Category Archives: International baseball

News from the European Leagues, International tournaments and the fortunes of the Great Britain National Team

Baseball and Softball’s Olympic hopes are dashed

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board announced yesterday that golf and rugby would be put forward for entry to the 2016 Olympics.  The decision ended baseball and softball’s hopes for an immediate return to the Olympic fold after a previous decision in 2005 removed the sports from the 2012 London Games. 

While supporters of the bid tried to remain optimistic, most baseball fans had little confidence in the IOC’s willingness to listen to the sport’s argument, despite the best efforts of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF).  Yesterday’s events lend credence to the belief that baseball never really stood a chance.  Continue reading →

Great Britain’s 40-man World Cup roster is announced

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Great Britain Baseball

Great Britain Baseball

Great Britain announced their 40-man preliminary roster for the 2009 Baseball World Cup yesterday.  The roster is built around the core of the 2007 European Championship silver medal team, including tournament MVP Brant Ust and catcher Mike Nickeas, and features players currently competing in leagues in North America, Europe and here in Britain.

The 40-man roster will be reduced to twenty-four when the tournament begins on 9 September.  Team GB’s first game is scheduled for 10 September, when they will take on Japan in Zagreb, Croatia.  Continue reading →

Great Britain heading to Croatia for Baseball World Cup

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Great Britain Baseball

Great Britain Baseball

Great Britain’s 2009 Baseball World Cup journey will now begin at a new destination.  The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) announced yesterday that Croatia will replace Russia in the tournament and take over as the host of Pool D. 

The move from Moscow to Zagreb has been confirmed less than two months before the tournament is scheduled to begin on 9 September.  Continue reading →

World Port Tournament: victories for Cuba and Japan on day four

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Day four of the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam saw Cuba maintain their unbeaten record with a 10-6 win over the Netherlands and Japan level their record at 2-2 with a 6-1 win over Taiwan.  Both games provided plenty of talking points, but it was the opener involving the home nation that brought out the biggest crowd of the event so far.  Continue reading →

World Port Tournament: Japan 6 -0 Netherlands

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Joe and I have just got back from the Neptunus Family stadium in Rotterdam where we watched Syogo Suenaga pitch a three-hit, complete game shutout  for Japan against the host nation of the World Port Tournament.  The Japanese batting lineup backed their pitcher with six runs, three of which coming in the eighth inning to halt any sign of a Dutch comeback.  It was great to see some live baseball, particularly in such an impressive stadium. 

The home of DOOR Neptunus describes itself as the best ballpark in Europe and it would be no surprise if that was a fact.  The stadium has been increased in capacity for the World Port Tournament and there was a large crowd on hand to witness the second of Saturday’s games.  In the earlier contest, Cuba defeated Taiwan 3-0 to improve their tournament record to 3-0.  The hotel from which star pitcher Arolbis Chapman left the Cuban team looms large over the skyline beyond the ballpark’s backstop, a constant reminder to the fans in Rotterdam of the great talent that they have sadly missed.

There are two games tomorrow, starting with the exciting prospect of the Netherlands against Cuba followed by Japan taking on Taiwan.  It should be another great day of baseball.

Baseball fights for its Olympic future today in Lausanne

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Fate in baseball is normally played out in front of an enthralled audience.  A perfectly turned double-play will lead to gasps and then cheers, a walk-off home run will lift fans from their seats into wild celebrations, while a rally-killing strikeout turns expectation to deflation in an instant.

This is the dramatic, spell-binding side of the sport that helps to make millions of people around the world love it so much.

But today, the fate of baseball as an Olympic sport will be argued in a more reserved setting as a delegation puts forward its case to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)  There will be no flashes of brilliance performed in front of a ballpark full of fans and millions more watching or listening from afar, just a twenty-minute presentation behind closed doors in Lausanne, Switzerland.  Continue reading →

Cuba remain top of the IBAF World Rankings

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Cuba have retained their position as the leading baseball nation despite a disappointing showing in the World Baseball Classic.  That’s the message from the International Baseball Federation’s rankings, updated yesterday to reflect performances at the most recent major international tournament.

However, Korea and Japan are gaining ground and that hasn’t gone unnoticed in Havana.  Continue reading →

Japan win the 2009 World Baseball Classic

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Japan retained their World Baseball Classic title in the early hours of this morning in a thrilling extra-inning 5-3 win over Korea. 

Such eagerly anticipated contests can often turn out to be a disappointment; the enormity of the occasion leading to a cagey affair in which neither team performs under the pressure.   The 2009 WBC final was an exception to this rule.  Continue reading →