Puerto Rico ousts Japan from WBC

Does this mean no more TV coverage of the WBC in japan?

Darvish and Ichiro should have been strongly encouraged by both their MLB teams to take part in the interest of promoting the game's global appeal. And the same applies to the U.S. major leaguers.

With literally multi-million dollar contracts on the line it is very easy to understand why MLB teams do not encourage their players to participate. An injury now could affect their teams during the regular season and when $$$$$$ talk, people listen.

smithinjapan

Of course, I understand why some MLB players opted out. But lots did play. Some Puerto Rican players have multimillion-dollar MLB contracts - Molina, Beltran - but they didn't pull out.

My point is that playing for your country should be the pinnacle of any sport. It also diminishes the tournament for fans when you don't have all the stars playing.

This is probably good for the overall global popularity of the WBC. If Japan mopped the floor with everybody time after time, what little interest was there from the beginning would fade fast. Stronger Latin American teams are going to mean more passion over the tournament next time. And maybe even Japanese major leaguers playing next time to get the title back?

Of course Puerto Rico would win. They have both an Angel and Jesus on their team!

smithinjapanMar. 18, 2013 - 03:02PM JST

For me to be satisfied they would not stop broadcasting it as they have been all along, but if the Olympics or any other sporting event are proof (when Japan is eliminated) this will cease to be reported soon, at least beyond a footnote.

Totally agree. The myopic approach to sport in Japan is one of the many failings of the media in Japan.

A typical Monday morning broadcat.... 'Now Premier soccer and Kagawa did........ cue girl broadcaster having a near orgasm followed by a 2 minute highlight with Kagawa highlighted with a red circle... In Russian soccer, Honda did...... and finally MLB and Ichiro hit 5 for 6....

@Braniac, I totally agree with you! Playing for the love and pride that you have in your COUNTRY and not just BORING $$$$ should really be something that all players strive for, so the USA played quite boring...etc... If this tournament has been an homage to anything, it's not the superiority of the baseball players from other countries. It's how much better their fans are than ours and how it works in beautiful symbiosis with their players. And how instead of criticizing the style of Latin American baseball, we not only should embrace it but try to emulate it. This is from another sports article.

Good. I'm glad we don't have to put up with the constant raving about how amazing Japan are for a while.

(reposted this from another thread; this thread now more relevant!) As the US commentator pointed out, Japans manager Koji Yamamotos "small baseball mentality" (i.e. bunt, bunt, bunt) cost them dearly when he assumed the Puerto Rican manager would employ the same tedious strategy. Alex Rios (who hit the 2-run homer) has never bunted in his life, so keeping Nomi on for one more batter because Yamamoto thought a bunt was coming proved fatal. Many times, you see even clean-up batters bunting in Japanese baseball and most no.2 batters are selected for their bunting ability. You know that if the lead-off batter gets on a bunt is coming about 95% of the time. So weak, so predictable, so boring.

Great to see a minnow get up! I admit I know little about baseball, but Japanese colleagues of mine had been telling me Japan were specials for the tourney due to their "superior teamwork". Good luck in the finals Puerto Rico!

I'm proud that my country, Puerto Rico won. As we say in in PR ....WEPA!!!! Good try, Japan. Now DR is the team to beat.

Classic !!!

Otsukaresama Nippon.

Who knew that choke was actually spelled U-C-H-I-K-A-W-A?

@Brainiac:

Point taken.................... then again.

Mark Teixeira says he has a partially torn tendon sheath in his right wrist and didn't rule out missing up to two months of the regular season. The first baseman rejoined the New York Yankees at spring training Sunday after getting hurt March 5 while with the U.S. team at the World Baseball Classic

Excellent. No more boreball on TV.

It's good to see a country serious about advancing in this sport, serious about being taken seriously . And as has been pointed out there are those who have different priorities.

The PR team dominated and dictated the tempo of the game. The pitchers in particular never let the Japanese hitters get comfortable at the plate. They deserved the win.

Congrats to Puerto Rico! They played a good game and deserved the win. Japan needs to stop playing small ball!

Funny that PR is a country. I have never seen a Puerto Rican passport or currency or embassy....

True they are a an US territory, which basically means that they are US citizens without voting rights So now it`s up to the Dutch to provide a territory vs colony final..it's the tcbc!

Does this mean no more TV coverage of the WBC in Japan?

I'm watching the Netherlands vs Dominica game on channel 6 right now. I also saw the results of the Japan game on the news last night.

Too bad.

The runout mess by Japan in the bottom of the eighth will cop a lot of heat. And maybe rightly so, it felt like a game defining moment.

Having said that, guess who was at the plate at that moment and at at least two other times during the match with runners on and failed to hit the ball? CAPTAIN ABE!

Wait ! They are not going to play US and then Puerto Rico at least 2 more times ??? I got used to watch same game repeated over and over again...

Daijiboots: "Having said that, guess who was at the plate at that moment and at at least two other times during the match with runners on and failed to hit the ball? CAPTAIN ABE!"

