Friday, August 20, 2004
Medal Field Narrows
The fifth round of prelminaries is over, and Cuba, Canada, and Japan are safely assured of spots in the medal round with 4-1 records. Australia is 3-2 and trailed by Netherlands at 2-3; Australia, however, still faces Canada, and Netherlands gets Taiwan, and then they play one another. It appears likely the Netherlands-Australia game will be for the 4th spot in the medal round, although Taiwan still has a deeply outside shot it it beats Netherlands, Netherlands beats Australia, and Australia loses two.
Cuba, as I've noted, appears vulnerable: Australia, Taiwan, or the Netherlands all have a shot if that's who they draw for a bronze medal game. Japan still appears the prohibitive favorite for the gold, but with a one-game gold medal round, much may depend on the luck of the draw for the semifinals. Olympic baseball uses a runs for-runs against tiebreaker system, which is rather absurd in a short tournament (this is not soccer) and Canada running up the tot in its first three games will probably put it in the top bracket.
posted by The Crank 2:55 PM
