Tag: 2023 World Baseball Classic

Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout playing in WBC Final had MLB fans referencing the same hilarious Angels meme

Whose Tungsten Arm O’Doyle curse is stronger?

For years with the Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout have dazzled as two of MLB’s brighter stars.

And yet, despite their combined individual brilliance, the Angels have often found a way to lose in some of the most comical ways. Baseball fans have pointed this irony out before, dubbing it the ole “Tungsten Arm O’Doyle” — named for two faces of the sport making never-before-seen history, but their team loses anyway.

With Ohtani and Trout on the same team, they’ve usually fallen in line together here. But now, after Ohtani’s Team Japan outlasted Team Mexico in an instant classic, he’ll square off against Mike Trout’s Team USA in the World Baseball Classic Final on Tuesday.

Oh, and Ohtani might pitch against Trout …

And you know what that means: something finally has to give with the Tungsten Arm O’Doyle meme.

Someone between Ohtani and Trout on the same field will actually get to win a championship after playing absurdly well. It’s kind of mind-blowing, and the reality had baseball fans all making the same reference.

Japan stuns Mexico with a walk-off double to advance to the World Baseball Classic final

JAPAN WALKS IT OFF!

What a baseball game!

On Monday, Japan bested Mexico 6-5 in the World Baseball Classic semifinal after Munetaka Murakami hit a walk-off double to stun the LoanDepot Park crowd. Japan entered the ninth inning down 5-4 to Mexico when Shohei Ohtani hit a lead off double to get the rally started.

Masataka Yoshida then walked to put runners on first and second with no outs and Murakami up to bat. On a 1-1 count, Murakami skied the ball to deep center field, over the head of Alek Thomas and off the wall. And from there, history was made for the first walk off in the semifinals in World Baseball Classic history.

What a moment for Murakami, who struck out three times in the semifinal but came up clutch when it mattered most. Japan now advances to the World Baseball Classic final against the United States, set to be played Tuesday night.

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Randy Arozarena’s stone cold reaction after an amazing WBC catch became an instant meme

Absolute robbery from Randy Arozarena!

Now this is one way to celebrate a game-changing catch!

On Monday, the World Baseball Classic semifinal was well underway between Mexico and Japan. Mexico held a 3-0 lead after Luis Urías hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning, but Japan was still getting chances.

In the bottom of the fifth, Kazuma Okamoto skied a deep ball out to left field that looked to be a sure-fire home run to crack things open for Japan. Randy Arozarena had other ideas, however, as he jumped up to snag the ball before it could land on the other side of the fence.

Arozarena’s celebration of the game-changing moment? A stone-cold reaction befitting anything but robbing a home run at the World Baseball Classic.

And here’s another angle of that catch, just for fun.

Even more hilarious was Arozarena during Mexico’s pitching change right after, as the outfielder was signing autographs mere moments after his incredible catch.

As expected, Arozarena’s stone-cold reaction became an instant meme on Twitter.

Listen to the thunderous echo of Shohei Ohtani clobbering a ball off the videoboard during batting practice

Shohei Ohtani launched this ball to the moon!

Shohei Ohtani is no stranger to mashing home runs in the most casual manner and it seems as if that demeanor doesn’t stop in batting practice either.

Ahead of Japan’s Monday night World Baseball Classic semifinal tilt against Mexico, Ohtani took to the batting cage to warmup for the big game. Ohtani has just one home run in the tournament so far, but if he continues to smash the baseball like he did in batting practice, he’ll have quite the night.

During the batting practice, Ohtani clobbered a ball with such force that it went above the second deck of LoanDepot Park and smacked the videoboard! Not only that, the ball made a booming echo when it landed, causing the fans in attendance to cheer in awe of what they just witnessed.

That sound is so intimidating, my goodness.

Ohtani had quite the impressive batting practice overall, as the first ball he hit landed well into the upper deck too.

Here’s hoping we see another monster Ohtani home run before the end of the World Baseball Classic.

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Injuries be damned, the World Baseball Classic is the best

The WBC is the best.

This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Charles Curtis.

As you may have noticed last week, I was among the fans affected by a World Baseball Classic injury when Edwin Diaz hurt his knee celebrating Puerto Rico’s upset win. I wrote about how awful it was to see as a Mets fan now that he’ll miss the entire 2023 MLB season.

On Saturday, I happened to be at the Mets and Houston Astros’ spring training contest in West Palm Beach, when a buzz ran through the crowd: Star second baseman Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch in the United States’ quarterfinal win over Venezuela, and now he’ll need surgery for his fractured thumb. Astros fans weren’t happy.

I say all of that, and add this: That shouldn’t mean the WBC is a bad thing.

No, the World Baseball Classic is amazing, and although I want to see it, like, once every two years, it should be spaced out like soccer’s World Cup.

I promise I’m not just saying that because Team USA is making a run thanks to Trea Turner going off and thrilling us all with his heroics. It’s because I look at how much this means to the players, along with how fun it is for all the teams and their quirky celebrations. It’s baseball at its purest.

There’s no better time to do it. As Mike Trout pointed out last week, “You’re still playing baseball in spring training.” Exactly. And injuries could also happen in a meaningless spring training game (perhaps not Diaz’s but freak injuries do happen!).

Long live the WBC. Can’t wait to see the conclusion of this year’s and the next one in 2026.

