If it happened once, you say it's miraculous. The second time the Dutch beat the Dominican Republic, you have to scratch your head and wonder at the marvel that is the WBC. The Dutch even got close to toppling Puerto Rico. They're not beating about the bush, these Dutch 'honkballers'.
They don't have a big time fully pro-league in the Netherlands - just a bunch of sport nuts, very much like us Aussies. And here they are beating one of the treasure troves of talent. It's a little like... like if the Dutch beat the Windies of the 1970s and 1980s vintage in cricket, 2 one-dayers in a row.
“These guys, they did it,” David Ortiz said. “They beat us. I tell you, the whole world is shocked now. Even in Japan, they’re like ‘What the heck?’ in Japanese.”
The Dominicans were considered one of the favorites to win the event, but they could not overcome a team with a modest baseball tradition. The Dominicans had a speedy chance for redemption against the Netherlands, who jolted them, 3-2, on Saturday, and they did not grab it. After falling behind by 1-0 in the 11th, the Netherlands rallied with two runs in the bottom of the inning to grab the game.
“It’s a miracle,” the Netherlands Manager Rod Delmonico said. “That’s all I can tell you.”
As Ortiz stood near the first base dugout, he said that the players were in “in shock” and were pained by how difficult the jolting losses would be for their relatives from the Dominican. The Dominican fans did not expect their heroes to lose to the Netherlands, a country where soccer and swimming are more popular than baseball.
“Oh, God, thank God I don’t have to go back home for a while,” Ortiz said. “I’m telling you right now, in the Dominican, there had to be a blackout right now.”
That one tells that tale of the tape. I guess they can't blame it on A-Rod if he didn't play a single game.
Italy Upsets Canada
Mike Piazza is helping out the Italians. It seemed unlikely, but they've managed to win one for Mike, eliminating Canada.
Third baseman Alex Liddi, a native Italian who played for Seattle’s Class A team last season, was 2 for 4 with two runs batted in. Center fielder Chris Denorfia, a Connecticut native who plays for Oakland, was 4 for 4 with three doubles and two runs batted in. Both players sparkled on defense.
The loose eligibility rules of the World Baseball Classic recall the “Simpsons” episode in which the boss stuffs the company softball team with major leaguers to win a bet. The Italian team is stocked with players who were not born or raised in Italy.
Very quickly, though, the group has come together. The public-address announcer gives each name an Italian flourish, and players born in Royal Oak, Mich., like the veteran reliever Jason Grilli, sense a brotherhood.
“The guys who joined the Italian nationals, and the other guys they’ve compiled so wonderfully, you just could tell that this team was going to get along,” Grilli said, adding later: “I always say it the same way: when you are around Italians, you become more Italian. And you see why we take such pride in who we are.”
Grilli, who has worked more major league games than anyone else on the staff, was the pitching star on Monday. The loser on Saturday against Venezuela, Grilli blanked Canada for the final three and a third innings.
I'd hate to be the Canadians right now. Eliminated by Italy is a bit like being eliminated by Zimbabwe at the cricket World Cup. Then again I think that has happened to the Canadians in cricket too.
Aussies Fail To Upset Cuba
Fidel's boys squeaked by the Aussies 5-4. It's a lot closer than it's ever been between the two nations. The loss sends Australia to go back and face Mexico in an elimination round. You sort of hope the Aussies get a bit of Dutch mojo going and can repeat their thumping win against Mexcio.
UPDATE: Australia got an almighty shellacking from Mexcio in the return match and were promptly sent how, It puts into stark relief just how amazing the Dutch accmplishment at this tourney happens to be.
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