Majors: International Affairs: Olympics: 2008
Olympics Day Nine Wrapup
Aug. 23, 2008
South Korea pulled off the greatest upset in Olympics history as it beat Cuba 3-2 behind an outstanding outing from Ryu Hyun-Jin.
Cuba had won three of the first four Olympic gold medals, while South Korea had won a solitary bronze in 2000. But it's hard to argue that South Korea was the class of this field, as it went a perfect 9-0 during the tournament, beating Cuba and Japan twice and bronze medalist Team USA once. [...] Continue Reading »
U.S. Beats Japan To Win Bronze
Aug. 23, 2008
It's not what the medal they came for, but Team USA isn't heading home empty handed. Fresh off a disheartening defeat at the hands of Cuba in the semifinal game, the U.S. bounced back to beat Japan 8-4 in the bronze medal game. It was a game of comebacks for the U.S. Norichika Abe put Japan ahead 4-1 in the third when he hit a three-run home run off of Team USA starter Brett Anderson. But Matt Brown answered with a three-run homer of his own in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at 4-4. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Eight Wrapup
Aug. 22, 2008
Cuba and South Korea won Friday's semifinal games to earn spots in Saturday morning's gold medal game, while Japan and the U.S. will play for the bronze medal. [...] Continue Reading »
Cuba Pounds U.S. For Spot In Gold Medal Game
Aug. 22, 2008
They may be older than they've been in the past, and they don't have a wave of young pitching to replace their veteran stars. But on Friday, Cuba showed once again that when it comes to Olympic baseball, they're still the team to beat. Never was that more clear than Friday morning. With a spot in the gold medal game on the line, Cuba routed Team USA 10-2 in a game that was just as lopsided as the score indicates. Cuba has played in the gold medal game of every official Olympics tournament, and will be playing for its fourth gold in five tries. [...] Continue Reading »
Strasburg Ready For Start Against Cuba
Aug. 21, 2008
Stephen Strasburg attributes his success to great mental and physical success since he enrolled at San Diego State. Now Strasburg, the only college player on Team USA, is getting ready to start against Cuba to try to give the U.S. the opportunity to advance to the gold medal game. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Seven Wrapup
Aug. 20, 2008
The U.S. beat Japan to earn the No. 3 seed in the medal round, while South Korea wrapped up an undefeated round-robin schedule. [...] Continue Reading »
U.S. Tops Japan
Aug. 20, 2008
Team USA beats Japan 4-2 in 11 innings, after 10 scoreless innings, to finish 5-2 in the round robin and advance to the medal round. Team USA plays Cuba in a one-and-done game, with the winner advancing to the gold-medal game. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Six Wrapup
Aug. 19, 2008
Wrapping up the sixth day of Olympic competition in Beijing. [...] Continue Reading »
Fowler Busts Out As U.S. Beats Taiwan
Aug. 19, 2008
Tuesday the U.S. wrapped up a spot in the medal round with a 4-2 win over Taiwan. Along the way, one of Team USA's top prospects emerged from a long slump. [...] Continue Reading »
Power Arm Propels Arrieta Past China
Aug. 18, 2008
A fifth-round pick in 2007, Orioles righthander Jake Arrieta signed for $1.1 million. One year later, Arrieta is pitching for Team USA in the Olympics and is fresh off a dominating start against host China. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Baseball Day Five Wrapup
Aug. 18, 2008
Cuba and South Korea remained undefeated as they got ready to face off in round-robin play tomorrow. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Four Wrapup
Aug. 16, 2008
The U.S. rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Canada and even its record at 2-2, while South Korea surprised Japan to remain undefeated. [...] Continue Reading »
Barden Rallies U.S. Past Canada
Aug. 16, 2008
When Jayson Nix went down with a eye injury during Friday's game with Cuba, Brian Barden became Team USA's regular second baseman, partly because the team doesn't have any other options. In his first game at second, Barden seemed up to the job. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Three Wrapup
Aug. 15, 2008
Cuba edges Team USA, South Korea stays undefeated, Japan keeps Netherlands off the scoreboard and China gets a historic victory on Day Three of the 2008 Olympic baseball tournament. [...] Continue Reading »
Cuba Downs Team USA
Aug. 15, 2008
The U.S. and Cuba have had many thrilling games in international play, but they've never had one that ended like this. Using new international tiebreaker rules, Cuba beat Team USA 5-4, sending the Americans to a 1-2 record in the round robin. Cuba at 3-0 remains undefeated in these Olympics. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Two Wrapup
Aug. 14, 2008
A wrapup of all of the day two action at the Olympics. [...] Continue Reading »
Strasburg Dominates As U.S. Bounces Back
Aug. 14, 2008
Stephen Strasburg may be the only amateur on the U.S. Olympic team, but don't tell the Netherland's team. Just 13 hours after losing their first game, Team USA bounced back to beat the Netherlands 7-0 in a rain-shortened game. Strasburg struck out 11 and carried a no-hitter into the seventh. Sharnol Adriana broke up the no-hitter with a single in the seventh. Casey Weathers came in to throw a perfect eighth inning, striking out two. [...] Continue Reading »
