filihok
09-12-2009, 06:55 AM
Went to 2 World Baseball Cup (http://www.2009baseballworldcup.com/index.php?id=49) games in Sunbyberg Sweden yesterday. It was a good time. It's been a long time since I've been to a baseball game. Almost two whole months.
Sweden hosted Group C which included Sweden, Canada, Korea and the Netherlands.
The first thing that I noticed was the lack of advertising for the WBC. I saw absolutely zero about it anywhere in Sweden. I wouldn't have even known about it if I hadn't have emailed a question about a different baseball league.
When I got off the metro to the station there was nothing, not a sign, not a poster, nothing.
When I got to the 'stadium' I was a little surprised. There was an amusement park set up. Think less like the state fair and more like the ones set up in the mall parking lot. But there were some rides and carnival games. There was also a stage with a live band. The first song I heard when I got there was Bon Jovi's 'Living on a Prayer'.
The Stadium was interesting. Nya Orvallen (http://iof1.idrottonline.se/templates/Page.aspx?id=2241) had to undergo major renovations to host the WBC. A re-done playing field, padded outfield walls, and lights were the major changes. There were some problems due to the renovation. The clubhouses weren't done yet. Teams had to get ready at their hotels and then be bussed to the stadium. I also saw quite a few players run from the dugouts to the porta-potties between innings. The stands were also not complete. Portable bleachers were brought in to allow about 2900 fans. The announced attendance for the Sweden game was 1300, many less for Canada and the Netherlands.
I got to the stadium early and got to watch warm ups and batting practice. That was very cool. In such a small stadium there was a lot of access to the players. One cool moment was when I was watching the Korean starting pitcher Son Seung-Lak warming up prior to the game. I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned and one of the Korean players was grinning. "Ace Pitcher" he said. "Really" I replied. "I think I can hit him". The Korean player laughed and said, "You should play for Sweden, they can't". We chatted a bit and I found out the player I was talking to was Yoon Ji-Woong, a left-handed reliever. I wished him well for the tournament and told him that I hoped I could see him pitch today.
I looked for Swedish pitching coach Dennis Cook who pitched with the Albuquerque Dukes when I was a kid and later with the Dodgers among other teams, but I never found him.
One of the other cool things about the Sweden and Korea game was the fans. They were mostly Swedish, of course. It was cool to hear so many people explaining the game of baseball to their friends and family. There were obviously quite a few people there that were unfamiliar with the game. There were also a few players there with some major league allegiances.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4720.jpg
The level of play for the Sweden and Korea game was about what I anticipated. Two runs scored on a sacrifice bunt, if that gives you any indication. Sweden got hammered in a 5 - 1 game that wasn't as close as the score. Korea had baserunners in every inning but didn't get many of them across the plate. Sweden had 5 hits, 3 of them solid, and no other well hit balls. I don't think that Korea's outfielders made a put out in the game. Sweden started a 32 year old knuckleballer, Kent Karlsson.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4729.jpg
He battled though. Only giving up 4 runs in 5+ innings. He was relieved by 22 year old Nick Soubiea who gave up a home run but also had a few strike outs and generally looked like he knew what he was doing out there.
After the game the players were hugging their families and Soubiea walked up to his mom, who was standing near me, and said "That was the funnest thing I have ever done". I hope that's what most of Sweden's players got out of this experience.
The pitcher that I talked to before the game, Yoon Ji-Woong pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4736.jpg
The second game was between Canada and Netherlands. I was excited to see this game. Canda's roster (http://www.2009baseballworldcup.com/index.php?id=28) is loaded with minor league players and Netherlands were darlings of the WBC-though their star players are still with the Washington Nationals-of all teams.
The hitting coach for Canada was Larry Walker (right)
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4756.jpg
I felt a bit like a kid, but I waited for an opportune moment then shouted, "Larry Walker!". He looked at me. "Got any hitters on this team?" He said he thought they'd do all right. I wished him luck and told him I was a big fan of his, from his Montreal days, not so much from his Rockie years-as I pointed to my Dodger hat. He got a bit of a chuckle from that before heading off.
There were a number of Canadian fans at the game and they were rewarded with a dominating performance.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4765.jpg
The level of talent of the Canadian team was well above any of the other 4 teams that I saw. Others around me agreed as statements like "These guys are fast" and "These guys are good" were heard a few times.
All in all it was an awesome day of baseball for me, and hopefully a good day for Swedish baseball as well.
