I don't speak Japanese but they seemed kind of happy?

That was one of the most exciting sports events I've ever seen.

That game was an utter joy.

I went to bed after the eighth inning, because of course I did.

I come away pretty impressed with Team Mexico. They didn't have any "stars" or really any household names. The closest thing to a star they had was a cuban defector with Mr. Clean gloves. But they had solid major leaguers up and down the lineup and in the pitching staff, making them a dangerous out for anyone on any given night: as they proved!

My favorite bit from The Onion might be one of the simplest: A fake headline from July 21, 1969 that says, "Holy sh*t! Man Walks on F*cking Moon!"

I was not around when we landed on the moon, but at least once a month, I am outside at night, and see the moon, and I'm briefly like, "It's been over 50 years, and I still can't believe we put people on the f**king moon!" The Onion did a great job of being like the rest of us, and realizing that the real story of that day was, basically, "Holy F*ck!". It was (and remains) that crazy.

Well, that's what I love about announcers like Gus Johnson, who are really good at being like, "F*ck it - this game (or play, or ending, etc.) is insane, and I'm going to go insane, too."

I don't know if this Japanese announcer is the Gus Johnson of Japanese sports broadcasting, but I loved the energy. It was an insanely entertaining game. It did give me goosebumps watching the excitement. It does bring me back to the love of the game I had as a kid, and it reminds me of why baseball is so wonderful.

I don't know a word of Japanese, but he was communicating very clearly. Awesome game, awesome energy, awesome call by the announcer.

The WBC overall did a very good job showing MLB how baseball can be a very exciting, fun sport to watch.

How is the final game not on over the air TV?

What a great game, what a finish. So happy the WBC exists.

I don't suppose there is video anywhere isolated on Shuto scoring from first? I really want to watch that.

This fan shot video from the third base side has Shuto in frame the entire play:

Shuto's mad dash

4 1/2 hrs for a 9 inning game. but it didn't seem to drag and there was plenty of action and a great ending. i didn't have no dog in the fight but i watch a whole lot of ballgames that are "meaningless"

what a stupid word to use about a ballgame

Another angle, from behind the plate

This fan shot video from the third base side has Shuto in frame the entire play:

I'll die on the hill that MLB needs to figure out a camera angle that shows the runner and the ball in the play at the same time. I don't think it should be that hard, considering how big the average TV is now. I presume the announcers' booth angle would be ideal.

What a great read on that play by Shuto. I love great baserunning.

"sayonora" refers to a "walk off", correct?

"sayonora" refers to a "walk off", correct?

Yes, it means goodbye, and is commonly used in baseball terms to describe a walk-off win - a walk-off home run is a "sayonara home run."

What a great read on that play by Shuto. I love great baserunning.

He's on the team for his baserunning. Shuto has never had over 307 AB in a season, in 2020, because of injuries (to his hand and shoulder, not his legs, fortunately), but that year he led the league with 50 stolen bases. After his rookie season in 2019, when he was used mainly as a pinch runner and defensive sub, and hit .196 in 102 AB, he still made the national team purely for his baserunning ability.

Holy crap, that’s like putting Jarrod Dyson or Herb Washington on team USA.

He almost caught Ohtani at home plate.

I love great baserunning.

You're gonna love watching Corbin Carroll

4 1/2 hrs for a 9 inning game. but it didn't seem to drag and there was plenty of action and a great ending.

The extra hour of dead time didn't make it a great game, and it still would have been a great game if it didn't have an hour of wasted time in it.

I went to bed after the eighth inning, because of course I did.

Case in point.

The extra hour of dead time didn't make it a great game, and it still would have been a great game if it didn't have an hour of wasted time in it.

It didn't - the game was only 3:36. Not short, but not exactly an old-school Sox/Yankees slog.

2.20 MPE, fairly typical for "big" baseball games.

This play is almost the dream scenario for a player who's calling card is baserunning. He makes the national team as a runner, pinch runs at first in the ninth inning, and motors home to score the winning run on a double off the wall.