Champion's path to victory went through Korea, Cuba and U.S.

"The fact that we won is something that even for the
Japanese baseball world is something that will
remain in history." manager Tatsunori Hara said.

LOS ANGELES -- Baseball has long been America's pastime, but if the last two World Baseball Classics are any indication, it's becoming a game dominated by the Far East.

Japan has proved to be king by winning both tournaments, capped by its epic, 5-3 win in 10 innings over Korea on Monday in the title game at Dodger Stadium.

Ichiro Suzuki was the hero thanks to his two-out, two-run single on the eighth pitch he saw from right-handed reliever Chang Yong Lim in the 10th.

It was one of the most memorable moments in the tournament's brief history, and one that Japan manager Tatsunori Hara will always remember.

"I believe that the base hit is something that I will never forget," Hara said. "It's an image that will forever be imprinted in my mind."

But it wasn't the only memorable moment for Japan on its way to a 7-2 record and second World Baseball Classic title.

It was a difficult road for Japan, which played runner-up Korea five times in the tournament, winning the series, 3-2.

Hara, however, pointed out that the difference in talent level between the two teams is minimal, and he gave credit to Korea for making the finals.

"As you know, baseball wins and losses are just paper-thin differences, especially in this World Baseball Classic," he said. "The fact that the two Asian countries were able to play against each other in the finals is something that we and the Koreans can be proud of."

The two teams set a Classic record by playing each other five times. They have squared off eight times in the two tournaments combined, with each team winning four games. But Hara isn't surprised that his team keeps facing Korea in important games.

"I had the feeling that we were going to meet them a number of times," he said. "The fact that we actually did end up playing five times, the most number of times that you can play against any team, the fact that we were able to do that, it is something that I had a feeling we would do, but I am also surprised that we did."

Korea wasn't the only difficult team that Japan faced, as it defeated Cuba twice, as well as the U.S. in the semifinals.

Japan's two wins over Cuba, including the knockout victory in Round 2, were especially impressive, considering Cuba had made it to the finals of every major international tournament over the last 50 years.

Japan took the title behind Hisashi Iwakuma, who tossed six scoreless innings on his way to being named to the All-Tournament Team.

But perhaps no victory was more important to Japan than its 9-4 victory over the U.S.

"I really respect American baseball, so the fact that we were able to play against the American team was wonderful," Hara said. "The fact that we won is something that even for the Japanese baseball world is something that will remain in history."

Japan won the tournament with fundamental baseball, along with the best pitching staff in the tournament.

Daisuke Matsuzaka won three games and won the Most Valuable Player Award, Iwakuma had a 1.35 ERA in four appearances and 22-year-old sensation Yu Darvish won two games with a 2.08 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 13 innings.

Combined, the pitching staff compiled a mind-boggling team ERA of 1.71, and the offense did its part, too, averaging more than five runs a game despite the fact that 80 percent of the team's hits were singles.

It was all part of Japan's commitment to fundamentals that even impressed the American players after their difficult loss on Sunday.

"You know when you play Japan, they're going to play fundamentally sound baseball," Team USA second baseman Brian Roberts said. "They're going to do the little things, and you're going to have to go out there and beat them. And so when it comes to that, there's something for everyone to learn from."

In four years, in the next World Baseball Classic, we'll see if the rest of the world learned from Japan, or if Japan will be the one teaching the lessons again on the way to another title.

Ichiro's bat from tournament's first round headed to Cooperstown

Ichiro Suzuki poses with the World Baseball
Classic trophy after Monday night's victory.

LOS ANGELES -- After he retires from Major League Baseball, Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki might very well be headed to the Hall of Fame.

But for now, the right fielder is contributing to Cooperstown's collection by donating his bat from the first round of this year's World Baseball Classic.

It's a fitting donation from Ichiro, who had the game-winning hit in the 10th inning of Japan's 5-3 win over rival Korea in the Classic's championship game on Monday.

It stands as the second donation from the 35-year-old Ichiro, who also donated his batting helmet in 2006, when Japan won the inaugural Classic title.

Ichiro, however, wasn't the only player from Japan to make a donation to the Hall of Fame, as Hisashi Iwakuma, Monday's starting pitcher, donated the cap he wore during the game and the winning pitcher, 22-year-old sensation Yu Darvish, donated his cleats.

The donations are making their way to Cooperstown on Tuesday and will be added to the "Today's Game" exhibit before Opening Day.

Other artifacts donated from the 2009 Classic include the bat used by Team USA third baseman David Wright when he hit a game-winning double against Puerto Rico in the Round 2 elimination game; the cap worn by Dominican Republic starter Ubaldo Jimenez when he struck out a Classic-record 10 batters against The Netherlands; the cap worn by Netherlands pitching coach Bert Blyleven; the cap worn by Venezuelan starter Felix Hernandez, who went 2-0; the batting helmet from Venezuela's Miguel Cabrera, who batted .281 with two home runs; and a cap from Team Cuba, which saw its streak of reaching the finals of international baseball tournaments end at 50.

