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Open WBC Korea vs. Japan Finals Thread

Exxod_-_master_of_the_guard_tiny by ThundaPC on Comment 1418 comments


========================= Schedule ===========================

Monday 3/23
06:00pm PDT --- The Finals                                   [ESPN]

============================================================

Korea's Starter: Jung Keun Bong

Simply put, Korea left-hander Jung Keun Bong has been dominant against Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

Bong has already twice defeated Japan, while posting a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings along with three strikeouts and just six hits allowed.

"Korean players and Japanese players are excellent," said Shin-Soo Choo, who also plays for the Indians. "There is little difference between the two."


Japan's Starter: Hisashi Iwakuma

Japan will send right-handed pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to the mound. Iwakuma is 1-1 with a 0.73 ERA in 12 1/3 innings in three Classic games this year. Korea will counter with Jung Keun Bong, a one-time Major League pitcher and winner of 11 games last season in Korea. Bong is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings in three Classic appearances this year, with both wins coming against Japan.

"It's the game of the century," Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said. "Japan would like, as any team, to do the best we can. In terms of strategy in the game, that's something you can observe [Monday] when we play."

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This would be so much more interesting if it was held in Asia.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Mar 23, 2009 3:38 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I agree, but

as far as US locations go, you can’t get much better wrt the local Asian population than Los Angeles. To me, the Korean and Japanese fans are the one redeeming quality from this whole tourney. Well, them and the Dutch team.

by sammy on Mar 23, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Who was that lefty that tossed for Japan yesterday?

wearing #47. He threw EXACTLY like Tom Glavine

by seattlebruin on Mar 23, 2009 3:48 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes, that was him

anyone else know anything about him besides the fact that he throws just like Tom Glavine?

by seattlebruin on Mar 23, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Softbank Ace

Was on the roster last time too.

2008 Strikeout king for the Pacific League.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can't wait to see

The rebel South Koreans overthrow those imperial scumbags. Anyone else have a rooting interest?

by sammy on Mar 23, 2009 3:52 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I have an LG phone so I'll root for Korea

but in all honesty I have no real rooting interest – I just love watching games where I don’t care who wins, because I can focus more on the overall goodness of the game rather than bemoaning what the opponent is doing and stressing about what my team is not doing.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Mar 23, 2009 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My wife was born in Seoul,

so “Dae han min kuk!”

by Sec 108 on Mar 23, 2009 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Shin-Soo Choo agrees with you.

“Korean players and Japanese players are excellent,” said Shin-Soo Choo, who also plays for the Indians. “There is little difference between the two.”

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Mar 23, 2009 6:24 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Really?

I am sure you could at least use hair color to tell us apart.

by Fin on Mar 23, 2009 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dave Chappelle's routine on this is classic.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 23, 2009 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's the one.

Quite enjoyable.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 23, 2009 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I live about 10min from dodger stadium.

And the weather’s cleared up, the sun’s out… I think I’ll go to the game

by sammy on Mar 23, 2009 4:17 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Wait until the 5th inning.

If the game is interesting, go watch for free.

by Wilder. on Mar 23, 2009 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I kind of like that this turns out to be the fifth game of a bizarre best-of-5 series...

…which is tied 2-2 so far in the WBC. A little more variety in the WBC matchups might be nice, but rivalries are fun, too.

by ubelmann on Mar 23, 2009 4:24 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Question:

[and sorry if this has been brought up before]

Which, if any, of the players from these two teams can we expect to see make the jump to the majors. It seems that with a lot of FOs rediscovering the value of defense it’d only be natural for some teams to be pretty interested in the position players. I certainly wouldn’t be averse to signing that slap-hitting Japanese SS/3B with the supposedly amazing glove.

by sammy on Mar 23, 2009 5:33 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

A lot of players are already in different farm systems.

And the ones who are not, need to be posted. Front offices across the league are doing all they can to get the good players over here. As for which ones who are in the minors already, I am not sure who could be expected to make the big leagues.

by Wilder. on Mar 23, 2009 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fat chance signing Japanese players...

They’re indentured for 6~8 years. Koreans, less so, but their weakness is poor advanced hitting skills.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There's this dude Japan has in the outfield.

His name’s Ichiro or something like that. I hear he’s got mad skillz.

Throw the snacks in the bag and I'm ghost like Swayze!
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Mar 23, 2009 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Here we go!

Battlestations!

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 6:34 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

yikes

more or less defensible than starting The Buffet over the King?

by Terminator_X on Mar 23, 2009 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Definitely more

batting orders don’t matter nearly as much as having an elite starting pitcher going versus a poor one

by seattlebruin on Mar 23, 2009 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed. Don't know what I was thinking.

