Home Staff Ed Easton Jr. America's Past Time?

America's Past Time?

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WBC       On March 20th 2006 the championship game of the World BaseballClassic was played. The game was played at Pet Co Park in San Diego, California in front of thousands of fans. The game was played on americansoil but was missing the hosts Team United States.

      

          The game was between Japan and Cuba with Team Japancoming out victorious 10 to 6. A notable player from the champion Japanteam was Ichiro Suzuki a major league star of the Seattle Mariners wasinstrumental in his team winning the gold. Japan dominated the tournamentoffensively leading all the teams in the tournament with a .311 team battingaverage and 10 team home runs. The Japanese are now the first everWorld Baseball Champions as this was the inaguaral tournament.The United States were viewed by many as the favorite towin the tournament but were instead eliminated in the quarterfinals after a loss to Mexico.

           The United States struggled offensively for the mostpart of the tournament, the only exception is the 17 to 0 win against ayoung amatuer South Africa team. The United States also recievedexcellent run support from major league veterans Ken Griffey Jr andDerek Lee who each connected 3 home runs. The rest of the team ecspecially Texas Rangers slugger Mark Tiexera who was unable to record a single hit struggled and it resulted in the 3 loses.

         The United States were also hurt by poor pitchingperformances from left hander Dontrelle Willis of the Florida Marlins.Willis lost both of his starts in the tournament after giving up severalruns in critical situations. Roger Clemens pitched well in the tournamentup until his last start against Mexico as he was on the losing end of theelimination game. That game could possibly be the last time we seethe great future hall of famer Roger Clemens as he is yet to sign witha major league team.

           The United States team now goes it’s seperate ways asthe all star array of players report to spring training with their perspectiveteams. The tournament result may be viewed as a failure by many butsome who were not supporters of the tournament feel it was successful.The non supporters of the classic felt it put the major league players atrisk for injury before the start of the upcoming season. This year theteams were fortunate not to have any significant injuries to report.

            The World Baseball Classic may have varied reactionsamong baseball purists and fans alike. It has however done its job anddisplayed different cultures and talents around the world. The tournamenthas also given the United States a wake up call regarding the fundamentalsof the game it made baseball. 

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