USA vs Japan WBC Championship Thread

The capper to what had been the best baseball tournament I’ve ever seen.

Trout vs Ohtani is the storyline. Let’s see how it plays out.

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rosstrade
Trusted Member
1 year ago

The beauty of baseball is that it is a team sport.

The Halos may have two of the best players in the game now.

But, it really doesn’t matter.

What matters is all 25 guys on the team – and what they can bring to collectively provide consistent excellence on the field for 162 games + the playoffs.

Without Scott Spiezo’s homer in Game 6 that barely cleared the right field fence, there may not have been a Game 7. Or, if K-Rod didn’t emerge at the right time, or if there wasn’t a Scott Shields, or a rookie pitcher in John Lackey, or Chone Figgins’s speed, or a clutch Troy Glaus, or a reliable Percy staring in to get the sign, or who would have thought that Adam Kennedy would blast 3 dingers in Game 5 to fuel a victory?

It’s a team sport.

And, the weakest link may provide the margin for victory.

Damn, I am so grateful for the Angels’ 2006 team and its playoff heroics.

I just wish the Cowboy could have been there to see it……

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  rosstrade

Umm, which year of heroics did you really mean? Maybe 2002?

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago

The user using those four digits in his/her/their username has officially tainted those four digits. So 2006 it is!

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  rosstrade

You failed to mention Rookie John Lackeys ascension and former replacement players Brendan Donnelly’s steroid use but I definitely get the point

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Trout and Ohtani emerged from the exhibition uninjured. I consider that a victory. Now they both head to Arizona to finish up spring training and then it’s time for the season to begin!

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Pitcher always has the advantage. How many times has Trout faced Ohtani – probably never in a real competition setting.

That said Ohtani was absolutely dominating in this tournament.

Can someone say $600 million dollar man?!

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

That 21 year old pitcher with the acne all over his cheeks that struck out Trout in the 5th had the advantage for sure as did every pitcher for Japan Cuba and Venezuela he faced

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Bah Huumbug. Keep all that haterade to yourself

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  DowningDude

Trout just Sucks!

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago

Worsyest player ever

tanana40
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

I don’t want to subscribe to your newsletter.

tanana40
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

He is a top ten player in the league according to Artie.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  tanana40

I think he meant top 5 to 10 players of all time

tanana40
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I hope that is what he meant.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago

That guy Ohtani struck out to end the game is going to go back to his team and get cut, you just watch!

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Maybe someone on the web can fix his swing.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago

Greta Thunberg said this was going to happen.

Last edited 1 year ago by Angelz4ever
steelgolf
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

😂

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Less Co2 with everyone holding their breath.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  tommyshalo

and countered with more methane gas from everyone shitting themselves watching tonight’s game.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Good, Maybe she can give both of the GOATS a lift back to the desert in her private jet.

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Looking at team USA id trade trout for Turner straight up, for arenado straight up, for Betts straight up. Wouldn’t trade him for Schwarber obviously but I’d rather have schwarber bat in a huge spot over trout any day, which he proved with that great at bat and home run and in many playoff games with cubs. The look on trea turners face when trout was up for final out was the look you have when you know your teammate sucks and has no chance. If Turner or arenado batted 2nd and trout moved to 7th we prob win

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Did one of Trout’s ancestors harm yours 700 years ago?
Today is not the day to take revenge.

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  tommyshalo

Idk what went on 700 years ago but if so I wish trout would learn from them and do as much harm to the baseball as his ancestors did ransacking Swedish villages back in 1323 leading to the noteborg treaty

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Ohtani throws 100-101, and what did you really think, that a strikeout would ensue, what a genius-but your positive handle really says it all. Trout is going into the Hall of Fame. Trout is the greatest Angels player ever. Trout last year had a great year for the number of games he played. To be considered the best player in the game for 10+ years is remarkable. If he did get a hit, you wouldn’t have showed up, so why are you even here?

