Check out the full Pool Play game between Italy and Japan, where they battle it out in the quarterfinals on 3/15/23!
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Japan and Italy in the Tokyo Dome. The winner head’s to Miami in the semi finals at the World Baseball Classic. Shohei Ohtani First pitch is a strike in playing ball. Shohei Ohtani Second start during the world baseball classic. First one against China. He was terrific through a lot of
Strikes field, the zone against a very inexperienced team but only threw to splitters. He told me today starts with the slider. He was cutter power fastball in his average fastball last season , the big leagues 97.3 that was up last time out here against China above 98 with the fastball
For Otani against China Yanks that one. So the count even one and one on the leadoff batter of the left fielder. Sal Frelich, very simple and discounted for Shohei Ohtani is a power pitcher that fills the zone with pretty much every single pitch and increase in pitch variety. Perhaps more splitters tonight
Could be in order Frelick the number two prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers system 22 years old, swings, threw, strike two. He is seven for 18 thus far for a team Italy three doubles has not struck out yet. There’s a slider and there, there’s a harder slider and a
Cutter his first strike out of the tournament. Thani’s first strikeout of the night. Mike Piazza’s lineup led off by Fried Like the scorching hot, Nicky Lopez, a few spots in front of his Kansas City Royals teammate, first baseman Tino. This lineup has not produced a home run in the tournament but
They have produced enough to get to the quarter finals at the bottom of the order. Shohei Ohtani is Angels teammate , very good friend David Fletcher. Hey, and now for those who have not yet watched the game at the Tokyo Dome, get to experience the silence that comes in.
Japan is out in the field. Ground ball dot com makes a nice pick their third base two down defensively for Shohei Ohtani solid around the outfield with some speed and coverage from Yoshida. Large Snooper has been brilliant in center field with his coverage and range condo and right at third short Maki at
Second, Okamoto at first and Kai-Wei Teng big arm behind home plate. Here’s Dominic Fletcher. David’s brother, 25 years old in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. Watches ball 100 MPH draws the oohs and aahs. You say it is special. Weird. Almost eerie isn’t, it doesn’t and that doesn’t change the matter how many times we’ve
Experienced it now and after the 1st 100 MPH, fastball, it gets quieter. He’s got the grunt going tonight. He’s falling behind Fletcher got a nice ovation during the pregame introductions, I think a lot of fans thought was David Fletcher four or they just appreciate the general aesthetic of Tom Fletcher. He doesn’t appreciate.
This starts outside, starts in right into the corner, not too the middle of the plate three to saw it off and trouble gets down in center field. So a two out knock for Dominic Fletcher, they dont ask how hard and this is what they do play. Pepper, put the ball in play and
Don’t give away at bats. Now, the slider starts in different lane, different slot closer to the eyes of Fletcher. He was able to just get enough food on it. That might be it for the Fletcher’s though. His good buddy is batting ninth. He might just take care of that
And pay back with him. His buddy only gave up one hit in four total innings in the opener against China. Italy’s gotta knock here in the first. Here’s Brett Sullivan, the catcher. He fouled one back just turned 29 at the end of February. Currently on the San Diego
Padres organization and I had a conversation with bread on the field pregame. He said, can’t help but notice that nobody is giving us a chance, not just to win this game, nobody thinks we’re going to be able to hit them. Why not ground ball second base
Maki to so a two out base it doesn’t hurt Roldani Third take in the scenes at the Tokyo Dome before the bottom of the first inning Japan and Italy world baseball classic quarterfinal Kuriyama making a change in his starting lineup. Masataka Yoshimura has been scorching hot, the left fielder
So he moves into the cleanup spot jumping in front of me but the top of the order Jose Motta has been setting the table between Nootbaar and Condo in front of old. Here’s the right hander. Ryan Castellani, 26 years old last year in triple A with Las Vegas for most of the year
Signed with the Kansas City Monarchs in the American Association Partner league. Count one and one to the ST Louis Cardinals outfielder who has become an international sensation in a hurry. It’s a big hack swings through strike two. It’s the first time we’ve seen this type of defense put against
Large Nootbaar Mike Piazza and his coach’s to whom he is happily delegated. Have all the information in left field. A leadoff base hit. Goodness has large new Bahr ever been setting a tone for someone to Japan. He has been embraced for a reason. He has the right personality demeanor.
Just an outstanding piece of hitting were talking about shifting. How about this? That’s how you get it done. He has been an on base machine for samurai Japan, Ryan Castellani. He’s going to steal some strikes early without slaughtering which he could control and his best pitch. A actually and he can take
Something off of it, velocity separation against a team that’s slugs the way Japan does. It’s a must, especially between fastball 92 93. He can touch 96 but he will live 92 93. And that change of sliders need some separation and differential. The Italian staff for my Piazza will not have Matt Harvey
Available for this game because of his work in the finale of condo two balls. No strikes. But Piazza harking back to Tommy Lasorda, he said Tommy would always say you win today before you worry about tomorrow. So for last game in Italy against the Netherlands had to,
Right just to get to hear a four pitch walk for condo and told us I don’t want the work that condo has done to get lost between me and really trying to shine a spotlight on the number two batter who gets on a again in front of his former teammate and
NPV Shohei all time. What a classic it has been for Shohei Ohtani homer and three doubles. She’s hitting 500. You know, we talked about in the open. I mean, Stephen is one thing to do it, biting and grinding through, but doing it with a smile with what’s on his shoulders is absolutely fantastic.
We’ve had the discussion multiple times and we’ll have it again for all the tools that he has as a baseball player and he’s got all of them and maybe a couple extra. His greatest one his ability to manage every moment between the years and in a heartbeat two
Aboard, nobody out bottom of the first getting cheated. Castellani going right after him with a rocket right behind the bag. And Mike Piazza and his coaches wanted the shift and they have just gained themselves a huge out at least a run saved by doing this right up the middle.
And Nicky Lopez was a lot of experienced playing that way 1 15.4 off the bat. Shohei Ohtani but Lopez was there. So now one down ball, one to Masataka Yoshida, he’s tied with Japan team lead for most runs driven in in with eight in this tournament in the air foul territory left side.
David Fletcher makes the play well tracked. He can cover some ground to third Nicky Lopez outstanding plate already. Guccione at 2nd 1st, Sullivan the veteran behind the plate and then Frelich Lucio and Dominic Fletcher cover the outfield athletic quick and also have been noticing quick to a just with the pitches.
Castellani now has to contend with the reigning M V P in MPB Takemura, Kami, the third baseman who has really struggled through four games at this World Baseball classic. He takes a strike two for 14. He has walked five times and struck out seven times. This is a guy who’s 56 home runs
Last year. A new record Japanese born player in NPV have been a chance to speak with his manager today. Craig Stammen something he showed me, Steve was he goes thinking too much, thinking too much, I’m going to move him down because his personality is just that. So I’m going to be watching the
Swings in batting practice, but I just don’t want him to think too much. He’s too talented in the sense from his teammates. He’s too talented to hold down for too long. He’s behind two and really overthinking some say it started the very first team work out after all. Thani’s arrival in Japan because
He saw the show that put on a batting practice and the reaction that it garnered and he wanted to follow suit. He’s putting a lot of pressure on himself to launch baseballs and Roldani and his teammates trying to get him to calm down when he finally broke through
With his first base hit, got the baseball and showed it to him and here’s your first hit. Now let it go. This young man can do some serious damage. Ruins that 12 from Castellani will do it again. Something was very noticeable to me, Stephen throughout this tournament left handed batters,
Samarai Japan, not one of them is a, a lot of foul balls the other way in which means they stay in the ball longer and stay inside. And that’s when that’s when the ball so well. The other way, the one to high and were even yeah, work it,
Work it, it’s Mitch Stumpo Hall of Famer. Lurking in the background. Castellani has looked cool despite this first getting pressure on the number one team in the world to two pitch just down three balls, two strikes. He’s been around his own enough to just not biting. That’s a very good pitch right there.
