2023 World Baseball Classic

Tokyo Sox

Baka Gaijin
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Feb 16, 2006
6,132
There
Okamoto with the solo shot! He's been the only Central League player to challenge Murakami for the HR title the last couple years.
 

Tokyo Sox

Baka Gaijin
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Feb 16, 2006
6,132
There
Takahashi the youngest player on team Japan. That 2nd pitch was a strike to Trout, come on.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,369
Smoltz: the way this Us team is constructed you had to think they’d need to outscore their opponents to win.

:D
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,753
Pittsburgh, PA
I have a feeling Japan will need at least a couple more.
Yep, me too. They're playing with fire vs this USA lineup, have stranded a ton of runners, but I think you'd probably set the USA's O/U for runs at about 5.5, even now. This is a murderer's row worthy of the '27 Yankees.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,753
Pittsburgh, PA
I know ohtani is à wonderful ballplayer, but the adulation is way off the charts.
If all you'd seen was this game, you might say the same about Trout.

I love that they're teammates. Hard to believe a team built around both of them can't even make the playoffs, but that's another matter.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
47,083
If all you'd seen was this game, you might say the same about Trout.

I love that they're teammates. Hard to believe a team built around both of them can't even make the playoffs, but that's another matter.
Rendon raking in the spring. Just once, give us a full season of all 3 guys being healthy.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
There's an awful lot of red on Taylor Ward's Savant page
Oh, for sure. And he was still good in the 2nd half, but his first half was fire last year. If that's who they get at the top of the lineup, and Rendon stays healthy, and Walsh has recovered from his thoracic outlet surgery after a rough year last year, that's a solid 1-6.

It's a lot of "if's" though. That said, I think Thaiss/Logan O'Hoppe should be solid upgrades at catcher from Stassi (assuming they decide to move on), and I would love to see Jo Adell put it all together finally (he's somehow still only 23!).

They could be good, but it's going to take a lot going right.

The Mariners are my second favorite team at the moment, but I am always pulling for the Angels to find a way into the playoffs.
 

Tokyo Sox

Baka Gaijin
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Feb 16, 2006
6,132
There
Genda only on the squad for his defense, any kind of production at the plate would be huge.
 

Mr. Stinky Esq.

No more Ramon
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2006
2,421
They ought to show some live look ins on watch parties in Japan. (I know it’s some silly hour to be watching baseball there but I’m sure they’re still all over this).