USA vs Japan SPOILER!!!! Don't read if watching later

[anonlooker]

Game will air on CNBC tonight at 9 pm in CA.

Winner goes to the Final.

[Bill_B]

This is unbelievable. Where do these officials come from? The umpire strike zone is the size of Pomona and the full four-man crew cannot see catcher obstruction. I haven't seen the end of the game but it's my bet USA doesn't get this one.

[Comp]

Wheres the guy on here that said good batters could hit pitches 8" off the outside corner of the plate?

Biggest problem is she isnt always calling them. Have seen several times where consecutive pitches in the exact same spot, one a strike, the next not.

[Bill_B]

What a great game. No commentary on the web-based live feed, which was excellent. This was an absolute nail-biter! Ueno is really a great pitcher and that Japanese catcher is something else as well.

Whew!!

[NumeroUno]

Thanks Spasdad for calling me and letting me know that games was on, what a great game.
If I could I would carry Bustos on my shoulders. Watching it on the computer was great...

[Martin]

Will there ever be another hitter like Bustos? This must be what it was like to watch Ruth.

[wadeintothem]

What a game. Bustos is such a stud! Wow.

I thought the PU did pretty good for a canuck obviously she missing the Catchers obstruction and a very nice sell out on strike two.

If anyone watched it on TV and saw the Nike commercial.. thats about the best softball commercial i've ever seen!

Not sure if the ISF tie breaker rule is different than ASA.. but if its the same Michelle Smith said it wrong about a dozen times.

[sportzjunky]

Ueno was phenomenal overall. As well as Abbott, although if they call one of her umpteen IP's that may have shaken her up enough to where that game never got to extra frames. and I swear Ueno starts with 1 foot on the rubber but I am not sure if international rules are cool with it. Boost jumped on that inside pitch and you think the outside pitch was working with her 24+ inches from the plate... it worked the first 3 AB's vs. her... i guess the Japanese thought they could sneak one by.... NOT! Mendoza also turned on one the AB before but it went foul to RF stands. I think they figured something out, or Ueno lost some movement/gas on the inside pitch after working off the plate... Quite a difference in batting style between the 2 teams... Japan is up on the plate and a contact/speed team.. USA is loaded with bombers and grand slappers that go yard. More proof that a great pitcher on a OK hitting team can go places.

[Sam]

Candrea is a great nuts and bolts teacher of hitting. As a game manager, he couldn't get much worse. A 12U rec manager would have won the game in 8th inning.

Duran on 2B in 8th inning ITB. Pinch hits Berg for Nuvemann. I figure "great, he's going to have Berg bunt and not have Nuvemann bunt twice into a doubleplay." No. He has Berg hit away and gets lucky with a IF FC that F4 throws to the wrong base. Now its 1st and 3rd, no outs. Japan plays the IF in....I think he will steal Berg and have two chances to squeeze in the winning run. Ueno strikes out Flowers and Jung...Watley out on a bunt back to the pitcher.

ITB in the 9th inning. Watley on 2B. Has Lowe hit away and she singles up the middle putting the USA in the lead....the HU missed Lowe stepping in front of the plate on the slap...she was clearly out. Mendoza walks, Bustos homers. Game over.

Once again these great athletes overcome Candrea's horrible game management. When is the USA going to put a game tactician in charge of the team....same thing happened in 2000 when they had a team that was simply placed on the field and expected to win. Some times these teams need a manager's help....Candrea wasn't even giving signs to his batters in ITB. I don't think he knew what to do.....

[Comp]

Forget the tie breakers, the game could have and should have been won in the 6th inning. I believe it was Duran drew the lead off walk and instead of sac bunting wately, first pitch she takes a chop swing at and misses, 2nd pitch she squared to bunt, pulled back and let a strike get called, and then struck out swinging. Forget the rest of the sequence, but it didnt get much better and the runner never left 1st base.