I could have gone the other way to that. Ober calling balls and strikes last Diaz at first base, Delphine Cologne at second Suarez at third, Adam Hamari heading up the replay center here in Tokyo Castellani two pay things off the runners going fouled straight back. That record that Murakami broke
By the way, wasn’t just any record sacred for a long time because it was held by fans home run king who has been a presence here throughout this tournament. Castellani is three to called strike three and Italy’s starter pumping his fist heading back to the dugout. What a response from him in the
Italian defense after Nootbaar and condo get aboard. Three consecutive outs were done with 2022. What do you feature Shohei using your 40% for that slider four, seamer splitter, curveball cutter and Syncor. We saw a sinker in fact, out of his 1st 14 pitches in the first inning, averaging 98.9 of the
Fastball in the first inning scoreless games, Japan and Italy in the quarterfinals, the World Baseball Classic. And for this 2023 reminder it is single elimination time. Shohei Ohtani has 56 and seven, the Italian order beginning with the Italian nightmare past Contino, a couple of his teammates told me I’m just
Waiting for him to erupt know home runs yet in the tournament , but he had 10 in just 72 games last year for the Kansas City Royals. Swings through a strike to, here’s why going back to the previous inning on the lefties as he did with Dominic Fletcher
Won slider on the outer half and then Reding the big hole down and in, we might have seen the first splitter in a long time from Shohei Ohtani 90 miles an hour. You see the grip to follow through and there it was that Guilbeau was there in the first inning.
I think he’s amped up to this moment. So 100 and 99 average 98 9 with the fastball, 92 foul back past 19. Oh, that’s a pretty good swing. Think Vinny, no mystery was sitting on something is lower for missing that splitter. He will choke up and then think Moore as large.
Luke Bahr did about the other side of the field. It wasn’t just the poppy displayed last year with Casey to 95. He strikes out here against Otani and 102. You said he was amped up, Stephen. Welcome back to U up right here , 10 too on that fastball after
A couple of splitters at 90 first pitch grounded by Master Bony play by Okamoto covering first two away, one of those players in the first baseman. You know what the guy on the right is at second base. But if he can go out there and get it to take care of it, now,
He become athletic, turned that shoulder show the ball and b steady without feed because the guy on the other side is a tremendous athlete. A very tough play was made to look very easy. We go from Master Bony’s in the Cubs system to veto Fried takes strike one. Philadelphia Phillies
Organization last year across a couple of levels. 89 games 7, 60 oh ps between double and triple A. This is outside Tanya 23 pitches. The pitch limit in this round is 80 65. We saw him first against China. Now he’s got 80 pitch is to work with one and two, his own split
Grip but the glove always in the same spot. Watch the glove is not going to move. He delivers the one to and has his third punch out in two frames. Someone I Japan efforting a third world baseball Classic title. It is the number one ranked nation in the world Olympic gold
Medalists in 2020 one. This in 2006, 2009. Many have been arguing that this group in 2023 the most talented ever assembled Japanese roster in pool B they overpowered the pool but they were tested at times. China gave up a huge fight for six or seven innings and trailed Correa three, nothing before
Stephen Vogt racing their rivals and then Czech Republic even Correa and company lead until the third the way they did it just leaning on one phase of the game one aspect pitching 1.52 E R A slugging 5 15, 7 stolen bases. Stephen, they stole seven bases tomorrow walks on four pitches
To open up the second second free pass issued by Castellani allowed the first two to reach in the first inning but was able to retire. Otani Yoshida and Murakami in order was saved by great defense , especially the shifting that has been implemented. Now on six of seven batters,
Mike Piazza right handers or left handers, the entire right side of the infield opened up for the second baseman. Maki We’ve seen an opposite field stroke from him in the tournament. Italian defense ready for him to pull one based on a couple of things. A lot of people, a lot of right
Handed batters on top of that slider from Castellani sinker runs in. Everything is low three quarter delivery that he has. So they’re anticipating in playing the numbers according to the on the mound has to Japan’s four home runs in the tournament you’re talking about. He will stay that way was on
Thursday, there’s a flat passed through that baseball with powered Saturday. Let’s go the whole side on the off speed around my eyes and let arrive, get to know the name of this 24 year old 02 fouled away has quickly become a star for the bass stars in Yokohama to 91 year ago.
Just an all around hitter Castellani punches his ticket second strikeout for the righty Philadelphia native six ford around 2 20 Philadelphia tough. He’s around the zone. Another lineup change for him. Kuriyama was reinserting this man agenda into the starting nine as the shortstop haven’t seen him for a few games.
He injured early in tournament and he is reportedly playing with a broken right pinkie. So his a bottom hand you can see it heavily wrapped and he is a shortstop. Think about this a lot of concerns about a long throw. So don’t be shocked if you see him bounce the ball the first
Space on this turf on anything getting him away from the bag happened on a pick off attempts against Correa in the second game of this World Baseball Classic attempt to pick off Okamoto, if this is a simple preseason game exhibition, this is not happening, not taking a chance with somebody like Linda.
This is not a meaningless game. Okamoto trying for second but he’s thrown out there by Brett Sullivan. Italian defense has three brilliant plays already that jump looking in as if it was a hit and run and Japan has thrown out for the first time in eight attempts here. The World Baseball Classic with
Plenty of time. It could have been a miss sign their somewhere when you see a runner looking in, see Brett Sullivan A K A Sully get the second out of the second inning. The three account for Agenda ball four. Yeah, at the bottom of the order of the catcher Acuna chi, 30
Year old backstop, focus Softbank Hawks and NPV. A pillar organization that racks up Japan Series championships. He has six rings in nine seasons. Just one hit so far in the tournament will take off for a second. Got to the backstop. No play for Sullivan different in 10 here straight steal.
And obviously you can see from the size he can run. Look at the difference on the lead and not a looking in, that’s a straight steal. Good for him. Manager just getting away from what got them here amongst so many things with the power. Mm finesse putting the ball in play instilling basis.
Interesting to Stephen is, you know, they had 3 26 coming into this game and it hasn’t just been a top heavy lineup. The bottom has been mightily important. Mhm. We’ve seen a few beginnings that began with this part of the order. Castellani was a second round pick to the Colorado Rockies
Back in 2014. Had a long and winding road since then delivers strike one, three and one trying to hold up and get out of the way but couldn’t hit the bat and now we’re full effectively a lot of horizontal running that sinker in not so much a sinking action
But a good fading action on his two seam fastball, which is heavy, another 3 to 2, strike three and just like he did in the first Castellani escaped some traffic and holds Japan off the scoreboard. Well, we talked about Japan’s storied history out the World Baseball Classic. They’ve won the event twice and
Are trying for a third title for Italy. This is just the second time making it out of round one and it was not easy. The chaos in Taitung Taiwan, every team finished two and two came down two the final contest for the Italians taking on one of the pull favorites, the
Kingdom of the Netherlands and they needed a bunch of runs to score. They got the runs, got the dub won the tiebreaker and earned a spot here in Tokyo against Japan , seven runs against the Netherlands to keep adding and avoid some runs was huge to get here and Seo bouncer to let’s
Watch the throw right on the money one down. Well, this brings up a very interesting matchup, very good friends who’s gonna smile first. But do you think Jose, you know these guys? Well, stone faced, don’t want to look at each other angel teammates. World Baseball Classic competitors.
