Knuckle Curve » japan

Ichiro to the DL with a Bleeding Ulcer

Stephen Kersey — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:03:29 +0000

Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners has never been on the disabled list – until now. Due to a bleeding ulcer that has led to discomfort and fatigue, Ichiro will begin the 2009 MLB campaign on the disabled list. The Mariners will try to get off on the right foot without arguably their best player.

This offseason has been an extremely busy time for Ichiro. Playing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for Japan, he had the entire pressure of the country on him to bring home back-to-back WBC titles. Thanks to Ichiro’s game-winning hit, he was able to do just that.

Ichiro's Heroic Hit for Japan (Image: newscom)

Although he didn’t get many swings in during spring training, Ichiro hit .417. After missing the final three spring training games, doctors found that the problem was a bleeding ulcer.

Last year the Mariners massively underperformed, however Ichiro wasn’t part of the problem. He hit .310 with six homers, 42 RBIs and finished with more than 100 runs, 200 hits and a batting average of better than .300 for the eighth consecutive season in his career.

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Ichiro a Hero as Japan Wins 2009 WBC

Stephen Kersey — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:41:32 +0000

When Japan needed a big hit to win their second straight World Baseball Classic, they got the needed hit from their biggest star. Ichiro, who has been one of the best baseball players in the world over the last decade, hit a single in the top of the tenth inning to score two runs for Japan.

Ichiro a Hero for Japan (Image: Newscom)

After ending South Korea’s chances in the bottom of the 10th, Japan became successful in their bid to go 2-for-2 in the World Baseball Classic. In 2006, they won the inaugural WBC event.

Japan got up early in this ballgame but could never put South Korea away. After gaining a 1-0 lead, South Korea tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Japan scored once in the top of the seventh and top of the eighth, however South Korea forced extra innings by scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth and the bottom of the ninth.

Ichiro’s big hit came with runners on second and third for Japan. The hit was Ichiro’s fourth of the game in six at-bats. Now Ichiro gets to go to Japan as a hero and a two-time World Baseball Classic champion.

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Japan Eliminates Team USA in WBC

Stephen Kersey — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:48:23 +0000

Japan won the initial World Baseball Classic in 2006. On Monday, they will try to win the 2009 World Baseball Classic after defeating the United States on Sunday night by a final score of 9-4 to advance to the championship game.

Akinori Iwamura Bats for Japan (Image: Newscom)

The night started off well for the U.S. as they scored in the top of the first inning. After Japan tied it at one, the United States went up 2-1 on a David Wright RBI double in the third inning.

However, the wheels came off for the U.S. in the bottom of the fourth. Facing starter Roy Oswalt, Japan scored five times to go up 6-2 and they would never look back.

Getting the win for Japan was Daisuke Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka, who was the MVP of the 2006 WBC, remains undefeated in WBC play. His ERA for this year’s event stands at 2.45 after he gave up two earned runs in 4.2 innings.

In the championship game, Japan will face South Korea after South Korea defeated Venezuela on Saturday.

The 2009 World Baseball classic championship will take place at 9:30 PM EST at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

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USA Calls on Oswalt in Semifinals

Stephen Kersey — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:42:20 +0000

For their semifinal game against Japan, the United States will put the ball in Roy Oswalt’s hand. In his last outing, Oswalt delivered four shutout innings against the Netherlands in a must-win game.

Roy Oswalt, World Baseball Classic 2009 (Image: Newscom)

Facing another must-win game, the US is going back to the pitcher who is regarded by many as the best big game starter on the roster. The 31-year-old has spent his entire career with the Houston Astros.

Although Japan hasn’t officially named their starter, most followers expect Daisuke Matsuzaka to get the start. Last year with the Boston Red Sox, Matsuzaka had an 18-3 record with a 2.90 ERA.

The winner of the USA versus Japan will face the winner of Korea versus Venezuela. The championship game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic will take place on Monday at Dodger Stadium.

Japan won the first World Baseball Classic in 2006 and Matsuzaka was named the Most Valuable Player of the WBC.

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South Korea Wins Baseball Gold Medal – USA Bronze

Stephen Kersey — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:10:19 +0000

South Korea beat Cuba in the gold medal game in a game considered by many to be a major upset. Cuba has long been a power in Olympic baseball, however South Korea proved to be too good and too clutch as they won all nine of their games in the tournament.

Going into the tournament, many experts claimed that Cuba and Japan were the favorites. However, South Korea is the team that will go home with the gold medal for baseball.

Leading 3-2 in the ninth inning, the South Koreans forced a game-ending double play with the bases loaded. After the final out was recorded, a while celebration ensued.

In an earlier game, the United States shocked Japan to claim the bronze medal. Considering the Americans had only minor leaguers at their disposal, the bronze medal finish is a very good accomplishment. Japan, on the other hand, has to be disappointed by finishing fourth.

Here is a video of the highlights of the USA’s final game in which they took home the bronze medal.

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Who Might Be Coming Over from Japan in 2008?

Geoff Young — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:23:16 +0000

That’s the question Jackson Broder asks at East Windup Chronicle. He profiles several hitters and pitchers playing in Japan’s NPB who could make the jump to North America.

Kosuke Fukudome of the Chunichi Dragons has been getting a fair amount of play as a potential impact outfielder should he cross the pond. Jackson compares him to Bob Abreu, with the caveats that Fukudome recently underwent elbow surgery and that some of his power could be lost in translation on moving to MLB (sometimes you get Hideki Matsui, sometimes you get Kazuo Matsui).

The pitching side is less clear. As Akinori Otsuka, Shingo Takatsu, Takashi Saito, and Hideki Okajima have shown in recent years, Japan can be a virtual gold mine in terms of finding good, cheap relievers. With all the fuss over someone like Daisuke Matsuzaka, this fact often gets overlooked.

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