Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2007-01-31 From: Xinhuanet

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) — Baseball giants New York Yankees signed an agreement on Tuesday with the Chinese Basement Association in order to boost the development of China’s baseball.

Randy Levine, Yankees’ President, told a press conference that the Yankees will send their best coaches, players, scouts and development people to China.

“The process is under way, we are working on what we speak,” Levine added, “I hope to send our staff to China in the next few months and hopefully in a very short time, Chinese players will be in the United States and wherever Major League Baseball (MLB) is played.”

The New York Yankees have had over 100 years of history and have won 26 championships out of all 39 MLB editions. The Yankees have several star players from Asia including Hideki Matsui of Japan and Wang Chien-Ming from Chinese Taipei.

Hu Jianguo, president of Chinese Baseball Association, said: “The short-term goal for the cooperation is to prepare us for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but in a long run, we hope to develop China’s baseball in the future through the alliance.”

“Since the introduction of the Chinese Baseball League in 2003, baseball in China has become a more marketable and socially relevant sport. In recent years, with the assistance of Major League Baseball, the Chinese National baseball team has made rapid progress by beating teams of South Korea and Chinese Taipei. However, we still have a long way to go to close the gap between our team and the strongest teams in the world.” added Hu.

Jim Small, MLB’s general manager for Asia, tipped China “a country that is clearly important to us”.

He also said that MLB are making efforts to bring baseball back to the Olympics since the International Olympic Committee removed baseball from the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Updated: 2008-08-23 22:29:22

(BEIJING, August 23) — In what may be the last Olympic appearance for Baseball, the Republic of Korea and Cuba put on a show for the ages as the Republic of Korea defeated multi-gold winner Cuba Saturday night under the lights of Wukesong Baseball Field, turning the final game into a classic pitchers duel on August 23 at Beijing 2008.

The Olympic Softball tournament was decided in a similar fashion, as Japan knocked off the perennial champions from the United States 3-1. With the Republic of Korea’s undefeated run through Beijing, the epicenter of international baseball has clearly shifted across the Pacific.

The Republic of Korea sent Ryu Hyun-jin to the hill Saturday night, and Cuba countered with Norberto Gonzalez. The start was Ryu’s second of the tournament; his first was a gem against Canada on August 15. The Republic of Korea lefty went nine shutout innings in that first outing, allowing only five hits and striking out six.

Tonight, the Republic of Korea wasted no time getting on the board, quickly jumping ahead 2-0 courtesy of Lee Seung-yuop’s two-run blast to left, driving in Lee Yong-kyu. The homerun was Lee Seung-yuop’s second of the tournament.

Cuba came right back in the bottom of the first inning, scoring one run on a Michel Enriquez solo shot.

The 2-1 score stood for the next five innings, with the only significant threat coming from the Republic of Korea in the top of the sixth. With two men on and two away, Lee Dae-ho lined a ball to center that was snared by a diving Giorbis Duvergel.

The Republic of Korea followed through on its threats in the seventh inning when, with two men on, Lee Yong-kyu lined a ball to right that landed just fair and in front of the wall. The hit scored Park Jin-man and put Lee Yong-kyu on second as Lee Jong-wook moved to third. The hit chased Cuban pitcher Pedro Lazo, who never found his stride in relief of Gonzalez. Luis Rodriguez came on for Lazo and retired Kim Hyun-soo on a shallow fly to center.

Alexei Bell challenged the Republic of Korea in the bottom of the inning, blasting a solo shot to left center. The homerun was Bell’s second as he added to his torrid tournament-leading .500 average.

Neither team scored in the eighth but Cuba threatened in the ninth inning as the Republic of Korea was unable to manufacture an insurance run in the top of the inning. Hector Olivera led off with a single to left field and Frederich Cepeda was put on base via the walk with one out and the ever dangerous Alexei Bell at the plate. Bell also took a walk that loaded the bases and forced the Republic of Korea to finally go to their bullpen, calling in Chong Taeh-won to relieve Ryu.

Chong forced Yuliesky Gourriel into a 6-4-3 double play as the Republic of Korea won their first gold medal in Olympic Baseball.

This is the Republic of Korea’s second Olympic Baseball medal, having taken home a bronze from Sydney 2000. The silver medal was Cuba’s second, also from Sydney, to go along with its three gold medals from Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004.

Ryu (2-0) got the win as he went eighth and one-third innings, allowing two runs on five hits and seven strikeouts. Norberto Gonzalez (0-1) suffered the loss for Cuba as he allowed two runs on two hits in five and two-thirds innings of work. Chong was credited with his second save of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Baseball tournament.

Neither Baseball nor its sister sport of Softball will be contested at the London 2012 Olympics. After this sterling display of competition, their reinstatement may well be considered.

Updated: 2008-08-23 22:02:15

Manager Kim Kyungmoon is tossed in the air by his players. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

The Republic of Korea defeated Cuba 3-2 to win the Baseball gold medal at Wukesong Baseball Fieldin Beijingon August 23.

Norberto Gonzalez of Cuba throws a pitch against Korea. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Starting pitcher Ryu Hyunjin throws a pitch against Cuba. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Updated: 2008-08-23 21:25:23

(BEIJING, August 23) — The Republic of Korea has defeated Cuba 3-2 to win the Baseball gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 23.

Updated: 2008-08-23 15:10:38

(BEIJING, August 23) — The United States beat Japan 8-4 to claim the bronze medal at Wukesong Baseball Field on Saturday, August 23.

