Ugly Loss for U.S. Baseball
Oh, my. Not a good start for Manager Davey Johnson and his band of ballplayers.
After the U.S. came back with three runs in the top of the ninth, closer Kevin Jepsen gave up a pair of runs in the bottom half, aided by his own two-base throwing error. South Korea wins, 8-7.
Trailing by a run to South Korea and down to their final out in the top of the ninth, the Americans got a bases-loaded single by first baseman Matt Brown to take the lead. Brown fought off three straight 0-2 pitches from Suk Min Yoo before lining a single into left field. Two runs scored without a throw.
The U.S. plays the Netherlands tomorrow morning (Wednesday night in the U.S.), followed by a showdown against Cuba on Friday. Although teams are keeping their starting pitchers secret -- a bizarre bit of gamesmanship -- it appears the U.S. will start 20-year-old collegian Stephen Strasburg tomorrow. It goes without saying they need a win.
Olympic baseball leaves a lot to be desired -- starting with the fact the U.S. doesn't make major leaguers available, meaning it and men's soccer are the only sports in the Olympics that do not feature the world's best athletes -- but the ninth inning tonight was fabulous.
Trailing 6-4 entering the ninth and facing hard-throwing South Korean closer Kijoo Han, the Americans got a leadoff homer from third baseman Mike Hessman, followed by a single by catcher Taylor Teagarden. U.S. manager Davey Johnson left Teagarden in to run for himself -- almost a fatal mistake -- and shortstop Brian Harden followed with a double into the right-center gap. A pinch-runner might have scored from first with the tying run, but Teagarden held up at third. Only then did Johnson send in speedster Dexter Fowler to run for Teagarden.
South Korea's manager, Kyungmoon Kim, pulled Han and brought in another right-hander Suk Min Yoon. With no outs and South Korea playing its infield in, Yoon struck out left fielder John Gall with a high fastball, then got second baseman Jayson Nix to pop up to second.
After DH Terry Tiffee walked to load the bases, Brown came to the plate. Yoon got ahead with two quick strikes and kept firing fastballs, three of which Brown fouled off, before his go-ahead single.
Jepsen came in to finish it off, but he immediately got himself in trouble. South Korea's Keunwoo Jeong led off with a double down the left field line, putting the tying run in scoring position with nobody out.
Kim, the Korean manager, was playing his own intense game of chess, at one point calling for a squeeze bunt with one out in the ninth (the batter fouled back the bunt attempt), then pinch-hitting in the middle of an at-bat.
But with one out and the tying run at third, Jepsen coaxed a grounder to second baseman Nix. The U.S. had its infield playing in, but Nix had to go to his left just enough (and Jeong was just fast enough) that Nix's throw home was too late, and the game was tied again.
By
Dave Sheinin
|
August 13, 2008; 8:45 AM ET
| Category:
Baseball
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Posted by: Michael Hill | August 13, 2008 12:20 PM
I love this result - The U.S. Baseball tem will not medal.
Posted by: mike | August 13, 2008 12:52 PM
I think we should only use amateur athletes. I always root for the other country when we pull out our professionals. It is an embarrasment that we don't understand the purpose of these games, fellowship and world unity. As long as we are willing to "cheat" with the likes of Lebron, Kobe, etc., I actually only watch when there is a chance that little Greece has a chance to beat us and revel in it when they do, or some kayaker from Togo has a chance to beat the rich, professionals from the USA.
Posted by: Scott S. | August 13, 2008 1:14 PM
I love this result - The U.S. Baseball tem will not medal.
Posted by: mike | August 13, 2008 12:52 PM
Are you an American? If so, you are a pathetic disgrace.
Posted by: Pete | August 13, 2008 1:17 PM
Hey Scott S...you think it's "cheating" using Lebron, Kobe, etc???? What about every single other country using professional basketball players? Is everyone "cheating"? You don't know what you are talking about. Take a hike.
Posted by: Mikey P. | August 13, 2008 1:20 PM
We went 75 years sending our best amateurs to the Olympics. Our basketball teams won every game but one when they were all amateurs and haven't done so well since.
I am 100% pro American, but it is best for the sport, if we have real competition, and do not steamroll all other nations in any sport.
Posted by: Sternberg | August 13, 2008 1:23 PM
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
(love it!)
Posted by: Kase | August 13, 2008 2:12 PM
Greece has for starters that are in the NBA. i guess they are "cheating" also.
