I wrote about big decisions yesterday.  Venezuela made one by starting Carlos Silva in their semi-final against Korea and it backfired badly.  A five-run first inning catapulted the Koreans to a 10-2 victory and a Monday night contest against either the US or Japan.

Silva’s final line was 1.1 innings pitched with six hits (two of which were round-trippers) and seven runs conceded.  Along with the rest of the pitching staff, he wasn’t helped much by some dreadful defense that resulted in five errors: a WBC record not to be proud of.

Even so, it would be unfair to focus too much on Venezuela’s failings at the expense of a winning performance by Korea. 

The Olympic champions are on course to secure a famous double triumph that will cement their place as the leading international team.  Others might try and stake a claim to that title, not least Cuba, but overall talent and previous achievements should only count for so much.  Baseball, like all sports, is a results-orientated competition.  If Korea can make it two major international tournament victories in a row, you would have to say that they will be the team to beat heading into the next one: the Baseball World Cup in September.

Judging by the MLB.com Recap and various accounts of the game, what seemed a mouth-watering tie in prospect turned out to be a one-sided affair. 

It’s up to Japan and the US to make amends tonight and I’m sure they will.  The combination of two excellent teams fighting for a spot in the final should make for a cracking game. 

Whoever you are supporting, I hope you enjoy the game.

 

As the World Baseball Classic reaches a climax, the managers of the four remaining teams have some big decisions to make.  Most of them relate to picking which pitcher should take the mound for the semi-final.

The US have decided to start the Astros’ Roy Oswalt in the semi-final against Japan instead of Jake Peavy. Barry Bloom’s piece on the WBC website brings up the Padres’ ill-fated decision to hold Peavy back in the 2006 NLDS for a game five that never arrived, but this is a very different situation. 

In that case, the then-Padres manager Bruce Bochy’s other option was Woody Williams.  The US manager Davey Johnson has Oswalt to turn to.  While Williams had a solid career, there’s a world of difference there.  Add in the fact that Peavy has been hit all over the park in his previous two WBC starts and the decision looks entirely sensible.     

Bloom also notes that Japan’s manager Tatsunori Hara waited until the US had made their plans clear before confirming the news that Daisuke Matsuzaka will start the semi-final. 

Oswalt versus Dice-K? Sounds like a must-see contest.  It’s a shame it begins at one in the morning UK time.  A late night could be on the cards!

Japan would choose from Yu Darvish or Hisashi Iwakuma for the final if they make it through.  However the bigger issue could be the player who has just gone back to Japan.  Murata is their one true big-bopper and losing him is a big blow.  Not that the US will be crying about it.  They’ve had more than enough bad luck of their own when it comes to injuries. 

As for the other semi-final, Venezuela have opted for Carlos Silva over his Mariners team mate Felix Hernandez.  It could be a risky move.  Not many would choose Silva over King Felix in a must-win game, but he has pitched well in the Classic so far after a disastrous 2008 MLB season.

Korea will go with the impressive right-hander Suk-Min Yoon.  He faces a very tough batting lineup, but don’t count the Koreans out.

Four teams left and you can’t choose between them.  The semi-finals should live up to the ‘classic’ billing.