Sunday, March 22, 2009

World Baseball Classic: A Microcosm

So, I'm watchin' this baseball final, and I learn stuff about cultures.

It's the bottom of the eighth, and Japan is up two runs. The lead-off hitter for Japan gets on base, and here's where the two countries diverge strategy-wise.

USA: Sweet, a two-run homer!

Japan: Let's get this guy into scoring position.

As expected, the next batter is asked to bunt. He lays down a perfect bunt down the thirdbase line, moving the runner to second base. (Note: Although the bunt was perfect, it was clear that the FIRST priority for the hitter was to move the runner to second. Which he did.)

The next hitter smacked a fairly weak grounder to second, which moved the runner to third. The swing looked intentional, so I thought, "That's kinda silly. Now only a wild pitch or infield single can score the runner from third. Anything better, and the guy would have scored easily from second...so no need to move the runner to third with one out, silly Japanese guy!"

The next batter hit an infield single.

And it wasn't one of those half-swing jobs, or one of those shots to the hole that a guy dives and catches. This was a pre-meditated, left-handed, beat-the-ball-into-the-ground-and-run-my-ass-off-singles. Jeter fielded it, threw it off his back foot, sailed Derosa, and the runner ducked under the tag, safe at first. IMMEDIATELY, the runner turned to see that his teammate scored, and went apeshit (meaning, slight fist pump and respectful handshake with first base coach).

To make matters worse, this guy then stole second, and Ichiro delivered an RBI single on the next pitch. Only to extend the metaphor, Adam Dunn was there to lazily corral the base hit.

I was listening to the radio the other day, and they were discussing how the US was in a 3 trillion dollar deficit, and Japan had, like, hundreds of billions in reserve. If this is true, the reason is that they are efficient, selfless, and they know what they're doing before they do it.

Baseball teaches another lesson.

P.S. Adam Dunn just struck out looking to end it. What a lazy fat ass.

2 comments:

Thom said...

Your cultural critique is well-taken and now I can laugh at Adam Dunn failings with you without reservation...that lazy sack of shit. However, Japan has a budget deficit as well. So, they are indeed more diciplined and respectful on the diamond but maybe not so on whatever their equivalent is to Capitol Hill.

Bob Woodward

Bick Rozich said...

Really, what did I hear on the radio then? Maybe it was some stupid caller. Anyway, they are way more smarter than we is.