I was watching one of Cuba's games, it might've been the one versus Japan, and the commentators were talking about how Cuba often throws games, in order to look weaker than they really are. This is in the intro above, but do they actually do that often, or has it been exaggerated? I don't follow international baseball, so I don't know if Cuba has had a lot of suspicious losses lately. If they do this, shouldn't every team know about this?

Wow, intentionaly throwing games to look weak. That is wild if it's true.

Hmmm.... 11:30am? Dont think I can kill enough time talking about MVP till this game starts. Might as well get some sleep.

GO CANADA GO!!

By the way NFH: I was at the Argo game and the Level of Excellence Hentgen was removed. Dont know if you already brought that up though. It gave me a whole new wave of nostalgia seeing it gone at the game, I hope he comes back to the organization some way. The way doc looks up to him and comes to him for advice both pitching and personal and his great personality, he seems like the ideal pitching coach.

Matsuzaka looked great today as did that Nakamura guy. How much do you think they'd cost? ;)

How much do you think they'd cost? ;)

Re: Matsuzaka - the money to lure him away from Japan would probably not be worth it. Matsuzaka would definately have to take a pay cut to play in the Majors. His face is everywhere in Japan, he's associated with a major soft drink similar to Gatorade. He's been a pro ptiching star since he was 18 (straight from the high school championships to the Seibu Lions). So for a young guy he's got a ton of poise. He never looked rattled or betrayed any emotion yesterday, did he? He would be a nice addition to a ML club. But he'll make the move only if he wants to.

Japan's got pretty snappy uniforms, don't they? I like their textured helmets as well. Those might be the future than the shiny ones ML ball uses.

THIS JUST IN... AUSTRALIA 9 JAPAN 4!

Canada are now alone in first place.

Nice to see the Aussie bats broke out when it counted! The Olympics website is so surprised at the news, that it broke down completely and now the boxscore, game report, everything is busted. :)

Also, Holland beat Italy 10-4.

So the standings as of right now:

Canada 3-0
Japan 3-1
Cuba 2-1
Taiwan 2-1
Australia 2-2
Holland 2-2
Greece 0-3
Italy 0-4

the commentators were talking about how Cuba often throws games, in order to look weaker than they really are

They've been known to do all sorts of "odd" things. More often, when Cuba throw (or appear to throw) games, it's for strategic reasons - mostly to give inferior teams a competitive advantage going into medal rounds and stuff.

Matsuzaka would definately have to take a pay cut to play in the Majors.

It's certainly possible, but I doubt it. Matsuzaka could probably double his salary moving to the U.S.

Matsuzaka was forced to take a pay *cut* of $250,000 in 2003 (from about $1.25 million to about $1 million) when he was hurt for part of the 2002 season. His salary this year (2004) is 200,000,000 yen, or about $1.8 million. I'd say that even the Blue Jays could easily afford that.

By the way, you heard correctly. Matsuzaka is one of Japan's biggest stars, he plays for the richest team in Japan (Seibu), and he makes less money than Kerry Ligtenberg.

The one-time payment to his team to release him from his contract, would be many times that. Even where Japanese players are free agents, they are not "free"... a large amount has to be paid to release their services. It's this that's the

It is important to remember the kind of tournemement they are playing.
Cuba knows the way to handle it very well, their record in the kind is outstanding.
We will see if the innings pitched by Japanese star were just on time to keep him crisp or did tire him for the two ( only two ) meaningful games.
As I see it, yesterday game was a game to give work and a good look to the bullpen. Cuba does not lose often, i believe i read yesterday it is only their third loss in all olympic baseball hystory.

To put up a comparison, Akinori Ohtsuka (who has pitched so well in the San Diego pen) signed for $700,000 with SD.

In 2003 in Japan, coming off a year when he had a 1.28 ERA with 22 saves in 24 opportunities, his salary was CUT from $1.2 million to $860,000.

Is it any wonder, with this kind of BS treatment, that Japanese players want to come to MLB?

Japan's biggest star on the Olympic team is Kenji Jojima, a catcher who is the I-Rod of Japan. He's a perennial MVP candidate in the Pacific League. He makes $3.6 million last year. In 2003, his salary was cut too, to $1.8 million from $2.1 million... coming off a year when he nailed over half the runners trying to steal off him, and he hit .293/.348/.517

Remember how big a star Matsui was in Japan? The year he left, Matsui made $5.5 million.

