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Korean Preview ... Park has been a relief for Korea
Veteran starter has played the role of closer during Classic
By Jim Street / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- The way right-hander Chan Ho Park has pitched for Korea during the World Baseball Classic, you might think he makes a living saving games.
He is 3-for-3 in save opportunities for the pitching-rich Korea team which ends Round 2 action Wednesday night against Japan at Angel Stadium.
But truth be known, saving games is totally foreign to the 32-year-old who has spent the past 12 seasons in the Major Leagues, pitching in 299 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1994-2001), Texas Rangers (2002-05) and San Diego Padres ('05). All but 46 of the appearances were in a starting role.
He has no saves, no blown saves and four "holds" during a Major League career that includes 106 wins and 80 losses.
This new role has been a blast, but he doesn't expect it to last.
Not with right-hander Trevor Hoffman on the same team.
"There is no way I'm going to get to do it with the Padres," Park said. "But it is kind of fun to be the closer when we win a game. If I pitch and we can win the game, I will pitch every night. I want the ball."
And Korea manager In Sik Kim has been giving Park the ball in the ninth inning in every close game the team has played in the inaugural Classic.
"We've been trying to use our best players in the late innings with Koo Dae Sung, Bong J.K. and myself doing some of the work," Park said, "but with our great starters like Seo and Son Min Han at the front, it makes a good combination."
That combination has Korea on the cusp of clinching a spot in the Classic semifinals. A victory over arch-rival Japan Wednesday night would assure a Final Four invitation.
If Mexico beats Japan in Tuesday night's game, Korea becomes one of the two teams to advance.
"We will do our best until this tournament ends and any country would do the same," Kim said after Monday night's victory over Team USA.
Jim Street ANAHEIM -- Redemption could be served on a silver platter Wednesday night when Japan plays its final game in the second round of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Actually, it would be a two-way redemption. If Japan beats unbeaten archrival Korea at Angel Stadium, it would erase the memories of the 3-2 loss it absorbed at the Tokyo Dome on March 5 in the final game of the Pool A first round. And if Japan beats Korea and allows seven runs or less, that would eliminate Team USA and send the two Asian teams to the semifinals in San Diego. That would be frosting on the cake because of the way Japan lost a disputed 4-3 decision to the American team Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium. But to hear Japan manager Sadaharu Oh speak of Wednesday night's Round 2 finale, there is nothing personal regarding Team USA's victory. "If we can win tomorrow, we'll be happy with that," he said following Japan's 6-1 victory over Mexico on Tuesday. "And I want to mention one thing. What's happened, happened already. It's already in the past. It's done. So it's over. What we're looking at is the future. "And what we need to do right now is just win more. And, of course, on top of that, we can't give them any runs. So at any rate, we are going to do our best with everything we have." Oh plans to start right-hander Shunsuke Watanabe, a submarine-style pitcher who posted a 15-4 record and 2.17 ERA for the Chiba Lotte Marines last season. Watanabe started against the Korea team in Tokyo and surrendered one run over 4 2/3 innings. Another low-scoring game is anticipated in the Round 2 finale for both teams, although Japan's offense put on a good showing in Tuesday night's victory over Mexico. Catcher Tomoya Satozaki had three hits and scored two runs; Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and drove in a run; and designated hitter Nobuhiko Matsunaka went 2-for-4 and scored a run. This much is certain: Japan has put destiny back into its own hands. Jim Street
Japanese Preview ... Team Japan's fate in its own hands
A win over Korea would likely put team into semifinal round
By Jim Street / MLB.com