Bad Start
Aug. 13, 2008
This is not a good start for Team USA. Four years after being left at home, out of the Olympics, the U.S. returned to Olympics action on Wednesday morning. It didn't go well. After trailing for most of the game, the U.S. scored three runs in the top of the ninth to stay alive, but South Korea rallied for two runs off of U.S. closer Jeff Stevens (Indians) in the bottom of the ninth to pull out an 8-7 win. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day One Wrapup
Aug. 13, 2008
A capsule look at how the first day of the Olympics baseball tournament shook out. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Baseball Schedule
Aug. 11, 2008
Here is the Olympics baseball schedule, with television noted for games that will be televised. Do note that until the semifinals and finals, most of the broadcast coverage of the games will likely be look-ins that provide some, but not all of the action. If you are looking for live full-game coverage, your best choice is to go online, where every game of the baseball tournament will be available in its entirety, both live and for replay. [...] Continue Reading »
Team USA Heads To Beijing
Aug. 5, 2008
Team USA won three out of four games against Canada in an exhibition series in Durham, N.C., before heading off to Beijing for the Olympics. Ben Badler provides a closer look at eight players who stood out during the series. [...] Continue Reading »
Team USA Debuts With 4-3 Loss
Aug. 1, 2008
Thanks to some savvy baserunning from 35-year-old Stubby Clapp, Canada defeated Team USA 4-3 in an extra-innings exhibition game. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Capsules
Jul. 30, 2008
Breaking down the rosters and chances for every Olympic team from Canada to Taiwan. [...] Continue Reading »
China Hits The Field
Jul. 30, 2008
China gears up for its first Olympic baseball team under the guidance of former big league manager Jim Lefebvre. [...] Continue Reading »
Team USA Olympic Capsules
Jul. 30, 2008
Biographical information on every member of the U.S. Olympic team [...] Continue Reading »
Over & Out?
Jul. 30, 2008
Baseball goes bye-bye after Beijing, and while Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association, the International Olympic Committee and all their official sponsors would love to see big leaguers in the Olympics, much has to happen for that to become a reality. [...] Continue Reading »
Japan Earns Olympic Berth
Jan. 2, 2008
Japan defeated Taiwan 10-2 in the Asian Baseball Championships to become the fifth team to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Nine Wrapup
Aug. 23, 2008
South Korea pulled off the greatest upset in Olympics history as it beat Cuba 3-2 behind an outstanding outing from Ryu Hyun-Jin.
Cuba had won three of the first four Olympic gold medals, while South Korea had won a solitary bronze in 2000. But it's hard to argue that South Korea was the class of this field, as it went a perfect 9-0 during the tournament, beating Cuba and Japan twice and bronze medalist Team USA once. [...] Continue Reading »
U.S. Beats Japan To Win Bronze
Aug. 23, 2008
It's not what the medal they came for, but Team USA isn't heading home empty handed. Fresh off a disheartening defeat at the hands of Cuba in the semifinal game, the U.S. bounced back to beat Japan 8-4 in the bronze medal game. It was a game of comebacks for the U.S. Norichika Abe put Japan ahead 4-1 in the third when he hit a three-run home run off of Team USA starter Brett Anderson. But Matt Brown answered with a three-run homer of his own in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at 4-4. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Eight Wrapup
Aug. 22, 2008
Cuba and South Korea won Friday's semifinal games to earn spots in Saturday morning's gold medal game, while Japan and the U.S. will play for the bronze medal. [...] Continue Reading »
Cuba Pounds U.S. For Spot In Gold Medal Game
Aug. 22, 2008
They may be older than they've been in the past, and they don't have a wave of young pitching to replace their veteran stars. But on Friday, Cuba showed once again that when it comes to Olympic baseball, they're still the team to beat. Never was that more clear than Friday morning. With a spot in the gold medal game on the line, Cuba routed Team USA 10-2 in a game that was just as lopsided as the score indicates. Cuba has played in the gold medal game of every official Olympics tournament, and will be playing for its fourth gold in five tries. [...] Continue Reading »
Strasburg Ready For Start Against Cuba
Aug. 21, 2008
Stephen Strasburg attributes his success to great mental and physical success since he enrolled at San Diego State. Now Strasburg, the only college player on Team USA, is getting ready to start against Cuba to try to give the U.S. the opportunity to advance to the gold medal game. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Seven Wrapup
Aug. 20, 2008
The U.S. beat Japan to earn the No. 3 seed in the medal round, while South Korea wrapped up an undefeated round-robin schedule. [...] Continue Reading »
U.S. Tops Japan
Aug. 20, 2008
Team USA beats Japan 4-2 in 11 innings, after 10 scoreless innings, to finish 5-2 in the round robin and advance to the medal round. Team USA plays Cuba in a one-and-done game, with the winner advancing to the gold-medal game. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Six Wrapup
