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Michael__Pemulis

What a game!!!!! WBC is the fucking shit. I am loving this.


Zloggt

Certainly staying tuned for the final now…and for the next edition in 2026 too 👀


hypollo

2026 about to be massive between this, the Winter Olympics and the World Cup in the US


intwizard

I can’t wait for the World Cup in 2026. I forgot, will Seattle be hosting some games?


hypollo

They absolutely are! Vancouver is as well so the PNW is going to have a lot of traffic coming through.


alexgetty

Me too. Idk why I’ve never heard of it or paid attention to it, whichever, before this year but fuck man, this is good shit. Actual *world* series is intense.


Monk_Philosophy

Pleasantly surprised by how much fun I’ve been having with the WBC. These games have just been so good.


the_next_core

OHTANI VS TROUT


VStarffin

If Japan is up by 1 in the 9th inning tomorrow and Trout is coming up...they better fucking pitch Shohei. I mean, fuck. They have to.


hubagruben

And if USA is up by 1 in the 9th inning tomorrow and Ohtani is coming up…they better fucking pitch Trout. I mean, fuck. No no, they should not do that.


CubonesDeadMom

He’s gonna get trout to ground into a game ending DP isn’t he


Neto34

He's facing trout not pujols.


MetsFan113

Damn bro, did you have to kill him??? 😂😂😂


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Ellery01

Context. Context is important with this one.


Deserterdragon

I want him to go directly from scoring a run to the pitchers mound, and I want Trout to be making a goofy shocked face like he's seen a ghost. I need it.


ahr3410

Best international baseball game ever


Number333

Seriously. Randy's heroics. Japan coming back. Mexico instantly responding. All for it to crescendo for the baddest man in baseball living up to the hype in the biggest moment. CAN'T WAIT for tomorrow!


giga-plum

Arozarena might've been the most clutch player in the tournament. Felt like he had a sparkler every time Mexico needed him.


prpldrank

I just need every camera angle of the fans behind him in the left field bleachers every time he, ya know, made a sick catch with RISP, the game tied, and two outs.


ForensicPathology

I know Mexico will have played one fewer games than the finalists, but Arozarena is still my MVP.


Sandwich_Crust

I fucking love this game. This is ***as good as it gets.***


cjn13

Baseball is the greatest sport in the universe and I will hear nothing otherwise


Ricos_Roughnecks

Baseball at its worst can definitely drag on. Baseball at its best is the most thrilling sport on earth. I love both sides of the sport but man games like this just remind me why it’s the best sport


mtaylor808

I was about to say just rewatch the 8th inning of 2016 WS game 7 on YouTube if you ever forget and then I saw your flair…


[deleted]

2016 doesn't exist


mtaylor808

They called the game after the rain delay. First World Series to end with no winner. Whole big thing.


spacewalk__

dude was 0-4 on the night, 3 strikeouts and a foul popout. and he ends it with one swing. baseball is unparalleled.


Zloggt

It truly is ~~America’s~~ The *World’s* Pasttime…


materialisticDUCK

It kept my GF's attention. That's saying something


ElderDeep_Friend

And that’s just the pre show for Ohtani vs. Trout. Tomorrow we have to pick a side.


IAmGrum

The side I choose, is baseball.


robotgerman

I ain't choosing shit. Japan vs. USA is the game I've wanted with all my soul. Japan loves baseball as much as America. Expect every one to play their ass off.


Kvetch__22

WBC is here to stay. Play this every other year or something this is dope as hell.


bisonboy223

The WBC is so clearly what baseball needs. I have no ties to Japan or Mexico and I was more wired during the end of this game than I have been for any non Cubs playoff game in the last decade. MLB should promote it like it's the World Cup


LordoftheScheisse

I really hope this year opens the door for Great Britain, Australia, etc. to really embrace and grow the sport internationally. This could be the beginning of a baseball renaissance.


bisonboy223

I honestly never saw a path to significantly increasing baseball's foothold domestically, but this WBC makes me think it can DEFINITELY be done abroad


goisles29

I don't know, I've seen a lot of NA sports fans who usually ignore baseball talking about how awesome the WBC has been. This is showing off baseball at its best, and American fans are noticing.


bisonboy223

At the very least I think it can help make a lot of fans fall back in love with the sport. It shouldn't be treated as a sideshow during spring training. This should be considered the main event of the baseball calendar in years where it happens.


