USA vs. Japan/ Michelle Smith

[Gone in 2.6]

Sat down to watch the game (taped) and was watching some shabby play by the USA. Michelle rightfully was pointing out some poor base running by the USA. However, the play with Moultre being put out at third on an unbelievable play at shortstop was over the top.

Situation, 2 outs with Taylor on third and Moultre on second. Not sure who the hitter was. Ground ball in the 5/6 hole. Taylor breaks home as she should. Moultre breaks for third. The shortstop (very,very good) dives to her backhand side and back flips with her glove only a perfect flip to the third baseman ( I think she was safe at third) and the umpire calls Moultre out at third to end the inning. The umpire rules that the run did not score because the out was recorded before the run crossed the plate and the USA miss a chance for a big inning.

Michelle Smith for 2 innings kept coming back to the play stating that Moultre should not have gone to third on that play and it was a big mistake. Any disagreement here but, are runners not taught to run on anything hit with 2 out especially with Moultre type speed? I can almost hear her complain if the ball would have gone through to the outfield and Moultre would have paused to let the ball go through and would have settled with stopping at third. I saw some bad base running as well as Hoagland getting thrown out trying to steal second chasing 4 runs.

I guess there is a big vote in 56 days to see if softball will be reinstated for the 2020 Olympics. Maybe the plan is to lose to show the Olympic committee that USA does not dominate the sport. Careful what you wish for, Japan may take it to them in 2020.

I hate to agree with Michelle Smith (it seems so unfashionable to do these days) but with first base open, there was no reason to run into the ball in that situation. Heck maybe it was a hit and run although I don't see the point down 3 or 4 runs with Lauren Gibson up next (who promptly went yard to start the next inning).

[Sam]

Anybody notice Japan's infield playing in with a 3-0 lead with one out in the first inning? USA scored on a bleeder over SS. How do these people get coaching jobs?

OBTW: Japan didn't have to face Ricketts.

I do recall them beating Cat Osterman in the Olympics. Ricketts may have helped, but the major issue that Team USA has is lack of international Experience. Much of the Japanese team has been playing with the National Team for years. You see that with many of the International Teams(like the Netherlands). Superior talent does not always beat superior teamwork. The longer TeamUSA gets to play with each other, the better they will become. Perhaps this loss can be an early wake-up call.

Sorry Jonriv,

I don't buy the playing together thing as being influental in softball. It certainly would affect basketball, football, soccer, etc where there are designed offenses and defenses. Not so much in softball.

International experience does help because international players are a lot better than college players.

Osterman and the Dream Team lost because Candrea couldn't game-coach his way out of a wet paper bag.

[Gone in 2.6]

I think Sam is undervaluing playing together a little bit.

Team USA basically were all introduced to each other right there in Oklahoma City (Hey kids, meet your roommate. Now go beat Japan and win the World Cup!) The coach was changing lineups every game clearly trying to learn "what he has" (reminded me of preseason football).

You have players trying to get used to new coaches who may be asking them to do different things then they're used to, batting in a different place in the order, playing a game then sitting one or being subbed in or out when they're used to starting every game, or just plain being out of their comfort zone. You have pitchers adjusting to different catchers and different pitch calling. I'm sure there are other things I'm not thinking of since I don't play the game (let alone at this level) and am just and idiot posting on a message board.

Japan on the other hand was executing like a fricken machine. The difference between the two teams was clearly evident sitting right there at field level.

I'm actually enjoying them not necessarily being the top dog, watching this group of young pups try to grow into a great team with the ultimate goal being the World Championships next summer in Holland. Right now I'd imagine they're just focused on getting a little better every day (which they seem to be doing).

I'd think the ceiling for growth is pretty high for this group (despite the badmouthing of the team's talent I've seen on a couple of these boards). All I know is I would not be happy if my favorite team was facing an opponent that had Michelle Moultrie, Valerie Arioto, Lauren Chamberlain, Amber Freeman, Amanda Chidester, Taylor Hoagland and Lauren Gibson all in the same lineup. Ugh.

If they can keep the core together for a few years, I see the potential for them to be utterly fearsome.

The one thing that might be missing is the intimidating shut down pitcher (Like a Ricketts. A healthy returned-to-form Jackie Traina next summer might fulfill that role nicely. They'll need to add someone like that to win the worlds probably).

Then again, I could be wrong wouldn't be the first time.

[MoeFoes]

If you hold the runner at 2nd. The rest of the team still doesn't hit and you still lose. If that ball goes off the glove she scores. You play to win. You don't play it to not lose. Japan had to make a great play to get the out. I'd rather force someone to make a play like that than just stand around and play the game likes a chess. That isn't what is going to get softball more TV time.....

[MTR]

If you hold the runner at 2nd. The rest of the team still doesn't hit and you still lose. If that ball goes off the glove she scores. You play to win. You don't play it to not lose. Japan had to make a great play to get the out. I'd rather force someone to make a play like that than just stand around and play the game likes a chess. That isn't what is going to get softball more TV time.....

If the runner holds, at least there is another opportunity.

At this level, you have to anticipate the other team, particularly Japan WILL make that great play more often than not. You cannot coach this level like a high school game assuming the other team has to do something to get you out. At the international level, the one thing every team HAS to do, is beat the opponent because it isn't going to be given to you.

[just4fun]

If you hold the runner at 2nd. The rest of the team still doesn't hit and you still lose. If that ball goes off the glove she scores. You play to win. You don't play it to not lose. Japan had to make a great play to get the out. I'd rather force someone to make a play like that than just stand around and play the game likes a chess. That isn't what is going to get softball more TV time.....

If the runner holds, at least there is another opportunity.

At this level, you have to anticipate the other team, particularly Japan WILL make that great play more often than not. You cannot coach this level like a high school game assuming the other team has to do something to get you out. At the international level, the one thing every team HAS to do, is beat the opponent because it isn't going to be given to you.

And when that opportunity is LG, I'll put my money on her every time. Would have been 4 runs in this case