Ah, so you agree with me on the media over-hype. Thank you. Anyway, now that Japan's lost I guess we'll probably not hear much if anything in the media about this tournament at all. It'll be interesting to hear how people respond to the loss, if they bother to remember it. When SK won Olympic gold in baseball it was heard time and time again that the Olympics, which previously were considered the ultimate goal for Japanese players in terms of international events, had 'no meaning' because they were the champions in the WBC. Now they are not, and are not the Olympic champions. What's the excuse going to be, I wonder. They couldn't have MLB players?

Brainiac: Geez... for a brainiac you can't really see why the MLB doesn't want its multi-million dollar players getting injured in a tournament that has no relation to their contract in the MLB?

Anyway, good on Puerto Rico -- they have been really surprising and have done really well. I hope they go all the way and win it.

I'm surprised that Japan made it to the semi-finals, considering that first they weren't going to go because of money issues, then they threw together a team at the last minute. Plus, they were probably jet lagged, unlike PR.

And here come the excuse!!!!

lol!!!

according to him, the media are neutral about this kind of thing

According to your blah blah. Turn on your tv. Watch and learn something. As for neutral, find me a country that doesn't highlight their own players. That's what people want to see. If they want more comprehensive info, they will get it themselves.

was smog to blame?

SpanishEye no offense, Puerto Rico is not country, it's an unincorporated territory....That being said I'm glad they won, the WBC is now interesting with either a European or North American Champion. Personally I want to see the DR/PR rematch!!!!

asi es como la galletita cae, that is all folks,!! japan should make a ladies baseball league, they will win all championship, shame on the japanese major league player!!

Anyway, now that Japan's lost I guess we'll probably not hear much if anything in the media about this tournament at all

Take a look at any of the Japanese media right now, later in the day, tomorrow, and as late as the weekend.

daijoboots: "How short would this period have to be for you to be satisfied?"

For me to be satisfied they would not stop broadcasting it as they have been all along, but if the Olympics or any other sporting event are proof (when Japan is eliminated) this will cease to be reported soon, at least beyond a footnote.

Daijoboots: "What? No. I'm still awaiting your response on the appropriate thread."

You did on this thread.

Wow. Cool. I didn't know the World Baseball Classic existed until just now.

oh it is good that someone other than Japan win this year.. although it is a shame that Japan is out with one loss in this silly format.. US does not do well in this crap shoot format... it should be a 2/3 series in semi and final but it is good for beisbol that the beaners win for once, Cuba is the one that is surprising and should be shamed they suck.. all that is left is to say.. Don't ya know.. Robison Cano and los Dominicanos Ole Ole Ole.. PR is not a beisbol country.. they play Basketball.

Well, when I say hit, I mean in a good productive sort of way that doesn't result in him or someone else getting out and ending the inning.

Oh, it will be reported for a very short time indeed, then nothing.

How short would this period have to be for you to be satisfied?

Ummm... yes, you did agree with me in regards to your comment on Abe

What? No. I'm still awaiting your response on the appropriate thread.

this will cease to be reported soon

"Soon." It's all over the place and will be "for some time". Just how long do you want them to go on about a loss?

You did on this thread.

I did what on this thread. Don't run away from the thread in concern now.

Domican wil win this year!

I knew this would happen, this year Dominicans and Puerto Rican have taken the games seriously.

This time around Japan meet with real players not with armatures like the last two tournaments.

gokai: "Plus, they were probably jet lagged,"

They weren't jet-lagged before the semis, if at all. In any case, how did they do well before if jet-lag is such a big factor? Sounds more like an excuse. PR is doing very well; Japan did not (not only in this game). Give credit where it's due instead of sounding like a media broadcast.

Dog: Exactly!

Probie: "Good. I'm glad we don't have to put up with the constant raving about how amazing Japan are for a while."

Exactly... but don't tell Daijoboots; according to him, the media are neutral about this kind of thing and will go on broadcasting as usual.

You agreed with me in regards to the media

I really didn't, and I note you have slinked away from the thread in question.

The player whom the media pumped quite a lot when he was up to bat and otherwise, and whom you put in capital letters for emphasis. My guess is the media will be slightly less enthusiastic in pointing out that which you did -- it was the good ol' captain who failed the team numerous times.

The guy has all kinds of results in Japan and is one of (if not the) most paid player(s). Why don't you stop guessing and watch the media to see what they do? You just might learn something.

I still have yet to see you congratulate PR. Don't you think they deserve it?

Um, congratulations. Happy?

P.S. I hope PR get smashed in the final (but only if you are supporting them.)

YongYang: "Excellent. No more boreball on TV."

Exactly what I've been saying.

Kimokekahuna: "oh it is good that someone other than Japan win this year.."

Maybe the first time we are in agreement. It's not fun if the same team keeps winning time and time again, and it's good to see some competition.

"although it is a shame that Japan is out with one loss in this silly format.."

FINALLY, a Japan fan admitting the whole format of the WBC is whacked! Don't forget, in the original WBC South Korea beat Japan twice and then lost to them ONCE after being undefeated for Japan to win the championship. The whole system is ridiculous, and perhaps this loss will get people here seeing that, finally.

