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Baseball, softball facts and highlights

Last update: August 5, 2008 - 3:48 PM

Baseball (Aug. 13-23) • Softball (Aug. 12-21)

FIVE STORY LINES: BASEBALL

1 China's first team: Intent on avoiding being embarrassed on its home turf, the Chinese reached out to Major League Baseball for help. Former big league player and manager Jim Lefebvre was dispatched to help develop the sport there. He also helped pick the team, which includes three prospects on minor league rosters. China's first game is next Wednesday. It will play the United States on Aug. 18.

2 The tiebreaker rule: Each team's at-bat in the 11th inning and beyond will begin with runners on first and second base. Teams can start the 11th at any point in their batting order.

3 The last stand? Baseball and softball are both knocked out of the box from international competition after the Beijing Games. Officials are working hard to get the sports sanctioned again.

4 Will Cuba rise again? Cuba won gold in 2004 and is considered a powerhouse, but the Cubans have suffered losses to both Japan and the United States in the past couple of years.

5 Japan's go-for-broke strategy: The Japanese team is made up entirely of players from the country's professional leagues, making Japan a top contender for the gold.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Matt LaPorta, USA

Traded from Milwaukee to Cleveland in the CC Sabathia deal, LaPorta is an aggressive power hitter who will give Team USA a chance for lots of offense.

Yulieski Gourriel, Cuba

The third baseman is considered the best player on what is widely considered the best team. China coach Jim Lefebvre says he's "the best-looking amateur I've ever seen."

Yu Darvish, Japan

The 21-year-old pitcher is 10-3 with a 1.93 ERA for the Nippon Ham Fighters this season. He's a 6-5 righthander who, until recently, held dual citizenship (Iran and Japan).

Stephen Strasburg, USA

The team's youngest player (20) and its only collegian, the 6-4, 220-pound San Diego State pitcher struck out 23 in a game earlier this year.

Brett Lawrie, Canada

The Brewers' No. 1 pick in June's MLB draft, he's being heralded as the best Canadian-born player since Larry Walker.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: SOFTBALL

Jennie Finch, USA

Star of the U.S. Olympic softball team and Donald Trump's "Apprentice" TV show (though she was fired after four shows), Finch is one of Team USA's aces. She's married to Twins Class AAA pitcher Casey Daigle.

Zhou Yin, China

The 6-2 pitcher is an imposing figure on the mound, but softball is not big in China.

Lauren Bay-Regula, Canada

She's making her second Olympics with Canada, which finished fifth in the 2004 Athens Games. She was a star pitcher at Oklahoma State and is the sister of major league star Jason Bay.

Melanie Roche, Australia

Roche, 37, is appearing in her fourth Olympics and pitched Australia to a silver medal in 2004, going 3-1 with a 3.46 ERA.

Jessica Mendoza, USA

A four-time All-America at Stanford, the Team USA outfielder was USA Softball Player of the Year in 2006.

BASEBALL MEDAL PREDICTIONS

Japan: With its roster stacked with Japanese professionals, there's no reason this team should not advance to the gold medal game.

Cuba: Another team with vast international experience and veteran players, the Cubans hope to successfully defend their 2004 title.

Team USA: It might be America's game, but the nation's best players are competing six days a week in the major leagues.

SOFTBALL MEDAL PREDICTIONS

Team USA: While baseball is America's pastime, softball is the sport Team USA dominates.

Japan: Yukiko Ueno returns, giving Japan one of the best pitchers in the tournament. Ueno threw the first perfect game in Olympic softball history in 2004.

Australia: Winners of four consecutive Olympic medals, including silver in Athens in 2004, the Aussies have the experience to hang in medal contention.

Jennie Finch

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