Mister-Baseball.com is counting down with short team-by-team previews until the World Baseball Classic starts on March 5th.
Japan
We conclude today our team-by-team previews for the 2009 World Baseball Classic with the defending champion Japan. The selection with 2006 MVP Daisuke Matsuzaka and superstar Ichiro Suzuki opens the Classic on Thursday in Tokyo.
Opponents
As mentioned before the Japanese team takes on China in the World Baseball Classic Pool A opener on Thursday, March 5th in front of the home crowd at the Tokyo Dome. With a victory expected they will play against the winner from the Taiwan-Korea match on Saturday, March 7th. In round two Japan would face the two best teams from Pool B with Cuba, Mexico, Australia and South Africa.
Recent Tournament History
As you already know Japan won the inaugural edition of the World Baseball Classic in 2006. After winning the first two matches against China and Taiwan by a combined score of 32-5, they lost the last first round game against Korea (2-3). In the second phase they advanced despite losing two of three games (3-4 USA, 6-1 MEX, 1-2 KOR). In the semi-finals they got revenge for the two losses against Korea in group play and celebrated a 6-0 shutout on their way to the finals against Cuba (10-6).
Other international tournaments the past few years weren’t that successful. Japan was placed fourth in the Intercontinental Cup in 2006, ranked fifth (2005) and third (2007) in the last two Baseball World Cups and lost the Bronze Medal Game against Team USA last summer at the Beijing Olympics. In the IBAF World Rankings Japan is in fourth place behind Cuba, USA and Korea, well ahead of the rest of the field.
Exhibition Schedule
Japan – Yomiuri Giants 10-0
Japan – Yomiuri Giants 13-1
Japan – Australia 8-2
Japan – Australia 11-2
Japan – Saitama Seibu Lions 2-7
Japan – Yomiuri Giants 2-1
Japan would be using the Spring Training facilities of the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Arizona, if they advance into round number two. They also would play two additional exhibition games against the Giants, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers on March 11 and March 12.
Roster
Nearly all of their stars will play for Japan in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Only outfielder Hideki Matsui (rehab after knee surgery) of the Yankees and pitchers Hiroki Kuroda (Dodgers), Koji Uehara (Orioles) and Hideki Okajima (Red Sox) will miss the tournament.
2006 WBC MVP Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Red Sox is back, leading a strong pitching staff with Yu Darvish (Nippon Ham Fighters), Hisashi Iwakuma (Rakuten Golden Eagles), Toshiya Sugiuchi (Fukuoka), Hideaki Wakui (Seibu Lions) and Shunsuke Watanabe (Chiba Lotte). As usual their starting pitching is top of the class. However their bullpen has some question marks, which could be crucial with the pitch count regulations.
Offensive wise Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners shines above everybody. The charismatic outfielder created headlines by holding a 50-pitch bullpen session during training camp, though he will not appear on the mound in the WBC. His hitting slump (3-28) during the exhibition phase has a whole country panicking, but he will be fine, as soon as the tournament starts. Ichiro gets help from fellow big leaguers Akinori Iwamura (Rays), Kenji Johjima (Mariners) and Kosuke Fukudome (Cubs). The Japanese pro leagues are also well represented on the final roster with last year’s batting champion Seiichi Uchikawa (Yokohama Bay Stars) and slugger Shuichi Murata (Yokohama Bay Stars)
Coaches
Tatsunori Hara, who is also the manager of the Yomiuri Giants, will be at the helm for Japan in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The 50-year-old played for the Giants from 1981 to 1994 and is currently serving in his second stint (2002/2003, since 2006) as skipper. Sadaharu Oh was the manager of Team Nippon in the 2006 Classic. Hisashi Yamada, Tsutomu Ito, Nobuhiro Takashiro, Kazunori Shinozuka and Tsuyoshi Yoda complete the coaching staff for the Japanese team at the WBC.
Chances
Can Japan repeat their title run from three years ago? They by far weren’t perfect in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, but won the decisive games to collect the trophy. The strength of the current team is the starting rotation with the Matuzakas and Darvishs. The offense should be able to produce enough runs to support them. However their bullpen looks not that strong on paper in comparison to some other teams, which could be the key for their outcome in the event. With Japan seemingly in the ‘weaker’ part of the bracket, their path to the semi-finals should be wide open.
Previous
China
South Africa
Panama
Taiwan
Australia
Venezuela
Mexico
Puerto Rico
South Korea
Canada
Dominican Republic
Italy
Netherlands
United States of America
Cuba
Photo: © IBAF, www.ibaf.org