The offerings join several artifacts from the inaugural 2006 Classic, such as Korea's donation of Seung-Yeop Lee's bat from the semifinals and a cap worn by pitcher Jin-Young Lee.

Japan donated six items in 2006 -- a warmup jacket from pitcher Koji Uehara, spikes worn by manager Sadaharu Oh, spikes worn by relief pitcher Shunsuke Watanabe, a batting helmet worn by Ichiro, a jersey worn by Matsuzaka and a cap worn by outfielder Nobuhiko Matsunaka.

Manager Kim thanks his players for doing their best

"We learned a lot as a team," In Sik Kim said
about Korea's World Baseball Classic experience.

LOS ANGELES -- The Koreans would have preferred the gold medal in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, but the silver version of the tournament's hardware will suffice for now.

Being known as the second-best baseball country in the world, behind only two-time tournament champion Japan, is still quite an accomplishment. That's how Team Korea views its finish.

On Monday, Japan topped Korea, 5-3, in 10 innings in the championship game at Dodger Stadium. Korea ended the 2009 tourney with a 6-3 record. Over two Classics, the country is 12-4.

"I believe we did our best in the game," pitcher Jung Keun Bong said after Monday's loss. "It was a great game until the end for both teams. I believe that we were the best two teams in the world. Asia is the best, the world best, and Korea and Japan were able to fight to the end. It was great for all of us."

The title game was the fifth meeting between the two countries in this year's tournament and the eighth time the teams met in two Classics. The countries have four wins apiece, but Japan has the upper hand, eliminating Korea from the semifinals in 2006 and winning this year's championship game.

Japan, which won the inaugural Classic, in 2006, finished the tournament with a 7-2 record.

"I regret a little bit that we could not win before leaving, but I know all the players did their best," third baseman Bum Ho Lee said. "So we do not have any regrets as far as our defeat. We will have the next games in four years, and I will prepare in the next four years to be able to do a lot better at that time."

The championship game was tied at 3 after nine innings, but Japan's star outfielder, Ichiro Suzuki, put away the game with a double that plated two decisive runs in the 10th.

After the game, Korea manager In Sik Kim said that the strategy against Suzuki was to throw him pitches out of the strike zone but that there was a mixup between the catcher and the signs from the bench.

"We learned a lot as a team," Kim said. "It was a great learning experience, and our players will develop, and they will come back to play again in this spot. They did very well, and I just want to thank them for doing their best."

After the defeat, Kim hinted that Bong, who gave up one run on six hits in four innings, did not feel well leading up to the game. Bong walked three batters and struck out one. He did not make any excuses for his performance.

"Although we were defeated, it was the greatest game of my life," Bong said.

The Koreans did not make it past the semifinals in 2006, but they have plenty to be proud of this time around. In first-round action in Pool A, in Tokyo, Korea defeated Chinese Taipei, 9-0, to start the tournament; lost to Japan in its second game, 14-2; and followed with a 14-0 win over China. In the final game of the first round, Korea defeated Japan, 1-0.

In the second round, at San Diego's PETCO Park, Korea beat Mexico and Japan in Pool 1 play, 8-2 and 4-1, respectively. Japan defeated Korea, 6-2, in the round's finale to earn the top seed for the semifinals.

Korea rolled through the semifinal game against Venezuela at Dodger Stadium with a 10-2 victory to set up the championship showdown with Japan.

"We did our best," Kim said. "Of course, it would have been better if we won, but I do not have a great deal of dissatisfaction."

Team Japan opens and closes as worldwide champions of baseball

The Samurai, as Team Japan is known at home, started this wild, worldwide ride almost three weeks ago, and sure enough they finished it, throwing the first and last pitches of the second edition of the World Baseball Classic.

But in between those two pitches, baseball wound up the winner, not just Japan with its second title in as many tries.

Competitive play was king in this Classic, with the Japan-Korea rivalry setting the tone all the way up to Monday's final crescendo, a 5-3 win for Japan in 10 innings. The two teams played five times, with Japan winning three games. The final runs tally: Japan 43, Korea 38.

"The fact that the two Asian countries were able to play against each other in the finals is something that we and the Koreans can be proud of," Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said.

Very true, but this was much more than Japan vs. Korea. It was a 16-nation baseball army that marched through March and provided, once again and in different ways than in 2006, a welcome appetizer for Major League Baseball's regular season. And, just as it did in 2006, it showed how large the world of baseball is becoming.

The first pitch came from Japan's 22-year-old phenom Yu Darvish in the early-morning hours of March 5 in the U.S., when Japan got Tokyo Dome rocking and began its title defense with a 4-0 victory over China. The last pitch came in the late-evening hours Monday night at Dodger Stadium, when Darvish -- now serving as Japan's closer -- delivered an unhittable slider for the final out and a championship in extra innings.

In all, there were 39 games played at seven international venues over the course of the tournament, and each of them had a story.

