EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Cuba vs. Venezuela (1pm) Cuba was demolished by Puerto Rico on Friday. One has to wonder if they held back their best players in a nothing game, or if the team was exposed. Part of the problem Cuban baseball has is that they have never faced the best players in the world. In last year's World Cup, the best hitter on the American team was Josh Phelps. Johan Santana will start the game for the Venezuelans. Japan vs. United States (4pm) Jake Peavy battles Koji Uehara. The Japanese players are certainly good enough to upset the Americans, especially with Ichiro in the lineup. Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic (8pm) Javier Vazquez vs. Bartolo Colon. This is the best chance for an upset. The Puerto Ricans have the hitting, and Vazquez should keep them in the game. Mexico vs. Korea (11pm) No starters have been announced. This game will likely see little attention, but it is important. Pool 1 is essentially a dogfight between three teams to see who advances versus the U.S., at least on paper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Is this single elimination? Japan and Korea should have the advantage, of having not played since last week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Is this single elimination? Japan and Korea should have the advantage, of having not played since last week. It's a three game round robin, same format as last round. The top two teams from both groups advance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shooting Star 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 LMAO! when the Cubans hit the second homerun all the players started hugging and congratulating Fidel's son like he was the one who hit it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Alright, so I haven't really watched baseball for a very, very long time until this thing's come around, as I'm extremely interested in Cuba's chances (for fairly obvious reasons- mainly that I'm Cuban). Cuban manager Higinio Velez said,"Our second-line pitchers did not come through and we couldn't use our best pitchers today. That was the fundamental cause of our defeat." So does that sound like they were exposed? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Princess Leena Report post Posted March 12, 2006 So, the semifinals will be the Top 2 teams in each group against each other? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naiwf 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 I thought I heard that A1 plays B2 and A2 plays B1, I could be wrong though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 12, 2006 That Cuba game was good, but I'm hoping this Japan/USA game is great. Go US! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Shit lead off homerun from Ichiro. 1-0 Japan. Oh and according to the official website it'll be the top 2 in each division playing each other in the semis. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Yay solo shot for Chipper Jones, 3-1 Japan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naiwf 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Shit lead off homerun from Ichiro. 1-0 Japan. Oh and according to the official website it'll be the top 2 in each division playing each other in the semis. So they basically set this whole thing up so that the USA would have the easiest possible path to the final since we couldn't play the Dominican, Puerto Rico, Venezuela or Cuba until then. That's some serious bullshit right there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Lee hits a 2 run jack and it's 3-3 in the 6th. Great game so far, the Japanese have made some great plays in the field. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Alright, so I haven't really watched baseball for a very, very long time until this thing's come around, as I'm extremely interested in Cuba's chances (for fairly obvious reasons- mainly that I'm Cuban). Cuban manager Higinio Velez said,"Our second-line pitchers did not come through and we couldn't use our best pitchers today. That was the fundamental cause of our defeat." So does that sound like they were exposed? Not on the surface, but it's not like Puerto Rico was throwing their best pitchers either. Cuba was shut down by Dicky F'n Gonzalez. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 In fairness though, Cuba did beat Venezuela today. That makes the Cuba/Puerto Rico rematch key. It also would seemingly clear the path for the Dominicans to reach the semifinals, barring any screwups. I think Venezuela has easily been the disappointment of the tournament thus far. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 wow, I want the USA to win but this is some BULLSHIT home cooking here. What the fuck are they thinking?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
devo 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 What terrible officiating. Moving early and leaving the base early are two different things, but apparently these umpires don't know that. If Japan loses this game they have every right to complain about the results. That (blatantly incorrect) call changes the entire game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 12, 2006 That call was total horseshit and Japan has every right to complain. However, it was just a terrible call, and not some vast conspiracy for the US team. That won't stop people from calling it such though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2006 Would those officials overturn a run like that to the USA? I don't think they would Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naiwf 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2006 Would someone please explain the disputed call since I didn't see it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 13, 2006 The Japanese had the bases loaded with 1 out. They hit a sac-fly to left that scores the run, but the US challenged and said that the runner from 3rd left the bag before the ball was caught. The call was overturned and so the run was taken off the board and the inning ended. The problem was that he didn't leave the bag early and it was an awful call. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Angel_Grace_Blue 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2006 And Jeter gets plunked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mike546 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2006 WHY CAN'T YOU DO THAT IN THE PLAYOFFS YOU PIECE OF CRAP?!? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 13, 2006 USA wins, thanks to the bullshit call. Which means now I'll never hear the end of OMG secret nazi republican USA conspiracy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted March 13, 2006 And it needs to be said that outside of that horrid call, that was a GREAT game and I'd love to see these two rematch in the semis. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OSIcon Report post Posted March 13, 2006 Really fun game. Too bad that incorrect call will taint it a bit. Bad calls get made all the time but an umpire should never overturn a call unless he is 100% positive. I can't see how he could have been that positive that the runner left early. Bob Davidson isn't a good umpire. I can remember him making a few questionable calls (balks and strikes mainly) in Orioles games last season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mik 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2006 I'm gonna go out on a limb (ok, maybe not) and say that USA will not win this tournament. I watched the whole game and neither Fuentes or Nathan looked close to ready to pitch at a high level. If Buck Martinez is going to count on them at the end of games, forget it. And I think Venezuela is on the ropes after a loss to Cuba today. One last thing: how long until Japan's cleanup hitter comes to the US? 46 HR, 121 RBI and was .005 away from winning the triple crown two years in a row. Pretty impressive - and he LOOKS like a ball player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naiwf 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2006 I just saw it, and that was about what I expected. That's pretty sad that it had to happen here though. I'm sure Selig/MLB will excuse it though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Favre 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2006 This is why you need umps from a neutral side, not from the fucking US. Japan got screwed over. Luis Sojo is also the worst manager in the Classic. He only uses his good pitchers when they're up, and uses the absolute worse when they're down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shooting Star 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2006 Dominicans 1 and Puerto Ricans 0 after a homerun from Beltre Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jericholic82 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2006 WHY CAN'T YOU DO THAT IN THE PLAYOFFS YOU PIECE OF CRAP?!? its ok Mike, maybe if the rest of the team cna back it up this year it wont happen. anyhow good game today too bad about the blown call, but Buck showed some smarts in knowing that the home plate umpire is supposed to make that call. however if USA keeps playing this poorly they may get upset THIS Round Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
