Oh what a feeling! Japan on top of the world

Japanese Pro Yakyu 2006

World Baseball Classic Monday, March 20 Japan 10, Cuba 6 Play-by-play (SportsNavi) Play-by-play (CBS SportsLine) Pitch-by-pitch (Sports@nifty)

SEKAI ICHI! Team Japan poses with the championship trophy for the World Baseball Classic at Petco Park on Monday, March 20 (Photo Source: Yahoo! Sports)

World Baseball Classic Yahoo! Japan Photo Coverage

Saturday, March 18 Japan 6, Korea 0 Play-by-play (SportsNavi) Play-by-play (CBS SportsLine) Pitch-by-pitch (Sports@nifty)

Wednesday, March 15 Korea 2, Japan 1 Play-by-play (SportsNavi) Play-by-play (CBS SportsLine) Pitch-by-pitch (Sports@nifty)

By Bob Elliott, Toronto Sun -- The night started with career home run slugger Sadaharu Oh escorting Hank Aaron to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. And moments after Akinori Otsuka struck out Yulieski Gourriel to give Japan a 10-6 win over Cuba and the first World Baseball Classic championship, players encircled Oh along the first-base line as confetti circled down from above.
March 21: Full Story
Scott Miller: Japan takes WBC title; tourney a crowning success
Jayson Stark: World's best? Japan's proof is in the results
Jeff Passan: No ordinary holiday
John Donovan: Top of the world
Jim Allen: Two major leaguers enough for Japan
Also: Matsuzaka fires Japan past Cuba
San Diego Union Tribune: Cuban manager says game was real winner
Tim Dahlberg: A whole different baseball world where team really means team

SEKAI ICHI! Team Japan claims WBC title
CBS SportsLine -- This was yakyu at its best, and the inaugural World Baseball Classic belongs to Japan.
Ichiro Suzuki and his less-famous countrymen beat Cuba 10-6 in the championship game Monday night.
March 20-21: Full Story
Kyodo: Japan wins inaugural WBC title with victory over Cuba
MLB.com: Team Japan crowned Classic's first champion
Oh's the guiding force of Japan's title
Japan's Matsuzaka a deserving MVP
Ichiro relishes Classic championship
Mainichi: Japan vs Cuba photo special
Japan Baseball Daily: Japan vs Cuba recap
Cuba: Intriguing squad answers most questions with title push
MLB: Mori suffers shoulder injury, likely to be out for season
Opensen: Pacific League clubs wrap up exhibition schedule

Matsuzaka to face Romero in WBC final

Team Japan starter and World Baseball Classic MVP Daisuke Matsuzaka delivers a pitch during the tournament's final in San Diego on Monday, March 20 (Photo Source: Yahoo! Sports)

JapanBall.com/Kyodo -- Daisuke Matsuzaka will take the mound for Team Japan against veteran righthander Ormani Romero of Cuba in the World Baseball Classic final on Monday.
March 20: Full Story
Jim Allen: WBC finalists feature similar styles
More: Bunting not Tamura's strong suit
Jeff Passan: Ichiro's rebirth
Related: Ichiro welcomes hecklers, proud to represent Japan
Japan Baseball Daily: Sunday's WBC roundup
Toronto Sun: Final is a toss-up
Jayson Stark: A tale of two nations
WBC: High viewer ratings for Japan-Korea semifinal
A Classic move: Let's play in Asia
Opensen: Eagles beat Lions in 38-hit slugfest

Japan beats Korea 6-0 to reach WBC final
CBS SportsLine -- Kim Byung-hyun gave up another big home run Saturday night, a two-run shot by pinch-hitter Kosuke Fukudome in the seventh inning that broke a scoreless tie and sent Japan to a 6-0 victory over South Korea.
Koji Uehara pitched seven shutout innings for Japan, which plays Cuba for the championship Monday night at Petco Park.
March 18-19: Full Story
Kyodo: Fukudome, Uehara lead Japan over South Korea in WBC semis
MLB.com: Third time's the charm for Japan
Japan Baseball Daily: Japan-Korea III recap
Mainichi: Japan vs Korea photo gallery
Stephen Ellsesser: Uehara continues to be a weapon
More: Ichiro leads Team Japan by example
Jayson Stark: No more doubts about Cuban baseball
For love or money: Jeff Passan writes about Cuban ace Pedro Luis Lazo
Scott Miller: WBC finalists are worth getting to know
Also: Cuba, Japan surprise Classic finalists
Opensen: Nippon Ham rookie lefty Yagi solid again