A review of some of the key games along the way:

March 5: China 4, Chinese Taipei 1 -- Less than a year after the Major Leagues made its first trip to the Great Wall, China earned its first big win in international competition.

March 7: Netherlands 3, Dominican Republic 2 -- Three quick runs showed the world the Dutch were in the tourney. Holding off one of the pre-tourney favorites showed they were there to stay.

March 7: U.S. 6, Canada 5 -- With Rogers Centre rocking, the border "friendly" turned into a tense affair down to J.J. Putz's last pitch and bear hug of catcher Brian McCann. Surprisingly, Canada would be out two days later after losing to Italy.

March 9: Korea 1, Japan 0 -- In stark contrast to the 14-2 rout Japan had put on Korea to start what would be their best-of-five series, this seeding game turned into a pitching duel between Jung Keun Bong and Hisashi Iwakuma, who'd meet again in the final.

March 10: Netherlands 2, Dominican Republic 1 -- After the D.R. took the lead in the 11th, the Dutch flipped it around in the bottom half of the inning with the winning run scoring on an error, thus eliminating the D.R. and propelling The Netherlands to the second round.

March 14: Puerto Rico 11, U.S. 1 -- This game was called in the seventh on the mercy rule, as Carlos Beltran homered and Pudge Rodriguez hit a pair of doubles, putting the U.S. up against the wall in embarrassing fashion.

March 15: U.S. 9, Netherlands 3 -- Team USA ended the dream for The Netherlands in a game that saw Jimmy Rollins and Brian Roberts, a late replacement at second base for injured Dustin Pedroia, ignite the offense from the top of the order, and later included some heated words after U.S. pitcher Matt Lindstrom threw a pitch behind Vince Rooi after Lindstrom believed that Bryan Englehardt took too long watching his two-run home run in the eighth inning.

March 16: Venezuela 2, Puerto Rico 0 -- Felix Hernandez, the rising star right-hander for the Mariners, pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings, and Francisco Rodriguez, the closer who signed as a free agent with the Mets this offseason, finished off Puerto Rico's first loss of the tournament with a four-out save, while clinching a spot in the semis for Venezuela.

March 17: U.S. 6, Puerto Rico 5 -- With a wave of David Wright's bat at a pitch low and away, the Mets third baseman sent a sinking liner down the right-field line and two runs across the plate for a victory that set off a wild celebration at Miami's Dolphin Stadium and sent the U.S. to the semis.

March 18: Japan 5, Cuba 0 -- The defending champions met baseball's greatest amateur power in an elimination game, and Japan survived. That left Cuba out of the finals of a major international tournament for the first time since 1952.

March 22: Japan 9, U.S. 4 -- Team USA advanced one more round than in '06, but it turned into one game as Japan earned the right to meet Korea for the title behind Daisuke Matsuzaka.

In the end, Dice-K was named MVP of the tournament, an honor that could have gone to his teammate Iwakuma just as easily.

But one thing they definitely shared afterward: A desire to do it all over again.

"I want to continue to be a player that would be invited to this," Matsuzaka said. "That's how I feel."

Said Iwakuma: "It was the pride of Japan. And if possible, I would like to participate again."

After Korea ties it, country successfully defends its title in extras

Ichiro hits a two-run single in the top of the 10th inning Monday.

LOS ANGELES -- It was one of those games for the ages that will certainly grow in proportion with the passage of time.

One game, winner takes all for the second World Baseball Classic. A game at Dodger Stadium on Monday night that had more twists and turns than kabuki. The Japanese essentially had to win it twice.

"That was as much intensity as you've seen in a baseball game in a long time," Commissioner Bud Selig said after the four-hour spectacular ended with Japan besting rival Korea, 5-3, in 10 innings. "It was incredible. It was really amazing."

And so the Japanese are the champions once again, successfully defending their 2006 title.

This time they can thank old faithful Ichiro Suzuki for the victory. The 35-year-old Mariners right fielder snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-run single on an eight-pitch at-bat against right-handed reliever Chang Yong Lim with runners on second and third and two outs in the 10th.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was named MVP for the second consecutive Classic. He was 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in this year's tournament, and he's 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA overall.

In three years, Matsuzaka has won the Classic twice, the Classic MVP twice and the 2007 World Series as a member of the Red Sox. Try putting that all into perspective.

"It's not something that everybody can experience, and it's not something that everybody can earn," said Matsuzaka, who defeated Team USA on Sunday night to put his country into the final game. "So I feel that I'm very lucky. I'm really thankful about the MVP. I didn't think that it was going to be me at all."

The Japanese figured that the victory was secured in the eighth inning, when Akinori Iwamura gave them a 3-1 lead with a sacrifice fly, coming after Seiichi Uchikawa was moved to third on Atsunori Inaba's double.

But the Koreans tied the score, 3-3, in the bottom of the ninth inning against hard-throwing 22-year-old Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish, who was brought in at the start of the inning to try and preserve Japan's one-run lead and the victory.