Otani delivers a strike at 99 to his great friend David Fletcher. One on one fletch that one oh two, by the way that he hit in the second inning. Roldani That is the fastest pitch that Statcast has recorded for Shohei. Now he does have a record she shares with Sasaki for the
Fastest thrown pitch by Japanese born player in MPV. At 1025. Fletcher puts it on the ground to third. Otani wins the first battle. Shohei Ohtani pumping his fist right after that out and the execution of that pitch. He is a man that has such a repertoire and does some great
Things grandness in him. But believe me, he will celebrate the smallest victories like just executing a pitch, having a pitch land in the right spot and the splitter is alive here tonight and its lively. He returns to the top of the order. Palfrey grounds the first pitch
From Otani and that is a one to it bears repeating that Lars Taylor Tatsuki Nootbaar the first ever Japanese Americans play for the Japanese national team. He hasn’t been a table setter. He has been a tone setter once again, he delivered the pregame speech to his teammates. Takes a ball from Joe Lasorsa
Bahr said we got three games left but only today a can take us to Miami lets play loose. Let’s play with some swag and let’s play are game so we can be partying on the plane tonight and that is where garnered the biggest reaction. His mother and father in the
Stands and early in the tournament, his 84 year old grandfather, after whom he is named, was able to watched his grandson play baseball in Japan , Japanese national team. So, Niko and Charlie, New Bahr watching on a long with all of his new friends ground ball to second base Santino and gets the
First out. Now, Joe Lasorsa has had one of the moments of the world baseball classic so far in a must win game against Netherlands the sixth inning Italy up 61. He comes in with the bases loaded Didi Gregorius to pop out , struck out Jonathan Schoop and Roger Bernadina and then let the
World know what it meant. Oh man, it’s in his blood. I mean, every piece of emotions showing up for the huge outs going after people. It’s a good pitch to just a touch. Hi one ball, one strike. He’s working quick left hander in the Tampa Bay Rays organization 24 years old.
This is the ball three last year from high A to double a 40 games struck out 87 73 a third innings of work. Close ball four goes the way of condo and something that Lasorsa is not very accustomed. Two is a lot of baserunning, outstanding whip last season and
Your face is the big boi with somebody on Otani bunts it to the left side, fielded by Lasorsa third. Okay. So after the fletcher, I mention how he celebrated the smallest of things by getting a ball in the right spot he does. It’s involved in every single
Aspect of the game and with so much on the line right now, Stephen, it’s about what are they giving me that I can go out there and just prepare my team offensively besides the power in the win against Australia. The Aussies manager Dave Nilsson said, I think the turning point
Of the game was soltani hit one about 500 ft on the other end of the spectrum. You’ve got a bunt single for a base, hit another turning point and yes, we know there are people out there are scratching their heads going. What is going on here? Shohei Ohtani How about he’s a
Baseball player with awareness and mind and what his team needs right now. Move into scoring position with less than two out for the Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida, ground ball up, the middle is short, it will score a run but a fantastic play to keep it on the infield.
Nicky Lopez, that’s too for Nicky to hear, taking one away and making another outstanding play this time to his right. All the shifting has paid off already very nicely for manager Mike Rizzo and his staff and complain haven’t hit the ball out of the infield and yet it’s
One nothing Patani on second for Murakami. Misses two balls. No strikes, comedy two for 15, 8 strikeouts. They got them on the hands, three balls, one strike seems like he is trying to cover too much of the plate. One spot that he looks for, looks to miss he will connect.
But when you’re looking in so many different places, tunnels, they have to deal with velocity and movement and it becomes harder. Two hit, look in one spot and it doesn’t matter the spin slider. A lot changeup, fastball that one spot. When you’re struggling like this , when you get yourself a better
Chance of break out ball four, a very good job. Very good job when you’re struggling like this to not spread the zone and don’t be over anxious. That is one thing for me to calm despite his struggles producing hits. He has worked some walks. Everybody is a parade out there
, display of Barmes and bodies available. A lot of traffic so far, Stephen for Japan, but give it to Ryan Castellani in now standing job he did in two innings. Even the he walked three help by his defense but he struck out three with only 39 pitch is against this powerful offense.
After a mound visit. Lasorsa welcomes Kozma Okamoto. Start for the giants who called the Tokyo Dome home. No stranger to 30 home runs in a season. The only player in MPB with at least 30 in each of the last five years. 164 total breaking ball for strike one, not just that too
Straight gold glove awards. He’s the best defender at his position in his league and all around force nice movement as it gets to the hitting zone. Little Carrie sources one to down and in ball to this is Japan’s sixth A B with runners in scoring position. It’s old for the previous five
Checks on Otani delivers a two to Okamoto in front of it smoked foul Mario Kart character Super Mario one more time. Lasorsa to Okamoto. He hangs back, left field, the giant, giant and a big moment at the bottom of the third. They find a way, they find a way
And press and bunt and run. But ultimately, they know that the boppers will show up and there it is again on this play. Mhm The third inning comes to an end. A crooked numbers for Japan up four after three. The chance for Kazuma Okamoto is make history engrave your name
On the field of dreams and hit a homer that will excite us all in with that swing Jose Motta mission accomplished. He covered every single word or phrase in that song. 365 ft 23 and four do up for Italy in the top of the fourth. It’s and again, you always see
The ovation from the crowd and the respect paid right back by the player started the previous half inning for Okamoto. It’s not just a fans cheering their home country, it’s fans cheering the home team here again. He played for the Giants called the Tokyo Dome their home.
So he hit a bunch of home runs in front of him and doesn’t get old to him. One thing is to do it for your team like the Giants, but we have Japan across your chest. The meaning is even grander. Nicky Lopez continues to rake in the worlds baseball classic.
Nicky is trying to get back to where he was back in 2021 with Kansas City. He really struggled last year and this is what he’s got away from. He did not know where that ball was. He thought that ball was just a flyball to left field in his eyes.
Watch him looking for the baseball here. Where is it? I’ll take the line job of Shohei Ohtani His teammates say Nicky’s been the guy. He’s picked us up throughout this tournament trying to author a response after Japan scored four in the bottom of the third , had a good time to clarify.
Couple of things that should be aware of the pitch limits go up so she can get as many as 80 pitches, but I expect them to go maybe an increase of 20 over the last time he 1 49. So I think maybe around 70 tonight, strike one Dominic Fletcher, 99 MPH.
He’s been averaging 99.5 heading into this inning for comparison’s sake. Last year with the Angels that fastball average was 97.3. Let your single in the first. I was away strike two as I talked, Stephen about pitch limits and increases. Remember he is building for a long season ahead of him.
So I do not expect them to go from 52 80 or that type of increase even though it seems like he is just a playing catch out there. He strikes out Dominic Fletcher number four for Shohei Ohtani pitch them differently. This time saw a couple of sliders last time up finally got
Ahold of one inner half and lets go split with, let them know. Right. I don’t know that uh David Fletcher, his good friends going to be happy and Shohei that reaction against brother Fletcher as you could expect a lot of angels jerseys and shirts with the Tokyo that’s triple digits.
We say he is a little amped up today. You can see it and you can hear it that’s slicing toward the excite seats. Fans cannot make the play four. Shohei in a Shohei jersey help him out. So Yoshida’s face there should have kind of held back a little
Bit when he saw a young fan extend now. Two strikes on Italy’s catcher last year at a 7 83 0 P S for triple A El Paso to 85. Sullivan former 17th round pick from Tampa Bay Rays. Product of Pacific University played for Ed Sprague World Series ring.
He was clutch sprague Roy Brett. Brother Tyler, also major league baseball draft pick. Otani is one to Sullivan fouled it back. Stared at Shohei. He’s confident man. I’m not exaggerating. If I say that we have not seen fastballs below 98. I love it. I love it. Thanks for challenging me. I love it.
Mhm Go fastball. No, some filth off the table for strike three back to back for Otani. 93 off the table with another split. I’ve talked to show after that first start against China. He said may be to splits and he told me I expect a little bit more next time out.
I need that pitch. I need to work on that pitch for my regular season to Japan’s Unicorn will again face the Italian nightmare past Contino A K A past Koch A K A Italian breakfast, which that’s a trio of elite nicknames and he has got a lot of fans on the Kansas
City royals’ organization excited about the future there. 25 year old lefty between Hymn Bobby with junior playing for team USA N J Melendez. Let’s not forget about a kid named Robbie Glendening. That should get a lot of attention. He played so well for Australia tip of the cap to the Aussies
Made it to the quarter finals for the first time and their history world baseball classic lost a heartbreaker two Cuba last night. So Cuba, the first team earn a spot in the semifinals, Cuba in Miami get ready. Three oh strike one. Mhm. Yanked it ball four 1st and 2nd
To out now for Italy. Next up, Miami Florida will be turned all the way up in the semi finals in the finals of the 2023 world baseball classic. Cuba will face the winner of the United States and Venezuela, talk about a class there. And then next up, either Italy
And Japan against Puerto Rico or Mexico, Puerto Rico in the Dominican Republic out. That was a heartbreaking emotional win. Puerto Rico because in the celebration star closer Edwin Diaz suffered right knee injury , have some imaging done hoping for the best for one of the best in the game.
