2026 World Baseball Classic

[browna]

Odd how Japanese fans are not cheering when they were within the final strike.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That was close, how is Australia so good?

It was a great game. If not for the missed double play in the 7th the Aussies had it.

Australia is a wealthy country with great weather and a strong sporting culture. They can be good at pretty much any sport they want to be. While baseball is pretty niche the have little league and a professional league while skills are very transferable from cricket.

Australia can still get through with a win over Korea. If Korea wins they will both be tied at 2-2 with Taiwan and it gets complicated. Korea goes through if they win by at least 5 and don’t give up more than 2 runs. Australia gets through if they don’t give up more than 6 runs, and Taiwan gets through otherwise.

[browna]

Clutch 2 out rally in the 5th to get the lead run and kick the starter out. With all the pitching restriction rules and Panama having played now 3 straight days, Panama has a pretty depleted bullpen.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Worse than Little League defense from Canada out there.

[browna]

Canada bases loaded one out and Canada can’t get anything.

James Paxton comes in for his first game in 2 years and no longer in MLB.

Naylor then with a brutal drop.
Then bases loaded with two out and Canada botches the infield hit.
Panama now up 4-2 after another run on bunt single.

Naylors drop costly as Canada should still have a 2-1 lead.

[browna]

Wow what a two throw relay to nail a fast Panamanian to keep it a two run game.

[GirlySports]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2030845099786023118

[browna]

Bottom of 9th now, top of order for Canada, down 1.

Naylor has the chance to make up for his game changing simple drop that opened up a 3 run inning which is the difference in the game now.

[browna]

Naylor gets into scoring position but can’t get across.
Crushing loss. The 3 unearned runs thanks to Naylor. 2 for 10 with RISP including bases loaded with one out and no runs.

Panama celebrating like they won the WS when they need to beat Cuba and need help.

Canada a day off and they need to beat at least one, maybe 2 vs top teams Cuba and Puerto Rico to advance. They really needed this one vs IMO inferior competition.

[troutman]

Canada clearly signaling the batter from second, and Panama didn’t care.

[Inferno]

Paxton told that young Philllies pitcher that gave the Dodgers the game and series to hold his beer.

What a ridiculous throw home.

[browna]

Originally Posted by troutman

Canada clearly signaling the batter from second, and Panama didn’t care.

Yeah if Naylors head shake to the batter was “he’s throwing a fastball” then the fact that chap can’t keep up with a no name Panama pitcher, he’s not got a long career left.
Though they do have pitchcom so not sure if that relaying of signals was what it looked to be.
Not sure why Paxton cut that off though. All would’ve been academic if Naylor didn’t drop a routine catch 3 batters earlier.

[FireGilbert]

Haha there is a fan at the Tokyo Dome holding up a sign with the Pool C tie breaker scenarios.

It’s currently 6-1 Korea which will get the Koreans through, but if Australia gets one more run they are through. Taiwan is hoping both teams can score more and they can get through.

Australia scored! The ultra rare bunt down 5 in the 8th paid off.

[GirlySports]

This is like blowing a save while down 6-2

[FireGilbert]

Ahh heartbreak for the Aussies bungling a routine double play in the 9th.

Most exciting 7-2 game ever.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Ahh heartbreak for the Aussies bungling a routine double play in the 9th.

Most exciting 7-2 game ever.

Inexperience. Why is the pitcher sticking out a glove when the field is set they way he wanted it

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Try to grab this book before you go. Inside The Japanese Ballpark.

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/ne...nese-ballpark/

Getting off-topic here, but this is great. I'm about halfway through and am really enjoying it. I also read "You Gotta have Wa" by Robert Whiting. That's more of a description of what it was like to be a foreign player in NPB in the 80s/90s, which is interesting but less relevant now I think.

[GirlySports]

Colombia beat Panama today eliminating both of them at 1-3. Put Canada's fate back in their own hands.

Cuba and Puerto Rico play tonight and for Canada to advance they will need to beat whoever loses that game. The other game is irrelevant.

Canada plays Puerto Rico tomorrow and Cuba on Wednesday

[browna]

Canada let off the hook a bit.
Yes hope PR crushes Cuba tonight and the Cubans start worrying about which laundry basket they’re going to use to defect before that last game vs Canada rather than how to play Canada.

[GirlySports]

PR wins 4-1. If Canada wins both games, they win the group. More realistically, Canada loses to PR then its a winner advances against Cuba.

Watch Canada beat PR and lose to Cuba to get knocked out.