Canada - 101 001 101 - 5 7 11st: With one out, Martin walked, Votto singled him to third and he scored on Morneau's grounder to first. Bay walked and Stairs got plunked, but there was no further damage. ... CI hit a one-out double for the States, but Johnson got Jones and Wright on strikes.
United States - 010 302 00x - 6 9 0
2nd: Yook and Dunn walked, a FC put Yook on third and McCann's sacrifice fly to CF tied the game.
3rd: Votto crushed a one-out doung to right-centre. Morneau wealked, but Peavy fanned Bay and Stairs. ... Johnson needed only seven pitches to retire CI, Chipper and Wright.
4th: Hawkins relieved Peavy. He kept the ball in the infield and allowed only a one-out walk. ... Yook bopped a solo dong to right to start the bottom half, then Dunn walked on four pitches. After a mound visit, Johnson fanned Braun, but surrendered a two-run bomb to right to McCann. At 63 pitches, he is likely done.
5th: Facing Matt Thornton, Martin, Votto and Morneau went quietly in order. ... Jeter singled and Rollins came into run. Two outs later, he was caught stealing.
6th: Bay walked, took third on a one-out double by Teahen, and scored on a wild pitch. US 4-3. ... Yook walked to start things off and Dunn homered to left-centre. US 6-3.
7th: Facing Shields, Martin hit a one-out doung to left. Votto singled and after Morneau struck out, Bay walked (for the third time). But Stairs fanned. ... Pedroia doubled, Rollins singled, and after a wild pitch, Jones walked. Based loaded against Phillippe Aumont, but he escaped: Wright lined softly to short and Yook and Granderson went down swinging.
8th: Weglarz worked a one-out walk, but Orr GIDP. ... The US loaded the bases on a walk, single and an error, but Jones fanned to end the inning.
9th: Putz pitching. Pinch-hitter Adam Stern nearly beat out an infield grounder into the shortstop hole, but Rollins made the play. Very close at first, but it was the right call. Then Martin and Votto (4-for-5) hit back-to-back doubles to cut the lead to 6-5. Votto went to third on Morneau's groundout and Brett Lawrie came in as a pinch-runner. Bay looked at two strikes, then took three balls, then fouled off two more pitches -- before flying easily out to right. Damn.
***
Lineups below!
***
Adam Stern led Canada to an 8-6 victory over the United States in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. The two countries meet again today at 2 PM in Toronto before an expected Skydome crowd of 40,000. The game will be broadcast by ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and MLB.TV.
If Canada wins again, it will likely be because they pounded the hell out of the ball. Jeff Francis, Erik Bedard and Rich Harden are absent because of injuries and Ryan Dempster declined to participate, so Canada's pitching staff is weak.
RHP Mike Johnson -- a 17th-round draft choice of the Blue Jays in 1993 who pitched in 81 games with the Orioles and Expos from 1997-2001 -- starts against the US. Johnson, 33, pitched in Taiwan last year (after two seasons in independent leagues) and says the WBC will be the final games of his professional career. ... Jake Peavy gets the ball for the US. ... There is a pitch limit of 65 pitches per game in Round One.
On Thursday, in its last exhibition tuneup before the tournament, Canada whitewashed the Yankees 6-0, scoring all of their runs in the top of the first inning. MFY starter Joba Chamberlain was unable to record an out. In fact, he could barely throw a strike. Joba walked four of the five batters he faced (two with the bases loaded); he also allowed a single and threw a wild pitch.
Lineups:
Jeter starts today, but Jimmy Rollins will be at shortstop for the US's second game, either Sunday or Monday.Canada United States
Barnwell, SS Pedroia, 2B
Martin, C Jeter, SS
Votto, DH CJones, DH
Morneau, 1B Wright, 3B
Bay, CF Youkilis, 1B
Stairs, RF Dunn, RF
Teahen, 3B Braun, LF
Weglarz, LF McCann, C
Orr, 2B Victorino, CF
Johnson, P Peavy, P
The other two teams in Pool C -- Venezuela and Italy -- play at 8 PM.
Pool D also plays today:
Netherlands (Sidney Ponson) vs. Dominican Republic (Edison Volquez), 11 AMIn Pool A, Japan routed Korea 14-2 this morning and advanced to the second round. Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-4-2-2-1, 65) started for Japan and allowed a two-run dong in the first. The game was called after seven innings because of the mercy rule.
Panama (Bruce Chen) vs. Puerto Rico (Javier Vazquez), 5 PM
Pool B begins play on Sunday: South Africa vs Cuba and Australia vs Mexico.
The WBC schedule is here and news articles here.
Murray Chass is insane. Totally, unreservedly batshit insane.
ReplyDelete...
Go Canada!
Plus your co-worker/friend took my ticket. Yay!
ReplyDeleteGo Canada!
It looks like the pool is setup to give USA a better chance this year.
