Did you guys watch the Netherlands vs. Dominican Replublic elimination game last night? The game went scoreless into extra innings. The D.R. got a run in the top of the 11th on a walk and a ball the right fielder lost in the lights that was ruled a triple. Then, with Carlos Marmol on the mound, three outs from elimination, the Netherlands’ sent up a pinch-hitter who led off with a double, moved to third on an out, and scored on a single by Gene Kingsale, the right fielder who lost the ball in the top of the inning. In checking Kingsale at first during the subsequent at-bat, Marmol threw wild to first, sending Kingsale, the winning run, all the way to third due to the large foul territory at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Marmol struck out the batter for the second out, but with two strikes, Yurendell de Caster hit a cue shot down the first base line that defensive replacement Willy Aybar booted, allowing de Caster to reach safely just ahead of Aybar’s throw to Marmol at first and Kingsale to come home with the winning, and clinching run.
My heart is still racing. I haven’t been that wrapped up in a game since the 2004 ALCS.
Oh yeah. Blah blah Yankees blah 7-1.
Lineup:
L – Brett Gardner (CF)
L – Johnny Damon (LF)
R – Xavier Nady (RF)
L – Hideki Matsui (DH)
R – Cody Ransom (3B)
R – Jose Molina (C)
L – Juan Miranda (1B)
R – Angel Berroa (SS)
S – Ramiro Peña (2B)
Subs: Eduardo Nuñez (SS), Kevin Russo (3B), Jesus Montero (C), Shelley Duncan (RF), Austin Jackson (CF), John Rodriguez (LF), Kevin Cash (DH)
Pitchers: Joba Chamberlain, Phil Coke, Kei Igawa, Christian Garcia, Anthony Claggett
Opposition: The non-WBC Reds
Big Hits:
A three-run homer by Shelley Duncan off Jordan Smith in his only at-bat and a solo shot by Juan Miranda (1-for-3) off Nick Masset. Hideki Matsui doubled and walked in three trips. Ramiro Peña doubled and singled in three trips.
Who Pitched Well:
Joba Chamberlain, finally. After failing to reach 90 miles per hour in his first start and walking four of five batters and not getting an out in his last outing, Joba hit 96 mph, struck out three and walked none in three innings. That he also gave up a run on three hits (one a Chris Dickerson triple) was no big deal. Talking to Alex on the phone this evening I said Joba would have to pitch three solid innings for me to get over the concerns I had following his first two outings. Well, he did, so I’m over it.
Kei Igawa pitched two perfect innings and struck out two. He hasn’t given up a run all spring and would be pitching his way into the long-man race if not for the fact that he’s Kei Igawa. Anthony Claggett pitched a perfect ninth striking out two. Christian Garcia pitched around a walk in the eighth and struck out two. Phil Coke struck out three in two scoreless innings, giving up just three harmless singles.
Who Didn’t:
No one.
Battles:
Brett Gardner went 2-for-3, pushing his spring average back over .400. Xavier Nady broke his string of extra-base hits with a single in two trips, though he still hasn’t drawn a walk. Phil Coke dropped his spring ERA blew 2.00 with two scoreless innings.
WBC:
Francisco Cervelli is on his way back to camp as Italy was eliminated from the WBC by Venezuela. Cervelli was praised for his intensity, leadership, and work behind the plate for Team Italy, but went just 1-for-7 with a walk and a strikeout. I don’t doubt that Cervelli could catch in the majors right now, but from what I’ve seen of him, he has some work to do on his hitting.
Robinson Cano and Damaso Marte are also on their way home due to the Netherlands stunning and thrilling upset. Cano went 3-for-13, all singles, with a walk and a K. Marte pitched a pair of scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing only a single.
Derek Jeter is thus the only Yankee remaining in the WBC. He and the U.S. will play Venzuela to determine the Round 2 seeding tonight at 6:30. If they lose, they’re realy going to screw up my plans for Saturday.
I know Melky is out of options, but he can start the year at SWB without issues, right? It's just that if he gets called up he's basically screwed, yes.? Nice catch, Austin. Good work, Joba.
"When you factor in A-Rod and all his issues," said a third scout, "I think the Red Sox are a good pick to win this thing."
from Jason Stark's latest on ESPN..are scouts paid to utter such banalities? Even for an off the record quote, what does "all his issues" mean?? Other than hip, there is nothing..A-Rod's tabloid adventures have never distracted him from putting up monster numbers year after year...the Red Sox love in the media really does grow tiresome. They tried to sign Tex for Buddha's sake!