Japan manager Tatsunori Hara actually let left-hander Toshiya Sugiuchi go out for warmups before striding to the mound to call for Darvish -- all part of the usual Asian gamesmanship. He lifted Sugiuchi with two Korean left-handed hitters coming up, because "in the bullpen, the pitcher who was the best is the one I picked. That's why I picked him," Hara said.

It ultimately worked out, but not without a lot of trepidation.

Darvish was erratic, striking out the leadoff hitter, Keun-Woo Jeong, and then walking Hyun-Soo Kim and Tae Kyun Kim on nine pitches to put runners on first and second with one out. Darvish then struck out Shin-Soo Choo, who earlier in the game had homered. But Bum Ho Lee singled to left, driving in the tying run.

"I had a great opportunity in a game like this," Lee said. "I regret a little bit that we could not win."

The Koreans had their chance, but Young Min Ko then whiffed to end the inning with the winning run on second.

The game was played in front of a raucous crowd of 54,846, which set an all-time single-game Classic attendance record in the 78th game over the course of the first two tournaments. For the three games at Dodger Stadium, the crowds totaled 141,834 and the overall attendance for the tournament for 39 games was 801,408. Both were also new Classic records.

The fans, banging dueling orange and blue Thunderstix all night long, reacted to the ebb and flow of the game with incredible thunder and enthusiasm as the 48-year-old facility literally shook up and down when Korea scored that ninth-inning run.

"When I think about what we set out to do years ago, this is what we had in mind," Selig said. "Through all the years and all the conversations, it all crystallized in these moments."

Like the Yankees and Red Sox in the U.S., the Koreans vs. the Japanese has turned into the preeminent baseball rivalry on the international scene.

It was the fifth time in this Classic that the Asian nations had met, with the two teams splitting the first four games -- two in each of the first two rounds.

"I believe [after all this], we are the best two teams in the world," said Jung Keun Bong, Korea's starting pitcher on Monday night.

It may be hard to argue. Dating back to the '06 Classic, the Japanese and Koreans have met eight times. Three years ago, Korea won the first two games, but then was eliminated by the Japanese, 6-0, in the semifinal at San Diego's PETCO Park.

Japan went on to defeat Cuba in the final game and win the inaugural Classic, but that 10-6 victory didn't have the drama or intensity of Monday night's epic.

It seemed only fitting that for Japan, it would come down to Ichiro at the end. The first and most successful Japanese position to player to come to the U.S.

Darvish became the winner, because Ichiro just wouldn't give in during his climatic at-bat. There was apparently some confusion between the Korean bench, catcher Min-ho Kang and Lim, who was told to pitch carefully to Ichiro before giving up the single, but apparently missed the sign. Kang, 23 years old, had just come into the game an inning earlier.

"They did not convey signals well," Korean manager In-Sik Kim said. "The catcher understood the signs, but the pitcher didn't understand it very well. It was not to try to walk him, but to throw him a ball. If it did not work, then we would walk him. That was the strategy. So the pitcher and catcher did not communicate well. That hurt us in the end."

Asked with the crowd roaring on every pitch if he was able to take a Zen approach at the plate, clearing everything from his mind as he faced Lim with the championship on the line, Ichiro chuckled.

"I really wish I could've been in a state of Zen," he said. "But I thought about a whole lot of things. I kept thinking of all these things I shouldn't think about. Usually when that happens, I can't really hit. But I was able to hit. So I felt like I may have surpassed something in myself."

Great players are able to overcome such obstacles to accomplish great things. And so it came to pass that way on a memorable night that will only grow in the glow of history.

Japan righty wins three games in 2009 tournament to seal award

LOS ANGELES -- Dice-K rolled another double winner at the World Baseball Classic.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player for the second time on Monday after Japan beat Korea, 5-3 in 10 innings, in the final for its second title in as many editions of the Classic.

Dice-K posted a 3-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in the tournament, winning all three of his starts, including his victory over the United States in the semifinal on Sunday. He tossed 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits for the victory that put Japan in the final.

"I'm really thankful about the MVP," Matsuzaka said afterward. "I didn't think that it was going to be me at all. I felt that I was lucky, and I felt that it couldn't be compared to Mr. [Hisashi] Iwakuma, who pitched today. So I felt that Iwakuma would get the MVP myself."

Iwakuma pitched 7 2/3 strong innings in the title game, and wound up going 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance, covering 20 innings. In all, Dice-K pitched 14 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on 14 hits along with five walks and 13 strikeouts.

Matsuzaka also won the MVP in the inaugural Classic in 2006, when he went 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings, including a win over Cuba in the final at San Diego's PETCO Park. Overall in both tournaments, Matsuzaka is 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA in 27 2/3 innings along with 23 strikeouts and eight walks.

Matsuzaka used the 2006 tournament as a showcase of his talent as he soon signed with the Red Sox after the Classic. He's been successful in the Major Leagues, posting a 33-15 record and a 3.72 ERA in his two seasons with the club along with a World Series title in 2007.

