Both Cuba and China won in the magical, whimsical 11th inning, where games become games unto themselves. Cuba’s Michel Enriquez smacked a two-run double off two-time loser Jeff Stevens, scoring Hector Olivera and Luis Navas (box here) to give Cuba a 5-4 win over the Americans in the first of two matches decided by the new rule.
Cuba led off the wizardly inning with Giorbis Duvergel, who sacrificed the runners to second and third prior to Enriquez knocking them in. Olivera entered the game as a pinch runner in the 11th and Navas as a defensive replacement in the 10th.
In the bottom half the U.S. team trotted out two runners (yes, they must follow the batting order) in shortstop Jason Donald and Dexter Fowler. Davey Johnson led with Jayson Nix, who had hit a HR in the 8th inning. But Nix, in a freak accident, fouled a ball off his face and was forced to leave the game. It’s possible that in injuring himself Nix was silently protesting the new rule. Obviously, protest or not, the IOC now has blood on its hands as a result of the injury.
Brian Barden was put in for Nix and sacrificed both players to third. (Note to IOC: Just start the inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out…it’ll save the network even more time for Cialis commercials). Terry Tiffee followed with a sac fly to score Donald, but Matt Brown popped out to end the game.
The game drops the U.S. to 1-2. They’ll take on Canada tomorrow. Cuba is now 3-0*, but with an asterisk. Any team that wins via the new rule gets an asterisk next to its record and any medal it subsequently wins.
China won its first game in international competition with a wild and downright wizardly five run 12th inning. Chinese Taipei had scored four runs in the top of the 12th to more than double it’s previous score of three. Score after nine innings: 3-3.
Booooring!
Score after nine innings, one regular extra inning and two bewitched bonus innings: 8-7.
Fun! No word on what patrons did with all the time they saved had the game gone 13 regular baseball innings.
I’d recount all nine runs of the inning but frankly it’s not that interesting. Take a look at the box instead. China is now 1-1* and will play the Netherlands tomorrow. Chinese Taipei is now 2-1 and will play Cuba. Rumors that members of the IOC were seen under the bleachers after the game, sniffing and snorting for spare change in the mud are as of yet unfounded.
24 responses so far ↓
1 John Brooks // Aug 15, 2008 at 11:34 pm
No knock against Cuba, since their a great team and all. Though I’ll say it again these rules are absurd. The IBAF ought to be ashamed of itself for shitting on the rules of baseball and selling out to the IOC on changing the rules.
As for the Chinese win I’m very pleased that they did so well in a international competition against Taiwan. Hopefully this will be the start and not the end of China on the international baseball stage. The hard work of Jim Lefebvre and company have really worked out. Remember baseball starts from the ground up.
2 Jackson // Aug 15, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Not to take away from the great victory of China or the epic stupidity of the Veeckian idiot rule that led to the result, but Chinese Taipei’s epic mismanagement and clueless-ness is responsible for their loss today. I’m so incensed by this whole farce of an olympics so far.
Some great individual moments but all in all this extra inning rule is some hi tek bullshit.
Great pics by the way Aaron you had me cracking up for several minutes.
3 Shinsano // Aug 15, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I probably sold China a little short here…it is a great win for them and they played Korea even through 5 innings.
Although it sounds like the Taiwanese manager played a big role in helping China get a win.
4 John Brooks // Aug 16, 2008 at 1:01 am
but Chinese Taipei’s epic mismanagement and clueless-ness is responsible for their loss today. I’m so incensed by this whole farce of an olympics so far.
No doubt Jackson, but all the same this can only help Chinese baseball to beat such a big name baseball power. I hope that this is only the beginning of good things for China baseball.
5 hansioux // Aug 16, 2008 at 1:10 am
You will know if the Chinese are embracing baseball if the stadium remained after the Olympics games. Chances are, they won’t, they will be torn down and turned into housing projects as planned.
The schedule also favors China greatly. They had Taiwan play Japan 7pm the night before. When the China Korea game was delayed due to rain, they simply pushed the Taiwan Japan game to 8pm.
Then China happily played the worn out Taiwanese team 10 am in the morning. Taiwan is the only team with this kind of schedule in the tournament.
China aimed to take down Taiwan and through scheduling, help from the Taiwanese manager and finally, the new 11th inning rule, they did just that.