I DO like the Smoltz and Saito signings though, very smart. Baldelli and Penny I don't quite see...either way, it's going to be a good 3-team race.
Good news for the Dutch. I feel bad for the folk in the D.R. Oh, well. Welcome back, Robbie and Marte.
[1] I think that the option that doesn't exist gets exercised if they start him at SWB, so no.
I thought Christian Garcia looked great.
Igawa's spring ERA 0.00...Please let him have at least ONE start in a day-game so we can see the shades again? Please??
Go Go Phil Coke, there's still a chance..
Max Kellerman podcast gone today, he's done at 1050..newspaper saying he may team with Mike Francessa...ouch, I like Kellerman a lot but Francessa is unlistenable..bad move, Max!
What do you make of the Sux signing all those guys to one year contracts -- including guys like Lester, Buchholz, Lowrie, Ellsbury & Masterson? I thought they were a crop of golden children. I'm confused.
[6] I have a hard time envisioning Francesa sublimating his ego to the point where he'd agree to team with Max, but given the contract Max would likely receive, I doubt that it would be a bad move. I actually think they might be entertaining together.
[7] Very confused too..first I heard was that Lester signed a multi-year deal for $30million..
[8] I never, ever saw the appeal of Mike & The Mad Dog, Francessa especially being arrogant and humorless..hope Kellerman ends up elsewhere. He is one of the few radio-guys I have heard who has emrbaced the stat revolution, and his arrogance is usually amusing.
[9] I never liked M and the MD either, but mostly because the MD is a moron who has smashed the Peter Principle (not that I particularly like Francesa).
[3] That's insane.
On a related note, Australia just took a 2 run lead over Cuba in the bottom of the 6th. If they can hold on, the Aussies will join the Dutch in round 2.
Oops. I posted this by accident, it's not quite done. Check back for updates.
[3] Yeah, I can't wait to see the DR papers tomorrow..what a great upset victory!
okay, all better
new material is at the beginning and end
i'm just pissed i missed the NED win over the DR to watch the end of the Yanks blowout.
gah.
i remember eugene kingsale. if i'm correct, he was from curacao, a la andruw, and was a prospect on the tigers...
[16]
Speaking of Andruw ... scouts are saying that the 2009 version is toast. Done ... finished .... no bat speed ... and looks lost in CF.
"This is an "ex-parrot"" .... (If I can borrow a MPFC phrase).
But he's not quite dead?
http://tinyurl.com/d54erj
Days of staying up late and getting up early to watch the WBC finally caught up to me and I missed the Netherlands upset x2 as well as what must have been an exciting Cuba/Australia game...thank goodness for MLB.com's archive.
With the exception of South Africa, which really wasn't as awful as last time, and Panama, just about every other team was competitive. The Netherlands advancing over a powerhouse like DR is clearly the big story, but Italy and China winning a game is pretty impressive too. Actually, China losing 4-0 to Japan might be the most impressive outcome. After two go-rounds, the WBC has already evolved into a very competitive tournament. This one isn’t even half over and I already can’t wait to see the next one. If China adopts the same strategy for baseball that it did for the Summer Olympics, they’ll be a very interesting team to watch.
While he likely could have made the difference, it’s a good thing Arod’s hip kept him out of the WBC. If he would have played and DR would have still lost, you just know who would have been blamed for the loss.
[18] I saw one of the announcers for the D.R. last night and he was asked what was to blame for the the Dominican loss. A-Rod WAS the first thing out of his mouth. Of course he said, "A-Rod and Pujols being injured." : ) Excuses, excuses.
Totally amazing game between Netherlands and DR. Yes, it is still early in spring training for a lot of the DR major leaguers, but the Dutch pitching has been amazing. Their offense stinks to high heaven, it's what 2 or 3 earned runs in 29 innings. But pitching and defense. Pitching and defense. Pitching and defense.
Mom's mom's family is from the Netherlands so I'm a happy camper today. The WBC is looking like a good idea; a fun, competitive tournament.
[18] Because having a team of All Stars isn't enough to be the Netherlands unless you also include the two greatest players on the planet ;)
[19] See, it's A-Rod's fault! I heard that Bernie Madoff was a decent investor until he met Alex Rodriguez.