DALLAS—The International Baseball Federation held its congress in Dallas in advance of the Winter Meetings, announcing significant changes to the international baseball schedule.

Among the changes announced was the formal announcement that the title of 'world champion,' which the IBAF must designate as part of its charter, will now go to the winner of the World Baseball Classic. IBAF president Riccardo Fraccari also announced that Major League Baseball is launching the 18-and-under version of the Classic, which will replace IBAF's 18U World Junior Championship. The last IBAF 18U tournament will be held in 2012.

IBAF also announced two new events, one of which has been reported on previously. The top 12 finishers in the 2013 WBC will line up in 2015 for the Super 12 (previously reported as the Premier 12). In addition, IBAF announced a rebranding of the baseball World Cup, which starting in 2014 will be limited to players 21 and under. The 21U World Cup likely will become the premier tournament for USA Baseball's College National Team in the future, replacing the FISU World University Games, where the age limit is 27. [...] Continue Reading »

LOS ANGELES—The rising suns have risen again. But only after putting in some extra work.

Japan reprised its 2006 World Baseball Classic championship with an encore for 2009, defeating arch-nemesis South Korea here 5-3. And in true Hollywood fashion, it was Japan’s biggest star, Ichiro Suzuki, who got to play the hero. Ichiro stroked a solid two-strike, two-out single up the middle in the 10th inning to score two runs and give Japan its second straight WBC championship.
 
Japan and Korea are almost overly familiar foes. They faced each other twice each in the tourney’s first and second rounds, splitting the four games. In a winner-take-all rubber match, Japan took all, including the Tiffany & Co.-crafted 30-pound sterling silver hulk that is the World Baseball Classic trophy. [...] Continue Reading »

LOS ANGELES—In the end, USA manager Davey Johnson was a prophet.

Though we’re sure he wishes he wasn’t.

“Our offense has been good. Our pitching has not been where it should be,” he said before Sunday night’ semifinal game of the World Baseball Classic.

Sure enough, one bad inning was all Japan needed to defeat the United States, 9-4, and advance to the 2009 WBC final, where it will take on arch-rival South Korea at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.

“We played against Korea in Japan, and I felt we would play Korea many times again,” said Japan manager Tatsunori Hara.

Hara is a prophet, too. Japan will face Korea for the fifth time in this World Baseball Classic, the maximum number of times two teams can face each other. The two teams have split the previous four games. [...] Continue Reading »

LOS ANGELES—We’re all familiar with the term “winning ugly.” Tonight, Venezuela mastered the art of losing ugly.

Venezuela dug itself a massive early hole that it could not crawl up out of, almost overshadowing another well-played game by South Korea. It cruised to a 10-2 win and will play in the World Baseball Classic Championship game Monday night against the winner of Sunday’s Japan-USA contest.

Venezuela endured a comedy of errors in the first inning that put them in a 5-0 hole before it ever came to bat. Starter Carlos Silva walked leadoff man Yong Kyu Lee, then right fielder Bobby Abreu dropped a lazy fly ball off the bat of Keun Woo Jeong. Adding insult to injury, Abreu’s throw in to second base was booted by shortstop Marco Scutaro, as Lee advanced in safely. The three-hole batter, Hyun Soo Kim, made them pay with an RBI bloop single into left, and cleanup man Tae Kyun Kim advanced the remaining runners and filled the bases with another bloop single into center. [...] Continue Reading »

Unless you’re a soccer fan, you’re probably not used to seeing the U.S. as an underdog in a major international sports competition. But here we are in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic—America’s Pastime—and Team USA is undoubtedly the underdog.

Team USA plays Japan at 8 p.m. ET Sunday in the second semifinal, with South Korea and Venezuela playing Saturday at the same time. The winners meet Monday at Dodger Stadium, site of all three games this weekend.

If you’re an American baseball fan who hasn’t paid attention to the World Baseball Classic, you may be shocked to find that the Americans’ pitching staff is not the deepest staff in the semifinals. In fact, you could argue that it is one of the thinnest.

Japan, which comes into the semifinals having allowed six runs in its first six games (for a sparkling 1.06 ERA) can send Red Sox righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who seems to pitch his best on the international stage, followed by 22-year-old phenom Yu Darvish. Or Japan could turn to Hisashi Iwakuma, fresh off his surgical amputation of Cuba’s bats, with Darvish bringing his 97 mph heat in from the pen. [...] Continue Reading »

By Kirk Kenney

SAN DIEGO—Ideally, the drama builds with each game in an international tournament.

If only that was the case Thursday night at Petco Park in the final game of the second round of the World Baseball Classic. Japan and South Korea have a spirited rivalry, but there was little on the line this time.

Can players be inspired to run through a wall for you with nothing but semifinal seeding at stake? Apparently not.

“Today, we didn’t put much meaning to winning or losing,” South Korea manager In Sik Kim said through an interpreter.

Said Japan manager Tatsunori Hara, also by way of translation: “Psychologically, I was—myself as well as the players — it was like a flat condition.”

