Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

I fell asleep in the 3rd inning but was up long enough to see Korea’s first two innings and the pummeling that Hugo’s boys took to start the game. It was 7-1 when I hit the sack and Korea ended up winning 10-2.

Korea now goes to face the winner of tonight’s Japan/USA semi final.

From everything I’ve seen in this tournament Japan should win this game, they have had timely hitting and great pitching and the only team that has given them any trouble has been their arch rival Korea. The US on the other hand has lost to Venezuela twice and Puerto Rico by mercy. There is one ace in the hole for the US team.

Japan is starting Daisuke Matsuzaka for the game against the US. He has now pitched two seasons in the majors for the Red Sox helping us to our second World series title in 4 years. The US team has seen this guy and that might be the edge necessary to win the day. Much better to start a pitcher that hasn’t been seen to slow the team down.

Anyway If I have to make a prediction I’d say it will be an all Asian final.

If there was ever a time when Castro’s son might be tempted to defect it would be now as not only has the Cuban team failed to make the final 4 but given the change to avenge their defeat to Japan of three years ago managed to be shut out twice!

Might I suggest that this would be a great time for the lot of them to decide to hang around in the US. Perhaps Castro won’t want them back after this.

On the bright side for Latin American dictators Venezuela continued to impress defeating the US in the seeding game winning it’s 5th straight. The game is meaningless (I actually think they should drop the seeding game myself).

The last seeding game puts Japan against Korea for the 4th time in the tourney. It appears that Korea, Japan’s arch rival has been the only team that can handle them. I must say I have absolutely no idea who is going to win this one. The winner gets the US and the loser gets Venezuela. Since they have split their games lets say Japan wins and faces the US and Korea faces Venezuela. I would not be surprised to see a Japan Korea final although MLB would consider that it’s nightmare scenario.

Considering that Puerto Rico is a part of the US it amounts to beating yourself but an amazing 9th inning comeback brought the US from the brink of elimination to the Final pool of the WBC.

Now the question who do you want to play in final round Korea, Japan or Cuba? All are nasty.

On the other side of the country a sloppy first inning made the difference as Korea beat Japan to clinch their spot in the final four.

This sets up the last meaningful game of this pool tonight Japan vs Cuba at 11 p.m.

This is Cuba’s last chance to avenge their defeat of last year and their shutout by Japan earlier this round. I’ve got to give Japan the edge here.

The tune-up game between US and Venezuela this is their 3rd meeting in the tourney and it’s anybody’s game. It will be good baseball but this is the “scrubs” game. You’ve gotta be holding back your best for the one and out game this weekend.

Anyone who thought these games would be boring has been proven very wrong.

If Cuba was a free country watching this Cepeda might be as well known as his HOF namesake. As it is he will have to settle for picking up the Cuban team and putting it on his back.

Cuba used his key hitting to knock out Mexico 7-4. I frankly don’t see it being enough to take them past either Korea or Japan but in a single game anything can happen.

It remained a good day for dictator’s teams as Venezuela edged Puerto Rico 2-0 on outstanding pitching. Hugo’s team will be cheering for Korea today big time today.

Due to the injuries to the US team I have to give the PR team the edge against the US in the elimination game.

Korea and Japan is a wash today. I have to think Japan is the better team but a Korean win wouldn’t surprise me.