US Win But Lack Killer Finish

The US MNT defeated Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 last night, yet the victory had many wanting more from a team that has virtually qualified for Germany in 2006.

Brian McBride put the US on the board in the 2nd minute of play and it turned out to be the game winner. The US had a goal called back by a bad, bad off sides call late in the second half. While the US dominated this game, if they are to remain a top 10 team in the world, they need to learn how to finish and blow out these kinds of opponents.

Like last month, the US continues to enjoy a sixth place world ranking, just a couple of points behind Mexico, who they face next month.

As well, last nights match saw the return of Claudio Reyna (below), a player the US must have in order to go deep into the 2006 World Cup.

Zoom on...

Sasaki to Retire

Kazuhiro Sasaki aka Daimajin announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of the season. He will make most likely his last mound appearance next Tuesday when the Baystars play host to the Giants in Sendai's Fullcast Stadium.

Sendai is Sasaki's hometown. Sasaki has lost his position as closer and has been ineffective for the Baystars, spending a large portion of the season on the DL and in the minors.

Zoom on...

NPB Update 日本やきゅニュ-ス

Kenjo Jojima, the power hitting catcher for the Softbank Hawks, has a bad shoulder and will rest it for a week. I still hold out hope that the M's will look at Jojima as a bridge between our current catching mess and Clement.

Think the M's have issues with guys making a ton of money and not producing, I give you Kazuhiro Sasaki of the Yokohama Bay Stars. Kaz returned in 2004 and has the highest salary in NPB at 650 Million Yen, a little over 6 Million Dollars. The end appears to be insight for Kaz as the team sent him down to the farm team earlier this year and he lost his closing duties to Marc Koon. 0-3 with 4 saves and a 9.53 ERA are the telltale signs of the end of a career. Sasaki hopes to pitch in his hometown of Sendai when the Baystars have a home away from home game against the Giants. Koon recently set the record for fastest pitched clocked last month with a 161 km fastball against the Tigers.

Sasaki has also been engaged in a lot of changes in his personal life.

Softbank continues to lead Lotte by 3.5 games, both have left the rest of the Pacific League in the dust. In the Central League, the Tigers have a 2.5 game lead over the Dragons and the Giants have managed to pull within a game and a half of the last place Hiroshima Carp.

Zoom on...

Fog Dugout Resembles a MASH Unit

AP - Magnolia, WA

This past Monday was the quarterfinal playoff game, pitting #5 seed the Fog vs. #4 seed Pinehurst Pub. Everyone followed the keys to the game and arrived prior to the first pitch, ensuring the visiting Fog a compete roster.


The Fog got the first going with a 3 spot and looked to add on more when 5 of the first 6 batter reached base safely, but it was for not. The first of many blows occurred in the bottom of the first when the second batter hit consecutive foul ball pop ups behind third base. Each time Graeme gave chase, and the second he appeared to have a line on when he hurt his legged. The injury forced Graeme to leave the game.

The break in the action clearly hurt the Fog as the same batter walked after starting out 0-2, and the Pub managed to take the lead with a 4 spot. The Fog managed 7 more singles the rest of the way, pushing a lone run across in the 3rd. Carlson also aggravated a injured hamstring in the first and was relegated to first base, clearly the leg bothered him hitting as well. Nolte hurt a legged in the 4th forcing him to leave the game defensively for the 5th and 6th innings.

Joe didn't pitch poorly, nor did the defense play exceptionally badly, though it should be noted that like the offense, neither were outstanding on a night when they needed to be given the lack of punch from the batters. 11 Singles and 2 walks, that won't get you far, especially in a playoff game.

The Fog dropped the contest 10 to 4, thought the score didn't feel that close. After the game, stunned teammates, clearly not prepared to end the season, exchanged hugs and enjoyed brownies and orange slices in celebration of Jody's birthday.

The Fog 2005 Regular Season Stats
Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SF	GIDP	AVG	Total Bases	Slugging Percentage	On-base Percentage	OPS
Eric Nolte	32	15	18	3	2	2	14	3	1			0.563	31	0.969	0.600	1.569
Steve Boyd	31	12	15	4			5	3	1		2	0.484	19	0.613	0.529	1.142
Nate Watson	29	14	16	3		1	14	2	1	1		0.552	22	0.759	0.563	1.321
Dan Houser	28	15	15	2	2	1	12	2		1		0.536	24	0.857	0.548	1.406
Matt Cook	24	7	10				3	4				0.417	10	0.417	0.500	0.917
Daunte Gouge	23	7	10				5	1				0.435	10	0.435	0.458	0.893
Mike Carlson	23	7	11	1		1	9	1	1			0.478	15	0.652	0.500	1.152
Brent Amsbary	22	9	14		1		13					0.636	16	0.727	0.636	1.364
Peter Watson	22	11	14	2	1		14	6	1	2	1	0.636	18	0.818	0.667	1.485
Graeme Hanson	21	11	12		2	2	14	2				0.571	22	1.048	0.609	1.656
Joe Gerlitz	17	2	11		1		10					0.647	13	0.765	0.647	1.412
Jody Wilkins	15	3	3				0					0.200	3	0.200	0.200	0.400
James Owen	8	0	2				2					0.250	2	0.250	0.250	0.500
Kris Browne	8	1	4	1			1					0.500	5	0.625	0.500	1.125
Craig Weaver	7	3	3				4					0.429	3	0.429	0.429	0.857
Curtis Feddern	7	3	3				0					0.429	3	0.429	0.429	0.857
The Fog 2005 Playoff Stats
Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SF	GIDP	AVG	Total Bases	Slugging Percentage	On-base Percentage	OPS
Nate Watson	7	2	6	1			1					0.857	7	1.000	0.857	1.857
Eric Nolte	7	3	5	1			3	1				0.714	6	0.857	0.750	1.607
Dan Houser	7	2	4				1					0.571	4	0.571	0.571	1.143
Joe Gerlitz	7	2	3			1	5					0.429	6	0.857	0.429	1.286
Peter Watson	7	2	3	1			2					0.429	4	0.571	0.429	1.000
Mike Carlson	7	2	2				1					0.286	2	0.286	0.286
Graeme Hanson	6	2	4			1	6					0.667	7	1.167	0.667	1.833
Matt Cook	6	3	4	1			1	1				0.667	5	0.833	0.714	1.548
Brent Amsbary	6	3	3			1	5			1		0.500	6	1.000	0.429	1.429
Steve Boyd	6	4	3				1	1		1		0.500	3	0.500	0.500	1.000
Daunte Gouge	5	3	4				2	1		1		0.800	4	0.800	0.714	1.514
Jody Wilkins	3	0	0				0					0.000	0	0.000	0.000	0.000

Zoom on...