For the record, defending WBC champion Japan defeated South Korea 6-2. At least the boisterous crowd of 14,832 brought its yeah game. [...] Continue Reading »

By Kirk Kenney

SAN DIEGO—Cuba has left the building—and the World Baseball Classic.

One, apparently, just moments after the other.

Japan continued its recent mastery of Cuba with a 5-0 victory before 9,774 on a foggy Wednesday night at Petco Park, sending the defending WBC champions on to the semifinals. In doing so, the Japanese sent the Cuban players—and most of their coaches—home from an international competition earlier than any of them can remember. [...] Continue Reading »

What Happened: Cuba has been the dominant team in international baseball for decades, but for the second time in four days, the Cubans had no answer to Japan’s pitching. Japan shut out Cuba 5-0 to advance to the semifinals while the Cubans were sent home much quicker than they had expected. With the loss, Cuba has failed to make it to the semifinals of a major international tournament for the first time in 49 tries. With Japan’s win, the final four are now set, although Japan will face South Korea tonight to determine seeding in Pool 1.

Japan shut out Cuba twice in four days and outscored Cuba 11-0 in the two games.
[...] Continue Reading »

By Juan C. Rodriguez

MIAMI SPRINGS—Their World Baseball Classic semifinal spots already secured, Venezuela and the United States played what amounted to a tune-up on a rainy South Florida Wednesday night before this weekend’s Dodger Stadium finale.

Settling for the runner-up spot after a 10-6 loss at Dolphin Stadium was least among Team USA manager Davey Johnson’s worries. Several of his pitchers remain in early spring training form and the team is moving forward minus yet another key player. [...] Continue Reading »

What Happened: South Korea is proving its Olympics gold medal was not a fluke. Korea topped 2006 World Baseball Classic champion Japan for the second time in two weeks to earn a spot in the semifinals. Korea scored three runs in the first, then hung on for a 3-1 win.

The U.S. came within two outs of elimination but rallied to score three runs in the ninth for a 6-5 win over Puerto Rico. David Wright proved to be the hero as he lined a 3-0 pitch down the right field line to drive in the winning run. [...] Continue Reading »

By Kirk Kenney

SAN DIEGO—The rivalry between Japan and South Korea begins in the stands, where fans for both teams chant and cheer, blow whistles and bang drums, wave flags and flail arms. Incessantly.

Give Korea the edge, if for no other reason than because that is the country where thundersticks were created.

It was lightning—three quick runs in the first inning—that enabled Korea to secure a spot in the World Baseball Classic semifinals Tuesday night with a 4-1 victory over Japan before 15,332 at Petco Park.

“The three runs in, that was heavy,” Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said through an interpreter, referring to South Korea’s three-run first off Japanese ace Yu Darvish.

Japan must now beat Cuba in Wednesday night’s elimination game if the Japanese are to have an opportunity to defend their WBC title.

Japan eliminated South Korea in the semifinals of the inaugural WBC in 2006. Give South Korea the edge now, if for no other reason than the country is playing at a higher level.

South Korea right fielder Jin Young Lee, who singled home two runs in the first inning, said the Koreans expect to win now when the teams meet. That confidence, no doubt, is the product of two wins over Korea on the way to last year’s gold medal at the Beijing Olympics and two more wins over their rivals this year in the WBC.

“In the first case (in 2006), Japan was one level higher than Korea, and also the players thought that way,” Lee said through an interpreter. “However, once we started the game with Japan, Korean players think we always have to win the game.

“In this case, I think it started from the Olympic Games. We won and we came up to this point here. I think we are at the same level, and I think they are our rival, and we thought we should win this game. That’s our preparedness in our mind.”

Korea starting pitcher Jungkeun Bong, who pitched briefly in the majors in 2003-04 for Atlanta and Cincinnati, limited Japan to one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. Bong didn’t dominate, walking three and striking out one, but he did win.

“In the beginning, I had difficulty controlling the ball, but I think I had a very good ball,” Bong said through an interpreter. “Throughout the ninth inning, we stated the best effort, and I think we got the good result like this.”

Japan’s Darvish didn’t look like he would make it past the first inning, but Korea didn’t get a runner past first base against the 22-year-old righthander over the next four innings.

Darvish, whose fastball reached 97 mph, allowed three runs and three hits in the first, escaping further damage with an inning-ending double play. A two-out single by Korea’s Tae Kyun Kim was the only baserunner Darvish allowed before he reached his 85-pitch limit.

The problem was Japan couldn’t get much of anything going offensively. A single run in the fifth inning marked the only time Japan was able to get a runner past second base against Bong and three relievers.

Bong suggested that Korea’s  “spiritual strength was stronger.”

Said Hara: “If you want to say that, that’s fine, but as far as we were concerned, the spirit, we are as one, and we unite together.”

Tell that to Cuba.

Kirk Kenney is a sportswriter based in San Diego

By Juan C. Rodriguez

MIAMI GARDENS—David Wright has stroked his share of big hits while wearing a Mets uniform. None compare to the one he got Tuesday with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth donning red, white and blue.

