The World Baseball Classic got underway for the United States yesterday and went well. Team USA was able to escape with a 6-5 victory over Team Canada yesterday in Toronto.

Jake Peavy started for Team USA and went three innings, allowing two runs and two hits. He walked three and struck out four.

“This is a playoff atmosphere,” Peavy said. “Everything is on the line, you’re doing everything you can to win and advance in this tournament, and playing for your country just takes that through the roof. It’s as good an atmosphere as it gets, I believe.”

Kevin Youkillis of the Boston Red Sox added a homerun for America in the 4th inning. Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann added a two-run shot a couple batters later.

The Yankees' Derek Jeter went 2-for-3 in yesterday's opening game.

There were numerous spots in the game in which both teams had chances with runners in scoring positions but couldn't deliver. Team USA had the bases loaded twice and couldn't score.

In the ninth inning, the Mets' JJ Putz closed out the game for Team USA but in typical Mets bullpen fashion, he made it interesting. Putz gave up an RBI double to the Reds' Joey Votto that brought Canada within 6-5. Then Putz got the Twins' Justin Moreanu to ground out for the win.

“I just tried to get ahead of him and we were able to,” Putz said. “We tried to get him to chase some sliders and he laid off a couple of good ones. With (Matt) Stairs sitting on deck, he’s a guy that I’ve had some trouble with in the past, so I really wanted to focus in and try to get Bay to end the game.”

If you watched this game you could feel the emotion going into the game. This was surely not your average exhibition game.

“It was one of those situations where you’re on the edge of your seat,” Jeter said. “It’s a lot more nerve-racking watching, I think, than it is playing.

As the tournament continues, so will the intensity. Team USA is off to a good start, lets see how far they can go from here.



Share your thoughts on The Forum: www.ChasingRecords.com

Read more »

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

0 Comments

Tags: Baseball, Brian McCann, Derek Jeter, Dominican Team USA, Jake Peavy, JJ Putz, Joey Votto, Justin Moreanu, Matt Stairs, Team Canada, WBC

The Mets did quite a job this week in fixing their main problem, the bullpen. That problem cost them a playoff spot down the stretch in 2007 and 2008. In a matter of hours the Mets were able to land 2 top notch closers to assure themselves that there will be no encore performance of the recent collapses.

In signing Francisco Rodriguez the Mets got one of the game's best closers. Last season as everyone knows he saved a single-season record 62 games. I believe he will do just fine in New York and he will be able to handle the pressure. He's young, he's energetic, he's talented, he's the right man for the job. A day after getting K-Rod, the Mets went out and got closer JJ Putz from the Seattle Mariners in a 3 team trade. This move put the Mets over the hump and gave them the advantage over the Phillies in the quest for NL East crown. Putz is a closer and it's yet to be seen if he will adapt well to being K-Rod's set-up man but you have to like their chances. Mets GM Omar Minaya brought his A game to the Winter Meetings. He got rid of sour faced Aaron Heilman and didn't give up much to gain Putz. He also didn't break the bank in getting the best closer in baseball not named Mariano Rivera. He turned the Mets from jokes to contenders in the matter of hours. Now, let's see how long it takes for Met fans to call for Minaya's head during the season. Let's be serious here, it'll happen at some point.

The Mets have the best starter in baseball in Johan Santana and they have K-Rod but that doesn't even put them as the main attraction in the city. The Yankees have a big lefty of their own, CC Sabathia and they have the best closer of all time in Rivera. The back page of the newspapers will be a fight for supremcy.

All in all I gotta the Mets credit where it's due. The Mets appear to be the front runners for the NL Pennant but of course it's only December and the games have to played on the field, not on paper. I'll tell you one thing, I can't win for the Subway Series between the Mets and Yankees. That first Santana-Sabathia match up is going to be great.

Read more »

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

0 Comments

Tags: CC Sabathia, Franciso Rodriguez, JJ Putz, Mariano Rivera, Mets, Omar Minaya, Yankees