Someone who is a great, not just for Puerto Rico, not just for the New York Mets for all of baseball. So again, healthy vibes sugars way. He is so important to that team. The Mets, let alone Puerto Rico. Tiny looks at Lopez one and 12 master bony showing is usually
Very fundamentally sound in his drive and staying tall and driving with his legs. But there’s a little Xtra push in this direction towards home plate today. That’s really allowing that arm slot to catch up early and fire away. He’s at 50 pitches. Here’s number 51 it’s outside two balls, one strike, the
Things he will use to get back in a consistent phase and get some direction and not yanked. The baseball Stephen described earlier in the walk quick pitch or slide step hardest. He’s had to work Kotani here in the fourth. That was his 21st pitch at the top of the fourth inning with 14
In the 1st 11 in the second six in the third, the last inning, a fairly easy ones, six pitches, five strikes falling behind Master Bony, 31 fly ball to left field, Yoshida back at the track at the wall and he makes the catch. Master. Bony gave that one arrived and
Gave the fans here in Tokyo a little bit of a scare. Another look at that play, Yoshida solid tracking. They came to the glove fundamentally sound as they know how to play. Italy came very close to its first of baseball classic home run. Another look, fly ball from
Miles Master Bony the other way off show Yoshida as he ran into the wall, she don’t have to run a long way to his left covering a lot of ground, something popped down. It was a hat, not the baseball well playing in Fenway. He will not have to cover that
Much ground to left field 89 and one do up for Japan and the bottom of the fourth leading Italy by four and Jose, you brought it up earlier, seen it time and again, this will baseball classic for the Japanese, this eighth spot is leading off an inning. The big things have typically
Been in Stor whether it’s with agenda four with mcconnell into the ground to his counterpart speed down the line, but the throw got him. We have seen a very comfortable Nicky Lopez showing his Klass, not only with the bat, but he has really moved well around the infield covering the baseball
Side to side and also charging in very steady 97 from Palantir in for a strike on A I six and 53.17 E R A to ST Louis in 2022. Former fourth round pick back in 2019 do up next for Japan fellow Cardinal Lars Nootbaar two and two after swings through a
Strike ability to hide the baseball for a long time, he holds his hands quite hi. And then watched how long he keeps the baseball at shoulder level and then it’s on you 96 97. Monte keeps the ball on the ground and a 63.9% ground ball rate in 2022.
2nd best among all major league baseballs pitchers that work at least 100 innings behind Framber Valdez in Houston Astros, a really good company for catcher. Many innings behind the plate is not using the signs, is using taps knees, basque chest or science loses guy. And the lineup turns over for
Nootbaar whoever thought he would be here and now playing for Salvy, Japan number 21 I’m Japanese, I hope I can good during off times and I’m going to represent my country for Japan. He was nine years old when he said that absolutely. A dream being lived out by LARS
And to have the confidence to say it proud mom and dad, you mentioned grandpa was here. It’s just a beautiful sight. Niko from the Saitama Prefecture. Every day after school would head to the backyard and take BP with his mother played softball in her high school years. Surprised his mom when he said
That history for Salvador, Japan. Nobody before Nootbaar born outside Japan has one of those threads. You better believe they already got a chance for two balls. No strikes the pitch from newborns. Cardinal teammate Palantir in for strike one that chance represent your country. Confront the world, show your Japanese spirit and be a
Samurai. He has been a samurai to a tee in the way he plays the game and even with a language which he’s still learning, he has been transcending here and trending for the right reasons. Transcending all the way into soccer players using the pepper grinder. Now across the world grounds,
The 31 foul count four hitting 4 67 the tournament getting on base. 60% of the time 10, 67 0 P s and Stephen. This type of bat has been characteristic for him. He has seen a lot of pictures Palantir with the payoff, do it again. Four seamer here it is mei
Friend from 94 to 96. He’s trusting, but he also has a little late movement on it. That’s what we’ve seen. Large. A couple of times swinging right over the top about baseball when he rolls it foul or tapped from Sullivan another three to called strike three. So Palantir brings up his fellow
Red bird two down in the fourth. Sullivan had called for something else. You go back to the tapped and said, I’m going back to this, the little action at the end that stays with his fastball as he should. Now. The on base machine, Kensuke Condo, the guy that his former
Teammate in Hokkaido Shohei Otani calls a hitting genius. There’s a lot of Noxon this man here historically in this league and no longer a fighter. He was a prize free agent this past off season and to deal with this guy and that will hurt that team and manager he and flashy at all.
Is he? No, no, no, very understated Shinjo. In fact, former teammates with team Italy’s manager Mike Piazza flashing the hair orange, the di shoes, wrist bands, batting gloves. Kai So on first base 2023 and oh and condo will not force the issue. Patient. Yes. Professional hitter. Yes, we are also aware of who’s
On deck. Gets on the board with strike one. A very active an emphatic Brent Sullivan lately with the taps just saying here it is hit it. Here’s my pitch, ground ball to second base and Palantir will avoid facing Otani with runners aboard Italy still chasing four. Go to the looking back at the
Last time Italy made it to the second round out the World Baseball Classic. 2013, Mike Piazza has led them to the quarter finals here in 2023 trail four in the top of the fifth for Piazza who’s got Sicilian roots on his father’s side. Originally agreed, agreed. You become the manager for Italy
Back in 2019. Soltani gets in front of free to and to obviously the tournament delayed because of the pandemic , but he stayed committed and reaffirmed that call last March. He was on the staff in 2009 is the hitting coach. 2013 played in 2006. And this means the world to Mike
Piazza Thani’s one to in the air drifting foul, excite seats have a souvenir. You mentioned means the world two, Mike Piazza who is a guy that played the game knowing that there’s always a chip on his shoulder. Remember he was drafted as a favor to Tommy Lasorda, his godfather Hall of Famer.
No question to his numbers, his power, the way he played the game and now the way he’s teaching, passing on to his team and also talking to us about the next generation of players that he wants to get from Italy two play in college. That’s a liner.
Maki keeps it in front of them and throws out one down in the fifth when number one is on the mound and this is no accident. Defense has another kick in their step and here it is Maki to his right. This ball is coming back to him and get that arm exactly where
It needs to be to take care of that serious. Hop Tony tipped his cap to Maki gave it right back to, he loses the first pitch to CEO if you’re going to get hit, get hit by 83 not 102 one that just got away from the show slider backed up
On him and for a second time have Halo verse Halo Otani and David Fletcher. I do know that autonomous, some good recommendations for the Fletcher brothers to go get some good sushi here in Tokyo. Let’s raved about it. And Fletcher with a little cue ball to the right side, going
First to third to Lucio in Italians are starting to feel it these last couple of inning’s against Otani. That’s Fletch being Fletch, he’s got tremendous ability on back to the ball. Find some holes very true to his swing, forget about exit velocity with him, but he is gonna find some holes.
That’s what he does and who knows better than right? But if you go to David Fletcher’s baseball, Savant page , do not go looking for exit below. But, but asking Angel fan Jose and I know you know, a ton of them, they’ll say David Fletcher has the greatest baseball player for sure.
