Baseball World

This morning I watched the final match of the World Baseball Classic between Korea and Japan. The second time this tournament has been played — the first being in 2006 — I'd argue that the quality of the matches throughout the three weeks between the 16 teams which started out really deserved the title of World Series more that the October match-up between the winners of the (US) American League and (US) National League. The final — which went to ten innings with some extraordinary pitching and hitting by both sides in what was a very close game — was edge-of-the-seat stuff. Because of the structure of the competition the two teams had already met in the Classic four times, each winning twice and losing twice; the only losses either side had during the competition. The tournament was also notable for having a 'maximum pitches' rule, limiting how long the starting pitcher could stay in the game, and also having a mercy rule for where a team is ten runs behind in the seventh innings (or by 15 in the fifth). Surprisingly, for some, this rule was actually used in a game between the USA and Puerto Rico — and it was the US team which was way behind. So, a thrilling match down to the wire and a great change from the not-so-serious Spring Training matches I've watched this month. For more information about this year's tournment visit the World Baseball Classic website .