Olympics IP

[peon]

both badmintners were 5' 10". The Chinese chinese was 5' 10" top to bottom, the German chinese was 5' 10" side to side.

did anyone notice Abbot doing anything different with her feet in the 2nd-3rd inning, compared to the first? btw, I was thinking how much she has improved since her freshman year at tennessee.

[daylightkate]

No offence but GO CANADA GO



Will we ever be succesful on taking on team U.S.A.? We have gotten close but no luck yet. There's a tremendous amount of pressure on these ladies and their teams for this Olypmics. This could be their last opportunity to win an Olympic Gold and everyone wants it. Let's just hope that there are many future opportunities for World Class Softball.

Man, do we ever need some medals.... sigh

[anonlooker]

Hats off to the Olympic umpires for enforcing the rules.

Bravo!

I was thinking the exact same thing... what if the Olympic umpires actually enforced the IP rule, and called a proper strike zone?... and Abbott gets flustered and out she comes... Bustos K's on 3 balls...

I thought about asking about the IP rule (why it isn't really enforced) here on HB but passed on the idea because the backlash from umps re: my question about the strike zone was so severe.

And I won't ask about it now either, but will say that I think the various associations are doing the girls a disservice when they instruct the umpires to "soften the corners" and not enforce the illegal pitch rule.

JMO

And if you don't think so, then explain why one of our best pitchers (Abbott) was struggling.

[Hawk17]

Even if she had lost something, Lisa Fernandez would bring a great wealth of experience and information for this team. Makes you wonder if the girls are missing her leadership.

Just a thought...she would have made a great assistant coach....

[NumeroUno]

No offence but GO CANADA GO



Will we ever be succesful on taking on team U.S.A.? We have gotten close but no luck yet. There's a tremendous amount of pressure on these ladies and their teams for this Olypmics. This could be their last opportunity to win an Olympic Gold and everyone wants it. Let's just hope that there are many future opportunities for World Class Softball.

Man, do we ever need some medals.... sigh

I can mail you a heybucket pin if that will bring a smile to your face.

[NuggDawg]

....might need to go with Fernandez.

Interesting! Fernandez, a member of Team USA, wasn't originally selected to the Olympic squad, but she's on the Beijing roster.

She was named a replacement player. She shows up on the NBC Olympics site, listing athletes, but is not among those listed on the official Beijing Olympics site.

Is she there? I haven't seen her.

[Tucson]

I would love to see Fernandez, not so much Abbott. (just personal preference)

[Martin]

USA dodged a bullet, beating Japan 7-0 and coming back to beat Canada 4-1.

Abbott (in her words) "made an adjustment" and pitched a one-hitter against Japan. Osterman shut down the Canadians (don't worry, Daylightkate, they still advance to the medal round!). Mendoza homered in both games.

Total US run differential is now 24.

[Sam]

USA dodged a bullet, beating Japan 7-0 and coming back to beat Canada 4-1.

Abbott (in her words) "made an adjustment" and pitched a one-hitter against Japan. Osterman shut down the Canadians (don't worry, Daylightkate, they still advance to the medal round!). Mendoza homered in both games.

Total US run differential is now 24.

....thus insuring that softball will not return as an Olympic sport.

Don't they know that they need to lose so that everyone else has a chance....then they could get the votes for reinstatement. ASA Gold Nationals is so much better now that other teams are winning and SoCal has lost their domination....

[Martin]

Actually, I think you've made an excellent point, Sam! The sooner this game goes global, the better - and it will have a hard time "going global" unless it has at least "gone national!"