Grinder gets 30 and reminds everybody of world series champion and his favorite players growing up, David Eckstein, that big opportunity in front of South and the number two prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, 15th overall pick in 2021 popped up. Who’s got it? Nootbaar in Lucio will tag and
New bars throw, scares him back to third responsibility. Number one, you take charge, they have the best angle even though look where Nootbaar is compared to condo. He’s going to have the best angle of the best arm gets behind the baseball throws a strike to the cut off man who
Almost gets the runner to lose your third base. That’s just the way they lineup and why they’re always looking for the extra out show you doing his job doing what backing up home plate, almost a lost art. Nowadays to escape the fifth unscathed, you have to battle it
Out with the hottest hitter 14, Italy in Nicky Lopez nine for 18. The world baseball classic with a double and a triple seven driven in was after the first pitch. It’s foul. Anybody with the Royals watching Nicky Lopez play throughout this tournament especially tonight to be a very excited about what
Might be coming. A very motivated player who did not want to see that 2 20 ish next was name after hitting 300 the year before just turned 28. A few days ago, Nicky from Naperville, Illinois. No one that’s foul two strikes on him. So Tony at 65 pitches it was the
Limit in the first round. It’s going up 15 pitches here for the quarterfinals as we showed you a moment ago. There is action Kuriyama. This will most likely be his last stretch here as he gets him to around 70. Just one baserunner. The first three innings against Otani in the fourth and the
Fifth. Italy has had multiple base runners and multiple hard hit baseballs. It’s almost like where is the finish line? I need to get there. Now it’s back to the breathing re gathering and task at hand. Next pitch got the signs for the splitter said no one of the fastball but the fastball away
Now wants a new sequence. Wco on third Fletcher standing off. First conservative lied for Fletcher two balls, two strikes. There is another slider that got away from the arm side that one hit hard right field hooking toward the corner. Whoa, just, yeah. Who? Sigh of relief here with over
41,000 in the Tokyo Dome. Here’s why another greats swing by Nicky Lopez on the high offspeed pitch 340 ft about 5 10 ft too far to the right. I’m guessing the idea now is two slow down his bat Italy again, that close to a three run blast
That hits Lopez on the leg to load the bases. A very unusual curveball by Shohei Ohtani at 82 miles an hour. Jose, we’ve been talking about it’s going the other way away from Otani and toward Italy’s lineup. How long of a leash? Exactly what he did not want to do.
The leash is getting shorter. Show has struggled a little bit in, in consecutive innings. Now, 22 pitches in the fourth, he is up to 69. Now he was up 2 53 coming in to this inning. The one thing that you know that he does not want to do is take
Him out of this game in the middle of an inning. They are loaded for Dominic Fletcher who singled in the first struck out in the fourth. So he’ll have a little rubber match with Otani. This guy had a 30 game hitting streak last year. Fletcher prepares for Thani’s offering.
Oh and one you can response location backdoor slider first pitch for a strike just as Chi called it. Dominic Fletcher doesn’t hit it hard but gets it down in right field. Lucio scores. David Fletcher will follow. Italy has cut the deficit in half. What your brother is a factor here against good friends,
Shohei Otani second hit for Dominic a one out single for David Fletcher batting ninth. Got challenge upstairs and gets just enough of that. The fighting Italians have made it to hard night here for Shohei Ohtani The first runs allowed by Otani in this tournament and eight and two scoreless before Dominic
Fletcher came through a base hit with two outs in the fifth forces. Kuriyama to the bullpen Gypsies had two Pet Oberg and heads to the dugout. Japan makes a pitching change. Italy knocks Shohei Ohtani out of the ball game here in the fifth inning as it stands right now.
71 pitches nine shy of the 80 pitch limit in the quarter finals, four and two thirds, two runs on four hits. Struck out five walked one. There are two aboard that he is responsible for Rick Charles as a former Cairo Nippon Ham fighter exits a current one enters Hiromi Ito 25 years old
Right hander in his first world’s baseball classic. Where’s the numbers 17 as Otani does for the Angels don’t look for the K but he has the ability to get your contact on the ground. He does have an effect in the arsenal as well. Shows 93 to Sullivan the catcher
Ball one, Ito needs the deception offspeed location just to offset his fastball. Around 93 did not look like a pitch right there. Surprised by the way I received it. Mhm. No thumb down called a ball by Pat Holberg. The scorecard keepers love this man behind the plate. Tuo from Ito foul.
And 2 to 95 you have to do is see the swing. There’s a little extra on that one. Well, we lose showing on the mound but guess what? He’s still in the game and you could tell again there was something extra there today for them and, and maybe that worked
Against them as the outing went along, got away a little bit from just squaring up, staying through the zone a little bit more shoulders in line but he competed. Grunts from the very first pitch. You can see the cloud of Rosen. That is something that Ito is famous for here in Japan,
Someone excessive, but it works for somebody who really relies on off speed stuff and deception that’s pulled high in the air and into the seats, two balls, two strikes, four of six have reached base for Italy here in the fifth inning. He’s gone from for nothing to four to a situation that calls
For something that Mike ps has stressed with us before the game. I want my eye guy’s to play pepper, play pepper. Big split up the middle with the infielders. Maki is out of the infield into shallow right shift restrictions playing under the 22 rulebook. So a lot of spaced between Maki
And Ghenda two middle infielders , Vientos two to another foul ball. And no matter how this game ends up, this is the lineup has given some Japan the grinding at bats the most fought hard, fought at bats that they’ve scene here in the tournament so far in the
Early in the fifth, they’ve had to work hard for every single out ITO with another two to three, 14 40 well presented in the zone. Hello, you’re not going to have to wait for an expert lip reader there three to Sullivan was trying to stay alive. Popped up to short agenda.
Has it to stranded? But Italy scores two got a tight one in the middle of the fifth. This copyrighted telecast is presented by authority of a World Baseball Classic game. It may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any form and the accounts and descriptions of this game may not be
Disseminated without the express written consent. Wrapping up 2023 world baseball classic in Tokyo quarterfinals, Japan for Italy to no rest for the weary Shohei Ohtani leading off and polenta, proud of his fastball. This should be a very interesting battle here. Don’t hesitate to run through a legend. Starts now go and lead toward
Your dreams. Otani already a legend right back in his home country played baseball for the first time in six years longer than that’s since Japan uniform in a major international tournament. Ducks out of the way. Four pitch walk from starting off the bottom of the fifth. That’s one of the transfer
Shohei Ohtani in certain situations of the game where you think he might be a little over anxious cause damage. Yes, but cause damage within his plan and the structure of his swing. He did not offer anything anyone of those fastballs, which is obviously the pitch that he wanted to hit Mike Borzello, our
Good friend, longtime Yankee coach with a huge influence here and responsibilities have been given to him by a manager Mike Piazza totally starting to stretch in Italy’s bullpen, Michael Borzello, former catcher , biggest influence in the game. Derek Jeter, the former catcher. Pretty good one. Hall of Fame one.
And that is Yu Darvish on the left warming alongside. Heard something about the piggy backing going on here tonight and there’s Darvish. You can give your life to the left hander double barrel action for Japan Masataka Yoshida strike one. He opened the game driving in a run in the third couple of
Batteries later, Kazuma Okamoto launched a home run to left field for nothing. Italy two across the fifth. That is Japan’s response in the bottom half, Rashida, a big bet. Hein Bloom and the Boston Red Sox front office, there is something else. Shohei Ohtani will make you on the mound because of his
Velocity sliced has to play if you have it as a weapon, Tony leaning off first base, that one is worn by the left fielder. A lot of traction here. A lot of traffic on the basis for both teams and it’s come in so many different ways from a
Base hits two walks and a hit batsman, the former catcher. And this is exactly what we do not want to do against this very dangerous ball club. Wanted to shut down inning. You just gave your club some life back in the top half. And so in an effort to keep this
Game, a two run game, Italy, we’ll make a change team Mexico and they’re showing so far. Very nice, very solid. Mexico. Vinny Natoli will get the ball two on nobody out in the bottom of the 5th, 32 year old, signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. Past January Unique delivery
Will show it to me on the first pitch to center field through World Baseball Classic. It was only a matter of time. I mean, when you’re a good hitter, sometimes these type of scenarios are not the best for you got to get some time in his last at bat.
He walked and I thought was always Stephen in one’s own. Look at ones own right there. This is what we batting practice. Left centerfield, centerfield, glad he’s able to get some and get a result. Extra bases. Moore will score. That was a much needed sigh, relief, smiles greets Ataka, but
It’s about the big man 30 homer power, what a night line, the line clutch and got to be applause really deserves. And finally, batter takes a pitch from Natoli, two pitches, two run scoring doubles just like that. Three runs for Japan Italy facing its largest deficit. The world baseball classic maki
With a flyball deep right field , that’s at the wall where it’s caught by Dominic Fletcher tagging is Okamoto will advance to third, kept going great backspin. I mean, with that swing that Maki has no surprise on how far the ball when it took off the bat.
