We've seen this sort of thing before during All-Star games. It's unsettling, unnerving, and just plain wrong. Yet, there's something about Yankees and Red Sox players high-fiving eachother that pulls on the heart strings. It's opposing sides united for the cause. It's a beautiful thing.
Even youngster Dustin Pedroia is in on it, hanging a poster of Derek Jeter’s deodorant ad in his locker.
After beating the Canadians 6-5 during their World Baseball Classic opener, Team USA went on to pound Venezuela Sunday evening with a 15-5 blowout.
Venezuela knocked out 13 hits but couldn't salvage their 3-2 lead past the sixth inning. They ended up with a disaster of an already suspect bullpen, exhausting four relievers on 11 batters that inning while fans begged for its manager and former infielder, Luis Sojo to take the hill. Eight runs later, the U.S. had a comfy lead.
Adam Dunn and Kevin Youkilis each homered for the second straight game, accounting for four of the five bombs seen in the team's first two contests. Mark DeRosa and Chris Iannetta contributed four RBIs a piece with Curtis Granderson and Ryan Braun each driving in a run as well.
Sadly, the Americans may have to go on without starting third baseman Chipper Jones, who left after three at bats with what is being described as a mild oblique muscle strain: the recurring injury which has kept him out of the batters box a few times over the last three seasons. Don't be surprised if the Atlanta Braves pull him from the tournament with just four weeks until Opening Day. Team USA will play a meaningless game on Wednesday to determine seeding in the second round of the winner's bracket before heading out to face the winner of the losers -- either Italy or Canada -- on Monday night. Meanwhile, Venezuela will play the winner of Monday night’s Canada-Italy elimination game to determine who will join our boys in Miami, Florida.
[MLB] | [SOX & Dawgs] | [Over the Monster] | [Hot Foot]
5 comments:
It's a good thing they've redeemed themselves after almost totally blowing that game against Canada.
I want the season to start today so that these Youk homers start going in a real box score. Dude's on fire already.
I didn't think I'd give a rat's ass about the WBC, but the presence of ESPN Deportes on my current cable system changed that. There's nothing(ok, almost nothing) like sitting back on a cold wintry night and watching La Liga Dominica, Liga Mexicana del Pacífico, or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional when you're jonesing for baseball. I can count to 10 in Spanish and know about 20 other words, but other than that, I can't understand the announcers. But it's béisbol, so what do I care? God bless ESPN Deportes...
"I can count to 10 in Spanish and know about 20 other words, but other than that, I can't understand the announcers."
Which is a blessing when your alternative choice is John and Joe.
Bassmaster- you are so right about that. I finally have an alternative(other than muting) to Joe and Jon.
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