Create The Caption #4

Create the caption for the Korean baseball team receiving their gold medals at the 2010 Asian Games!

Japanese Girls and The First Pitch

You've all been to a baseball game and usually they trot out some celebrity to throw out the first pitch.

In Japan alot of the time, it's a hawt music star.

But even though it's just one pitch for fun, it's taken quite seriously and the girls practice as best they can. One has to have good posture and technique to throw a ball 60 feet.

So here are some examples.

We'll start with BoA



Not good technique, not enough leg kick and spun to fast, ball goes left.

Next is Ueto Aya



Again, too quick and fast hip turn causing the ball to go left.
At least the mascots are CUTE!

Here is Aki Hoshino



and.. well...nobody's watching the ball here.

on we go..

You see all these girls failed cause they had the incorrect technique.
This is how it's done, like a real pitcher.

First is Maki Horikita



That's good form, hands raised high in the air, leg kick, even a delay and ... just a bit short but pretty good!

Here's Figure Skating World Champion Miki Ando



Again, arms raised over the head, a leg kick and a delay. Very nice strike!

Next is Kwon Yuri



Woohoo sidewinder! Almost a strike.

But the best one BY FAR is...Lee Jung Hyun



I almost died laughing seeing that pose, and the pitch was perfect too!



So that's the trick. Get into a set position, arms raised high in the air, legkick, delay and throw.

What? You Think That's Funny?

The reporters asked Chan Ho Park why he was bad in the first outing of the season, giving up a two-run homer to Dustin Pedroia. I think he gave the answer they wanted to hear. I love the guys (especially Rivera) laughing in the back.

Guess he couldn't stop the runs.

Chico Has a New Outlaw

Source: CNNGo

As if Eri Yoshida's story could not get anymore interesting, the 18 year-old sidearm knuckleball pitcher will make her way this year to the U.S. to play for Golden League team Chico Outlaws. She was already the first female to play in the Japanese men's baseball league, but now she will be the first female professional baseball player to play in North America for over a decade.

Yoshida is a mere 155cm, a height which normally does not inspire much fear and trembling in batters. And her pitches are relatively slow at 80 kph (50 mph). But with knuckleballs, the issue isn't speed as much as the unpredictability of the ball's path. Yoshida's got a killer knuckleball.

The young pitcher will appear at spring training in May and spent March preparing with knuckleball legend Tim Wakefield at the Boston Red Sox' minor league training center. She has also been playing (and winning games) in the independent Arizona Winter League. Yoshida will surely challenge herself with this move to America, but the good news is that even if she fails as a pitcher, she can easily sell her life story back in Japan for millions and millions of yen.

That's quite amazing. And this is the league the Calgary Vipers play in. So when the Chico vipers come to town, the Vipers would be smart to hype this up and sell a few tickets!

Ichiro ejected for the first time ever

Source: MLB

What? Did umpires in the majors finally learn how to say "Fuck You" in Japanese?



Looked like a strike, hit the catcher's target and he framed it perfectly. I'm surprised Ichiro reacted this way with all of his experience. I'm sure there have been balls called strikes worse than this.

You're not allowed to argue calls and strikes and drawing a line embarasses the umpire. He knows better after playing for nearly 20 years.

Think the pressure is getting to him that he's in a tight race for the batting title and that he plays for a shit team.

Red Sox Rookie Hazing 2009

Source: Sox and Dawgs

Your name is Junichi Tazawa. All your life in Japan you've dreamed of being a professional ball player and then the ultimate dream of playing in the Major Leagues.

And then...



Ah rookies...

It’s that time of the year when MLB rookies across the league are getting the old hazing treatment. And with the Boston Red Sox embarking on their final road trip of the season, it was their rookies turn to play dress up.

How to catch a foul ball, and impress a girl too!

Found this amusing play from the Taiwan Baseball League :)


Youtube Link

If you've ever gone to a baseball game and sat down the foul lines you'll know how fast line drives can come at you. This was a bit higher up the stands so there was time to dodge. The girl was the dodging and the guy was too, but he had his pizza box ready hehe.

MMA: Jose Canseco vs. Hong Man Choi

For those who missed it :)


Youtube Link

Canseco is a BIG guy. He looks so small here compared to the other guy.

What Wrong With Wang? (Again)

AIYA! They're hitting everything!

Third outing of the season, at New Yankee Stadium.

Chien Ming Wang 1.1 innings, 8 hits, 8 runs.

He's now given up 23 runs in 6 complete innings for an ERA of 34.50!

His stuff was never electrifying. He just had the nastiest sinker in the world. He dominated the American League for two years with just one pitch. But now that pitch has abandoned him and hes getting rocked.

What do the Yankees do now? Will they send him out there for another start? Bullpen maybe? Or send him down to AAA to get his groove back?