We thought it was just ez F nine , not the case leverage through the zone and throw the swing in that bottom hand how he leads with it. Okay. Playing was with what’s been reported. It as a broken right pinkie fights went off. It will be caught Nicky Lopez
With another highlight in the field leading the way with his leadership. He’s done it with the bat. He’s done it with the glove many times here and with a range, he new total control where everybody was recognizing the situation. He knows what to do with that baseball once it’s caught ball one to.
So Maki giving a scouting report on the total, the minute he got to the dugout and the gesture motion with his hands with a slider spin constantly, Stephen we’ve seen from Sam Japan on the offensive side. There’s a lot of information passed around between advance. That’s what teammate does has been trying.
It’s still a gave show it to greet you like that. You can try and all tournament, all tournament to try and lift the spirits of the 23 year old Murakami. We keep saying old Tommy is the one with the weight of the nation on his shoulders. But that’s the burden that dot
Com has been carrying around two for 15 with eight strikeouts before rifling that double of all the trades we talked about with Shohei Ohtani Let’s not forget about leadership and what he’s done with this ball club since he touched ground here in Japan for this tournament, Natoli gets Kai to strike out
Swinging the two time reigning Central League M V P in MPB in his first world baseball classic Can smile and exhale now helping Japan’s score three times in the fifth inning, Italy. He had two runs in the top half. He did a four to game, things felt close and tense but now a
Five run cushion to begin the top of the sixth. Many past Contino, a leadoff soft liner to agenda at short one pitch, one out for more arms we c out of samurai Japan. It’s like the more the sharper they get. I mean, it’s like they had different looks, righties, lefties.
There’s not a whole lot of finesse but definitely there’s Pauer and right away. Margot gets in power. Christina’s kitchen. Yeah, Ito would be that change of pace. Arm pitcher came in for Otani and he threw one at 95. Oops and another positive for Japan after the bottom of the
Fifth is with this lead. Kuriyama probably not experiencing much pressure. We saw Yu Darvish warming up much pressure to bring in his other prize starter getting loose just in case. And I think you have to play into what Darvish needs in terms of his own preparation to hear.
Here comes a long season San Diego Padres and you don’t want to get too rusty. A lot of things to balance out there. It’s been talked about seeing both tonight. So it wouldn’t be this earth shattering surprise. Now, from Mike Piazza different story. Arms must pitch. Did he go?
He did Suarez after base. So Master Bony retired for the third time tonight. That F seven in the fourth was not your ordinary F seven side. Look break. 29 years old pitches in Yokohama. First pitch fouled away by to the front leg and the hesitation , the pause and a couple of leg
Kicks. Little Tyler Anderson reminder strike two in Managua going back to 2017 Japan series, Yokohoma lost two broken that but became just the second pitcher with back to back starts with at least 10 strikeouts in a single Japan Series. The only other person to do that. His current teammate, you
Darvish tie but he struggled in 2018, Jose to the point where after that just to try and get back on track, went to the A B L. The Australian Baseball League were talking a lot about the A B L with the Aussie presence here in Tokyo. Seems to have settled him down.
Chi trying to frame ups strike three. Didn’t get the call from Holberg. Good for those that have been around them to know that if they needed pitching innings and competitive innings, they found away to formula to get him over there too. The A B L bring all that back.
He is a control freak. Another close one taken by that might be the easiest 96 I’ve seen all tournament 96 miles an hour cutting in and easy to spit on those last two even ago. Three to, gets some swinging back to back strikeouts in a 12 , 3/6 inning with Italy in the
Quarterfinals of the world baseball classic. Some of the greatest Italian Americans. We’ve seen a major league baseball over the years, players and managers alike trying to do something. Mike Piazza is there with the manager of the Italian national team. Treinen and get this country to the semi finals for the first
Time in a tough spot. The bottom. The six chasing the number one team in the world. Japan lead seven to Mike mentioned to us today that lesson he’s learned about being a leader is to allow others to lead delegate. And that’s what he’s done with his coaches.
Once his players to take up on the same thing. He got this group together the main core months ago and brought to Mission Classic 14 Italy ball one down to New Bahr brought them together down two his villa and explore some historical sites, tours. But just to get the mindset
About what they were going for and what he believed in. Strike three called Marciano strikes out New Bahr Marciano just into the ball game. Very animated young man with live armored 94. And he was a part of the 2020 to Mission Classic Joey Marciano who was a relative, Italian American boxing legend, Rocky
Marciano, Joey’s father side one swinging from Condo Stephen. Tell us a little bit more about the classic what it is. So as he alluded to, they got everybody over two Italy, all the players with Italian heritage trained with local baseball teems also need to travel through the country and connect with there.
Family’s roots in the fletchers. They’ve got relatives that they had never met before while on mission classic. Just a really kool concept. Mike Piazza and the Italian baseball delegation as they try and plant seeds for the future. Matt Harvey’s sitting right in front of Mike Piazza also fueled by that renewed or new
Connection with their heritage, some moustache magic and the espresso machine, espresso, not on paper cups, it’s not what he wants. They had to, you can’t have the porcelain, you can have good, good stuff making do a couple more have been gifted to them since they arrived. Mike told us today he’s missing
A ceramic 31 and gets the plate were full photos from the mission classic. 12 players on Italy’s roster on that trip, Festa Joey Marciano, Galanti, Stumpo Frisia, Sullivan David and Dominic Fletcher, Cotino, Miles Master, Bony Biggio and Nicky Lopez. Here’s Beaty back to back punch outs for Marciano. Marciano again, great following
Great life on his own for the big man. Last year has struck out 62 59 innings of work for triple a Sacramento retired in 2019. Personal reasons came back in 2021 has been really reliable in the giant system. Got two outs. Now he has Shohei Ohtani He starts out with the ball Tom
With a bouncer into the shift 123 inning for Marciano. The deficit remains five a favorite. Sunning. Yu Darvish takes the mound now for team Samurai Japan here in the top of the seventh inning, a comfortable lead seven to you could hear the roar the crowd when he stepped on the field
Coming in from the bullpen on the right side. Stephen, I think when it came out, there was no doubt who was on the mound. A hero for Japan and past World Baseball Classic. He started the second game of the tournament against the rival Koreans and Correa jumped out to a three nothing lead.
BG Yang had a two run homer off Darvish. But after that, it was all all and you actually retired the first six batters that faced and then gave up a double home run. We won three innings allowing three runs, two earned with 48 pitches. He has a presence closed out to
2009 World Baseball Classic, locking up back to back titles in this tournament for Japan. I haven’t been in the top of this mountain since, but this group is viewed in the highest regard internationally, perhaps the strongest teams ever assembled for Japan. It’s outside two and two. Now, if we get into pitchers
With Darvish’s, well, I don’t think we had enough fingers in our and both of hands combined. Two tell you what he throws, what he can throw everything at you change angles when he needs to. But what he’s implemented more lately is the cut fastball. He’s gone away from these four
Seamer 22 spoiled by had a fun conversation with Rubin. Of course, Darvish’s coach in San Diego Padres just about the right hander’s arsenal. Different pitches. The pitch designs, pitch shapes , velocities are mangles. I mean he really is an artist. Two to freezes him. Good for you. Good start arsenal over the years.
Going back between 2016 and 2022. Look at the difference in the cutter increase. Mainly the four seamer, a slight decrease and then the sinker. He has put aside a little bit more. Nonetheless, premier arm strike thrower. It is a case that he’s got his arm. I mean, his hands full with guys
And he is an excellent teacher, communicator almost like a counselor to the guy’s great energy kind of understated. Here’s how nasty this man can be. 1 to 1 on David Fletcher. Fletcher, one hopper to Murakami long throw makes it for the second half. We talked about a arsenal repertoire. So many pitches, angles
Velocity. But one thing that you do lavish does is that he will go to an opponent, go to the team and go Hey, how do you and your changeup? Let me see, you throw it in the bullpen and bring the same thing to the game the next time out.