"The difference between last time and this time is, I was able to participate as a champion, and I was again able to win the championship again," Matsuzaka said.

Japan (1-0) 5, Korea (0-1) 3
March 23, 2009

Final meeting, title go to Japan, but country fights until bitter end

Korean DH Keun-Woo Jeong fans for the final out of the 2009 Classic.

LOS ANGELES -- The Koreans, second-to-none for most of the 2009 World Baseball Classic, will return home second to one team, the Japanese.

On Monday, Japan topped Korea, 5-3, in 10 innings to defend its Classic title in front of 54,846 at Dodger Stadium in the tournament's championship game. Japan also won the inaugural Classic in 2006. Korea finishes with a 6-3 record and as the tourney's first runner-up.

The title game was the fifth meeting between the two countries in this year's tournament and the eighth time the teams have met in two Classics. The two rivals have four wins apiece, but Japan has the upper hand, eliminating Korea from the semifinals in 2006 and in the final Monday.

Team Korea shined for nine innings, but Japanese star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki made sure there would be no Korean celebration in extra frames on this night. Tied at 3 with two outs in the 10th, Ichiro lined a 2-2 pitch from Korean reliever Chang Yong Lim up the middle to score two runs and push Japan ahead for the final margin of victory.

The final pitch to Ichiro was a mistake, Korea manager In-Sik Kim said. The strategy against Ichiro was to throw him pitches out of the strike zone and walk the All-Star as a last resort. There was a mix-up between catcher Min-ho Kang and the signs from the bench, Kim said.

"I don't know why the pitcher tried to pitch directly to Ichiro," Kim said. "I did not understand. I did not ask the pitcher why. In the end, it did not work for us."

Ichiro finished 4-for-6, and his game-winning hit came on the eighth pitch from Lim. Japan right-hander Yu Darvish pitched the final two innings for Japan to earn the victory.

"We did our best," Kim said. "Of course, it would have been better if we won, but I do not have a great deal of dissatisfaction."

The resilient Koreans rallied late. With one out and Japan ahead, 3-2, in the bottom of ninth, Darvish issued back-to-back walks to Korea left fielder Hyun-Soo Kim and first baseman Tae Kyun Kim. He recovered to strike out Korean right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, but third baseman Bum Ho Lee followed with an RBI single to left field to tie the game at 3.

Korea did not score again, but give the country credit.

Japan had runners on first and second with two outs against Korea starter Jung Keun Bong in each of the first two innings, but it was unable to score each time. In the top of the third inning, Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima scored Japan's first run on a single by first baseman Michihiro Ogasawara with one out for a 1-0 lead. Left fielder Seiichi Uchikawa followed with a single to load the bases, but the next hitter, designated hitter Kenta Kurihara, hit into a double play.

In the fifth, Nakajima walked and advance to third base on a single by center fielder Norichika Aoki. Korea replaced Bong with Hyun Wook Jong on the mound, and the move worked to perfection. Jong fanned Japanese catcher Kenji Johjima, then Ogasawara struck out swinging and Korean catcher Kyung Oan Park threw out Aoki trying to steal second base to complete the double play.

Jong retired the side in order in the sixth, but Korea would not be as fortunate in the seventh.

Japan third baseman Yasuyuki Kataoka led off with a single and stole second base. He advanced to third on a bunt single by Ichiro. Kataoka came home on a single by Nakajima to move ahead, 2-1. In the eighth inning, Uchikawa scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Akinori Iwamura to extend Japan's lead to 3-1.

But the Koreans refused to fold. In the bottom half of the eighth, Korea third baseman Lee led off with a double and moved to third on a ground ball by second baseman Young Min Ko. Lee charged home on a sacrifice to center field by Dae Ho Lee to cut Japan's lead to one run, 3-2.

Korean shortstop Ki Hyuk Park followed with a walk, and Japan manager Tatsumori Hara followed with the hook. Japan starter Hisashi Iwakuma was replaced by Toshiya Sugiuchi after 7 2/3 strong innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six Korean hitters.

In the fifth inning, Choo smashed a home run for Korea, his second in two games, to tie the game at 1.

"I am proud [Korea] fought and did their best," Bong said. "Korea did not give up to the very end, so our players, coach and our manager have no regrets about leaving anything on the field in this game."

Meeting Korea for the fifth time, Japan hoping to repeat as champs

real time posted: Monday, March 23, 2009 2:21:00 PM

LOS ANGELES -- The World Baseball Classic trophy will return to Asia for the second successive time in the tournament's brief history.

Japan hopes the hardware returns to its home country -- again.

On Monday at 9 p.m. ET, Japan (6-2) will defend its Classic title against Korea (6-2) in the 2009 World Baseball Classic championship game at Dodger Stadium.

"It's the game of the century," Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said. "Japan would like, as any team, to do the best we can. In terms of strategy in the game, that's something you can observe [Monday] when we play."