6 John Brooks // Aug 16, 2008 at 3:24 am
You will know if the Chinese are embracing baseball if the stadium remained after the Olympics games. Chances are, they won’t, they will be torn down and turned into housing projects as planned.
Yeah that’s what I’ve heard and it kind of disappoints me a lot if that truly is the case. I love nothing more for baseball to take off in China. Quite frankly I think they should be doing everything possible to try and get baseball started in China and India.
7 jackson // Aug 16, 2008 at 4:03 am
Yeah, that came off as a little mean, sorry. What I should have said is I’m very happy that China won and they deserve respect for improving, but the bottom line is Taiwan beat themselves in that game. Don’t wanna take away from the good it will do for Chinese baseball but there’s really no excuse for the loss on the Taipei side of the straits.
8 John Brooks // Aug 16, 2008 at 4:14 am
No offense took Jackson, I knew what you meant. I didn’t see the game (because NBC in the states doesn’t think that letting us watch Olympic baseball is a high priority) so I’m not doubting that Taiwan didn’t beat themselves in the game.
9 Japan v Korea! (Olympic Baseball) « Japan, Hockey, Baseball, etc. // Aug 16, 2008 at 11:51 am
[...] innings rule in the early games, and the 2 late games were both shutouts. Get the gory details from EWC for the new superball extra innings that led to Chinese victory over Taiwan and Cuba’s win over the US, and also for Korea and [...]
10 Westbaystars // Aug 16, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Watching China in the Asia Series the past few years, my impression was that they were solid for 4-5 innings then would totally collapse. That they were able to win an extra inning game (no matter what the rules) says a lot about how far their stamina has come.
I’m afraid that I hadn’t watched any games as I’ve been boycotting the Olympics since 2000 due to the way they treated bloggers (including participating athletes).
Didn’t Aaron call for a boycott of baseball as protest due to this rule? Where’s your willpower? It’s really not that difficult avoiding the Olympics since Koshien is on the other NHK channel here in Japan.
11 Jackson // Aug 16, 2008 at 11:05 pm
hey, did Aaron and I tell you guys we think the new extra innings rule stinks yet?
12 hansioux // Aug 17, 2008 at 7:20 am
yup, you guys have. Personally I thought the rule was stupid, but now the games went on, I’ve discovered the rule even created a bigger flaw than the rule itself.
In a single cycle international tournament, each team gets to play every possible match up, and the teams with the most wins advances into the quarter-finals.
When teams are pretty equally matched, several teams will have equal amount of win-loss. Traditionally, the next comparison used to determine who gets to advance is each team’s runs allowed.
While that was a very effective measure for a teams ability before the extra innings rule, now it is a complete mockery.
Teams are more likely to allow runs regardless of their pitching strength versus tournaments average hitting ability. Two runners are allowed on base for free.
The end result is a mess.
13 Shinsano // Aug 17, 2008 at 7:50 am
hansioux –
Wow, that’s ugly. Have you seen that in print? I’m assuming you’re right. That could actually put the US and Cuba at somewhat of a disadvantage.
westbaysan– I was waiting for someone to call me out on that. A lot of it has to do with my crumbling fantasy team in the EWC league, and some of it has to do with enjoying Korea’s run. Sometimes I feel dirty about it though.
14 bigdaub // Aug 17, 2008 at 9:35 am
what i really couldn’t accept was the bone head moves by hong more than anything.
i don’t really blame the players because they couldn’t hit to start the tournament, and i think they’ll remain the same.
oh well, at least my u.s. team still has a shot at finishing in the top 4.
15 Westbaystars // Aug 17, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Not to worry. I had planned on avoiding the WBC all together as well, but somehow found myself sucked into watching it.
The Olympics were easier to dislike since they started allowing professionals. It all seemed so much against the “Olympic Spirit” as I had learned it as a kid - amateurs, future stars.
Furthermore, I guess I’m just a one-dimensional sports fan - baseball. None of the other events capture my interest in the least. Does that make me a dot?
[Note for the humor impaired: I like exaggeration, satire, and irony. No offense intended when "calling someone out." In fact, Shinsano-san never said he was going to boycott Olympic baseball, just that he didn't like the idea of watching it with this rule. Call me a troll. :-)]
16 hansioux // Aug 17, 2008 at 11:35 pm
man, Westbaystars, you are missing out on the women long jump… those girls are hot…
17 Simon Currie // Aug 17, 2008 at 11:55 pm
China almost pulled off another pixy win, this time against Korea, the same team that had defeated Japan the previous day, but Korea prevailed 1-0 in 11.