It is only the second time in Olympic Baseball that Japan finished outside the medals.

Pitchers Brett Anderson of the US team and Japan’s Wada Tsuyoshi issued a number of costly walks that led to multiple RBI homeruns as Japan and the United States traded blows until the fifth inning, when the US club walked away 8-4.

Araki Masahiro, the second batter of the day, hit the first pitch he saw over the leftfield fence for a solo homerun and Japan jumped ahead 1-0 in the first.

In the bottom of the second inning, Matt Laporta returned from injury with a solo homerun to level the score.

Anderson walked two in the third inning before Aoki Norichika lit a three-run homer over the leftfield fence, moving Japan ahead 4-1.

The United States retaliated in the bottom of the third with their own three-run dinger. Brian Barden reached second on an error by leftfielder Sato Takahiko before Jayson Nix drew a walk. Matt Brown mashed a three-run homer to level the score.

Brown revealed manager Davey Johnson’s advice, “He told us to play relaxed, to try to have some fun. We were trying to do too much and were a little too tense (in previous games), so we got out there and had some fun.”

The US team pulled in front 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth as Taylor Teagarden doubled to right field to score Brown and Nate Schierholtz .

A two-run shot down the third base line by Jason Donald scored Teagarden.

A final rally by Japan’s hitters in the top of the ninth came up short, the game, and Japan’s medal hopes, closing with runners on second and third.

Updated: 2008-08-22 23:29:47

(BEIJING, August 22) — Will Baseball see a changing of the guard in its final Olympic appearance? Its sister sport of Softball recorded the upset of the Beijing 2008 Games when Japan knocked off perennial champion Team USA. Baseball now faces a similar scenario when the Republic of Korea puts its perfect preliminary record up against the three-time gold medalists from Cuba.

Defending gold medalists Cuba play the Republic of Korea for the gold medal at 6:00 p.m. sharp, after Japan plays for the bronze medal against the United States at 10:30 a.m. (UTC/GMT at Wukesong Baseball Field on Saturday, August 23.

Japan has only finished outside the medal standings once in Olympic history when they finished fourth at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. They won the bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The United States is a two-time Olympic medalist, with one gold (2000) and one bronze (1996) medal to date. They have not played Olympic Baseball for eight years after they failed to qualify for Athens 2004.

Japan defeated the United States 4-2 in extra innings when they met in the preliminaries.

Japan and the US team have played five times in Olympic Games history, including the preliminary round this year. Team USA has a 3-2 advantage.

The Republic of Korea has not played Olympic Baseball for eight years as they did not qualify for Athens 2004. Their best result at an Olympic Games was a bronze medal at Sydney 2000.

Cuba is the defending Gold medalists. They have won three golds and one silver in Olympic history.

If the Republic of Korea wins gold they will be the third team to remain undefeated throughout an Olympic Baseball tournament. Cuba has done this twice, once in 1992 and again in 1996.

Cuba’s Alfredo Despaigne and Lee Dae-ho of the Republic of Korea are the tournament’s homerun leaders with three each.

If Cuba wins gold it will be pitcher Pedro Luis Lazo’s fourth Olympic Baseball medal as he already holds two golds (1996, 2004) and one silver (2000). He now holds the all-time Olympic record for most saves with a total of four (two at this tournament).

If Cuba wins Gold, Yuliesky Gourriel of Cuba will follow his father Lourdes, who won Gold at Barcelona 1992.

Updated: 2008-08-22 22:36:33

(BEIJING, August 22) — Cuba’s sluggers overpowered the United States as they clobbered five pitchers with four homeruns to seize a berth in the gold medal game, defeating Team USA 10-2 at Wukesong Baseball Field on August 22.

US starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg’s 152km/h fastballs and change-ups were not enough to stop the Cubans. But it was the relievers team who truly felt the brunt of the Cuban power, allowing three homeruns between them.

Cuba opened the scoring in the third as Hector Olivera tripled to score Giorbis Duvergel, who was on base with a single. Olivera then scored on an error by second baseman Brian Barden and Cuba went up 2-0.

Back-to-back singles in the fourth put the United States in scoring position. Terry Tifee then grounded-out to advance the runners to second and third before a sacrifice fly by Matt Brown scored Brian Barden and closed the gap to 2-1.

Strasburg chalked up two strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth before Alfredo Despaigne sent a solo homerun soaring over the center field fence to put Cuba ahead 3-1 and send Strasburg from the mound.

Team USA came back in the fifth as Lou Marson advanced to second base on an error by Alexei Bell. He scored on a Jason Donald’s broken-bat single to put the US team behind 3-2.

But Cuba unleashed on the US relief pitchers as Frederich Cepeda gave Cuba a 4-2 lead in the sixth with a solo homer from a Brian Duensing pitch.

The United States third reliever, Jeff Stevens, then fell victim to Cuba’s third homerun as Bell smashed a three-run homer over the center field fence in the bottom of the eighth.

Blaine Neal tried to stem the flow but suffered the inning’s second three-run homerun as Ariel Pestano hit a beamer straight down the third base line and out, scoring Yuliesky Gourriel and Despaigne as Cuba shot ahead 10-2.

Appearing in his fourth game of his fourth Olympic Games, Cuban veteran Pedro Luis Lazo picked up his second save and sealed Cuba’s appearance in the gold medal game.

Cuba faces Republic of Korea for the gold medal at 6:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT on Saturday, August 23. The United States plays Japan for the bronze medal at 10:30 a.m. on the same day.