And Shohei Ohtani has a tendency to bring pitches out when discussing with somebody. Also during the game, like it’s cutter, for example, when he arrived with the Angels, it wasn’t a prominent pitch but all of a sudden like he and Kurt Suzuki hit it off. Hey, let me try the color today
Before, you know it took off. These guys are just premier pitchers that are never satisfied and know how to read tendencies as years evolve and hitter’s takes better swings or worse swings. You go for Darvish, I think his teammates in that clubhouse will say pitch arsenal is one thing
What he’s done in major league baseball and in MPB is one thing , but what he’s brought to this group as a leader is quite another. There’s a strike one now, three balls, one strike on the leadoff left fielder. Sal Frailer. It is Darvish who has been running point, getting team, the
Team together for dinners and outings to help build chemistry. The 31 grounded to short Darvish sends the Italians down 123 in the seventh. We stretch in a seven to game. Welcome back to a seven to quarterfinal, Japan up on Italy. The winner of this game goes to Florida the semifinals of the
2023 World Baseball Classic there. They will join Cuba and along with other qualify to get there. USA Venezuela matchup coming up , Puerto Rico Mexico also waiting and the way things lineup pitching wise for Samurai Japan if they were to win tonight with the updates needed to recoup from the time
Differences and so forth. Premier ideal for them. You be silly to think that it’s just Otani and Darvish in this rotation. It is relentless. You still have two more phenoms , Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. And again, it’s not just those four entire pitching staff Togo Heathrow Miyagi in there.
And you know, the piggybacking idea going forward will be perfect for them. Two fought foul by Yoshida Stephen. That’s why I like bringing in Darvish tonight. There’s so many things you got to keep in mind as a pitching coach, Yoshi from the pitcher himself knows guys need to get
Ready, got to keep getting stretched out. Sometimes you got a forget about matchups. You know that those premier arms that you have to work to stay sharp. Your she had nice conversation pregame with Mike Piazza as you go back a number of years now, competitors Bobby Valentine, Bobby Vee is here, ball is
Crushed. Masataka Yoshida with a sensational tournament. Not only has he shown the ability to spray the ball around and be clutch, gave a tough at bat. But yes, you missed a spot and he will hit it a long ways as he did against the left handed picture here.
The validity of that swing just watch simple load up in charge. First home run of the world baseball classic field, Kami will take advantage and stand up at second base overran it running to his left balls hit so hard off the bat and the carrier’s everything here. Ball was not hit by slap.
Buy a big man who is able to put everything behind it pushed it out and get the slice off the left handed batter to play against father two great passes at the baseball by the last two at bats, scored a double two in a row, both left of center field.
So that swing starting to settle in again one spot. He’s been looking in that. He’s been missing. Now he’s looking, they’re not missing over the plate and outside now, Okamoto walked in the second homered in the third and then doubled in the fifth. Just a bunch of hitters one
Through nine that don’t have a pattern as to where they get the baseball or what they hit. If he intentionally walked to get to one of the best hitters in MPB Komaki. Understand first base open by the way in his offensive barrage we’re seeing, let’s not forget about Shohei Ohtani for a base
Hit which he did back in the third inning. They score four runs that will do it for Marciano two on Japan in the seventh. Nobody out. Marciano departs for Italy. Festa enters Matt Festa, the Seattle Mariners in Italy in a spot where he needs something on the ground, just limit the hard contact.
So you’re bringing a guy ranked in the 94th percentile and hard hit against last year. Now, it’s going to more than anything. Try to get him a groundball here , have that sinker 90 to 94 change up and curveball. He will bring over the top and dropped 12 26.
So we’re going to miss from Maki Festa. The Staten Islander tasked with holding Japan just the one here in the seventh tall task. 1st and 2nd. Still nobody out. Maki down the line right field tailing toward the excite seats but it stays in play tagging up as he moves to third base.
That’s right infield playing in Festa pitch away agenda foul is manager going for the safety squeeze four time all star in six NPV seasons is Sosuke Agenda jumps out of the way com is going based on the last two plate appearances. Spell more trouble for opponents of Salmond Japan should hold
Serve here and move on one and two. Dropped to five spot tonight. It’s one of those guys. You got to be careful not to disturb them too much on the mental side and don’t drop 426 or seven because he didn’t respond very well to that just inside two and two last year
With the Mariner’s festive. It’s 54 innings struck out 64 417. E R A 113 whip two to sent foul. Best underwent Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2020 about three years ago. Return to action in August of 2021 to right field and tax on another. There’s just no letting up
Getting on top of this one, taking on some runs. Never enough. All the respect they show the opponents consider that there’s an intent on a safety squeeze early in the at bat. That’s saying we need more runs. A reminder we have seen in pool play, the early termination
Rules that goes away once you get to the knockout round, correct in pool play. This would have been a walk off’s scenario. It’s 10 runs after seven innings. Yep. No early termination rules here in the quarter finals and moving forward 1st and 2nd 1 out on a strike one and two different
Than in years past the world baseball classic single elimination after you’re done with pool play. The winner go home here tonight. That’s a strikeout for Festa second out of the seventh with his bread and butter, which is that slider one that he could control sow. Well out of the zone are tied
With condo and Otani. Most hits in this tournament for Japan. No extra base knocks yet have seen the glove in center field flashed the armor earlier tonight, holding the runner at third base, great communication skills, leadership skills in the outfield, well respected out there in center, shallow right field.
Dominic Fletcher will call off Master Bony and that will do it for the seventh inning to more for Japan, a seven run lead defensive changes for him. Kuriyama in left for Yoshida Makihara king of Jokers, such a versatile piece on this roster. He’s now in left field and then
Tatsuro Yamada will enter its second base for sure. Go. Maki Yu Darvish still has the ball on the bump for Japan up seven Italy down to its last six outs against Darvish Lopez Fletcher and Sullivan strike one , 123 inning retiring the bottom of the order into the top.
His first inning of work, 14 pitches, eight strikes and an assortment of pitches thrown for a strike. Lopez has been aboard twice tonight. Follow up. First thing ground out with a single in the fourth was hit by a pitch in the fifth. Still batting 500. Mike Piazza put it too. Us.
We just were not hit home runs. Don’t have won the tournament but were playing Pepper and Nicky Lopez been at the forefront at the dish and at short and Piazza seemed so encouraged just about what they have created so far, hear what they have to overcome and Taiwan
To get here and just the guys in the clubhouse and travel and very challenging travel when they left. Phoenix guys run different flights because of cancellations. I mean it was not just them but team Netherlands went through the same thing, nobody complained and play the game tried to turn it into a positive
Bonded together during the delays and strengthen the foundation for Italian baseball moving forward as Nicky Lopez down the line right at one down in the eighth to get back to what we were discussing earlier with his leadership. I think the perfect teammate to tell that story is Yuki Yanagawa 24 years old.
This was his first national team camp a month ago and he said very openly, everyone is nice, but I’m not the type of person that can initiate conversation. So I’m struggling to integrate to the team’s so far. So what do you Darvish’s do along with all the other pictures they got together and
Took a picture and put your Egawa right in the centre. You’re a part of us. And Darvish said that he believes was very happy about it , but those are the types of things. And in addition to the team dinners that the veteran right has been doing. I mean, what hasn’t Darvish
Accomplished at the big league level or hear over 3000 punchouts combined, talking about the issue of version of hits combined, right? He was the pitcher that inspired Mookie Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, they watched him close it out in 2009. He was the one inspired one. Shohei Ohtani himself.