I was kinda of hoping the Jays would have taken a run at Kaz this past offseason. I know it wasn't economically viable per se, but I thought a SS who was used to playing on turf and was supposed to be able to hit well would be a nice addition.

More importantly though, it seems big name Asian athletes who come to North America (Matsui, Kaz, Ichiro, Yao Ming, etc.) become hype machines. Considering how multicultural Toronto is, I thought it would make sense.

Economically, the money to sign the player would be close to offset by the revenue generated in other ways. These big name Asian athletes could attract an Asian fanbase that has so far been untapped, thus more money from more fans in the seats. As well, there would be more interest from Asian advertisers sort only seen when Seattle and New York are in town.

Thats kind of why I was hoping Rogers would increase the payroll just allow for that Kaz type name. It didn't happen, but there is still potential to get other players that could have a similar effect.

Relative to other big multicultural cities Toronto has a relatively small Japanese population, and I don't think the Korean community would really care if the Jays had a Japanese player on the team.

Good point, Mike. On the other hand, the large Serbian community would go ballistic if the Raptors acquired the disgruntled Peja Stojakovic.

(That reality doesn't change the fact that Peja's a little twerp.)

Is there a site similar to MLB's GameDay to get updates on this game

(for those of us who are at work, without a TV)

Thanks

DGriebeling:

CBC.ca had a nice update going for past games...I just don't have the direct link today. Somebody else knows what I'm talking about and will link you up, so to speak.

With Mel Melehes vs. Spoljaric, this is like Guelph vs the Leafs - it's just a little hotter (and the side personnel are probably a touch better as well)

Admittedly there isn't as large a Japanese community as other cities. However, there was a significant Japanese presence at the Seattle game that I went to, and that was to see a last place team and Ichiro, who has been surpassed when it comes to hype by Matsui and Kaz, even if he did start the phenomenom.

I appreciate that Kaz hasn't even had the superstar year everyone assumed he would had, and there was a lot of hype coming into this year about the Blue Jays anyways. But I still think, such a strategy could be successful both on and off the field. I don't know who the next big name is, and they probably don't fit into our needs. But if they do, it would be an intriguing pickup with interesting ramifications.

In any event, what is the score in the game, and has anything significant happened? My internet is having trouble with the links for some reason.

With Mel Melehes vs. Spoljaric, this is like Guelph vs the Leafs - it's just a little hotter

Max, that was what I was thinking. How weird is it for two IC guys to wind up facing each other in the Olympics? These guys faced each other as recently as May 9 in the IC opener. The good news? Toronto and Spoljaric won that game 3-2!

1-0 Canada after one.

Orr doubled.
Clapp grounded out, Orr to third.
Klassen reached on an error, Orr scored.
LaForest walked
Pond fly out
Betts ground out.

Greeks went strike out, single, fly out, fly out.

I can attest, most of those Japanese at SkyDome for the Ichiro and Matsui games are ESL students from abroad.

Adam Stern makes a great running catch in CF to save a run. Spoljaric with a K to finish the inning. 1-0 Canada after 3.

That lucky loonie ad is getting rather annoying...

1-0 through 2

Radmanovich ground out,
Guiel single
Stern reaches on fielders choice
Stern caught stealing

Fly out, strike out, walk, single, fly out for the Greeks.

By the way, CBC has the game as being "paused" right now. Is that just weird CBC-talk, or is there rain? The forecast was for sun and 32 degrees, but well... youneverknow...

That lucky loonie ad is getting rather annoying...

Yeah, I keep listening for them to plant a huge 'eh' in the middle of that ad. I can't decide which is worse, the aggressive patriotism of the Molson ads or the corny patriotism of that and some Tim Horton's ads.

I wish Canada had better uniforms. These look so bush league.

Is the game being broadcast on the Internet anywhere?

the aggressive patriotism of the Molson ads or the corny patriotism of that and some Tim Horton's ads

The Molson crap isn't even patriotism, it's jingoism. The Timmy's ads are really, really cornball though, you're right.

