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I didnt see a thread for this and it really deserves one. This year's WBC has been terrific. Even if you didnt watch any game except the one last night, it's been terrific. Last night's game was one of the best I've seen at any level for a long time. The climax created an instant classic. In case you dont know, the phenom, Roki Sasaki started for Japan. His stuff was electric and he averaged over 100 mph w his 4-seamer. He allowed 2 weak singles in the 4th and then made a mistake to Luis Urias, who hit a 3-run HR to left center to put Mexico ahead. Japan was kept off the board until the 7th when new import Masataka Yoshida golfed a pitch down the RF line for a 3-run HR to tie it. Japan ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up a couple runs in the 8th to put Mexico back ahead 5-3. Japan made it 5-4 in the bottom of the 8th to set up the epic finish in the 9th. Giovanny Gallegos came in to try to close it out. Ohtani led off w a solid 2B to rt center. Yoshida walked to put the winning run on. That brought up the best hitter still in Japan, Munetaka Murakami, who was having a miserable tournament. He had struck out 3 times and popped out in this game. He lined the 3rd pitch off the wall in left center to walk it off. If you missed it, watch the highlights, including the Japanese broadcast. It was great to see the celebration of the Japanese team, including Ohtani hugging his Samurai Japan teammate, Lars Nootbaar, who has all of a sudden become very popular in Japan, and Angels teammate and Mexico starter, Patrick Sandoval, who pitched great in stifling the powerful LHed Japanese hitters. Props also to the Mexican team, who had a great tournament, almost making the finals for the first time. It's a shame they had to lose this game. Oh yeah, Randy Arozarena (from Cuba but playing for Mexico) had a great catch to rob Japan of a HR and did an epic fake out of everyone as to whether he caught it or not, which I've never seen anyone do before.
That sets up the final tonite between Japan and the defending champion USA team, which had its own epic finish a few nights ago w Trea Turner hitting a granny to put USA ahead of Venezuela late in the game. It's the final a lot of people were hoping for and I will be glued to the TV.
I believe this WBC has the highest attendance and most TV viewership of any WBC. And I think the caliber of players is the best it's ever been for this tournament. It's done a lot to promote baseball internationally. In an increasingly troubled world, it's great that countries from around the world can put on a tournament like this. I see nothing but upside to it. Since baseball's inclusion in future Olympics remains very uncertain (it will not be in the 2024 games in Paris), the WBC has essentially become the Olympics for baseball for the time being.
That sets up the final tonite between Japan and the defending champion USA team, which had its own epic finish a few nights ago w Trea Turner hitting a granny to put USA ahead of Venezuela late in the game. It's the final a lot of people were hoping for and I will be glued to the TV.
I believe this WBC has the highest attendance and most TV viewership of any WBC. And I think the caliber of players is the best it's ever been for this tournament. It's done a lot to promote baseball internationally. In an increasingly troubled world, it's great that countries from around the world can put on a tournament like this. I see nothing but upside to it. Since baseball's inclusion in future Olympics remains very uncertain (it will not be in the 2024 games in Paris), the WBC has essentially become the Olympics for baseball for the time being.
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