A Strikeout In (and For) US, Classic Is World of Thrills

Tournament shows the promise of international baseball

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 24, 2009 2:11 PM CDT

(Newser) – After watching Japan best Korea in extra innings to defend its World Baseball Classic championship, Tom Verducci is excited about the tournament’s future, he writes for Sports Illustrated. In its second go-round, the tournament is a phenomenon worldwide. Most exciting though, is the way Japan won: with pragmatic fundamentals, and without “that staple of American baseball”—the home run.

That’s what the WBC has to offer, Verducci writes: the transformation of baseball into a truly international sport. It would be nice to see America take the tournament more seriously, as Team USA failed to reach the finals again this year. But it will continue to grow with or without us. “It belongs to the world,” Verducci concludes. “Game on.”

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Ichiro Suzuki, who drove in the winning runs, celebrates with teammates Seiichi Uchikawa, right, and Norichika Aoki after Japan's 5-3 victory in the championship game of the WBC March 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Japan's Daisuke Matsuzaka holds up the MVP trophy after Japan beat South Korea, 5-3, in the final of the World Baseball Classic in Los Angeles last night. (AP Photo)

Japanese reliever Yu Darvish (11) and catcher Kenji Johjima, center, and Munenori Kawasaki, right, celebrate after Japan beat South Korea last night. (AP Photo)

Japan's Ichiro Suzuki gets tossed around by teammates during a clubhouse celebration after their 5-3 victory over South Korea in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic last night. (AP Photo)

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Other countries stopped for the WBC the way America used to stop for the World Series. ... In Korea, fans filled three different ballparks to watch the final on giant screens, with the people filing in as early as 9 am.
- Tom Verducci

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A Strikeout In (and For) US, Classic Is World of Thrills