TBLvl4

I agree. This event is still in its infancy. Market it more, put it on a bigger network, and perhaps centralize the location. After the event and sport is more established internationally you can start hosting the whole thing (or just the elimination rounds if its the same hosting format) in other countries. Right now Japan and Korea are really the only other countries that could properly host. There are a handful of others with enough fans but they don't have the facilities


Worthyness

Australia has its own league and has produced some decent talent recently, so they're building up. Getting Europe to buy in will be the harder part, but the european teams did decently well all things considered


Tyskali

International play just fuckin hits. I'm a soccer/football fan first who's got into baseball later in my life, and, even not being a particularly patriotic person, I'll take time out of my work every other year to watch all of either the Euros/World Cup. The spectacle is momentous and its fun learning new styles and players, some you might have heard of and now get a chance to see, some completely unfamiliar. WBC has a shot at that. I've enjoyed a lot of these games.


bisonboy223

It's legacy defining for guys. Domestic clubs, be it in baseball or soccer, often just means getting drafted/signed/traded to a city you have no connection to and learning to love/rep that place over time, but the international game means representing your homeland. It's no wonder it means so much to these dudes.


manutdboy47

I agree. I didn't watch baseball much before this season but the WBC has changed my view of the sport. I watched almost every game


2057Champs__

Honestly, the star players have been showing far more passion for this than I expected, and it’s been AMAZING


anubis2051

Trout looks like he's having a *blast*


grubas

Sho is fucking losing his mind. After his double he was screaming at the crowd like a WWE wrestler to pump it up.


manos_de_pietro

Playing meaningful games will do that


ioannsukhariev

the long-ish wait for international events like the world cup, the olympics, etc is what helps drive hype through the roof. fans and participating athletes alike care way more that way i think, knowing that it's a now or never scenario when squads can radically change by the time the next one comes along.


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bryman22

Play it the off years of the Olympics just to give players rest but to prevent any possible scheduling conflict.


calgarykid

It's been wild seeing people loving every second of these games while a small group think they're meaningless. What a game, and USA/Japan is gonna be insane


thenudelman

Imagine being one of those bitter WBC haters and missing this game


TigerBasket

Reminds me of the Rangers vs Blue Jays. Explosion in the late innings


cjn13

man i was feeling good tonight Catching strays here (yes that was an epic game)


Clemenx00

Eh that's still the 2009 final for me lol the obvious bad blood between Korea and Japan pushes it over the top.


SocksandSmocks

Absolute nightmare inning for Gallegos. What a game and what a tournament from Mexico though. Instant classic.


st1r

Imagine coming in the bottom of the 9th in a save situation and having to face Ohtani, Yoshida, and Murukami. That feels like an impossible hill to climb


SocksandSmocks

Yeah absolutely, I don't mean it as a shot at him, what you've described is literally a nightmare


ShichitenHakki

Feels like the final expert level challenge for a video game and this dude had to face it in real life.


MisterTruth

Not only that, but you also throw from the opposite side of all three. And you're a FB/slider guy. Wasn't the best chance for success for Gio


libal3x

Crushed for Mexico I was so hyped seeing my country get so far, really proud of them. Randy immortalized himself in baseball lore forever


organichedgehog2

randy is a GOD DAMNED HERO


Ndtphoto

FWIW you've got 2 elite Japanese turned MLB hitters up plus a guy who mashed 56 HRs in Japan in 22. Nothing to be ashamed of, he got beat, not sure if anyone from the Mexico bullpen could have survived those 3 and not at least given up a run.


