caulfield12

Need two batters to reach to get Ohtani up again. Hope Venezuela doesn't take Italy for granted. Venezuela vs. DR feels like the championship based on how the US has been playing...but Skenes could be the great equalizer. Problem is he's not going to be pushed to the limit...US bullpen has been spotty at best.

"Fine" isn't good enough...not when all four organizations they're competing with have equal or better under 26 talent. The only way to possibly draw ahead is with the perfect two draft picks in July. Murakami still doesn't look locked in...it will probably take him some time to adjust, just like it did with Ohtani Suzuki and then Yoshida has basically gone backwards.

M.Garcia earning that $57.5 million extension from KC. This game is slowly heading for midnight...

Depth of Japan is impressive. Kondoh and Shuto can both really play as well... All started with a fundamental bunt play...putting pressure on Suarez. Shota Morishita Position: Outfielder Bats: Right • Throws: Right 5-11, 198lb (180cm, 89kg) Born: August 14, 2000 (Age: 25-213d) in Yokohama, Japan jp

Sato is definitely the next Japanese star. Can hit the ball all over the field, play GG third and also both corner OF spots.

Yamamoto was 5-0 in elimination games for Japan/LAD.

That's a pitch only Arraez is going to hit, Mune. Without Suzuki, talent level advantage now definitely to Venezuela. Chourio might win an MVP someday, hitting 9th. 6 straight wbc semifinals for JPN definitely in jeopardy.

8/11 against Yamamoto? Unreal. Fortunate that didn't go out. Need a DP ball desperately. Could be a lot worse. Have to hope to get three more innings from Yamamoto.

Morishita is not a CFer...but neither is Kondoh at 33.

Four MVPs AJ. Kondoh might have to play CF...Cubs' fans not liking that slide.

Sato over Kondoh in RF. Going with youth. I'll match you, buddy.

Venezuela and DR will be tough to beat with decided home field advantage... Healthy Acuna arguably #3 player in baseball. Him or Witt, Jr.

17 Korean players watching DR batting practice doomed them from the start. Lots of global travel to get 10 run ruled. Tokyo to Miami has to be one of the longest imaginable routes. Same with Chinese Taipei gawking at Ohtani and Mune moon shots.

Good thing you're not a Nationals fan, then.

Got some good divisional competition in KC and CLE (minus Kwan) for worst mlb outfields.

Crazy they already have the GRF backdrop on the videoboard...a lot of confidence, but you don't get to #1 prospect status without it.

Reinsdorf/Boyer will probably start selling BP practice only tickets lol...

https://uclabruins.com/sports/baseball/stats/2026/michigan/boxscore/34535 Cholowsky 5 2 3 2 on FRI 10-5 win over Michigan https://stats.statbroadcast.com/mobile/?id=635876 Cholowsky and Gasparino both contributing to 2-0 lead so far Gasparino accounts for only two runs scored in the game. Barnett 4-0 with a nifty ERA UCLA 15-2 on the year

.143 .833 Hardly captures all of Springfield's Antonacci's contributions in the WBC. Both Meidroth and Antonacci have their advocates, will be interesting to see how it plays out. Except for one game, Sam has played every single moment for Italy...

Baldwin situation seems to be a bit baffling even to him...but apparently was an issue at times last year as well. Kelenic becomes primary CF backup for now...or Hill, but he's likely going to Charlotte.

1sr 3rd no outs for PR and Altavilla (97 mph) escaped. Seems like the comeback door was closed there. 8-4 Italy getting interesting again two runs in scoring position with one out 8-6 on Christian Vasquez single Hernaiz continues to open eyes

Italy is practically a runaway locomotive until their starting pitching runs out of depth... There's also the return of Caitlin Clark/Team USA after 8 months on TruTV vs. Italy. Weird to see what looks like a high school crowd in PR...must be watching the beisbol partido. Announcing almost makes one miss Schiffren lol.

History will/might judge numerous countries around the world for the economic fallout from those lockdown decisions skeptically (inflation or the loss of commercial real estate)...but it certainly felt like the right thing to do those first 3-4 months. Millions of mostly older peoples' lives, those with pre existing conditions were definitely at risk. The US nursing home situation hit home particularly hard...and it didn't discriminate by nation, Hong Kong and NY suffered equally. The worst part was the relentless uncertainty of yo-yoing back and forth for another two years (online teaching was fun and then it just became extra work and training teaching two classes at once)...and seeing empathy die out for one's fellow human beings, even the guinea pigs and countless cherished personal pets were massacred here in China. Hopefully that sense of human empathy that disappeared behind faceless white suits...treating neighbors like cattle, never returns again.

https://japantoday.com/category/sports/netflix's-exclusive-wbc-broadcasting-deal-in-japan-draws-mixed-reactions https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/03/13/netflixs-wbc-exclusivity-in-japan-raises-concern-for-dip-in-viewership/ https://awfulannouncing.com/netflix/wbc-japan-viewership-concerns.html Netflix spending up to $100 million to try to force tens of millions of Japanese to subscribe in order to watch thread heroes play just sucks. After being able to watch all the big games like this for free...and not even allowing sports bars to provide the feed, either. Shameful. Audience going from up to 100 million to somewhere around around 15 million (9.5 million subscribers prior to this tourney).

Saw what knightni wrote at reddit and couldn't find a FB update...but thanks for bringing the site back. Technology is something, isn't it. Was Iran out to get SoxTalk, that seemed a bridge too far, but there was a Cloudflare worldwide out age months ago for the better part of a day. It's interesting the wistful feeling of NOT being able to share in experiences of reacting to baseball games online, thinking it would be gone or perhaps is too easily taken for granted. Something that SoxMachine doesn't really go out of their way to provide. There was another reddit thread from the 2021 season about how "unhinged" SoxTalk supposedly was...and that was one of the best Sox teams in recent history. But I found myself wanting to share that Kyle Teel was now trying to add the luxury espresso machines to Sox bidets...as long as they weren't cheap can coffee crystals, according to Davis Martin. Skenes vs. the 1927 Yankees...check. Italy continuing their unexpected run, check. Cheering for Bednar to escape a massive jam after almost blowing a 5-0 lead and the US fans finally coming to life? Japan is far from a sure thing tonight against VEN tonight, but Yamamoto's going. There's always Ohtani heroism, but upon further reflection, that S.American country deserves something good to happen for national pride, too.