Formidable Foe at the Edge of the Cliff... Lose and You're Out in Round 1
Top Target No.1 Ohtani: 2 Hits, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks Against China
Batters Face Darvish... Must Regain Focus and Reduce Errors
The baseball national team participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) faces a formidable opponent, Japan, on the brink. A loss would effectively mean elimination in the first round. They must brace themselves and fight desperately.
The national team will play their second game in Group B of the WBC against Japan at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, at 7 p.m. on the 10th. In their first game against Australia the previous day, they suffered a heartbreaking 7-8 come-from-behind loss. Starting off shaky, the nightmare of early elimination from the 2013 and 2017 tournaments looms again. To advance to the quarterfinals, they must win all three remaining games.
Manager Lee Kang-chul is counting on starting pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers) to lead the counterattack. "An experienced pitcher needs to carry the early innings," he said. Kim is a veteran who has pitched in sixteen international games from the 2008 Beijing Olympics through the 2019 Premier 12. He has frequently taken the mound against Japan as well. Notably, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he pitched excellently and helped secure the gold medal, allowing 1 run over 5⅓ innings in the preliminary round and 2 runs over 8 innings in the semifinals. However, in the following year's WBC matchup, he gave up 8 runs in just 1⅓ innings. The opponent had thoroughly analyzed and prepared for him.
This battle is expected to be tough again. Japan boasts many power hitters. Nine players hit double-digit home runs last year. The top threat is Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels), who excels both as a pitcher and hitter in Major League Baseball. He hit 34 home runs last season. In the first game against China the previous day, he showed excellent form with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, and 1 run scored.
The firepower of players in Nippon Professional Baseball is also formidable. Munetaka Murakami (Yakult Swallows), batting cleanup, hit 56 home runs last year. Hotaka Yamakawa (Seibu Lions) hit 41, Kazuma Okamoto (Yomiuri Giants) 30, and Shugo Maki (Yokohama DeNA BayStars) 24. Masataka Yoshida, who recently signed a five-year $90 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in MLB, also performed well with 21 home runs.
They are also relatively fast. While they do not attempt many steals, they have the ability to take an extra base on a short hit. Manager Hideki Kuriyama values mobility highly, actively using pinch hitters and pinch runners.
Japan will start with pitcher Yu Darvish (San Diego Padres). A veteran who debuted in MLB in 2012, he has a career record of 95 wins, 75 losses, and a 3.50 ERA. Last season, he posted 16 wins, 8 losses, and a 3.10 ERA. His 150 km/h fastball combined with slider, changeup, curveball, and splitter makes him difficult to hit. He prepared thoroughly for this tournament. Unlike other big leaguers who joined the team just days before the WBC, he joined early and focused on training.
However, he is not an insurmountable obstacle. In the 2009 tournament, Darvish allowed 3 runs (2 earned) over 5 innings against Korea in the second round, taking the loss. In the final, he gave up a game-tying RBI single to Lee Bum-ho in the 9th inning while leading 3-2. As he has aged, a critical weakness has emerged: a slow pitching motion. Over the past four MLB seasons, he has allowed the fourth most stolen bases (57). Fast runners like Tommy Edman (St. Louis Cardinals), Kim Ha-seong, Kim Hye-sung, and Park Hae-min can definitely attempt steals. Edman, in particular, has been strong against him, batting .375 (6 hits in 16 at-bats) in big league matchups.
To run the bases nimbly, concentration is essential. The national team made frequent mistakes in the game against Australia. Kang Baek-ho (kt wiz) hit a double and celebrated but was called out after his foot left the base. Park Hae-min (LG Twins), who reached third base on a ground ball by Oh Ji-hwan (LG Twins), did not dash home to an empty home plate. Manager Lee expressed regret, saying, "Various problems came up overall."
In the game against Japan, they must also contend with the crowd filling Tokyo Dome. The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, underscoring how important Japan considers the match against Korea. Manager Lee said, "Although it is a special 'Korea-Japan' match, we must do our best and win at all costs to reach the quarterfinals," showing his determination to fight with full force.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