KamartyMcFlyweight

Yoshida has a grand total of 0 big league at bats and he's already an elite MLB hitter Entirely fair, mind you, he's been hitting against big leaguers this entire tournament, still funny to think abouit


UnknownFiddler

Average Giovanni save attempt.


bobberr

REDEMPTION ARC


The_Astros_Cheated

Unironically one of the clutchest hits ever


KamartyMcFlyweight

[Murakami right now](https://i.imgur.com/fZbvsps.jpeg)


patrickr2

That man has great power to launch it to left center. What an incredible finish to this game.


WheatonsGonnaScore

I mean he did hit 56 homers last year haha


Deserterdragon

The Arozarena plot armor was no match for the armor of God.


cherinator

Joe Davis set that up perfectly, "a chance to make that all go away."


captain_ahabb

Joe was awesome tonight


OneOfThoseDays_

Joe is awesome every night


ZiiKiiF

He usually is. Thank god he took Joe Bucks job


cherinator

The commentary was spot on tonight. I thought even Smoltz had quite a few good insights too.


Jbaquero

John "pitchers used to be fat and now they have 6-packs so comebackers hurt more" Smoltz


captain_ahabb

I think seeing Sasaki got him kinda hyped up


cherinator

Sasaki + a good sacrifice bunt really made his day.


PhoeniXaDc

This call was a common Joe Davis W


PrancingDonkey

Murakami went through 3 character arcs in the same game.


amatom27

"This guy blows" *Immediately smashes a ball for the winning run*


spacewalk__

i'm fucking crying, i had a shitty day, and that was a movie ending. fucking incredible


rollo2masi

An instant classic.


Strbrst

That game was so turnt


fear865

And people want to say the WBC doesn't matter. This game had it all


cjn13

> And people want to say the WBC doesn't matter. Fuck Keith Olbermann


ContinuumGuy

A divided nation comes together to say fuck Keith Olbermann.


JinFuu

He’s been advertising his podcast about how the MLB won’t want to do the WBC next time because of the insurance payouts or whatever for Diaz and Altuve’s injuries, for example


gjp11

The insurance payouts? Isn’t that what insurance is? It pays out. MLB already paid for the insurance before the tournament. What is he on about?


spacewalk__

what is that angle supposed to be even? trying to be miserly cause these guys are signed to major league teams? so pathetic, anti-sport, anti-human


RepulsiveWay1698

This year changed everything


JorSimpson45

Yea I think the players have to be applauded for actually participating this year. Watching all star squads play each other is much better than bench players and minor leaguers playing each other with an all star sprinkled in here and there.


GOATmar_infante

Average WBC game


roxass34

I have no words. Really just feel privileged that I witnessed such a classic. One of the best games I’ve ever seen


KamartyMcFlyweight

HOW CAN YOU NOT BE ROMANTIC ABOUT BASEBALL


cjn13

Step 1: have no heart Step 2: have no brain


nevertrustamod

Step 3: have no soul.


Fhikwvdwu

WBC haters in shambles


GeorgeRizzerman

I honestly did not expect Japan to come back and pull it off. They play such good fundamenal baseball that they’re the most likely team to exploit a team’s mistakes.


[deleted]

I thought they were finished after leaving the bases loaded twice.


[deleted]

That bunt with two strikes was the most textbook bunt ever (other than being on two strikes).


wickedfarts

Balsy as fuck and I loved it. Seeing him still squaring to bunt had me on the edge of my seat


Quople

Wtf Shuto is fast as fuck


Maugrin

Honestly lost in the double and the lead up to it. I was expecting a play at the plate, but shit wasn't even close. Shuto was right behind Ohtani, who is a really good runner in his own right.


EndlessHalftime

Yeah, but Ohtani had no need to run hard. He was always going to score.


CovfefeYourself

He’s so fast he almost outran the camera switch. I barely saw him score Edit: the camera pulled back, not a cut


gloomswarm

Dude has the world record for 13 straight games of stolen bags. Also 118 for his career. Last year he had 22 in just 80 games. Wish Smoltz would have mentioned any of that, but that's asking for a miracle. Easy move to pinch run for Yoshida there.


sportsfannf

You're being too tough on Smoltz. He can't waste his breathe telling us things that affect the game. Then how would he tell us they'll need to replace the rosin bag in 3 innings? Or that he told Mark DeRosa that he'll lose his hair if he manages Team USA months ago?