ReplyDeleteHere in Tokyo Dice-K allowed a couple early runs but looked very sharp in the last two innings he pitched (BTW, the pitch limit in round one of the Asian pool is 70- are these rules really different in the North American pool?). The mercy rule was applied in the 7th inning. Tokyo Dome was filled to the brim and hopping- felt kind of bad for Korea (not only are these all home games for Japan, but Korea was missing most of their MLB players). But it was exciting to watch Team Japan with all the cylinders clicking (besides Daisuke's hiccup, their pitching was excellent-- and every starter had at least one hit, besides Iwamura, who had two walks). If they play like this in the next round there should be some exciting WBC games in the States.
ReplyDeletePEDRO on the mound for the DR!
ReplyDeletewith one out, a batter reaches off pedro on a bunt popup the catcher dove for and could not hold on to.
ReplyDelete5-4-3 DP ends the inning.
ReplyDeleteNetherlands 3-1 -- mid 5th.
Pontoon still on the hill. Let's go, DR!
ReplyDeleteI think Pedro looked good. I really like his fast breaking ball. The batter thought it was going to keep rising like a fastball and it dropped into the zone late in the pitch. Very sexy.
ReplyDeleteMLB has not updated the box score since sometime in the top of the 1st. It's now the top of the 6th. GO MLB!!!!!
ReplyDeleteVery nicccce
ReplyDeleteOatmeal!
ReplyDeleteDamn - I meant to bring a scorecard to work today for the game. But since I was not standing directly in front of the scorecard with my workbag in my hand when I thought of it ..... no scorecard.
ReplyDeleteI usually keep a few in my desk, but I must have either used them or brought them home at the end of last season (because those 2-3 pieces of paper were taking up so much room ...). Sigh.
I love Pedro.
ReplyDeleteFKR up 3-1 in the 2nd off Wake.
ReplyDeletePedro: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
ReplyDelete29 pitches, 22 strikes
Sox farm-hand Dennis Neuman, 19, on the mound for the Nederlands, gets out of trouble in the bot 8th.
Did anyone see this coming? The Netherlands?
ReplyDeleteI wish I had two TVs in here.
SoSHer in Amsterdam: "I'm getting me some beer to stay calm, this would be the biggest win ever for Dutch baseball, beating out the 2000 olympic win over Cuba."
ReplyDeleteOkay. Three TVs now!
ReplyDeleteThe Dutch are going to make it interesting!
ReplyDeleteFUCK - work.
ReplyDeleteCANADA 1-0!
ReplyDeleteVOTTO DOUNG!
ReplyDelete2-1 Canada!
The Olympics and the WBC are the only time I get patriotic. I think I'm going to make some apple pie tonight.
ReplyDeleteNice play by FY on a chopper to his right.
ReplyDeleteApple pie? Maybe I'll eat a doughnut.
It's a shame Canada doesn't have Gagne in the pen ...............
ReplyDeleteLaTroy Hawkins is the best the USA can send? We should have asked Mussina and Maddux to play.
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend won't bake during baseball/basketball playoffs/tournaments, because of an unfortunate incident during the 2005 ALDS.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to make the pie myself.
I need to find someone to join a USA! USA! chant.
YOUK! YEAH MOTHERFUCKER! U-S-A! U-S-A!
ReplyDeleteYOOOOOOOOOOOOK dong to RF ties the game at 2-2.
ReplyDeletefuck - this guy is cooked. go to the pen, you, whoever the manager of canada is.
ReplyDeleteChris Begg up for Canada.
ReplyDeleteIs it Larry Walker, or is he the hitting coach?
ReplyDeleteWalker is the hitting coach, pretty sure..
ReplyDeleteKa-BOOOOM! Brian McCann is studly.
ReplyDeleteU-S-A! U-S-A!
shit.
ReplyDeletetold ya he was toast.
also ruined the neat line score we had going
ReplyDelete101 0
010 1
that dong was on pitch 58. he's almost done anyway
ReplyDeleteCould've sworn GDGD listed managers, but it only lists umps.
ReplyDeleteMan, Steve Phillips loves Jeter. When McCann hit that sac fly, he said something like "Good job by McCann, not trying to do too much with it. I wonder if taking BP with Jeter has anything to do with that run"
ReplyDeleteAnd after the home run he says "McCann saying 'You may not pull the ball, Jeter, but I do'."
And with that, I'm gone. It's gorgeous out today, and I'm going to go be a tourist in the north end.
Steve Phillips loves Jeter. When McCann hit that sac fly, he said something like "Good job by McCann, not trying to do too much with it. I wonder if taking BP with Jeter has anything to do with that run"
ReplyDeleteI want to say you are making this up, you HAVE to be, but I know, sadly, that you are not.
Is that Ron Gardenhire managing for Canada? Oh, no, Canada has no chance!
ReplyDeleteHow many Red Sox in this game? Three? Bay, Youkilis and Pedroia?
Whatever happened to Adam Stern?
Ernie Whitt is the manager.
ReplyDelete"Jeter drifting out to left and will call off Braun, and Braun makes the catch."