Posted by: J | August 13, 2008 2:26 PM
Don't forget all those years the Soviets and their satellite nations sent nothing but their "National" (i.e., professional) teams to participate in events such as hockey, etc.
Posted by: Arlington Pimp | August 13, 2008 2:43 PM
All of you need to your reality ticket punched or get off the train!!! First off the Olympics were never intended to be some multicultural 'lets forget our differences' for a moment kind of event. In actuality it was just the opposite. It was a religious festival and I will bet all those who attended were of the same religious opinion or else they were not allowed to attend. Secondly, all you 'Einsteins' who think you know so damn much couldn't see a Soviet tank if it ran you over. All those years we sent our very best non-professional athletes to the games the Soviet block countries were sending their best juiced up, 'engineered' athletes that science could create. And while we did win at certain times it was not even a close fight in most events. And lets look at Track and Field athletes. How do you think the top athletes make their living? Do you think they work a day job and train all night? They receive sponsorship money and appearance money and more. There is no such thing as an armature athlete any more!!! You unpatriotic bags of crap just want another reason to bash the USA and I guess you have that right but I also have the right to call you what you really are. You don’t want to watch the Olympics fine don’t............but shut the hell while you watch something else!
Posted by: Jeff W | August 13, 2008 2:44 PM
Hi Jeff. I am keeping quiet and I am not watching the olympics. I hate the olympics, which are totally phony. But I am keeping quiet. Why are you screaming at me?
Posted by: portersa | August 13, 2008 4:29 PM
So, we patriotic Americans should stop buying Hyundai, Daewoo, LG, Samsung, Gold Star, and all the things made in Korea? And we patriotic Americans should through away anything and everything we have or owned that were made in Korea. Suckers, this is just a game. You win some and you lose some. GOT IT?
Posted by: Patriotic bags of crap | August 13, 2008 5:09 PM
Your facts are all wrong. Kevin Jepsen pitched in the 8th inning Faced 2 batters which both grounded out. Inning over. New pitcher brought in for the ninth. Thus team loss.
Posted by: Judith Freeland | August 13, 2008 6:10 PM
Your facts are all wrong. Kevin Jepsen pitched in the 8th. Faced 2 batters that both grounded out. New pitcher in the 9th. I think his name was Stevens.
Posted by: Judith | August 13, 2008 6:33 PM
It's a real blow to America's ego to lose in one of its most popular (and sacred) team sports, comparable to China losing in table tennis. But, I thought it was a bad sportsmanship by the American team's coach who refused to talk to the media after the game.
Posted by: Matrixman | August 13, 2008 6:57 PM
Although our team lost the game yesterday, it was so exciting i think. Forget about yesteday's loss and do our best rest of the game. That's just what can we do!!!!
Go for it!!!
Posted by: kevin | August 13, 2008 9:47 PM
Men's Team USA baseball is a disgrace, not sure what needs to be done but I'm getting tired of seeing us lose at a sport we should dominate in.
Seems we have a bunch of choke artists, and some really poor managing decisions. Sad this team won't even medal, and China still has a shot! Way to go guys, China has a better shot at getting a medal in baseball than you do!
Posted by: JonS | August 15, 2008 3:30 AM
Interesting stuff....and so much of it is off base, all pun intended.
First, so many of our professional BB players are NOT AMERICAN!...and if they were in the Olympics, it should be for their home country....
I also find the games disgusting with egard to certain sports....swimming, track, etc...these people train for the games and dream of the medal, not the money.
Pro tennis and basketball, baseball, etc don't belong period..they squeeze out any hope for young drievn athletes to strive for the sake of the competiton....
It was not all that long ago that one of the greatest athelets of all time had his medals taken away becausse someone found he had made 10 bucks playing summer ball...not even a sport he competed in in the olympics
Their are 2 sets of games, those for the pure sportsman in events without money at stake...and those for the professionals.
If I want to watch world class baseball, basketball, tennis....I will watch a non olympic event....
I am american, and most americans are ignorant and self centered, with no clue about the rest of the world
Posted by: wingnutz | August 15, 2008 10:58 AM
CUBA 3-0 BABY WOOOO!!!!!
Posted by: Cacique | August 15, 2008 3:38 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Re your comment: meaning it and men's soccer are the only sports in the Olympics that do not feature the world's best athletes.
How about boxing?