18 John Brooks // Aug 17, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Not to worry. I had planned on avoiding the WBC all together as well, but somehow found myself sucked into watching it.
Michael, if you don’t mind me asking you the question: What made you change your mind into watching the WBC? If you don’t want to answer that is understandable, but I like to devolve into your hindsight on why you changed your mind on it?
The Olympics were easier to dislike since they started allowing professionals. It all seemed so much against the “Olympic Spirit” as I had learned it as a kid - amateurs, future stars.
Yes, I can agree. If I always remembered the Olympics were always about the best of the best for amateur athletes or a place where they could shine on the world stage. I have been turned off by the fact that professionals have been put into the Olympics and I think it has became a mini-circus almost with the IOC expecting all the major sports leagues to dilute their player pool as the complaint is against MLB. If there was no complaints before about no MLB players, why all of sudden is there now?
Furthermore, I guess I’m just a one-dimensional sports fan - baseball. None of the other events capture my interest in the least. Does that make me a dot?
Not in the least bit, the other sports must be made to convince you to make it worthwhile to watch. Though on the flipside of that, you must watch other sports to get a love of them and then if you do and still don’t find them interesting then that is understandable as somehow that sport doesn’t intrigue you and isn’t your fault.
In my experience, at one time back in the mid 90’s I was a very one dimensional sports fan in that all I watched was baseball, but over time I gave the NFL, college football, and college basketball a chance and have became a fan for life. I now am a passionate fan of the NFL where my allegiance stands with the Colts and in NCAA basketball/football lies with my hometown Maryland Terps. Now, can I say I’m completely as knowledgeable as I with baseball? Not even close, but I have made a decision to at least watch them.
19 Simon Currie // Aug 18, 2008 at 12:57 am
“Olympic spirit” has been in shambles since the communist countries started using state amateurs who were essentially pros. It’s a five ring circus with some exciting moments. Thanks for linking to the Olympics baseball articles anyways, westbaysan
20 Westbaystars // Aug 18, 2008 at 1:02 am
Playing devil’s advocate, would this not induce teams to try harder to win before extra innings? If going to extra innings will most likely be a penalty, shouldn’t it be an incentive to not go that far?
Brooks-san,
I think I ended up watching the WBC because there was no other baseball on TV at that point of Spring Training. With Koshien going from 8:30 in the morning to past 6:00 at night, plus the professional games, I’ve got plenty of baseball to watch - no need to follow that up with the Olympics.
The “dot” comment was more for humor. I enjoy playing a number of sports, like bowling, tennis, and golf. But try as I may to watch them, and I inevitably fall asleep. My Dad asks me about NCAA basketball and/or NFL, to which I satirically reply “I know there are wasps in Japan, but I’ve never seen any hornets” (or similar mockery of one of the teams’ names - showing blissful ignorance of what ever sport he’s trying to talk about).
Hey, I’m proud to be a dot.
21 John Brooks // Aug 18, 2008 at 1:46 am
With Koshien going from 8:30 in the morning to past 6:00 at night, plus the professional games, I’ve got plenty of baseball to watch - no need to follow that up with the Olympics.
Yeah, I haven’t had no incentive to watch the Olympics. That’s because of two reasons: (1) I’m still angry with the IBAF and my perception that they sold out, and (2) even if I wanted to watch the Olympics here in the states NBC thinks that boxing and other boring sports are more interesting than baseball and even when they do show it its on tape delay which defeats the purpose of watching.
At least I had Michael Phelps to watch, but now that he’s done, so am I done watching the Olympics. Phelps was the only reason I tuned into watch the Olympics.
22 stacyantawnbarrett // Sep 8, 2008 at 7:42 am
I’m all for getting rid of basketball but communist can’t take it and i’m an old testament russian meaning jewish like the kind hitler destroyed not ezekiel told to eat cake and human fesces or dung
23 Joel // Sep 8, 2008 at 8:03 pm
That is definately the coolest comment you guys have had on here in a while. Thank you stacyantawnbarrett .
24 Jackson // Sep 9, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I agree. That one ranks up there with the Islamist anti-imperialist rant from a year ago. Can we find that one in the archives Aaron?
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