Rivalry heats up as Japan, Korea set to do battle
JapanBall.com/Kyodo -- Japan and South Korea are set for a third showdown when they face off in the semifinals at the World Baseball Classic on Saturday. This time, the winner will secure the bragging rights of being the first Asian team to make the final at the inaugural tournament.
March 18: Full Story
Related: Uehara gets set to face-off against Seo
Stephen Ellsesser: Japan takes another shot at Korea
AP: Ichiro, Japan look to finally beat South Korea
MLB.com: Korea has 'strong will' to beat Japan
Chosunilbo: The enigma at the helm of Korea's WBC team
Jim Street: Everything going right for Korea
Japan Baseball Daily: Japan-Korea II recap
More: Are MLB and ESPN out of their minds?
Chicago Tribune: World beaters? Not anymore
Baseball: The sport not heard around the world
Google News: More WBC headlines
Opensen: Strong start for Rakuten rookie Matsuzaki

Oh jumps for joy as Japan advances to semis
JapanBall.com/Kyodo -- Japan manager Sadaharu Oh said Thursday he is overwhelmed with joy that his team has reached the semifinals after the United States was knocked out of the WBC by Mexico the same day.
Oh is hoping that the third time facing South Korea will reveal the truth once and for all.
March 17: Full Story
Jim Allen: Mexico win gives Japan another shot at South Korea
Asahi Shimbun: Asian baseball rocks!
Also: Who's picking up this guy's bar tab?
Chosunilbo: Korean baseball draws frank praise in U.S.
Opensen: Douglass, Fukui lead Hiroshima in 1-0 win over Hanshin

WBC: Mexico beats, eliminates Team USA
CBS SportsLine -- Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to pitch a three-hitter Thursday night as Mexico beat the Rocket and the United States 2-1, giving Japan another shot at Korea in the WBC semifinals.
South Korea had a 3-0 second-round record in Group One, with Team USA, Japan and Mexico all going 1-2. Japan earned the second semifinal berth from the group by allowing the fewest runs in games between the tied teams.
March 16-17: Full Story
Kyodo: Mexico defeats USA, Japan reaches semis
Related: Baseball Think Factory Game Chatter
Google News: Cubans celebrate national team's WBC success
ESPNdeportes.com: Cuba wants to host WBC, play more often
The lowdown on pitching: Brad Lefton's piece on Team Japan submariner Shunsuke Watanabe

Agonizing-Lee close, again
Jim Allen, Daily Yomiuri -- South Korean captain Lee Jong-beom untied a Gordian knot of a pitchers duel and left Japan's hopes of a baseball world championship hanging by a slender thread.
March 16: Full Story
Related: Agonizing-Lee close, again
Japan Times: S. Korea stifles Japan
Stephen Ellsesser: Lee Seung-yeop having a blast
More: Lee Jong-beom on a mission
Donga: Lee Jin-yeong's defense key against Japan
Eric Neel: There's nothing wrong with globalization
Opensen: Kakiuchi, Takehara homer in M's win
Also: Yokohama acquires righthander Sonnier

Korea edges Japan 2-1, enters semifinals
By Mychael Urban, MLB.com -- Team Korea made the most of its three hits to remain unbeaten in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, getting a clutch two-run double in the eighth inning from Lee Jong-beom on the way to a 2-1 victory over Japan in a beautifully pitched game Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.
March 15-16: Full Story
Related: Kyodo story
CBS SportsLine: Korea tops Japan, helps U.S. stay alive
Mainichi: Japan vs Korea photo gallery
Cuba vs Puerto Rico: Simply unbelievable
Mainichi: Japan sends renewed protest over controversial call
More: Japan unconvinced by response over the call

WBC: Matsuzaka mows down Mexico
By Jim Allen, Daily Yomiuri -- For Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tuesday's win over Mexico was like a blast from the past.
Matsuzaka said the 6-1 victory had the same do-or-die feel that permeates Japan's most famous high school tournament.
March 15: Full Story
Hot Corner: Japan learns ways of the World
L.A. Times: Baseball a smash in Korea after win over US
Korea Times: Baseballers to be exempted from military service
Opensen: Nakamura, Kiyohara hit first exhibition homers

Japan stays alive with victory over Mexico
JapanBall.com/Kyodo -- Michihiro Ogasawara hit a two-run single and Tomoya Satozaki delivered a two-run homer as Team Japan defeated Mexico 6-1 in the second round of the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday.
Seibu Lions right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka helped Japan bounce back from its controversial defeat to the United States on Sunday, pitching five scoreless innings in front of a crowd of 16,591 at Angel Stadium.
March 15: Full Story
MLB.com: Japan back on track, defeats Mexico
CBS SportsLine: Japan 6, Mexico 1
Mainichi Daily News: Japan vs Mexico photo gallery
USA Today: Cuba on a mission
Tom Verducci: WBC has been unqualified success
In search of gyroball: Yahoo! Sports writer Jeff Passan looking for the pitch that doesn't exist

Past headlines

February 1 - March 14