Even the number that Otani wore here was because of Yu Darvish Dominic Fletcher hits it wel left centerfield, carrying back towards the wall and that ball is gone. Dominic Fletcher with Italy’s first home run of a world baseball classic. Now, 93 compact put together so well. And he creates great power by
Allowing the ball to dictate what he does on the Cole side as well. His hands and the opposite field side, just the angle to the baseball. What a shot said, hey, young outfielders don’t forget about me in the big leagues. Look at the extension he gets, gets right over home plate and
Explodes right through with a great bad angle. So holding up to see if we’re gonna have to take another look at that for now, it looks like they play on. But Australia Cuba, we saw Darryl Jorge go to Straightaway Centre. We thought it was a home run from our vantage point in front
Of the, of the yellow line. So it was ruled a double. Okay. So it’ll stand. Fletcher has driven in all three tonight for Italy 25 rolled in the d’backs organization making some noise in the world. A baseball classic and Stephen, an organisation is loaded with a young talents, Brett Sullivan,
We’ll keep the line moving, couple of pitches up in the zone , Dominic, he and his brother David Fletcher, grew up speaking Italian at home. Mother Fernando grew up in Florence speaks fluently just a sweetheart of a lady. Got the opportunity to meet her over at Angel Stadium.
And I can see where the personalities were infectious. That’s Contino, you know, structures were talking to David today and Dominic and was like, hey, first time since I school we’ve got a chance to do this, what? The same uniform 17 oh, hits it hard on the ground to second base.
There’s one to its just the solo home run from Fletcher. Fond memories of the world baseball classic for Samura Japan winner’s in 0609 marching toward a potential third championship with a win over Italy. They so up a spot in the semis to lead. He’s got a home run from Dominic Fletcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
Farmhand as is Mitchell Stumpo right hander schedule to face Shohei Ohtani and you’re Mata last year with Reno 43 a third. 51 strikeouts. 31 walks, tie two balls, two strikes D three for life college , four years after, through some injury in high school. And he has a strike out of one
Of the tougher hitters in this tournament condo pitch and make it look like it’s going to be out of the zone the way you release it the way you finish it , allowing it to stay in a little bit longer than cell phones out. What figures to be Shohei Ohtani
Last A B someone I Japan uniform in 2023. Again, what I said earlier, Jose Mota most memorable superstar in sports. Fire up the mean machine. Yeah, that’s, that’s a face of respect, acknowledging the filth stumbo strikes out swinging. He can only say goodness, what was that? Not very often this he will face.
Wait a minute, let me mumbling my way back because I had no idea what happened that, that his teammates are also a laff with him. So it was either stumpel’s nastiness or another newt bomb was dropped. But I think it was the former, that’s Oyamada entered the game as a defensive replacement or
Substitution. Masataka Yoshida last half inning. These batting now two balls, two strikes. Mata Two for nine. An attorney so far driven in a pair walked twice. Workout three times is a stolen base. Mitchell Stumpo already A D three legend and Italian world baseball classic legend. He strikes out the side in the
Eighth inning. Italy has three outs left down six, 93, 10. Japan top of the ninth inning, makes his way to the mound. He’s got the stuff, the arm angle and the variety as we mentioned between Yamamoto and Itsuki Yuasa. You look at these are mangles. Now let’s over lay all these and
That’s why their so hard to get accustomed to and this type of scenario situation because they’re coming at you, Alex Fast. He overlays Nakamura now catching for Japan, placing Takuya Kai master, bony fresh and Lucio last licks for Italy to keep its world baseball Classic dream alive. They fought, they fought to the
End in a and climbed out of the chaos. Goodness. Tyler Ryan Roland Smith and the crowd there had had to deal with the electricity. Also complicated scenario with all five teams at two and two. But Italy clutch knocking off the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the last game and scoring
Enough runs to satisfy the quotient to earn a top to spot. This is a building block tournament for Mike Piazza and Italian baseball. That’s how they approached it and that’s what they’ve done. Start to next twins home run strikeout 27 inches, 27, one strike out. 16 pitch is 16 and stumbo for
Italy one inning, three strikeouts, both 14 pitches, 14 to see and Egypt and fouled away miles. His brother Marcus beers in front of him here, part of the Italian baseball team in the bullpen catching and their cousin Emily, a part of our incredible crew here on site.
So a really cool moment for the master Balboni family from coast to coast in the United States and for their roots in Italy with Myles Marcus and Emily. Sure, not easy for Emily and for the rest of the family. But boy talk about a super Cruz
She is a big part of that for us , almost had an opposite field three run homer off Shohei Otani earlier so close, so close to change the entire game. Yes. Yes. Caught at the wall. Masataka Yoshida as he collided with the wall. Really jaw dropping play would have been a massive momentum,
Swinger to say the least is not what we say the world is a big, but it really so small and master bony doesnt want things to end yet a leadoff base hit for the second baseman. Make the family proud. Yes. Staying on the baseball gets too high pitch against a very tough
Pitcher says I’m not done, Mike Piazza and his team. There’s all that fight that they showed throughout the first pass through pool a but the message that prevails is there’s more for Italian baseball than what were showing so far. And you know, we talked about youth baseball with all these delegations in countries.
Mike is talking about propelling young players become better by perhaps even crossing over to the U S and play college baseball and bring that back to Italy. Mike Piazza calling upon Alberto , the Italian born players on this team Italy roster and this group wants to get Moore youngsters playing baseball back
In Italy as Alberto did. That’s the centerfield that gets down back to back base hits for Italy to start the ninth inning. Their, you go get your chance and show the world and show your home country and your teammates what you came here for. I think, you know, so when we
Spoke with Mike today Piazza, he mentioned the importance of him having the guy was born in Italy to be a part of this and experience. This did not want to rely fully on just players using the world baseball classic rules, their heritage. He wanted players born and bred so first to aboard against
Toyota first pitch to the CEO underneath it to stay with their at mentioning that Cruz John Sulser, our amazing producer, he and Christians Roberts, our director, Courtney Thompson, our technical director, Tim Fryer are take producer the animal back there. Taj the legendary tech managers , basically Beyonce because he
Only goes by one name are production manager, Northwest Ohara. Our researchers in statistician has David Fletcher will dig in with two aboard and one out in the ninth. Expect this Fletcher to put the ball in play. His brother has done so well here throughout the night strike
, one 2, 23 years old pitching in front of his home fans, the Yomiuri Giants here in the Tokyo Dome, the 2022 central league rookie of the year time to rookie saves record and Italians making him work. Yamada makes a tough play. The runners advance to down now back to our crew, Jordan
Kobayashi Miyazaki E BS operators giving U looks like this back to back. Only Master Bony mentioned her along with Nate Dogg’s Daggett, Susan mccormick second to none graphics crew. That’s Asato an audio ishi I mean run out of time because there are so many names. This this crew is and simply amazing.
And so we’re so fortunate to be amongst it amongst them professionals mvps behind the scenes in this venue and experience their expertise to make things better for all of us and to take care of this production. But are seems here, things are so grateful for what they do behind the scenes.
Japan, a strike away strike three called Japan stays unbeaten. They’re headed back to the semifinals, the World Baseball classic. The only country to make it to the semis in every installment of the tournament. Seems like this. Mr scoring back to the top of the class shows its true class.
It’s pretty much like a well synchronized orchestra. They utilized every single instrument hits every key to dominate on the baseball diamond. And proudly here at home presented their fans a spectacular show really shows the ability to the depth and the talent here for Japan led by simple humble man and Hideki
Kuriyama, experienced manager who with his leadership and certainly faith with his players gain the respect and get the most out of every single one of them when it really counted. No heads hanging in the Italian dugout. Of course, disappointed there World Baseball Classic journey and 2023 has come to a close but
Much to be proud of and much to build on the salute from Japan locking up a spot in the semifinals in Miami. They will hop on a charter flight and fight the jetlag that awaits him in Florida. It’s for real, especially going back. So they’re gonna have to
Navigate that have the off days to recover and get ready. Shohei Ohtani His return to his home country, his return to the Japanese Senior national team and here at home, he helped carry the burden and carry 18 to the final four. Japan holds off Italy 9 to 3 in the quarterfinals.
That’s going to do it for us, Jose Mota and the rest of our incredible crew. I’m Stephen Nelson. It has been the honor of a lifetime watch the action in Tokyo. We’ll see you in Miami at the seventh World Baseball Classic.
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