Japan will send right-handed pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to the mound. Iwakuma is 1-1 with a 0.73 ERA in 12 1/3 innings in three Classic games this year. Korea will counter with Jung Keun Bong, a one-time Major League pitcher and winner of 11 games last season in Korea. Bong is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings in three Classic appearances this year, with both wins coming against Japan.

"What would make the difference between winning and losing, believe that you just have to play a good game," Hara said. "And that is the big goal of the Japanese team."

There will be few surprises in the contest between the two Asian powers.

The meeting marks the fifth time the two countries have faced each other in this Classic and the eighth time in Classic play dating back to the inaugural event in 2006.

Overall, Korea holds a 4-3 advantage in two Classics, although Japan defeated Korea in a single-elimination semifinal game three years ago on its way to the inaugural championship.

The teams split two games in Pool A at the Tokyo Dome and split two games at PETCO Park in the second round this year.

To get to the finals, Japan defeated USA, 9-4, in the semifinal on Sunday. Korea topped Venezuela, 10-2, in the semifinal on Saturday.

"I never thought it would come true, that we will be playing against them five times, the most times you could ever play a team," Hara said. "We were able to come up to the stage together. I really feel great respect for the Koreans for that."

Fifth meeting between two clubs in '09 Classic will determine title

real time posted: Monday, March 23, 2009 1:11:00 PM

LOS ANGELES -- Simply put, Korea left-hander Jung Keun Bong has been dominant against Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

Bong has already twice defeated Japan, while posting a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings along with three strikeouts and just six hits allowed.

He will again get a chance to defeat Japan, but with much more on the line in the 2009 World Baseball Classic final on Monday at 9 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium. Korea will be the home team in Monday's final after it won a coin toss following Sunday night's semifinal between Japan and USA.

It will be the fifth meeting between the two teams as they both won two games against each other in this year's Classic.

"Korean players and Japanese players are excellent," said Shin-Soo Choo, who also plays for the Indians. "There is little difference between the two."

And while Choo is the only player on Korea's roster currently in the Major Leagues, Bong spent three years in the big leagues and pitched at Dodger Stadium in relief once, allowing no runs in 2 2/3 innings while picking up the win for the Braves.

But that was five years ago, and he struggled in the United States, posting a 5.17 ERA in 48 games with the Braves and Reds.

Bong returned to his native Korea in 2006, when he signed a deal with the LG Twins and had a solid season in 2008, going 11-8 with a 2.66 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings.

His success in the Korean Baseball Organization has carried over into the World Baseball Classic, where he is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings for Korea.

Bong's undoubtedly been the ace of his staff, but he's also had plenty of help, as Korea has been solid in all facets of the game.

The team has scored a tournament-high 50 runs while also showing discipline on defense and on the basepaths.

Instead of Yu Darvish, Korea will face Hisashi Iwakuma in the final on Monday.

Although it's a rivalry that parallels the one in America between the Yankees and Red Sox, Korea manager In-Sik Kim said on Saturday that he didn't care if he faced the United States or Japan in the final.

"In baseball, it does not matter who you face, either the U.S. or Japan," Kim said through a translator. "Either team is fine. We came all the way here, and this is what we hope -- that we play the best team out of the two teams."

Backed by five-run fourth, country will defend Classic title Monday

Yu Darvish celebrates after finishing off Team USA on Sunday.

LOS ANGELES -- Japan's trip started in Tokyo more than two weeks ago and continued through a pair of exhibition games in Arizona and a weeklong pit stop in San Diego.

On Sunday, the journey led Japan to Dodger Stadium and a clash with a Team USA squad loaded with Major Leaguers and a boisterous crowd of 43,630, the most for a World Baseball Classic game on American soil.

The result was one for the Japanese history books.

Japan 9, USA 4.

Japan is now headed to the World Baseball Classic championship game to defend its title against Korea in the fifth meeting between the two countries in this tournament. The teams split two games in Pool A at the Tokyo Dome and split two games at PETCO Park in the second round.

Overall, Korea holds a 4-3 advantage in two Classics, although Japan defeated Korea in a single-elimination semifinal game three years ago on its way to the inaugural championship. Korea defeated Venezuela, 10-2, in the other semifinal game on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Japanese won by employing the style that has made them famous: fundamental baseball and strong starting pitching, this time from Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka. The country also played flawless defense and pounded out 10 hits. Japan manager Tatsunori Hara did his part, writing in seven left-handed hitters in the starting lineup against Team USA starter Roy Oswalt.

The strategy worked. Of the six hits Oswalt allowed, five of them came to left-handed hitters.

Oswalt's only hit allowed to a right-handed hitter was an RBI double by shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima that capped Japan's five-run fourth and knocked Oswalt out of the game with his team behind, 6-2. Major League pitchers have not been a problem for the Japanese offense. Before the start of the second round in San Diego, Japan beat the Giants with starter Tim Lincecum, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, on the mound in Scottsdale, Ariz. The next day, Japan beat Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano in Mesa, Ariz.

"We came up with strategies and were able to come up with variations of the strategies," Hara said. "I believe that was apparent today. We were able to get the big win."