I think the pure shock of seeing Joh as cleanup sent me into my baseball mindset of 2 years ago.

by Terminator_X on Mar 23, 2009 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

ICHIRO

Starts it off with a hit.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 6:40 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Is Nakajima a potential posting guy?

he’s 28, supposedly a great shortstop and a ~.400 OBP guy

by seattlebruin on Mar 23, 2009 6:44 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He's 26.

Profiles pretty much like Kazuo Matsui. Plays same position and team and stadium too.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No, more like.

I wouldn’t want him on my team after Matsui bombing it.

Seibu Dome is a bandbox and the precedent is awful. He’s also a meh!~average defender.

Kawasaki and Nishioka are both better shortstops with better games that would work well in America.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 6:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It better be a fucking big space rock or robots or something.

Godzilla? Naw, keep on baseballin’

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Haha way late.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Mar 23, 2009 6:47 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Totally a strike...?

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 23, 2009 6:50 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Iwakuma

Off to a good start.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 6:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

How about Alex Cora?

I hear he is extremely knowledgable about baseball.

by msb on Mar 23, 2009 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Kurihara?!

That’s like playing Longoria, but after a 15 hour flight instead of a cross country trip.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 7:04 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Playing Iwamura against Bong is beyond retarded...

When you have like 3 right-handed hitters on the bench, of which like 2 have better gloves.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Uh, Joe?

Nolan Ryan didn’t throw strikes

by seattlebruin on Mar 23, 2009 7:08 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Noooooooo.

Not the news.

I hate Japan.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 7:13 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Nice grab Ichiro!

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Mar 23, 2009 7:17 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My stars.

This is like the World’s Biggest Suckfest Commercials Classic.

by royalcurve on Mar 23, 2009 7:21 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I that Hate Pedroia dude

Passionately. I never had anything much against him until I saw that commercial every half inning last game.

by Decatur on Mar 23, 2009 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I read it, then I re-read it.

Then I read my post to see if he was making fun of mine. Then I read his again, then mine again. Then I read his once more, and finally, chuckled mildly.

Paranoia ruins lots of good humor opportunities.

by Terminator_X on Mar 23, 2009 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The first time I saw that commerical I enjoyed.

I havent enjoyed it the last few thousand times.

He didn't go.

by BUCKETSinSB on Mar 23, 2009 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This comment made me realize he's still talking.

Seligs like a crochidy Grandpa you can put in a chair in the corner and he’ll entertain himself.

He didn't go.

by BUCKETSinSB on Mar 23, 2009 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

One trick is to tell em stories that don’t go anywhere -

like the time I caught the ferry over to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for my shoe, so, I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on ’em. Give me five bees for a quarter, you’d say. Now where were we? Oh yeah — the important thing was that I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. They didn’t have white onions because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones…

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Mar 23, 2009 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

Come on Joh!

AHHH he’s bunting

by Decatur on Mar 23, 2009 7:27 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Joe Morgan hates Evan Longoria.

This only confirms Evan is awesome.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2009 7:29 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Fuck that!

What hell is Michael Jackson doing at this game?!

by Wilder. on Mar 23, 2009 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just switched to a korean online feed

the ads are awesome. No rum, no insurance, no hair dye. Actually, they might be selling all of those things. Who knows. Also, the announcers are making more sense than Morgan was.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 23, 2009 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hard to say

it’s very abstract. They’ve got some crazy tv shows they’re advertising though. Seems like a cross between CSI and lord of the Rings

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 23, 2009 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

8 baserunners and only one run...

Ichiro must be confused that he’s not wearing his M’s uniform

by StuHamm on Mar 23, 2009 7:48 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

According to the guy in the ExtenZe commercial

They’ve sold billions of pills to millions of guys all over the world. That means that each guy had to buy about 1,000 pills.

I think I may have to call bullshit on this one.

by JLC on Mar 23, 2009 7:50 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yeah it was through his blog.

Heres the link I failed to provide earlier:

He didn't go.

by BUCKETSinSB on Mar 23, 2009 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah.

Im hanging my head in shame. I click link and click new window then its blank. Last try: Please work even thought it wont be funny anymore.

He didn't go.

by BUCKETSinSB on Mar 23, 2009 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I've seen Iwakuma before...

Mostly before he got injured, but he’s better now than before.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 7:54 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow... 5 grounders, 2 flies so far...

And hits the glove every time. Amazing.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 23, 2009 7:55 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs