Team USA lost a 2-0 contest to Japan in the final game of the Olympics in Japan. USA Baseball thus earns the silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Certainly, those of us in the States were hoping for gold, but a silver medal in the Olympics is certainly nothing to be ashamed about. Congrats, Team USA!
In case you missed it, the USA Olympic Baseball team defeated South Korea a few hours ago, and thus will be playing for Olympic gold! The gold medal game will take place on what will be early Saturday morning in the States, and Team USA will be facing off against Japan to determine who gets the gold and who gets the silver. The game will air on delay at 6 a.m. EDT Saturday on NBCOlympics.com.
South Korea, meanwhile, will be facing off against the Dominican Republic for the bronze.
I enjoy the imagery presented in this piece. The metaphor comparing a pitcher to a dancer can be a good one, especially with some pitchers, like Luis Tiant, who have some rather elaborate windups.
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Clear August sunlight spotlighted the dancer
he twirled in the style of Tiant
technical in spin, placed practiced choreography.
A white ball, laced red with a season’s skill and hope,
hurled to the stanched batter,
who would nick it to the dirt
In his 7th inning finale
a foul, a strike released in a summer’s era,
the spiraling pitcher spun to a season’s final ovation,
in late afternoon shadows.
On August 2, 1881, Abner Dalrymple became the first known player to be intentionally walked with the bases loaded. The Chicago White Stockings were leading 5-0 in the eighth inning when Buffalo Bisons pitcher Jack Lynch gave up the free pass and the free run. Chicago went on to win the game, 11-2.
The song itself is almost as cheesy as the video, but I suppose for hardcore Twins fans, this might be one of the best tunes out there.