I don't mind the Canada uniforms but I hate the red sleeves with the road greys.

Well, I've learned a lot about Warren Sawkiw in the last couple of days :) !

Don't look now: Kerry Lightenberg is warming up in the pen for Team Canada.

Incidentally, if anyone who's watching wants to do a "Batter's Box Radio" for this game, do so. We can only get internet results inning-by-inning.

Sure, Spoljarek picked some Greek off first base. A Kerry Lightenberg look-a-like is warming in the pen.

Bottom of 4th, Canada up 1-0

Spoljaric still pitching, but Begg is warming up.

Canada justed picked off the lead off baserunner who got on a botched infield hit, in a run down.

Groundball out to 3rd for the 2nd out.

Lazy fly to right for the 3rd out.

Lucky me, I have a TV in my office :)

His salary this year (2004) is 200,000,000 yen, or about $1.8 million. I'd say that even the Blue Jays could easily afford that.

This just in from the Bronx ... George Steinbrenner has ordered Brian Cashman to live up to his name and triple any offer made by Jp Ricciardi, up to $6M annually for Matsuzaka.

Canadians look a little weak against the Greek lefty.

Fine by me... when Daiei make them pay $20 million to release him from his contract, that'll make a net gain for the rest of baseball...

Top of 5th, Canada up

Radmonovich, RF, batting. Hard groundball out to 2nd.

Radmonovich baatting again (they didn't change the graphic) so I have no idea who is batting. K's swinging on 3 straight.

Stern, CF, up. Error by the SS gets him to 1st.

???, ground outs to 2nd on the 1st pitch for the 3rd out.

btw: this doesn't look sold out at all. A lot of the expensive seats are bare. What's going on with this Olympics? Where are all the people? Is this a huge issue? I haven't been paying attention.

It's the Greeks, too. You figure the host team would get a thousand people there.

And I am *so* not enjoying Sawkiw right now. At least we don't have to watch him smile.

I think Vic Rauter's official title is: Pronunciation Expert of Foreign Names

He is rather good at that, yes. Rauter over Black anyday.

What's going on this half inning?

The Warren Sawkiw Show!

watch Olympic baseball and learn everything you never wanted to know about Warren Sawkiw.

I'm not even going to try to type in the Greek players names.

Spoljaric is still pitching

Pops up first pitch to CF for 1st out.

Pops up first pitch to 2B for 2nd out.

2 strikes looking, 3rd pitch fouled off, 4th pitch fouled off, commentators weren't sure how long Paul S would go, 5th pitch fouled off, Spoljaric shakes off the catcher twice, inside fastball for a called 3rd strike.

Yes, ticket sales have been a huge problem for almost every event in the Olympics.

Thank you!

Give those of us without TV a sample of Sawkiw's commentary.

Also, are we sure it's not Don Landry imitating Vic Rauter?

Please refrain from applauding Don Landry, please.

Give those of us without TV a sample of Sawkiw's commentary.

Thomas, you're a glutton for punishment.

This game reminds me of Oz-Italy from yesterday. Italy looked to be in with a chance tied 0-0 after six, but lost 6-0.

Spoljaric should be done now. This is a good pen; we shouldn't be afraid to use them.

Jennie Finch, mistress of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, shut out Canada 7-zip in women's softball.

Rauter just called the Cubans "the Cubies".

Too bad we can't clone an entire rotation's worth of Lauren Bay.

Softball update, US beats Canada 7-0, D'oh.

Top of 6. Leftie pitcing for the Greeks, he has a good slider.

Clapp flies out to RF. One away.

Klassen, SS, on by an error by the 3rd baseman. Hard goundball eats up ex-Yankee farmhand.

LaForest up, 2-2 pitch is away, 3-2 count, hit and run but pitch is fouled off, down and away for ball 4. Men on 1st and 2nd, 1 away.

Sawkiw: right now he's going over the virtues of drawing a walk.

This is a break from the usual chatter of his phony Greek heritage, and his experience in various independant leagues. You see, it's all about Warren. A lot of name-dropping too, "I remember once having a Pepsi with Mike Piazza, and he told me..."

Too bad we can't clone an entire rotation's worth of Lauren Bay.

Now there are a hundred Lauren Bays and I'm the king!

