angled question, just wondering your opinion.

[Greerman29]

I was quite impressed although ive known that Japan has alot of talent out there. But its too bad because Japan should not have lost or lost because of that hit by A-rod. That Japenese player was called out in the 8th on the tag up to home which would of made it a 4-3 ball game at the time. Too bad the WBC couldnt of had Major Leauge umpires. I cant complain though the U.S. did win but not fair and square.


it wouldn't have mattered anyway. It was 3-3 with the bases loaded. That last hit by A-rod would have drove in 2 easy. So even if it was 4-3 we still would have won.

[Mattingly]

I'm guessing that the A-Rod Clutch-O-Meter is finally putting up something decent. One more hit by him and another by Bernie for Puerto Rico, I just may become a WBC fan after all! :D :p :gt

[DodgerBlue8188]

it wouldn't have mattered anyway. It was 3-3 with the bases loaded. That last hit by A-rod would have drove in 2 easy. So even if it was 4-3 we still would have won.

I think it mattered a lot. The Japanese had to play a different type of defense because the go ahead run was on 3rd base. If they were already leading 4-3 they could have approached the hitters differently.

[Mattingly]

Do you think Japanese players in general are more well rounded? More fundamentals, hustle, respect for the game, less ego, etc?

ps. not a loaded or angled question, just wondering your opinion.
Sounds like an interesting question. You may try putting together a post on that in the International forum. I do remember that we have several forumers here either from or having lived in Asia, so perhaps they can provide some insight.

I do remember that when Hideki Matsui declined to play for Japan (for which George Steinbrenner was very happy), Hideki supposedly told this to Sadaharu Oh, the Japanese HR legend and team manager, personally. I'm not sure if he got on the phone or took a flight, but this seemed to be in synch with what I understand to be normal Japanese behavior re respect to one's elders.

I thought it was a great gesture on Matsui's part, considering the respect that Oh has commanded over the years, as well as Hideki's ties to Japan and their baseball-happy media.

it wouldn't have mattered anyway. It was 3-3 with the bases loaded. That last hit by A-rod would have drove in 2 easy. So even if it was 4-3 we still would have won.
I'm not sure how many outs there were after this or how many were on base after the out at home, but who knows if a single by the Japanese team wouldn't have brought someone else home that inning.

[Gamingboy]

I'm not sure what I'm more surprised about. That A-Rod came in the Clutch, or the fact that I actually jumped off the couch and yelled over the fact he did it. Cheering a gamewinning A-Rod hit... that's something I NEVER thought I'd do.

[Mattingly]

I'm not sure what I'm more surprised about. That A-Rod came in the Clutch, or the fact that I actually jumped off the couch and yelled over the fact he did it. Cheering a gamewinning A-Rod hit... that's something I NEVER thought I'd do.
Heck, *SEEING* an A-Rod game-winning hit is something I thought I wouldn't hear about. :D

[Jake83]

Heck, *SEEING* an A-Rod game-winning hit is something I thought I wouldn't hear about. :D


I would blame your pitching the last 2 years not A-Rod

[VTSoxFan]

If the ump hadn't put his foot in it in that 8th inning, who knows how long the Japanese would have continues batting and scoring? It might not have been 4-3 in the 9th, but 7-3, or some such score. So that infamous play might well have made a HEEYUGE difference in how the game came out.

Anyway, seeing that Japanese team made me wish there was a TV network dedicated to baseball -- not just American baseball, but games from all over the world, so we could see some Japanese League games, and become better acquainted with the players and their style of play. I want to see those players some more! :clapping How much more exciting it would have been if we'd been able to watch Ichiro (or his Japanese kindred) for years before he made his move to the US!

[jalbright]

If the ump hadn't put his foot in it in that 8th inning, who knows how long the Japanese would have continues batting and scoring? It might not have been 4-3 in the 9th, but 7-3, or some such score. So that infamous play might well have made a HEEYUGE difference in how the game came out.

Not only would Japan have had a 4-3 lead in the top of the 8th with the right call, they would have had men on 1st and 2nd with 2 out. Even one more single gives them a 5-3 lead. It's a shame that such a critical decision was blown.

Jim Albright

[Mattingly]

I would blame your pitching the last 2 years not A-Rod
*BONK!*

Now where did these LA types coming off gettin' on the case of Yankee pitching? :D

Alexander the Great has ruled for today. :gt :p

Not only would Japan have had a 4-3 lead in the top of the 8th with the right call, they would have had men on 1st and 2nd with 2 out. Even one more single gives them a 5-3 lead. It's a shame that such a critical decision was blown.

Jim Albright
Not always. If it's a bloop single, a guy doesn't always score from 2B. From 3B, definitely a single scores him, but there have been bases loaded scenarios where only the 3B runner has scored.

If it's a hard-hit single that gets past the fielder, that'll score a guy from 2B.

[jalbright]

*

Not always. If it's a bloop single, a guy doesn't always score from 2B. From 3B, definitely a single scores him, but there have been bases loaded scenarios where only the 3B runner has scored.

If it's a hard-hit single that gets past the fielder, that'll score a guy from 2B.

But with two outs, the runner (who I believe has speed) would be off on contact, as he doesn't have to worry about being doubled up if the ball is caught.

Jim Albright

[Mattingly]

But with two outs, the runner (who I believe has speed) would be off on contact, as he doesn't have to worry about being doubled up if the ball is caught.

Jim Albright
So that controversial out at home ended the inning? Wow.