Matsuzaka did his part. He gave up a home run to Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts on his second pitch of the game, and gave up another run when Mets third baseman David Wright smashed a double to center field that scored Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins to push USA ahead, 2-1, in the third inning.

It would be Team USA's only lead of the game. As for Matsuzaka, he was replaced two outs into the top of fifth inning by reliever Toshiya Sugiuchi after allowing two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. Dice-K picked up the win, his third in this year's tournament. He is 6-0 in two Classics.

Japan began to take control of the game in the fourth, when designated hitter Atsunori Inaba and first baseman Michihiro Ogasawara hit back-to-back singles. Inaba scored on a fielding error to tie the game at 2, and Ogasawara came home on a sacrifice fly to right field by Kenji Johjima, the second of three sacrifices by the Mariners catcher in the game.

Second baseman Akinori Iwamura followed Johjima with an RBI triple to extend the lead to 4-2. Third baseman Munenori Kawasaki's single scored Iwamura for Japan's fifth run to set up the showdown between Oswalt and Nakajima.

Nakajima won. You can argue the entire country won Sunday.

"I really respect American baseball, so the fact that we were able to play against the American team was wonderful," Hara said. "The fact that we won today is something that even for the Japanese baseball world is something that will remain in history."

USA did not go down without a fight.

Trailing, 6-2, with one out in the top of the eighth inning, Team USA scored two runs on a double by first baseman Mark DeRosa to cut Japan's lead to two runs. But Japanese reliever Takahiro Mahara recovered to strike out pinch-hitter Evan Longoria and Roberts grounded out to the pitcher for the final out of the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, Johjima contributed again with a sacrifice bunt that moved pinch-runner Yasuyuki Kataoka from first to second base. Kataoka eventually scored as part of a three-run inning to give Japan a 9-4 lead. In the second inning, Johjima's sacrifice to right field scored Inaba for Japan's first run of the game.

"I was able to play against America is something that is very much going to be a memory for me," Johjima said. "It's overwhelming for me."

Roster's lone Major Leaguer helping Korea roll through Classic

Shin-Soo Choo entered Monday's final
with a .444 on-base percentage in the Classic.

He can hit for power -- as evidenced by his three-run home run against Team Venezuela in Saturday night's World Baseball Classic semifinal game -- he can draw walks and he has a strong arm in the outfield.

But Choo brings something else to his team that no one else can -- current Major League Baseball playing experience.

As the lone big leaguer on Team Korea, Choo is often asked to help scout opponents whose rosters are littered with Major Leaguers.

That was perfectly exhibited against Venezuela on Saturday, when Choo told his teammates to be patient against right-hander Carlos Silva and look for a sinker to drive into the outfield. Choo listened to his own advice, knocking a three-run homer, and Tae Kyun Kim followed with a two-run homer in the second inning to chase Silva from the game.

"Shin-Soo knew about the pitcher, and we talked about it a lot," Kim said. "We believed a lot of sinkers were going to be thrown, I was aware of it and that's how we were able to hit."

Even though Choo played baseball growing up in South Korea, his transition to playing for his country in the World Baseball Classic wasn't easy. He left his native country for the Mariners farm system in 2001 as an 18-year-old after being named the Most Valuable Player of the World Junior Baseball Championship as a left-handed pitcher.

That was the last time Choo represented his country on the baseball field, so he jumped at the chance to play for Korea in this year's World Baseball Classic. So far, Choo has been impressed by his teammates, who won the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics.

"They are excellent players -- better than I expected," Choo said of his teammates after Saturday's 10-2 win. "Even in comparison with Major League players."

That begs the question of why there aren't more Korean-born players in the Majors. Choo, one of only 13 Koreans to have appeared in the big leagues, still doesn't quite have an answer.

"I don't know why," Choo said. "As a Major Leaguer myself, in terms of the actual players in the Major Leagues and the other players, there is not a great deal of difference in talent."

Korea manager In Sik Kim admitted before the semifinals that his team is less talented on paper than the United States, Venezuela and Japan. But games aren't played on paper, and even though Choo is the only Major Leaguer playing for Korea, the team has steamrolled through opponents.

Saturday's game prompted Venezuela manager Luis Sojo to say he expects to see more and more Koreans in the Major Leagues in coming years.

"It surprises me that there aren't that many Koreans in the big leagues, but I think from now on, there will be," Sojo said.

Korea prides itself on having discipline at the plate, on the basepaths and in the field. As a team, Korea entered Monday night's final with an on-base percentage of .385, nine stolen bases in 10 attempts and just six errors in 15 Classic games dating back to the inaugural tournament in 2006.

Choo said Korea's style is far different from what he sees in the United States, especially offensively.

"Major league players' style is to always be very active," Choo said. "But in comparison, Korea and Japan, we are more patient at batting. We are more meticulous, and when we get a good pitch, we put it in play."

Korea's style certainly isn't the only way to win, but it sure is working in the World Baseball Classic, a tournament Choo won't soon forget, whether Korea brings home the title or not.