A few more pics and the link to my photobucket WBC folder (http://s478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/)
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4759.jpg
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4730.jpg
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4712.jpg
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4724.jpg
Sweden hosted Group C which included Sweden, Canada, Korea and the Netherlands.
The first thing that I noticed was the lack of advertising for the WBC. I saw absolutely zero about it anywhere in Sweden. I wouldn't have even known about it if I hadn't have emailed a question about a different baseball league.
When I got off the metro to the station there was nothing, not a sign, not a poster, nothing.
When I got to the 'stadium' I was a little surprised. There was an amusement park set up. Think less like the state fair and more like the ones set up in the mall parking lot. But there were some rides and carnival games. There was also a stage with a live band. The first song I heard when I got there was Bon Jovi's 'Living on a Prayer'.
The Stadium was interesting. Nya Orvallen (http://iof1.idrottonline.se/templates/Page.aspx?id=2241) had to undergo major renovations to host the WBC. A re-done playing field, padded outfield walls, and lights were the major changes. There were some problems due to the renovation. The clubhouses weren't done yet. Teams had to get ready at their hotels and then be bussed to the stadium. I also saw quite a few players run from the dugouts to the porta-potties between innings. The stands were also not complete. Portable bleachers were brought in to allow about 2900 fans. The announced attendance for the Sweden game was 1300, many less for Canada and the Netherlands.
I got to the stadium early and got to watch warm ups and batting practice. That was very cool. In such a small stadium there was a lot of access to the players. One cool moment was when I was watching the Korean starting pitcher Son Seung-Lak warming up prior to the game. I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned and one of the Korean players was grinning. "Ace Pitcher" he said. "Really" I replied. "I think I can hit him". The Korean player laughed and said, "You should play for Sweden, they can't". We chatted a bit and I found out the player I was talking to was Yoon Ji-Woong, a left-handed reliever. I wished him well for the tournament and told him that I hoped I could see him pitch today.
I looked for Swedish pitching coach Dennis Cook who pitched with the Albuquerque Dukes when I was a kid and later with the Dodgers among other teams, but I never found him.
One of the other cool things about the Sweden and Korea game was the fans. They were mostly Swedish, of course. It was cool to hear so many people explaining the game of baseball to their friends and family. There were obviously quite a few people there that were unfamiliar with the game. There were also a few players there with some major league allegiances.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4720.jpg
The level of play for the Sweden and Korea game was about what I anticipated. Two runs scored on a sacrifice bunt, if that gives you any indication. Sweden got hammered in a 5 - 1 game that wasn't as close as the score. Korea had baserunners in every inning but didn't get many of them across the plate. Sweden had 5 hits, 3 of them solid, and no other well hit balls. I don't think that Korea's outfielders made a put out in the game. Sweden started a 32 year old knuckleballer, Kent Karlsson.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4729.jpg
He battled though. Only giving up 4 runs in 5+ innings. He was relieved by 22 year old Nick Soubiea who gave up a home run but also had a few strike outs and generally looked like he knew what he was doing out there.
After the game the players were hugging their families and Soubiea walked up to his mom, who was standing near me, and said "That was the funnest thing I have ever done". I hope that's what most of Sweden's players got out of this experience.
The pitcher that I talked to before the game, Yoon Ji-Woong pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4736.jpg
The second game was between Canada and Netherlands. I was excited to see this game. Canda's roster (http://www.2009baseballworldcup.com/index.php?id=28) is loaded with minor league players and Netherlands were darlings of the WBC-though their star players are still with the Washington Nationals-of all teams.
The hitting coach for Canada was Larry Walker (right)
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4756.jpg
I felt a bit like a kid, but I waited for an opportune moment then shouted, "Larry Walker!". He looked at me. "Got any hitters on this team?" He said he thought they'd do all right. I wished him luck and told him I was a big fan of his, from his Montreal days, not so much from his Rockie years-as I pointed to my Dodger hat. He got a bit of a chuckle from that before heading off.
There were a number of Canadian fans at the game and they were rewarded with a dominating performance.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4765.jpg
The level of talent of the Canadian team was well above any of the other 4 teams that I saw. Others around me agreed as statements like "These guys are fast" and "These guys are good" were heard a few times.
All in all it was an awesome day of baseball for me, and hopefully a good day for Swedish baseball as well.
A few more pics and the link to my photobucket WBC folder (http://s478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/)
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4759.jpg
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4730.jpg
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4712.jpg
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/filihok_2009/WBC%20September%2011/DSCN4724.jpg