Related: What's wrong with Wang?

Ichiro's Back!

Ichiro came back and played his first game of the year.

First he did this:


Youtube Link

Then he did this! (wait for it, it's a longish clip)


Youtube Link

Ho hum, just your average return :)

What's Wrong with Wang?

You're not going to be a pretty boy for long pitching like this!

What's happened to Yankees starter Chien Ming Wang? The Two-time 19 game winner (2006 and 2007) has had two disasterous starts to begin 2009. From 2006 to the beginning of 2008, until he got injured in June, he was a dominant pitcher. His sinker ball was so heavy would just die and he would break bats. It seemed impossible to hit the ball out of the infield against him.

In his two starts this year, he has given up 15 runs in 4-2/3 innings. That's an ERA of 28.96!! Shocking.

He's been throwing barely 90mph and his ball is not sinking. Could it be he hasn't fully rehabed from injury last year? At the major league level, he's going to get hit hard pitching like this.

Wang catches wrong kind of Rays

Wang's troubles not worrying Yanks

In other news.

Dice-K pulled by Sox with arm fatigue

It appears that Daisuke Matsuzaka's workload leading up to and during the World Baseball Classic has caught up to him.

The Red Sox right-hander labored through just one inning before being pulled from Tuesday night's game in Oakland with what the club diagnosed as arm fatigue.

Matsuzaka threw 43 pitches, only 22 of which were strikes. After being staked with a 3-0 lead before even throwing a pitch, Matsuzaka gave up five hits and five runs in that one inning, walking two and striking out none. He faced 10 batters. Despite 10 shutout innings from the bullpen, the Red Sox lost, 6-5, to the A's in 12 innings.

When was the last time you saw Dice-K give up 5 runs in an inning? Hard to imagine anyone having arm trouble in April but pitching for Japan was really stressful!

Ulcer knocks out Mariners' Ichiro

Source: CBC

The Seattle Mariners placed Ichiro Suzuki on the disabled list Friday due to a bleeding ulcer that was causing the star outfielder severe fatigue.

Doctors in Arizona diagnosed Ichiro, 35, with the ailment after he missed Seattle's final three spring-training games. The Mariners said the ulcer is no longer bleeding, but doctors have restricted his activity.

The move to the DL was retroactive to March 31, meaning Ichiro will miss at least the first eight contests of the regular season, ending his consecutive games played streak at 197.

Seattle plays its opener on Monday in Minnesota.

"It was a very difficult decision to place Ichiro on the disabled list, especially since we know what a fierce competitor he is and how important it is to him to help the team," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "However, we determined it was in both his best interest, and the best interest of the club, to place him on the DL at this time."

Ichiro helped Japan win its second-straight World Baseball Classic earlier this month, banging out four hits in the final against South Korea on March 23.

Wow! Who knew that Ichiro busted a gut when he sent millions of Korean flags back into the closet. Plant that!


Youtube Link

That never gets old does it? Nothing like punishing stupidity. Either attack him or walk him, seven minutes to nibble and pitch around the guy.

BoA Unable to Make Pre-Game Performance

Source: Korea Times

South Korea's pop star BoA was unable to make a pre-game performance at the second World Baseball Classic Tuesday due to fever and swollen tonsils.

SM Entertainment said, ``BoA had been scheduled to perform before the Korea-Japan baseball final at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles but the abrupt illness forced her to cancel the plan.''

BoA, who had recently entered the American market, has been sick in recent days with her busy schedule in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Ah that's why Korea lost! They could have used another pitcher to face Ichiro!


Youtube Link

The Winner and STILL Champions of the World!!!

So you're not going to walk me eh?

Source: MLB

The Japanese are the champions once again of the World Baseball Classic, successfully defending their 2006 title on Monday night at Dodger Stadium against their Korean rivals.

And they can thank old standby Ichiro Suzuki for the thrilling 5-3, 10-inning victory. The 35-year-old Mariners right fielder, snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-run single on an eight-pitch at-bat against right-handed reliever Chang Yong Lim with runners on second and third and two outs in the 10th.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was named MVP for the second straight Classic. He was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.

A classic game and an incredible battle. Japan dominated early and knocked Korean starter Jung Keun Bong out in the 4th inning. But they could only get one run and left eight men on base due to timely pitching and great Korean defense.

Japanese starter Hisashi Iwakuma was perfect in the first 3 innings but gave up a solo home run to Shin Soo Choo in the 5th inning to tie the score 1-1.

After a few opportunities Japan eventually extended its lead to 3-1 in the 8th. Korea scratched out a run in the 8th and in the 9th tied the game off Yu Darvish on an RBI single by Bum Ho Lee.