Pond, DH, up.

1st pitch fouled back, Pond's stance has a bit of Craig Counsell to it, 1-2 count after a foul ball, 2-2 now, the Canadian team is LH hitting heavy, and this Greek leftie is keeping them at bay, Pond swinhs at a pitch at eye level. 2 away.

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Pond Ks. Two on, two out.

Simon Pond not looking too good in that K.

Clever gambit, Moffatt. I'll have to reconvene with Pinky and think up a new scheme to take over the world.

Too bad we can't clone an entire rotation's worth of Lauren Bay

I first read this as "we can't clone an entire nation's worth of Lauren Bay" and though that this was actually unfortunate for a whole bunch of reasons, most of them totally unrelated to softball.

Betts, 1B up.

1-2 count after a foul, pitch pulled foul, popped up to 3rd base. 3 away.

Got to do a little work. Hopefully back soon.

Vic Rauter is the only broadcaster who can say "my-oh-my" or "oh boy" and sound like he really means it.

So the two boys from the IBL are going strong and it's 1-0 after 5 and a half?

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I've got your back Blue.

This team could use a lefty masher today. Where's Josh Phelps when you need him?

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Long fly out to right. 1 down. Whitt out to get Spoljaric.

I'd like to see Lauren Bay make it to the booth. A whole rotation of Lauren Bay: imagine! That would increase Keith's chances...

Ernie Whitt has yanked Spoljarek after a fly-out to the warning track.

Here's a thought: if they do a World Cup for baseball, how about players who have played for the Blue Jays or Expos for at least 2 seasons can opt to play for team Canada? Great idea?

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Groundout to 3rd by the classically Greek-named Cory Harris. 2 down.

If Greece wins this game, how much you wanna beat you'll see a "Greece Lightning" headline?

Ye of little faith, Mr. Talent. We could be an awfully pesky club in the Worl Cup if Team Canada gets 100% turnout of its MLB stars.

Even peskier in the World Cup.

When I first heard the name Rob Ducey in context of this tournament I assumed he was a coach. How old is he now?

The Deuce is 39.

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Groundout to end the inning.

So through six innings, Canada leads 1-0 over Greece. Now I assume that Chris Begg is on the hill for Canada, is that right?

We could be an awfully pesky club in the Worl Cup if Team Canada gets 100% turnout of its MLB stars.

Oh sure, pesky is the right word. Matt Stairs, etc. Larry Walker would be core. But if all these guys with faint links to Greece can play for their baseball team then why not? I think we feel our Blue Jays and Expos are honorary Canadians for the time they're here. Especially a guy like Chris Woodward who lives here year-round. To be considered a "resident" of Canada you need to spend 7 months here. Granted, the Jays and Spos are on the road a lot of the season, but well...

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Begg is pitching, Radmonavich leads off with a single.

I think I read that anyone with a grandparent who is a native of Greece is eligible for the Greek team.

Radmonavich leads off with a single

They need to get him around. Another run would be huge right here.

On the out-of-town scoreboard: Cuba 1 - Chinese Taipei 0 after 2 (given the frequency the website gets updated it's probably in the fourth by now).

Blue, that's exactly right. 22 of the 24 Greeks are Americans.

Another run would be huge right here.

Even...clutch? ;-)

2 out RBI double by Peter Orr. 2-0 Canada.

That really looked like it could have been caught.

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Orr doubles to the wall with 2 down. 2-0 Canada.

Thomas,

And the other 2 are Canadian. Melehes and Kottaras.

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As long as Sawkiw is running his mouth about how many Pappases there are in the phonebook - including his godparents - he might at least mention the likes of Milt Pappas... a real live baseball reference. Connect those dots Warren!

1-2-3 inning for Begg.

Good call, Jim. Pappas, incidentally, was the starter acquired by the Reds from Baltimore for Frank Robinson after the 1965 season. When announcing the trade, the Reds GM (can't remember who it was) explained that Robinson didn't have much left in the tank.

He was wrong. Frank won the Triple Crown and led the Orioles to a world championship.

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Another brilliant Sawkiw-ism: "They say a 2-run lead in baseball is one of the worst leads you can have."

Uh, yeah, I'd say it's one of the top 2 worst leads you can have...