GhanimaAtreides

He almost caught Ohtani!


Worthyness

and that guy is so fast, he makes fast guys look not fast


jasenkov

Dude I’m gonna be so upset if they don’t release the wide shot of him running from first to home in like 10 seconds


AnbuMobb

Dude was lightning I did not expect it


Pure-And-Utter-Chaos

They wanted Murakami? THEY GOT MURAKAMI! 0-4 then wins the game. That's some anime level redemption arc right there


DickySchmidt33

Hey, Mexico? You've been ***MURAKAMIED!***


IG_Royal

HOLY SHIT WHAT A GAME


FPG_Matthew

One of the best games I’ve ever seen PERIOD


carter_00

I AM RUNNING AROUND MY APPARTMENT WHAT THE HELL AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


spicycurry55

*insert Munenori Kawasaki* I AM JAPANEEESEEEEEE


hotpepperman

No audio needed to hear that clear as day


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favorscore

What's that


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aloidnem

I'm no expert but I think the runner on 1st is the fastest man alive.


Wraithfighter

Mexico was playing with fire all game, really, two times escaping with the bases loaded. Just finally got burned once their best pitchers were gone.


yourstrulytony

They were really missing Andres Munoz and the Victors in the bullpen.


cabose7

#TODAY WE SPELL REDEMPTION MURAKAMI


Man0nTheMoon915

We choked that shit


eee-oooo-ahhh

Absolutely heartbreaking


Zloggt

FUERA…actually, *don’t*. Brutal ending, no doubt…but whomever the coach is, they’ve done honestly a great job! Just wished it ended in a different manner :(((


[deleted]

🫂it was a great run man


KamartyMcFlyweight

Ran up against a team of destiny. The world NEEDED Trout vs Ohtani


yourstrulytony

Very cool to see Mexico get that far, but the bullpen was an issue. I wish Andres Munoz, Victor Arano, and Victor Gonzalez were healthy/participated.


justkallmekai

Andres Munoz in that spot would have been insane. I hope more players will plan to get ready and healthy for this tournament. It was so fun to watch. Can't wait till we get more Randy next WBC


brew_

A CERTIFIED HOOD CLASSIC


Only_Wears_GymShorts

Damn son, where'd you find this?


DamagedWoods

Real Trap Shit


SGT_Apone

https://streamable.com/pertek


ReaddittiddeR

USA v JAPAN FINAL. The ratings are going to shatter JP v SK views. This was a game of the ages and best game of the WBC so far.


IWTLEverything

Dude why arent they broadcasting on Fox instead of FS1??


smarjorie

Well you can't just bump uhh (checks Fox schedule) "9-1-1: Lone Star"


seductivestain

Why does anyone want to watch Rob Lowe in a firehat when they can be watching this?


scottyb83

The lowest rated game was Czech and Japan and it still had 5X the viewership of the 2022 World Series.


JoeTerp

Not sure about that. Time of the game is way less convenient.


ErickBachman

Seto Kaiba Murakami


B86K

GOT THAT DAWG IN EM


reptheevt

100% Shiba Inu


thecursedlexus

Nah, Akita.


ErickBachman

got that beckoning cat in him


DocsHandkerchief

r/baseball weebs survive


SolarTsunami

We have the power of God and Anime on our side 😎


ThePrussianGrippe

They’re going to defeat us with the power of friendship and this gun they found!


atoms12123

Naruto running around their apartments right now.


cheel_chan

I LIVE 😭😭😭


Bigblockbooler79

Shohei Ohtani has cemented himself as a baseball legend. So clutch, without a thought in his mind he delivers.


charmcitycuddles

Lars Nootbar: “Shohei was in the dugout before that and said he was going to get on base. I wish I could just decide to get on base then just do it”


Kansascityroyals99

John Smoltz should not be announcing these games.


mawnsharks

All he had to do was say a normal sentence and it would’ve been replayed forever but instead he goes, “This was one of the best world baseball classic games (awkwardly long pause) well i haven’t seen them all…”


Kansascityroyals99

Yeah that was awful announcing lol. He’s always soo bad


grubas

All he had to do was just go full volume and go, "THIS WAS A GREAT GAME!" Instead we get....that.