Then the head-scratcher of the the game. In the top of the 10th Japan has 1st and 3rd with two outs and Ichiro up. Surely you can't pitch to this guy. You have a right-handed side-arm pitcher on the mound, surely you would walk Ichiro and loaded the bases and face the right-handed hitting Nakajima. You dodge Ichiro and have a force at every base. And then the Japanese make the mistake of stealing 2nd so now 1st base is open. There is absolutely no reason to pitch to Ichiro. Even Joe Morgan knows that!

But the Koreans are too cocky and too proud. They are not scared of big brother Japan and they're out to prove it! Well they are scared now. Ichiro fouls off a bunch of pitches and nearly takes the pitcher's head off with a liner up the middle. Two runs score, 5-3 and game over.

A wonderful tournament and Japan gets to call Korea its bitch for another four years. Sayonara and see you 2013!

Highlights and analysis of the final!
The Breakdown

Let's Play FIVE: Japan and Korea in the WBC final

Source: MLB

Japan's trip started in Tokyo more than two weeks ago and continued through a pair of exhibition games in Arizona and a weeklong pit stop in San Diego.

On Sunday, the journey led Japan to Dodger Stadium and a clash with a Team USA squad loaded with Major Leaguers and a boisterous crowd of 43,630, the most for a World Baseball Classic game on American soil.

The result was one for the Japanese history books.

Japan 9, USA 4.

Japan is now headed to the World Baseball Classic championship game to defend its title against Korea in the fifth meeting between the two countries in this tournament. The teams split two games in Pool A at the Tokyo Dome and split two games at PETCO Park in the second round.

Overall, Korea holds a 4-3 advantage in two Classics, although Japan defeated Korea in a single-elimination semifinal game three years ago on its way to the inaugural championship. Korea defeated Venezuela, 10-2, in the other semifinal game on Saturday.

Was a bit tight for Japan at first as Dice-K laboured through 4.2 innings and 98 pitches. But they broke the game open scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 4th and cruised to a 9-4 win.

So Japan and Korea split their two games in Tokyo and also split their two games in San Diego. Now it's the final showdown at Dodger Stadium.

Korea won a coin flip this morning will be the home team in Monday night's World Baseball Classic Final against Japan. Korea will wear white uniforms and be in the first base dugout and more importantly, bat last while Japan will wear dark blue jerseys and gray pants and be in the third base dugout.

Japan starts Hisashi Iwakuma, who is 1-1 with a 0.73 ERA in 12 1/3 innings in three Classic games this year. In a bit of a surprise, Yu Darvish pitched the ninth inning against the Americans on Sunday. It was thought he might be the choice to start the final. But instead it's Iwakuma who shut out Cuba for six innings in an elimination game in his last outing.

Korea starts Jung Keun Bong, who is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings in three Classic appearances this year. Bong's two wins came against Japan – he has a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and just six hits allowed against the Japanese.

The starting pitchers aren't allowed to exceed 100 pitches. It's expected to be a fairly windy, cool night, so that could keep scoring down.

The game tonight starts at 9:30 Eastern Time. You have no excuse but to watch this classic. There is no NCAA tournament so your sporting night should be free!

USA-Japan semifinal highlights

Who will win the 2009 World Baseball Classic

WBC: Korea crushes Venezuela

Source: MLB

Korea proved yet again that the country is a burgeoning baseball power, advancing to the World Baseball Classic final with a 10-2 rout against Venezuela in the semifinals in front of 43,378 on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

Now Korea, which also won the gold in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, will test its mettle against baseball superpower the United States or heated rival Japan in the finals at 9 p.m. ET on Monday.

Korea won behind right-hander Suk-Min Yoon, who pitched 6 1/3 strong innings, with the offense being paced by Shin-Soo Choo and Tae Kyun Kim, who both homered.

Korea jumped all over Venezuela starter Carlos Silva early, scoring five runs in the first inning, including three on a home run to center by Choo. The first four batters reached base for Korea and Venezuela made two errors in the frame, including a dropped fly ball by Bobby Abreu in right field.

The major league filled roster of Venezuela was no match for Korea as their pitcher Silva thought he was playing for the lowly Seattle Mariners and gave up 5 in the first inning. The advantage the Koreans had over the Venezuelans was all mental. Silva was a nutcase on the mound. Yes Abreu's error didn't help but at that point it was still 0-0 with 1st and 2nd, 0 outs. A pitcher has to pick up his outfielder's mistake and get out of the inning giving up 1 maybe 2 runs. He can't pout and cry on the mound and serve up gopherballs. The Koreans were calm and professional and it really showed.


Video Highlights

Japan tops Korea to take pool crown

Source: MLB

And now, let the real games begin.

The Japanese are the top seed from Pool 1 of the World Baseball Classic by virtue of their 6-2 victory over Korea at PETCO Park on Thursday night. They play Team USA on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium for the right to ascend to the finals and defend their 2006 title.