Angel Pagan, or Pagan Angel ...... sounds like an 80's thrash metal band .

Ah, so you agree with me on the media over-hype. Thank you.

What? No.

Who knew that choke was actually spelled U-C-H-I-K-A-W-A?

Was it his fault though? What was the deal with Ibata on second bolting for third? I think Uchikawa saw that and thought, yep I'm going as well.

Abe popped a fly after that and failed to do anything with any of his at-bats, leaving runners stranded three times. That's choking multiple times for someone fourth in the batting line up.

But you miss the key point -- Japanese don't WANT more comprehensive info if they are not involved, and that's in part a result of an extremely bias, extremely poor media

Two things lady - 1) not everyone in Japan is the same, and b) even I like to see how the Japanese are doing in various sports, and there are sports I couldn't care less about it if Japanese weren't involved.

Why do you get so upset if coverage is not to your liking? You don't have to watch/read it, and there are other places for you to go.

The PR had Yadier Molina, Angel Pagan, Alex Rios, and Carlos Beltran in their lineup. Their pitching was good as anybody. Give credit to PR. Japan has mostly line drive hitters and few power hitters. It'ss hard for Japan to come from behind at the big AT&T park against the lineup like the PR.

This tournament should be a lesson to both Japan and the U.S. to field their top players. Darvish and Ichiro should have been strongly encouraged by both their MLB teams to take part in the interest of promoting the game's global appeal. And the same applies to the U.S. major leaguers.

Brainiac: "My point is that playing for your country should be the pinnacle of any sport."

No it should not -- not when you could get injured and another franchise has to support you while gaining nothing. If professionals are to play for their nation while under contracts to a completely unrelated league or what have you, the nation should sign a contract stating they will pay any and all injury costs plus the full contract to the league that has originally contracted the player. The MLB's not letting the best of the pros in this event because it has no meaning, and because it does nothing for them -- worse yet, in the past it has gotten their players injured and put them on the disabled list in regular MLB season. Any players on any team that were allowed to play are not considered major players. The US for the past two years has not had any of their best MLB players on the roster at the WBC despite Japan doing so until last year, for the same reason.

Daijoboots: Oh, it will be reported for a very short time indeed, then nothing.

"What? No."

Ummm... yes, you did agree with me in regards to your comment on Abe. Hasn't he been hyped time and again on this team?

cubic: "Looks like this year's WBC is pretty much a marketing ploy to increase the potential of baseball as a business in Central America."

As opposed to a 'marketing ploy' in Asia? Come on... you can come up with better excuses than that!

Daijoboots: "According to your blah blah."

What an eloquent retort!

"Watch and learn something."

And yet you follow this with:

"As for neutral, find me a country that doesn't highlight their own players."

Plenty of nations, if not all, favor their own players. It doesn't mean they stop broadcasting or reporting with the same enthusiasm once their team/players are done. Japan is renowned for this, as is the US, but at least the latter continues to show the sport(s) for the most part.

"That's what people want to see. If they want more comprehensive info, they will get it themselves."

The name for that is 'lemmings'. I want access to ALL the information, and it is not available to me here once Japan loses out. Nowhere on this site could I find the results for the US/Canada game for example (I may have missed it). I knew the result when there was an article about the US losing to Puerto Rico, and this is more international than the J-media alone!

But you miss the key point -- Japanese don't WANT more comprehensive info if they are not involved, and that's in part a result of an extremely bias, extremely poor media. I always know when Japan loses because everyone is silent the next day. I know, of course, when they win because suddenly everyone is has jumped n the wagon as a fan. I have Japanese friends who were excited about seeing Mao perform in London (they learned that Canada has one too!) until she finished six in the first round. After that they stopped watching.

I'd also like to add that Abe left Uchikawa on third (solo hit) earlier in the game.

Also, the most important players were not there! Darvish, Ichiro, the list goes on. Where were they!!! They should loose their Japanese nationality! Give them to America.

Gokai: "Also, the most important players were not there! Darvish, Ichiro, the list goes on. Where were they!!! They should loose their Japanese nationality! Give them to America."

Excuses, excuses. Do you think the top MLB players were playing for the US team? And BTW, it's "lose", not "loose".

Daijoboots: "I did what on this thread. Don't run away from the thread in concern now."

You agreed with me in regards to the media, which I thanked you for at least twice. But hey, let's take a look at your original comment.

"Having said that, guess who was at the plate at that moment and at at least two other times during the match with runners on and failed to hit the ball? CAPTAIN ABE!"

The player whom the media pumped quite a lot when he was up to bat and otherwise, and whom you put in capital letters for emphasis. My guess is the media will be slightly less enthusiastic in pointing out that which you did -- it was the good ol' captain who failed the team numerous times.

I still have yet to see you congratulate PR. Don't you think they deserve it?

Looks like this year's WBC is pretty much a marketing ploy to increase the potential of baseball as a business in Central America.

I'm surprised that Japan made it to the semi-finals, considering that first they weren't going to go because of money issues, then they threw together a team at the last minute. Plus, they were probably jet lagged, unlike PR.