Aug. 19, 2008
Wrapping up the sixth day of Olympic competition in Beijing. [...] Continue Reading »
Fowler Busts Out As U.S. Beats Taiwan
Aug. 19, 2008
Tuesday the U.S. wrapped up a spot in the medal round with a 4-2 win over Taiwan. Along the way, one of Team USA's top prospects emerged from a long slump. [...] Continue Reading »
Power Arm Propels Arrieta Past China
Aug. 18, 2008
A fifth-round pick in 2007, Orioles righthander Jake Arrieta signed for $1.1 million. One year later, Arrieta is pitching for Team USA in the Olympics and is fresh off a dominating start against host China. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Baseball Day Five Wrapup
Aug. 18, 2008
Cuba and South Korea remained undefeated as they got ready to face off in round-robin play tomorrow. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Four Wrapup
Aug. 16, 2008
The U.S. rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Canada and even its record at 2-2, while South Korea surprised Japan to remain undefeated. [...] Continue Reading »
Barden Rallies U.S. Past Canada
Aug. 16, 2008
When Jayson Nix went down with a eye injury during Friday's game with Cuba, Brian Barden became Team USA's regular second baseman, partly because the team doesn't have any other options. In his first game at second, Barden seemed up to the job. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Three Wrapup
Aug. 15, 2008
Cuba edges Team USA, South Korea stays undefeated, Japan keeps Netherlands off the scoreboard and China gets a historic victory on Day Three of the 2008 Olympic baseball tournament. [...] Continue Reading »
Cuba Downs Team USA
Aug. 15, 2008
The U.S. and Cuba have had many thrilling games in international play, but they've never had one that ended like this. Using new international tiebreaker rules, Cuba beat Team USA 5-4, sending the Americans to a 1-2 record in the round robin. Cuba at 3-0 remains undefeated in these Olympics. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day Two Wrapup
Aug. 14, 2008
A wrapup of all of the day two action at the Olympics. [...] Continue Reading »
Strasburg Dominates As U.S. Bounces Back
Aug. 14, 2008
Stephen Strasburg may be the only amateur on the U.S. Olympic team, but don't tell the Netherland's team. Just 13 hours after losing their first game, Team USA bounced back to beat the Netherlands 7-0 in a rain-shortened game. Strasburg struck out 11 and carried a no-hitter into the seventh. Sharnol Adriana broke up the no-hitter with a single in the seventh. Casey Weathers came in to throw a perfect eighth inning, striking out two. [...] Continue Reading »
Bad Start
Aug. 13, 2008
This is not a good start for Team USA. Four years after being left at home, out of the Olympics, the U.S. returned to Olympics action on Wednesday morning. It didn't go well. After trailing for most of the game, the U.S. scored three runs in the top of the ninth to stay alive, but South Korea rallied for two runs off of U.S. closer Jeff Stevens (Indians) in the bottom of the ninth to pull out an 8-7 win. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Day One Wrapup
Aug. 13, 2008
A capsule look at how the first day of the Olympics baseball tournament shook out. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Baseball Schedule
Aug. 11, 2008
Here is the Olympics baseball schedule, with television noted for games that will be televised. Do note that until the semifinals and finals, most of the broadcast coverage of the games will likely be look-ins that provide some, but not all of the action. If you are looking for live full-game coverage, your best choice is to go online, where every game of the baseball tournament will be available in its entirety, both live and for replay. [...] Continue Reading »
Team USA Heads To Beijing
Aug. 5, 2008
Team USA won three out of four games against Canada in an exhibition series in Durham, N.C., before heading off to Beijing for the Olympics. Ben Badler provides a closer look at eight players who stood out during the series. [...] Continue Reading »
Team USA Debuts With 4-3 Loss
Aug. 1, 2008
Thanks to some savvy baserunning from 35-year-old Stubby Clapp, Canada defeated Team USA 4-3 in an extra-innings exhibition game. [...] Continue Reading »
Olympics Capsules
Jul. 30, 2008
Breaking down the rosters and chances for every Olympic team from Canada to Taiwan. [...] Continue Reading »
China Hits The Field
Jul. 30, 2008
China gears up for its first Olympic baseball team under the guidance of former big league manager Jim Lefebvre. [...] Continue Reading »
Team USA Olympic Capsules
Jul. 30, 2008
Biographical information on every member of the U.S. Olympic team [...] Continue Reading »
Over & Out?
Jul. 30, 2008
Baseball goes bye-bye after Beijing, and while Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association, the International Olympic Committee and all their official sponsors would love to see big leaguers in the Olympics, much has to happen for that to become a reality. [...] Continue Reading »
Japan Earns Olympic Berth
Jan. 2, 2008
Japan defeated Taiwan 10-2 in the Asian Baseball Championships to become the fifth team to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. [...] Continue Reading »
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