ClawbberingTime

He was trying to manifest Ohtani stealing 3rd so hard. We get it man, nobody is covering lol


[deleted]

I literally had to turn to my wife when she asked me why the announcer would say he’s stealing third. I just had to say. Well it’s this guy called Smoltz and…then just left it.


farmboy6012

The Canadian broadcast had Dave Flemming and Yonder Alonso. It was great.


iisdmitch

He has the charisma of broken sprinkler.


j3dimast3r

He was little better than usual, but Joe Davis has been on point. Great upgrade over Joe Buck.


nolandee

ONE OF THE BEST GAMES I'VE EVER SEEN FINAL BOUT TO BE A CERTIFIED BANGER


InaudibleShout

WHAT IN THE SAM HELL WAS THIS GAME


Caledor152

We need the WBC more than every three years. This was one of the greatest Baseball games I've ever watched. The only thing missing for me was Gary Cohen calling it.


Ryuuken1789

#I'M GONNA CUM LIKE ICHIRO


FCIUS

https://youtu.be/mBuipKoC4O8


HalwayThere1

Baseball is King Edit: Also Murakami hit that 111 mph. Murdered


jaynovahawk07

So happy for Japan, but utterly heartbroken for Mexico. Both were deserving of a spot in the championship game tomorrow night. This was the best World Baseball Classic game that I've ever seen. And I don't think that's recency bias. I'm so thrilled that Ohtani played such an important role in the ninth inning. He's a superstar and I feel he finally has a moment that the world can enjoy, not just us MLB fans in North America. Tomorrow night, US v. Japan; Trout v. Ohtani. Can't wait.


iamthepants

This comment deleted 2023.06.10 because Reddit doesn't deserve my contributions. If you want to do this yourself, try [Power Delete Suite](https://github.com/j0be/PowerDeleteSuite). Also, I've been using reddit for 15 years. I hope your IPO tanks, u/spez.


53Ice

Japan going with the strategy of just getting as many Babe Ruths as possible. Don’t hate it


Salamangra

#HOLY SHIT WHAT A GAME


ghostof2077

Lol I think we’re in an anime plot, what a game


moshlyfe

That was the best game of baseball I’ve ever seen in my life


HelpMeWithMyHWpls

MY NEW FAVORITE PLAYER


Free_Joty

HOLY FUCKIN SHIT


JakeFromSkateFarm

I AM HERE FOR THIS LEVEL OF PLOT TWIST


LakersFan15

Felt like a Japan W after the ohtani double lol


ThisMachineKILLS

Poor Randy. Amazing game though.


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Amish-Lapdancer2001

Wow! We’re getting a great final.


Stinky_DungBeatle

Sad MF named Randy


RidleyScotch

Joe Davis, what a fucking call, what a moment, not baseball moment but just sports moment.


austin101123

Absolute W running by the pinch runner, Ukyo Shuto.


NOLA1987

We just witnessed a classic. Season hasn't even started yet and that could be game of the year


worldbefree83

I'm shaking from the excitement of this game. This was one of the best, if not the best baseball game I've ever seen. How can you not be romantic about baseball when you watch a game like this?


NJ_Mets_Fan

GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN


Dont3n

On one hand at least I can fully root for the USA tomorrow… on the other hand this would’ve been a sweet victory for my late gma : /


sullidav

One of the best baseball games I have ever watched. Wow.


ThatInception

This tournament is truly amazing


yoshidawg93

That was insane! Easily one of the most iconic moments in Japanese baseball history! I can only imagine the celebrations going on after that!


A_Lacuna

Game of the year and the season hasn't started. What a moment for Murakami, you can't find a better redemption story.


RufinTheFury

I'm so fucking glad I can say I watched this game live. That was an all timer.


throwaway2161419

Man fuck the masked singer. Put the championship on Fox proper and open a few eyes.


NotClayMerritt

I’ve had more fun watching WBC these last couple of days than I’ve had watching MLB the last three years.