I'd agree, with 2 outs, he'd be off, just as he would on a 3-2 count (at which case, he'd often be running at the pitch, not just contact).

Still, Alex Rodriguez getting a GWH isn't such a bad thing, and nobody can say he only did it in some 11-2 game. Strangely, in one 2005 game where he'd had about 10 RBI, he'd been not just the primary offense of the Yanks that day, but about the *ONLY* offense, so who could blame him for that? :D

Still after about 7 RBI, I was still wondering aloud why the pitcher didn't just give him a free pass. We'll see if this continues in April for Alex. :)

[TonyK]

If the ump hadn't put his foot in it in that 8th inning, who knows how long the Japanese would have continues batting and scoring? It might not have been 4-3 in the 9th, but 7-3, or some such score. So that infamous play might well have made a HEEYUGE difference in how the game came out.

Anyway, seeing that Japanese team made me wish there was a TV network dedicated to baseball -- not just American baseball, but games from all over the world, so we could see some Japanese League games, and become better acquainted with the players and their style of play. I want to see those players some more! :clapping How much more exciting it would have been if we'd been able to watch Ichiro (or his Japanese kindred) for years before he made his move to the US!

Annie,

You are right that there should be a baseball network. Time Warner Cable recently added a free soccer channel with professional games from all around the world to my service. My son and I watch some of the games especially the English Premier League. What I noticed is the style of play varies from country to country and the fans react differently. There are some high scoring exciting games being played in a few countries.

I wonder if you can subscribe to Japanese League games? Does any other country even have professional leagues?

[Mattingly]

I wonder if you can subscribe to Japanese League games? Does any other country even have professional leagues?
Visit the International forum. Japan, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Korea, Venezuela all have pro leagues.

At least full-time leagues, since I'm not sure how the Cuban players would be defined as, per the politics over there.

[TonyK]

Thanks Mattingly. It would be nice to tune in to a game from one of these countries and see future MLers.

[Jake83]

*BONK!*

Now where did these LA types coming off gettin' on the case of Yankee pitching? :D



How did we ever trade Kevin Brown to New York. What was Evans thinking.

[Blackout]

Do you think Japanese players in general are more well rounded? More fundamentals, hustle, respect for the game, less ego, etc?

ps. not a loaded or angled question, just wondering your opinion.

yes, thats exactly what I was thinking actually. They didnt even take the field after the 8th inning until Sadaharu Oh told them to

they seem to play small ball better than we do too, we live and die off home runs it seems

[Blackout]

That game is just the opening act for the bigger matchup this evening

yeah, I'm drooling over that Mexico-Korea matchup ;)

[Dravecky43]

I agree that, yes, the runner was clearly on the base when Randy Winn caught the fly ball in the top of the eighth. What is the chance of error on the part of the video controller, though? I mean, I think it would be pretty easy to accidentally put the video from one camera a split-second behind the video from the other camera, hence it looking like the umps got it wrong when they very well could have been right. Just a thought.

[jalbright]

I agree that, yes, the runner was clearly on the base when Randy Winn caught the fly ball in the top of the eighth. What is the chance of error on the part of the video controller, though? I mean, I think it would be pretty easy to accidentally put the video from one camera a split-second behind the video from the other camera, hence it looking like the umps got it wrong when they very well could have been right. Just a thought.

I think that these days, the alignment of those shots is all handled by computer in the video control room, so absent a programming error, the likelihood of that is basically nil.

Jim Albright

[Mattingly]

How did we ever trade Kevin Brown to New York. What was Evans thinking.
*PUNCHES THE WALL ... HARD*

Yeah, and Jeff Weaver finally turned decent when used in a decent park. Meanwhile, Kevin ... he gave up a longball to Johnny Damon, but nobody in their right mind would take him off our hand.

*thinks of evil Yankee fan way to get back at this LA type getting on Yankee pitching*

[Mattingly]

yeah, I'm drooling over that Mexico-Korea matchup ;)
The Ghost of Fernando Valenzuela will come back to haunt you for that one! :rolleyes:

Fernando Mania still lives! :D

[west coast orange and black]

Mattingly: So that controversial out at home ended the inning?

"Dude, that guy tagged up."

[Gashouse6]

I can't believe Griffey struck out there. There were really 5 balls and 1 strike in that at bat. He struck out on a pitch at his shoulders.

[Mattingly]

I can't believe Griffey struck out there. There were really 5 balls and 1 strike in that at bat. He struck out on a pitch at his shoulders.
Which inning? Looking or swinging? How many men on, how many outs?

[efin98]

The difference between the runner "tagging up" and the runner "leaving early" was way too small for it to be clear either way, even slowed down frame by frame. Even if replay was available it would be inconclusive. The call would have stood. The guy was out.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I can't believe Griffey struck out there. There were really 5 balls and 1 strike in that at bat. He struck out on a pitch at his shoulders.

Welcome to the world of pressure leading to over-aggressiveness, leading to swinging at a pitch neck-high. Something the world of stats can't show us :D That was for you UBI.

ps. He tagged up.

[Jake83]

*PUNCHES THE WALL ... HARD*

Yeah, and Jeff Weaver finally turned decent when used in a decent park. Meanwhile, Kevin ... he gave up a longball to Johnny Damon, but nobody in their right mind would take him off our hand.

*thinks of evil Yankee fan way to get back at this LA type getting on Yankee pitching*


Another former Dodger and member of the trade helped the Red Sox gain a Game 7.......Paul Quantrill