goingyard

After a great run through the WBC Team USA’s tournament is over after falling to Japan 9-4 in Los Angeles.

Maybe the Japanese should teach s a little bit more about this game called baseball. They are pretty good at it.

The atmosphere at the game was pretty good. Plenty of fans carrying U.S. and Japanese flags, signs, and make-up. I also noticed Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Brazilian (they weren’t even in the tournament) flags waving around Dodger Stadium. It was a great feeling to be there rooting for the U.S. It was the closest thing that I have experienced (but not nearly as passionate) to the 1994 World Cup at the Rose Bowl. Chants of USA! USA! USA! could be heard throughout the game and I wore my World Cup ‘USA’ scarf (it’s a soccer thing) with pride. If you ever get a chance to attend a game you should definitely should do it.

Now we just need the GM’s of MLB baseball teams to realize that this tournament is important so they stop complaining about it. Make it easier to get our best players out there so we can field a well rounded team. It was sad to see Adam Dun out in right field. Adam couldn’t throw someone out at home if his life depended on it. He was lumbering around losing balls in the lights in right field. And the Japanese knew it. They picked on him. Constantly hitting balls his way.

Which brings me back to the Japanese. They small balled us to death. Hitting to the gaps in the outfield. Seemingly smacking the ball wherever they wanted. Rarely hitting a pop out aiming for the fences. When every guy in the line-up is capable of getting a hit, how do you pitch against that? They had a very effective game. Which seems to work. They won the last World Baseball Classic 3 years ago.

As for Team USA they did take the lead twice and closed the gap to two runs in the 8th. Not too shabby but not good enough. They made 3 errors and couldn’t string enough hits in a row to get a good rally going. They hit Daisuke Matsuzaka pretty hard. They just couldn’t find the gaps, or they couldn’t find the gaps at the right time. Untimely hitting. Perfect example Hitting third in the line-up Jimmy Rollins went 4-4 but had no RBI’s and only one run scored.

Now I must wait another 3 years to see the U.S.A. become world champions at the game we invented. And to be completely honest, I can’t wait!

I’m headed today to the World Baseball Classic Semi-Final game at Dodger Stadium. The US. will take on Japan and hopefully be in the finals on Monday. I plan on bringing a world cup atmosphere. Drape myself in red, white, and blue while waving the flag like crazy. I’ll be back tonight with a full report so I hope you check back in.

Go USA!!!

Yesterday Phil Jackson said the Lakers lacked a “killer instinct “. After watching the Lakers 4th quarter collapse tonight I agree with Phil.

This is the opposite of the Laker championship teams earlier this decade. When Kobe and Shaq ran the Lakers they seemed to always do better in the second half. I never felt like they were out of a game because I knew they would come back in the second half. Not these Lakers. And it scares me.

Hopefully they find that instinct soon. Because its definately something they will need in the playoff’s.

P.S. Can someone please explain to me why Phil Jackson doesn’t foul at the end of games when the Lakers have a foul to give? It drives me crazy! All Trevor had to do was foul with 3 - 5 seconds left. Seems like common sense to me.

If you haven’t been following the World Baseball Classic shame on you. You missed a great game between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The game was a back and forth struggle that seemed to be over when in the top of the ninth the Puerto Ricans got an insurance run off of the Dodgers reliever Jonathon Broxton. They led 5 - 3 and had only lost one game in the tournament. In the bottom of the ninth Shane Victorino and Brian Roberts singled. Derek Jeter flied out but advanced Shane to third. Brian Roberts stole third and Jimmy Rollins walked to load up the bases.

Kevin Youkilis came up to bat and walked, forcing in a run. That’s when the magic happened. David Wright blooped a single into right field giving Team USA a 6 - 5 win.

Team USA is now into the semi-final round. Something they couldn’t do in the previous World Basbeall Classic. And hopefully they have generated more interest into a great baseball tournament. Which I will be buying tickets for and wearing my Red, White, and Blue at Dodger Stadium this weekend

You can add to the list: Yankee fans, Cowboy fans, Spurs fans, Raiders fans, Red Sox fans, Steelers fans etc. etc. etc.?

There is one legitimate reason that I’ll accept: Your a transplant from another city/state (1st and even 2nd generation) and you still root for your original home team. Other than that, I will not accept any other excuses.

Growing up in L.A. I was brought up to be a Dodger, Lakers, Rams (when they were here), Raiders (when they were here), Clippers, Angels (I grew up with them as the California Angels), Galaxy and Kings fan. I root for the Ducks but wouldn’t consider myself a die hard fan. How in the world someone could of have been born here and not be a fan of a local team just drives me crazy. Not only that, some people here actually hate L.A. teams. I don’t get it. In fact, I want you to leave. Now.

I run into these people all the time. I see jerseys being worn of non-L.A. teams everywhere. None of this happens when I go to New York (Unless worn by an obvious tourist). In fact when you go into a sports appearall store in New York it’s damn hard to find rival teams stuff there. Not to mention that when I do wear a Lakers or Dodgers item someone somewhere always will have to have something to say. For the most part if you are a New Yorker your a New York fan. There is no other way. Why don’t L.A. fans feel the same way?

Maybe we are too laid back. Maybe we should care more. Now I’m not saying we need to go off the deep end and just lose it (ahem, Dodger Pavillion fans) . No, not at all. What I am saying is that more passion is needed. More pride is needed. I don’t want to see jerseys or a whole store dedicated to the Raiders. A team that left L.A.. Let me repeat that, a team that left L.A. You wont believe the number of Raiders fans here. It’s out of control. I can gaurantee that there were no Ravens fans in Cleveland when Art Modell moved the Browns in 1996 to Baltimore. In fact I bet to this day that the name ‘Art Modell’ is not spoken of in that city.

Granted we don’t have an NFL team here (That’s a whole other post…) but that still does not give license to be a Ram or Raiders fan in my book. Not to mention the Cowboys or Steelers. I will forgive those that have become Charger fans becuase, lets face it, we as male americans have to root for some team. And they are the closest team so I’ll look past that.

Just a note before I sign off. I have noticed a growing number of Celtics fans. This is very disturbing to me. When I was growing up there wasn’t one Celtics fan amongs’t my friends and I. You would have hada fist to the face if you were a Celtics fan. Not that I condone that type of behavior but you had it coming.

So if you root for another team and your not a transplant get the hell out of L.A. It just means more sunshine for the rest of us.

Well according to KABC (Here in Los Angeles) and ESPN.com Manny has changed his mind. $45 million dollars over 2 years is good enough. He should be reporting to spring training camp soon. Manny is a dodger!

At least this chapter of the drama is over. Now we have to hope here in L.A. that we get happy Manny. Cause if we do the future looks bright at Dodger Stadium. If we don’t, well we will cross that bridge when we get there. But for now Dodger blue fans hopefully will see plenty of home runs and smiles from Manny. I really can’t wait for opening day now.