Wright’s soft liner down the right-field line brought home two runs and gave Team USA a 6-5 walk-off win over Puerto Rico in a World Baseball Classic elimination game at Dolphin Stadium. A modest, but enthusiastic crowd of 13,224 was on its feet and erupted as Brian Roberts and Jimmy Rollins crossed with the tying and winning runs three hours and 54 minutes after Ted Lilly threw the first pitch. [...] Continue Reading »

What Happened: Venezuela got a solid pitching performance from Felix Hernandez and even better work from four relievers to shut out Puerto Rico 2-0 to earn a spot in the semifinals. Cuba stayed alive with a 7-4 win over Mexico in an elimination game.

The Stars: Hernandez struck out seven, although he did allow four walks and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Venezuelan relievers Carlos Vasquez, Enrique Hernandez, Ramon Ramirez and Felix Rodriguez combined to allow only one hit in the final 4 1/3 innings. Ramon Hernandez homered for Venezuela.

[...] Continue Reading »

By Kirk Kenney

SAN DIEGO—Cuba manager Higinio Velez preached patience after the team’s World Baseball Classic loss on Sunday to Japan.

“Nobody will win this Classic without any lost games,” Velez said through an interpreter. “We have really good experience, we want to win, and we already are psychologically being prepared for tomorrow. Our fans need to stay calm and trust in us.”

Velez was good to his word in Monday night’s 7-4 victory over Mexico before 9,329 at Petco Park.

On Wednesday night, Cuba will play an elimination game against the loser of Tuesday night’s Japan-Korea game.

[...] Continue Reading »

By Kirk Kenney

SAN DIEGO—Baseball misspoken here.

The World Baseball Classic was created to bring cultures together, but something’s been lost in the translation.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a game.

Press conferences here have been almost comical on several occasions when answers from managers and players haven’t remotely matched up to the questions posed to them.

When it comes to misinterpreted rules, however, it is no laughing matter.

Just such a misunderstanding cost Cuba some members of its pitching staff in Monday night’s game against Mexico. [...] Continue Reading »

Venezuela became the first team to advance to the World Baseball Classic semifinals with a 2-0 win over Puerto Rico on Monday night. Venezuela starter Felix Hernandez struck out seven in 4 2/3 shutout innings to lead Venezuela.

Puerto Rico will now face the U.S. in an elimination game with the winner moving on to the semifinals.

By Kirk Kenney

SAN DIEGO — Korea used the long ball early and small ball late — real late — in the second round of the World Baseball Classic for an 8-2 victory over Mexico on Sunday night in front of 22,337 at Petco Park.

Mexico took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run single by Augie Ojeda off Korea starting pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu.The rest of the game belonged to the Koreans, who hit three home runs on the way to a 4-2 lead through five innings and used a bunt, double steal and sacrifice fly, among other things, in a four-run eighth.

The highly-regarded Ryu — the winning pitcher in last year’s gold medal victory over Cuba at the Beijing Olympics — was actually the least effective of six Korean pitchers in the game. The left-hander allowed five hits and two runs in 2 2/3 innings with a walk and three strikeouts.
[...] Continue Reading »

What Happened: It was a great story while it lasted, but the Netherlands’ improbable run through the World Baseball Classic ended with a 9-3 loss to Team USA. The three runs for the Netherlands equaled their best performance of the tournament, and Bryan Engelhardt hit the team’s first and only home run of the tournament.

Englehardt’s home run and his slow exit from the box as he watched the ball’s flight apparently enraged U.S. reliever Matt Lindstrom who immediately buzzed Vince Rooi with a pitch that sailed behind Rooi’s butt. Both benches emptied, but no punches were thrown. Lindstrom gave up another run before leaving the game with a sore shoulder. He joins Dustin Pedroia (oblique) and Chipper Jones (side) on the U.S. injury list.

[...] Continue Reading »

By Juan C. Rodriguez
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.—Team USA overcame more injuries and an irked Netherlands team to stay alive Sunday in the World Baseball Classic at Dolphin Stadium.

Already without Dustin Pedroia (oblique), Team USA scratched Chipper Jones from the starting lineup after he re-injured his oblique. The Americans did not want for offense as Pedroia replacement Brian Roberts went 3 for 3 and was a homer shy of the cycle. Adam Dunn homered as did Jimmy Rollins as part of a four-RBI performance in the 9-3 victory.

With the win in front of 11,059 fans, Team USA clinched a Tuesday meeting with the loser of Monday’s Venezuela-Puerto Rico game. With a spot in the semifinals at stake, manager Davey Johnson’s bunch will go into that contest short-handed. Because Chipper Jones already played in the second round, Team USA cannot replace him. [...] Continue Reading »

The U.S. will play another day. Team USA eliminated the Netherlands 9-3 in Pool 2′s loser’s bracket. U.S. starter Roy Oswalt threw four shutout innings, while Jimmy Rollins went 3-for-3 with a triple and a grand slam. Recent callup Brian Roberts added three hits.

But the U.S. also continued to be bit by the injury bug. After losing second baseman Dustin Pedroia with an oblique injury, Team USA announced that Chipper Jones is also leaving the team because of strained side muscle, then Matt Lindstrom had to leave Sunday’s game with an injury.