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago

It’s Tootie’s alter ego. Ignore him

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago

The game was more than that last at bat. He struck out in huge spot in 5th against a 21 year old with betts on base; struck out in 3rd; and did lazy fly out in ginormous spot in 7th after McNeil walked and Betts smacked a line drive single after being 0-2 in count. He went 3-15 8ks once the quarterfinals started. He hasn’t been best player in game since 2019 gimme a break. Yes he’s a HOFer wow I didn’t know that, who knew that omg breaking news. He might be best angel ever but isn’t the Angel I’d want up with game on line

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

And 2 of his 3 hits in his 3-15 8ks were bloopers like that excuse me bloop double in 1st lol. He sucks

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Not too much here I disagree with, pretty factual, but just the wrong night and wrong crowd to dump on him.

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  FungoAle

+1 All we need is another know-it-all smartass telling us things we already know.

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  DowningDude

Need a Dragnet Jack Webb gif. Just the facts, mam.

SchofieldsWalkoff
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Well then it’s a good thing you don’t have a job in baseball, you’d be terminated faster than Mets GM in 2021.

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Dear god imagine the horror of having mookie Betts instead of Mike trout lol or perish the thought of clutch af trea Turner for $130 mil less paired with Ohtani and no trout, how much worse we’d be. Im sure I’d do better than trading Napoli for Vernon Wells and all these other genius GMs

SchofieldsWalkoff
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Not with the “analytics” you’ve presented so far but keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep at night.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

Tornado Warning for LA and Venture CO…crazy weather

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Follow the yellow brick road!

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

“Toto we’re not in Camarillo anymore”

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  DowningDude

New weather term today “orbiting mezo vortices” that is new to me..
Basically they had a Hurricane off the coast of SF. Called a Extra Tropical Cyclone / Bomb Cyclone

I have a feeling that our opening series in Oakland will be played 2 feet of raw sewage.
I’m sure that shit hole is handling all this water just fine.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

In 2019 we had that sewage ST game at dodger stadium

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago

comment image

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  DowningDude

Ive always felt The Doyers do a great job even making the Spring Training tune up games feel just like the regular season.

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago

My wife bawled uncontrollably for like 5 minutes. Dang that was a crazy inning for Sho and what a final AB. Wow.

Congrats to Japan – they were one hell of a team. Congrats to the US club as well – you guys rep’d us well!

Fun fun tournament!

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  DowningDude

Maybe Shohei signs with us and brings some of his cool friends!!
It’s what they do in the NBA

clover_black
Super Member
1 year ago

just glad ohtani signed that extension before reporting to ST.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Ohtani pricetag just went up

clover_black
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

that supplemental draft pick is gonna be sweeeeeeeeet

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Trade value went up to!

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago

We finally got to see Trout on the big stage! Once we got to the quarterfinals and faced real competition Trout showed what he’s made of:

1-5 3ks vs Venezuela lead USA in strikeouts

1-5 2ks vs Cuba lead USA in strikeouts

1-5 3ks in 3 huge spots and lazy fly out in another huge spot in 7th after McNeil walked and betts smacked the liner… and again lead USA in strikeouts. Oh he did get that excuse me bloop double!

1-15 9ks once we left pool play. But he did crush that home run against that 19 year ago old Canadian that he was so proud of, so that was cool how he can hit rookie ball/single a pitching!

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Oh 3-15 9ks my bad and that awesome first inning blooper.

SC_Halo
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Do you want him on your team?

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  SC_Halo

Trade him for arenado, Turner or betts before his rapid decline is even more noticeable.

At least we have the greatest player of all time Ohtani

JakeTaylor
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

You need to lay off the crack pipe.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Congratulations TroutsKi you can quote meaningless stats on a 7 game exhibition tournament in March. A tournament so important that you had to watch it on channels FS1 FS2 that no-one seems to carry.