Quick Hits: A horrible March Madness bad beat … Drew Timme dropping F-bombs … A near NFL double trade-down … and more.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

— This bad beat in TCU’s loss to Gonzaga was AWFUL!

— Drew Timme is out here dropping F-bombs on TV.

— Oh no, we almost got a double trade-down in the NFL Draft but the Texans ruined it!

— Go get free Dairy Queen today!

Edwin Diaz injured himself celebrating Puerto Rico’s World Baseball Classic win and Mets fans were distraught

Here’s hoping Edwin Diaz is okay.

Edwin Diaz is the last player you want to see go down with an injury if you’re a New York Mets fan.

On Wednesday, Puerto Rico bested the Dominican Republic 5-2 at the 2023 World Baseball classic to advance onto the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, while Puerto Rico was celebrating the win, Diaz was seemingly injured during the festivities.

Diaz pitched the ninth inning for Puerto Rico, throwing three straight strikeouts to end the game and help the team advance to the next round. Puerto Rico’s celebrations ceased as Diaz fell to the ground, as he was ultimately taken off the field unable to support weight on his right leg.

You never want to see a player go down with an injury like that. Especially if it’s during something so innocuous as a win celebration.

Diaz is a key piece on this Mets team, as his success as the team’s closer — along with his epic introduction song — has endeared him to New York fans. Here’s hoping Diaz’s injury isn’t a serious one and he’s able to step back onto the field in short order.

Francisco Lindor legged out an epic inside-the-park home run at the World Baseball Classic

INSIDE-THE-PARK HOME RUN AT THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC!

In a win-or-go-home matchup at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Francisco Lindor certainly made his mark.

On Wednesday, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic were locked in a must-win game to determine which team would head to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals and which team would go home. Both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico came into Wednesday’s game with a 2-1 record, with the winner set to advance to the next stage of the tournament alongside Venezuela.

Puerto Rico jumped out to an early 4-1 lead after the third inning of this Pool D matchup, with Lindor playing a major role in the team’s scoring breakout thanks to a RBI single. Then, in the top of the fifth, Lindor lined a ball to center field for what was set to be a single, but the Dominican Republic fielder whiffed on the play! Lindor then flew around the bases for an incredible inside-the-park home run to put Puerto Rico emphatically up 5-1.

What a run from Lindor. Given that the Dominican Republic didn’t even throw home on that play, Lindor had room and then some to spare on the slide. Talk about a fantastic individual effort in a do-or-die game.

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Javier Baez made an unreal slide dodge to steal third base at the World Baseball Classic

“El Mago” has done it again!

There’s a reason Javier Baez earned the nickname “El Mago” during his baseball career. And he showed just why during Puerto Rico’s Sunday night game against Israel during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

With Puerto Rico already up 2-0 in the bottom of the first — thanks to a two-run double from Baez earlier in the inning — the team was looking to extend their lead even more. After a called strike with two outs in the inning, Baez got a good jump off of second to make for third for the steal.

Catcher Ryan Lavarnway tossed a great ball to third, and while it was a bit low, it seemed as if Baez might be caught. Instead, however, Baez dexterously dodged out of the way on the slide, moving his arm up and around Noah Mendlinger’s tag to make it to third safely.

What a move! Baez would then later get home to extend Puerto Rico’s lead to 3-0 by the end of the first inning. Talk about doing it all for your team!

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Tigers sign Nicaraguan pitcher who struck out Juan Soto, Rafael Devers and Julio Rodriguez at World Baseball Classic

Duque Hebbert pitched just one inning, but he made quite an impression.

The World Baseball Classic is not just a celebration of the global love for the game. It can also be a pathway to achieving your wildest dreams.

That’s the reality for Duque Hebbert. The right-handed pitcher for Nicaragua came in for the ninth inning of a losing effort against the Dominican Republic, one of the favorites, and he wasted little time in an opportunity against a lineup filled with MLB stars.

He gave up one hit in the frame but issued three absolutely filthy strikeouts, which came against none other than a trio of 2022 all-stars in Juan Soto, Rafael Devers and Julio Rodriguez.

Oh, and did I mention the one hit was allowed to Manny Machado?

It appears at least one MLB club took notice of Hebbert’s impressive performance. He met with Detroit Tigers scout Luis Molina after the game who, after a brief conversation, offered him a minor league contract.

The announcement was later made on the bus in front of the entire Nicaraguan team, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez.

It’s the kind of story that feels tailor-made for Hollywood, and Hebbert’s progress in the minors will be something to watch as the 5-foot-9 21-year-old hopes to complete one of the most unlikely paths to the majors imaginable.

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Great Britain wore flavorless jerseys at the World Baseball Classic and fans had so many jokes

Graphic design is clearly not Britain’s passion.

In Saturday’s World Baseball Classic 6-2 loss to Team USA, Great Britain didn’t only fall short on the field. Their unfortunate style choices left a lot to be desired, too.

While teams like Cuba, South Korea, and the Dominican Republic have shown off wonderful uniforms for this international celebration of baseball, Britain wore jerseys that seemingly had minimal effort placed into their design aesthetic. And when I say “minimal,” I mean closer to “zero.”

It’d be one thing to show up and get hammered by the Americans while looking good. The British, while wearing all gray with the blandest font for “Great Britain” adorned across their chest, couldn’t even manage that extremely basic task:

Naturally, given how bland Great Britain’s uniforms were, baseball fans were relentless with their jokes roasting them.