"When the [tournament] is over, I will think that this will be an unforgettable Classic that I experienced," Choo said. "I learned a lot from all the players. The [Classic] is great."

LOS ANGELES -- Accentuating the benefits of the event and addressing various questions, Commissioner Bud Selig left no doubt Saturday night that the World Baseball Classic has carved out an important global presence, shows tremendous promise and is poised to become all the more exciting when it returns in March of 2013.

The event, which uniquely showcases Major League players at a time of year when baseball revs up the engines for a new season, is nearing the end of its second running and is slated to be staged every four years. The inaugural event was unveiled in 2006.

"I'm very happy about where we are," Selig said in an impromptu media conference behind the Dodger Stadium press box during the course of Korea's resounding 10-2 victory over Venezuela in the semifinals. "I think this is tremendous. Long after I'm gone this is going to get bigger and bigger and bigger, and you can count on that."

Selig, who will turn 75 this year, has a contract through the 2012 season.

Still on tap this year is Sunday evening's Team USA-Japan semifinal and a championship matchup on Monday between the winner of that game and Korea, a team that is 12-3 over the course of the first two tournaments, but was knocked out by Japan in a semifinal game three years ago for its only loss.

Attendance for Saturday night's game was 43,378 with the real possibility that close to 150,000 could show up for the three games here.

Selig addressed whether the tournament is catching on fast enough with U.S. fans and observations made by a few Major League teams' general managers, who have suggested reconsidering the time of year the event is played.

"I know we have some GMs who are somewhat reticent -- I'm going to be as kind here as I can," Selig said. "Look, the clubs hear this all the time, but I'm going to say this to you as directly as I can:

" 'This is a time in life where I know how important your individual club is -- this is a time to put the best interests of the game ahead of your own provincial self-interest.' "

Selig cited what is undeniably successful with the event. The skill level of many of the nations that are newcomers to baseball has increased in the past three years. The Netherlands moved into the second round. Italy, Australia and China all won first-round games against more established baseball-past nations.

Korea and defending champion Japan continue to dominate, sending viewership in the Far East into more than impressive territory. Television ratings for those games, for example, in Japan have consistently gained close to a 40 percent share of the viewing audience.

Team USA's opening round win over Canada in Toronto was the third most watched sporting event on cable TV that week, drawing an audience of 1.8 million. ESPN's overall ratings in the U.S. are up 30 percent since '06, while attendance at the games has generally been comparable despite some smaller crowds for second-round games in Miami's current facility and San Diego.

"I've read all the plusses and minuses, but this is doing exactly what we set out to do," Selig said. "For years we had been accused about being slow in our international development. We needed to find resourceful ways to do this. But after a great deal of thought, this is what we came up with. We've tweaked it a little bit between '06 and now.

"I think it's remarkable. Just watching the game tonight is a manifestation of how far we have come."

Selig said he is resolute about playing the tournament in March and that there would not be a break in July to stage this competition.

"There's no sense standing here tonight telling you it's something that we'll look at," Selig said. "I wouldn't tell you that ... I know people have said it's the wrong time, but ... it's really the only time we can do it."

Selig said, at the same time, that the Classic steering committee would continue to make tweaks in the length and format. Paul Archey, Major League Baseball's executive vice president of international business operations, said planning for the '13 Classic and a probable expansion to 24 teams with play-in rounds will begin almost immediately after the current tournament ends.

The double-elimination brackets used in the first two rounds determined decisive winners, but they led to almost meaningless final games that decided seeding for the next rounds.

Also, Japan could face Korea for the fifth time in this tournament if it ascends to the final game. But in the second round, Japan played four times and never faced Mexico. The Japanese defeated Cuba twice and split with Korea.

In the '06 round-robin format, a complicated and confusing set of international tiebreakers was used to determine which team would move on. The downside was that three teams in one second-round bracket -- the U.S., Mexico and Japan -- all finished with 1-2 records. Japan moved on to the semifinals because of the tiebreakers.

The upside of it was that the second-place finisher in that bracket -- won by Korea -- wasn't determined until the last pitch of the final game: a 2-1 U.S. loss to Mexico. Had the U.S. pulled that game out, it would have gone on to the semifinals (with a 2-1 record) rather than Japan.

"Anything new continues to need to be adjusted," Selig said. "But I just went out and sat in the crowd for a couple of innings, and the excitement was incredible. How much [the fans] care, it was marvelous. We'll continue to look at everything. I like the idea of playing in Tokyo, in Toronto, in Mexico City. There's something good about that. That's part of what we're trying to do. There's still ways we can condense this thing.

"But this is the right thing to do. Everything we have ever tried to do, whether it was the Wild Cards or whatever, there was always some criticism. I accept it, and I understand that. But the clubs themselves years ago took a vote on this. They agreed that we had to do something internationally, that we needed to go to China and we decided that this was the vehicle we were going to use to do that. Now we've got to cooperate with that vehicle."