The likely starters are Daisuke Matsuzaka for Japan and Jake Peavy for the U.S. Runner-up Korea plays Pool 2 winner Venezuela on Saturday night at 9 ET. with Suk Min Yoon expected to match Carlos Silva.

"I'm very excited to play against the American baseball team," Japanese manager Tatsunori Hara said. "When I started watching the Major Leagues, I was very impressed. We need to catch up with the Major Leagues, and we need to go beyond that. That was my education and my circumstances about how I learned to play baseball. That was my baseball.

"I have a great deal of respect for American baseball. And here is a great opportunity right in front of me. I'm so excited about that."

A very sloppy game as both normally sure-handed teams made a combined six errors. Since this game was simply for seeding purposes, both teams played alot of their reserves to make sure everyone on the team got some playing time in the tournament. It was close until Japan scored 3 runs in the 8th to break it open.

One blow for Japan is that power-hitting 3rd baseman Shuichi Murata pulled a hamstring going around 1st base and is probably out for the tournament. They may have to replace him with one of the shortstops which could mean better defense but missing pop at the plate.

I think Japan has enough to defeated a depleted US side but Korea will have its hands full with a powerful Venezuelan side featuring the bats of Abreu, Cabrera, Ordonez and Guillen. Plus if Korea are behind late in the game, they're got no chance of hitting K-ROD! the best closer in the game.

Japan keeps title defense alive

Norichika Aoki went 4-for 5 in the victory

Source: MLB

Don't cry for me, Cuba.

For the second time, the Japanese have knocked the once-irrepressible Cubans out of the World Baseball Classic, this time with a 5-0 victory on Wednesday night at PETCO Park behind six innings of five-hit pitching by right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma.

In 2006, Japan's victory secured the inaugural Classic title. This year, Japan's win secured its place in the final four this weekend at Dodger Stadium along with Team USA, Venezuela and Korea, a team the Japanese play again on Thursday night to determine seeding for the semifinals.

The Cubans made many mistakes and proved to be the amateurs that they are. They may have won World Cups and Olympic Games but this is a best-on-best tournament and the professionals proved why they're professionals.

On a foggy night in San Diego, the Japanese once again defeated the Cuban to advance to the semifinals. The Cubans made a huge error in the 3rd inning that Gave the Japanese a 2-0 lead. Their pitchers and catcher kept arguing over pitches and signs as the Japanese runners kept the Cubans on edge. Cuban managers are also very quick to huddle with pitchers and yank them whenever there is even a sign of trouble. Once they even took out a left-handed pitcher for a right-handed pitcher to face the left-handed batting Aoki, who promptly hit an RBI single to make it 4-0. Very strange and amateurish tactics.

It's Japan against Korea AGAIN tomorrow night. Winner faces USA on Sunday and the loser faces Venezuela on Saturday. It's an important game because Venezuela is on fire and the USA's injury-plagued lineup might be the easier draw for the semifinals. Expect another good one from these two bitter rivals!

South Korea tops Ichiro, defending champ Japan for spot in semis

Source: ESPN

Olympic champion South Korea is in contention for another big international championship.

South Korea qualified for the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic by beating defending WBC champion Japan and its slumping star, Ichiro Suzuki, 4-1 on Tuesday night. Japan held the South Koreans to only four singles but also issued seven walks, including four in the eighth inning.

Backed by a boisterous cheering section at Petco Park and led by left-hander Bong Jung-keun, the South Koreans joined Venezuela and the United States in the semifinals at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.

Korea got 3 runs in the first and coasted the rest of the way with great pitching and defense.

Japanese have lost 2 out of 3 games to Korea in this tournament so far and now face Cuba in an elimination game Wednesday night for a place in the Semis.

Take me out to the ballgame Korean style :)


Youtube Link

And if you sit by Korean fans at a ball game you'll get this for 4 hours!


Youtube Link

They keep saying on the telecast that Koreans invented those Thundersticks. Those things are LOUD!

Japan romps Korea in WBC

My favourite player on Japan is first baseman Michihiro Ogasawara. If you get a chance to see Japan play, check out the most awesomest batting stance!

Source: MLB

A much-anticipated pitching matchup between Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan and Korea's Kwang Hyun Kim never developed in Game 4 of Pool A action at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Instead, it was a hitters' game as the Japanese stunned the Koreans, 14-2, while amassing 14 hits. The game was called after seven innings because of the mercy rule.

Japan lost to Korea twice in the 2006 World Baseball Classic including one on home soil. They were determined get revenge and did they ever! A 14-2 slaughter.

Murara's Homerun

Japan advances to Round 2 in San Diego while Korea now has to play an elimination game against China (who surprisingly beat Chinese Taipei 4-1) on Monday in order to join Japan.