But, seriously why would we want inferior hitters on our team? Looking at stats that do matter like MLB OPS prove this:

Arenado 2022 .891 Career .881* (actually 4 mos older than Trout)
Turner 2022 .809. Career .842 (2 years younger)
Betts 2022 .873 Career .873 (1 year younger)

Now your protagonist:
Trout 2022 .999 Career 1.002

So even if Trouts career numbers decline compared to those players that are 1 to 2 years younger he’ll still be better offensively than any of these guys

tanana40
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Don’t confuse him with OPS.

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

You really going with importance and reach? 5 million people watched this game just in the USA, 70 million world wide watched Japan South Korea. Whereas The highest rated NLCS game of 2022 on FS1 got 5 million. Meanwhile the average Angels game is watched by 200,000 on the soon to be bankrupt Bally sports that no one will get lol. And trout and Ohtani both said it was the most important and fun games they’ve been apart of, the entire WBC. So don’t think you want that it’s just an exhibition nobody watches argument. And wow you can quote on base plus slugging dang… guaranteed you don’t even know how SLG percentage is calculated. Trout has high ops bc he walks which not only increases his Obp but lowers the number of at bats his total bases is divided by thereby increasing his SLG, which increases his ops. Arenado puts the ball in play, 72ks 52 walks last year in 148 games to Trouts 139ks 54 walks (god that’s terrible) in 119 games. Putting ball in play having less walks lowers his Obp and SLG since there’s more at bats to divide total bases by. All ops shows is trout walks more. He also strikeouts a shit ton more, ops also doesn’t show he can’t hit good fastballs which arenado can. Arenado over 40 doubles 3 times in career trout never hit 40 doubles and hasn’t even hit 30 since 2016, pathetic. Arenado 3 time HR champ, trout 0, Arenado over 130 RBI’s 3 times trout has hit over 100 rbi once since 2016, arenado best defensive 3B 10 GG, trout average CF. And I’ll take someone who can hit a good fastball with game on line with multiple 130 RBI seasons over someone who can’t catch up to good heat and strikes out 200 times per 162 games the last few years

Troutstrikeout
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  SC_Halo

Actually trade him for McNeil too. Give me a batting champion over .280 200k guy if healthy enough to play 162, and doesn’t have judges power to make up for the Ks. That at bat McNeil had in that spot against Ohtani , I haven’t seen trout have an ab that good since 2019. Been in decline since 2020

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

Sure the dirtbag is one year younger than Trout and good for an MLB OPS of: 2022 .836 Career .827

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Troutstrikeout

KMA

DMAGZ13
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Trout is going to ask for a trade to chase this feeling again and Ohtani is leaving because he feels he slayed the giant and wants to move on. This is the worst case scenario. Best case scenario is that this is 2008 Summer Olympics Kobe – Pau, where Kobe literally ran through Pau’s chest. They prepared each other and went on a dominant run after facing each other in a classic final.

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  DMAGZ13

Can I get the lottery numbers? Maybe borrow your Time Machine?

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  JakeTaylor

This sets up a WS game 7 in Anaheim…Trout hits a go ahead 3 run HR in the bottom 8th and Shohei comes in the 9th to close it..ends with a running catch by Trout. 
We will be the Champions my friends……….or go 81-81

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

.500!!!!!!
Finally!

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago

there goes the neighborhood

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Hollywood scripted, Ohtani and Trout, one run game and somewhere right now are the future young boys dreaming that this could happen to them sometime down the road.

Angels22
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Arte Moreno better hand over a blank check to Ohtani.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago

STFD Trout!

Marcotor
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Just think of all the cool “cancer” in the clubhouse speculation Ohtani getting the K against Mike will trigger.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago

Im depressed. I wanted at least a scorched rap, or a long fly that needed a leaping catch.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago

That is how good Ohtani is. We all knew it.

I just hated it that Mike had to be the last out.

Angels22
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Trout still getting some little metal. Hope he is hungry to win the World Series!

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Stupid Arte caused the free agent pitcher to strike out the Fat Boy