USA Falls Short

USA loses 3-1........ No Bueno !!!

Guru

 

moved from another thread- take your pick

what does it all mean??
What does this loss / silver medal mean to USA softball on the national level as well as internationally with softball's future as an Olympic sport? It may be that with the USA not winning the gold it may actually improve softball's chances of getting back in the Olympics in 2016 (with all the negative USA outlook out there in the world???)

and what about Cat Osterman's pitching contribution? best choice in gold game? just asking you experts. Cat's had a lot of career success obviously but was she USA's best pitcher? she never won any national championships at Texas.

 

Don't put it on Cat.

Don't think you can hang the gold medal game loss on Cat. When your team only scores 1 run, it's kind of hard to think that you are going to win very many of those, no matter who is pitching. The USA Team had bases loaded in 1st, but didn't score, and bases loaded with one out in 6th, and the batters just didn't do their jobs. 2 popouts to the infield, just isn't going to get it done. I think they actually kind of choked under the pressure when they fell behind. If Bustos doesn't hit home run in bottom of fourth, the USA doesn't even score in this game. The Japan pitcher had pitched 21 innings the day before, and then pitched seven innings against USA in gold medal game.

In the seventh inning, the USA got the leadoff batter on, and then in a matter of just 3 pitches, the game is over. If I am Candrea, I am telling my hitters to be just a little more patient at the plate. The Japanese pitcher had shown a little bit of wildness in the previous inning, and the USA is just going up to the plate and hacking away in their last at bat.

I agree that the loss by the USA may help the IOC vote softball back into the Olympics for 2016. We'll see.

 

It means they didn't hit the ball against one of the best pitchers in the world. Take your hat off to Ueno! Cat is also one of the best pitchers in the world. Lisa Fernandez has aged out, apparently at least as far as the coaches think. They just got beat. It happens.

 

Took for Granted...

I think it was more that they took for granted they would win gold again!
I do agree that all the blame should not be laid at Cat's feet! It is a TEAM sport and they win together and they lose together as a TEAM! They shouldn't rely on Bustos to hit a home run everytime she steps up to bat! She is AWESOME AND GREAT but human! The team canj't win without more runs PERIOD, and Cat doesn't bat!
This is the same expectation of every pitcher, you are the hero when the team wins, but you are the outcast when the teams loses! That isn't fair or correct!
The pitcher can strikeout every batter in the box, but if no one on their team gets a run across the plate, they do not win!

 

nuff said...

THATS WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME.

No one to blame....they were the better team today...

 

USA/JPN/AUS

I agree you have to be on your game on offense and defense, unfortunatley we fell a little short. Win as a team and lose as a team. If there could be any positive side of this, this picture says it all. http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/softball/columns/story?id=3546900

 

soccer held up their end

if it's any consolation, USA womens soccer won GOLD!!

 

SWEEEET!!!!!...

....for USA Soccer!!!!

Now

1. I can hear my buddy, and super hitting instructor, EB, saying, "yeah, but can she hit a fastball"!!!!!

2. Did any of ya'll see the pic of a couple of the USA players walking away with their medals around their neck,....and in the background you can see that they left their cleats at homeplate?
Thats SO COOL!
These players were hanging up their cleats for good, and what a perfect place to leave them....homeplate on the biggest "field" possible.

AND!!!!....Congrats for the silver medal!!!!

MANY MANY players would love to get one!

And for that matter, MANY MANY players would love JUST to get thye opportunity to be there.

 

The only thing I know about soccer is if you let about half the air out of the ball the girls can hold it between their knees for one of the softball drills. Oops, I know two things about soccer: the players and fans whine a lot over at S. Garner Park when you hit foul balls.