2 down for Canada in the 8th

Vic Rauter just called Team Canada the Blue Jays. I've nearly done that myself a couple times since the games started.

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Betts reaches on an error to lead off the ninth.

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...And is quickly erased on 1-6 double play.

Its 2-0 Canada in the 9th?

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Yep. Myette on to close. 1 down.

I think a Taiwanese starting pitcher, like Cheng, could mean a potential 4,000 extra people in the seats in his starts, provided he was a quality pitcher. The Jays would have to send him into Chinatown and Markham/Richmond Hill to drum up support for the Blue Jyas, but with enough hard work it could be worth $20x4000x16 starts = 1.28 million dollars in revenue a season.

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Myette Ks one, walks one. 2 down, runner on 1st.

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6-4 putout to end the game. Canada moves to 4-0.

Three cheers for Team Canada!

It only gets easier from here.

http://aaronreynolds.ca
Yeehaw!

I wish CBC would broadcast these games on the radio -- baseball is a game that translates very well to radio, and also I have a radio at work.

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In other Olympic news, Canada's women upset the US 6-5 in water polo, which is a tough sport. Especially on the horses.

Latest on the out-of-town scoreboard: Cuba 3 - Chinese Taipei 0 after 5.

In other Olympic news Ron "The Canadian Fool" Bensimhon gets 5 months for disrupting the Olympics. Good.

The Canadian water polo victory came as Canada scored 5 goals in the last 5 and a half minutes to stun the world champion Americans.

Thomas, that 5 month sentence translated into a $3,250 (CDN) fine.

A, he is free on appeal after paying the fine, but if his conviction is upheld on appeal (I can't imagine it wouldn't be upheld, but what do I know) he will face the jail time.

Canada and Greece have an extradition treaty signed in 1999, though it's not in force yet (for shame... one of these days I'll write an article for the papers about the awful foot-dragging the government does at implementing treaties). There's an old treaty that goes back to 1912, but Lord knows what's in it. Also, who knows whether Greece would even request extradition for this guy.

Jim, they play on sea horses. No worries.

Salt water seahorses in a chlorine-filled pool? That's worse than using regular horses.

Well, that still beats the $1,000 fine of the Super Bowl streaker/dancer.

That guy was harmless and he obviously didn't intend for it to be anything but a prank, but after the Tigues stadium intrusion has turned into a bit of a sticky situation. I don't like the guys who do it at all, but they don't deserve 2 years, which I heard a caller on the radio suggesting this morning.

For every couple of harmless guys who wants their 15 seconds of glory, you're going to get some dolt who tries to steal Chad Kreuter's hat.

For every couple of harmless guys who wants their 15 seconds of glory, you're going to get some dolt who tries to steal Chad Kreuter's hat.

Or some nut who wants to take on a first-base coach or an ump. The Olympics, televised in 220 countries or whatever, make it even more attractive for the nutballs.

With Cuba's 10-2 win today, the standings are now (games remaining in brackets):

Canada 4-0 (Japan, Cuba, Australia)
Japan 3-1 (Canada, Taipei, Greece)
Cuba 3-1 (Netherlands, Canada, Italy)
Australia 2-2 (Greece, Netherlands, Canada)
Taipei 2-2 (Italy, Japan, Netherlands)
Netherlands 2-2 (Cuba, Australia, Taipei)
Greece 0-4 (Australia, Italy, Japan)
Italy 0-4 (Taipei, Greece, Cuba)

So, if Canada wins at least one of their remaining games they will finish no worse than a tie for third. If they lose all three games, they probably end up tied for fourth (I expect Japan to beat Taipei). The big question is what the tie-breaker rules are, which I haven't been able to track down.

One tiebreaker is definitely runs scored. Warren Sawkiw beat that one to death in the first game.

Here's the full story on Team Canada's Justin Morneau bobblehead.

Also, BREAKING TEAM CANADA NEWS...

Apparently, DH Rob Ducey fainted on the team bus back to the Olympuic Village after the game. He's in hospital.

One tiebreaker is definitely runs scored. Warren Sawkiw beat that one to death in the first game

If the baseball tie-breaker is the same as the softball one, it's head-to-head record first... this was just mentioned on the softball telecast.