South Korea beats Venezuela 10-2 to reach WBC finals

What a HUGE crowd! If they could draw this kind of crowd to all the games there would definitely be increased interest in baseball as a whole.

This game, which I didn't see, doesn't look like it was all that exciting after the first three innings. I think SKorea must really have shocked Venezuela from the get-go because they seem to have played like crap after the first homer... and four errors?!

Kudos to the Korean team -- they pitched amazingly and hit extremely well. It would have been a slightly better game, perhaps (again, didn't see it), if Venezuela could have gotten in a few more runs in the third. Ah well. Korea has more than proven it's a force to be reckoned with, as has Venezuela.

Now... I hope the US wins so that it's not ANOTHER Japan/Korea game. As I said in the US/Japan prep. thread there would be a certain level of excitement to the two rivals meeting for the crown -- particularly since there has been a verbal debate over whether the WBC or Olympics show which country is the best, and this would 'prove' it -- but it would mean a world-wide plunge in interest, viewership, attendance, and it would be detrimental to the future of the tournament. If it were the US and Korea, on the other hand, it would be far more international, have fans from both countries pack the stadium, increase viewership (except in Japan), and possibly overall interest in the sport would pick up.

Good luck to all teams, regardless, but I do hope it's Korea vs. US in the final. Japan vs. Venezuela would also be a fun match to watch, and something different.

Congratulations to Korea for a well-played game. Yet again, it goes to show how great pitching and defense can overcome great hitting. Venezuela touted some great hitters, but just couldn't overcome tremendous pitching by the 22 year-old Yoon (I'm sure he caught the eye of some MLB scouts after his performance today). Wow! According to the announcers, Korea is now 13-3 in this WBC and the 2008 Beijing Olympics combined. The three losses of course, coming at the hands of Japan. Korea seems to be in the driver's seat now, since they have an off day tomorrow, and their pitchers are well-rested. Tomorrow's game between the U.S. and Japan will be interesting to watch. DiceK will be on the mound and is having an excellent tourney, but the Americans are ever dangerous and some of the players know DiceK, so will be well-prepared. Good luck to both teams!

Too bad it wasn't on TV like the other games.

Hotbox: "Wow! According to the announcers, Korea is now 13-3 in this WBC and the 2008 Beijing Olympics combined. The three losses of course, coming at the hands of Japan."

Really? Korea has only lost twice to Japan thusfar in the tournament, and didn't lose to any team at all in the Olympics.

Really? Korea has only lost twice to Japan thusfar in the tournament, and didn't lose to any team at all in the Olympics.

smithinjapan: Sorry, I meant this WBC and the last WBC combined. I guess if you included the Olympics, then Korea's record would be 22-3, with all three losses coming to Japan.

Hotbox: For a second after posting I thought maybe you meant including the last WBC, but then I knew the win record would have to be higher, too. Anyway, a good record, all told, but unfortunately not necessarily pointing out the victor of it.

It doesn't escape the international media, which is good.

Anyway, I look forward to the Japan/US game, moreso to see who will be playing Korea, but also because it's a pretty classic match up.

Anyway, I look forward to the Japan/US game, moreso to see who will be playing Korea, but also because it's a pretty classic match up.

Yeah, it should be a good matchup. I'm sure the U.S. and Japan won't be making as many errors as Venezuela did.

Hotbox: Agreed. I think the errors were the result of shock and the subsequent pressure more than anything. Once a single, costly error is made, it's much easier to repeat. The pressures of the Japan/US game will be a lot different.

Looks like it'll soon be time to change the name of the October MLB "World Series" in the USA to the MLB's Annual North America Championship Series. And expect every team to have a Korean on their roster by the time this eventually happens. Its a really impressive and well-deserved performance by the K-team. One that's been worked on for years and years, in the face of simultaneously battling all the other troubles their country and the world faces. I'm sure there's a story to be written here that equals that of Japan baseball history and development.

I knew that. Maybe we have to expect the 5th game Korea vs Japan again.

kwatt: "Maybe we have to expect the 5th game Korea vs Japan again."

No offense, but I hope not. It would be more interesting to see Korea vs. US and Japan vs. Venezuela.

I don't believe there's going to be a third place game, so we won't be seeing Japan vs. Venezuela, at least not for another 4 years.

thorgrim: Really? I can't recall if there was a final game in the last WBC or not, but there were third and fourth place teams. Do they base those then on runs scored or total wins?

I don't remember if there was a 3rd place game in the last WBC either, although I do remember there being some weird run-based, tie-breaking advancement system, as opposed to the not-all-that-much-better double elimination format this time around. Maybe they used it to determine the third best team.

But there's no 3rd place game on the schedule at the WBC web site.

Top of the 5th and Japan is leading 6-2. Looks like the USA will not be going into the final... But it is not over yet... But I think it is.

Japan vs Korea... what are the odds on the gambling sites?

9-4 Japan at the top of the ninth. Looks like a Japan vs RoK match for a change...