ReplyDeleteStern is on the bench, ready to be the muthuh-fuckin' hero in the 9th.
ReplyDeleteBraun and Adrian Brody ... separated at birth?
ReplyDeleteErnie Whitt is the manager.
ReplyDeletePhew!
It looked like Gardenhire.
Stern's still playing for Baltimore's AAA club, or at least he was last year.
ReplyDeleteI wanna be a part of the rah-rah Canada crowd on Monday, but they would have to lose this game -- and I want them to beat the US again.
ReplyDeleteBegg in 2008: a 6.40 ERA in A ball.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm....
Meanwhile...
ReplyDeleteBOS - 010 010 3
FKR - 130 005 0
Of those nine runs the FKRs have scored, only two were earned, because there were five Sox errors.
"Jeter had to come between us and act like Switzerland."
ReplyDeleterollins runs for jeter - usa lineup just got better, damn it.
ReplyDelete"You want as many at bats for Jeter."
ReplyDeleteHe's the fucking captain of this team too?
"Captain America" according to the back page of today's Newsday.
ReplyDelete.... back to work ....
Go Russia!
ReplyDeleteThis Hanrahan fellow isn't very good, is he.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I despise so much about the States, I still can't help but root for my guys.
ReplyDeleteKick their asses, USA!
Hey, the U.S. is better now that we've got a new bunch of assholes in charge. We're finding new and exciting ways to fuck stuff up now, and once in a while we surprise ourselves.
ReplyDeleteDunn and done.
ReplyDelete"As much as I despise so much about the States, I still can't help but root for my guys.
ReplyDeleteKick their asses, USA!"
Couldn't you just as easily say, "As much as I love the States, I can't bring myself to root for Yankees. Go other team!"?
(I'm rooting for the Red Sox guys, but against the USA. Also, when a Red Sox hits a ground ball to a fielder, at that point I root for the out, because if there's an error, it helps the US but doesn't help the Sox player's average.)
we've got a new bunch of assholes in charge
ReplyDeleteYep.
Canada rockin' against Panty Shields!
ReplyDeleteLET'S GO BAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThree walks for Bay?
ReplyDeleteOoh, the Stair-Mattster, up as the go-ahead run! I always thought he'd be like an all-time great Red Sox...
ReplyDeletegood eye, bay!
ReplyDeletego-ahead run at le dish -- stairs!
yep - 3 walks for bay.
ReplyDeletefuckin' stairs. fatass.
ReplyDeleteHairway to Steven strikes out. Still time for the Cans.
ReplyDeleteFY!
ReplyDelete"On Canadian soil"
ReplyDeleteOr at least astroturf.
Why does Aumont have pitch restrictions? He's just an A-level player.
ReplyDeleteBleh.
ReplyDeleteAumont's M is totally an upside-down W. Compare to other Canadians' Ms.
ReplyDeleteFavorite trophy isn't even a trophy?
ReplyDelete"No Jon Miller. No Joe Morgan."
ReplyDeleteA man can dream.
So -- any word on who will pitch the 9th for the US?
ReplyDeleteThey haven't mentioned anything.
ReplyDeletePUTZ
ReplyDeletePutz.
ReplyDeletebreak it up
ReplyDeleteMaybe Barnwell gets plunked, then Martin, Votto, Morneau, Bay ...
ReplyDeleteDoable.
Stern! The Babe Ruth of Canada!!!
ReplyDeleteNo heroics from Stern.
ReplyDeleteshit - jetes woulda effed that up.
ReplyDeleteAny chance the Dodgers want to trade us their catcher?
ReplyDeleteFUCK YEAH, EH?
ReplyDeleteyes we Canada
ReplyDeleterowdy crowd gettin' to putz?
ReplyDeleteYeah!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid Putz will dilute the amount of MFY schadenfreude the NY tabloids will be able to fit onto their back pages this season.
ReplyDeleteBaylieve
ReplyDeleteIt's Bay Time!
ReplyDeleteGimme that fish, Bay.
ReplyDeleteBleh.
ReplyDeleteSo I'll see Canada.
ReplyDeleteShut up Putz, you almost blew the game. Don't go all Frod on us.
Oh, dangit, Jason! That looked like a pretty fat, pitch, too.
ReplyDeleteOK, time for the main event, Hockey Night in Canada.
I got more work, so modding is back on. I'll take it off when the 8 PM game starts if anyone is watching.
ReplyDeleteModding back off yet?
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
ReplyDeleteOh yay for Joe Migraine huh?
ReplyDeleteWhy's Lenny DiNardo even playing for Italy? He was born in Miami.
ReplyDeleteDiNardo pulled before recording an out. 4-0 VEN.
ReplyDeleteThe qualifications are a bit elastic. Most of the MLBers for Italy are Italian-Americans; not actually born there. Others really like spaghetti.
ReplyDeleteI can't stand Abreu, even now that he's off the MFYs.
ReplyDeleteSPG - 000 000 000 | 0 08 1
ReplyDeleteVEN - 000 040 12X | 7 11 1