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!!! ATTENTION !!!

This video file is large ... 11.2 Mb ... so scroll down and click on the play button in the
controls so it begins downloading and then come back to this section and read the notes below
Read them all ... it is important for appreciating the content and smooth playing of the video
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Notes on this Video

Number One
What's it all about? ... well, it is a three minute highlight package from the second game of the Exhibition Series the Australian Team played against the Japanese National Team on Wednesday 25th February 2009 ... this was part of both countries preparations for the World Baseball Classic commencing in March

Number Two
As mentioned above, the video file is large and it may take a minute or so to download completely ... go have a cup of coffee!! ... if it does not play smoothly the first time due to 'buffering', just play it again and it will be perfect

Number Three
Make sure your speakers are on because there is a voice-over commentary ... however ... it is in Japanese so most of you might have a little bit of trouble understanding it!!

Number Four
It is a Japanese originated video, so naturally most of it is devoted to their players, especially the pitchers ... there are some shots of the Australians at-bat ... getting a few hits ... but striking out a few times, too!! ... like I said, it is Japanese so they want to show the game from their point of view!! ... plus they won the game, 11 runs to 2!!

Number Five
None of Brett's at-bats are shown

Now to the interesting Stuff

Extract from the third inning of the Play-by-Play Report
Ichiro hits a high chopper over towards first base ... Roneberg underhands it to Moss who is covering the base, but it's over his head ... Nakajima goes to third base and Ichiro to second base ... the runners advanced on throwing error by Roneberg
BUT it wasn't this simple and here is a note from Brett giving a few more details on this play
I was holding the runner on at first base ... the hit was a chopper over my head ... I was running backwards toward the outfield ... got the ball and turned on the run backwards and then tried to flip to the pitcher covering the base ... it went over his glove by a fraction!! ... would have been an awesome play ... that guy is fast and was really running!!

Extract from the fourth inning of the Play-by-Play Report
Ichiro pounds one into the ground toward first base ... it was fielded there by Roneberg ... there is no play at home and Kawasaki scores ... Roneberg then runs over and makes a sliding tag on first base but Ichiro legs it out for an infield single
And here is a note from Brett on this play
He was out, too!! ... I argued with the umpire a bit ... but got no luck ... I even asked the runner Ichiro and he said he was out!! ... oh, well!!

!!! both of these plays are shown in the video !!!

and here are a few final notes

#01 - it is interesting that on both occasions the Japanese hitter is Ichiro Suzuki
#01 - he is a star of both the Japanese and Seatle Mariners ... and one of the fastest guys in the sport!!

#02 - commencing at the 1 minute 30 second mark, the plays mentioned above follow each other

#03 - the plays happen really fast and you may need to rewind or use the slider control to re-watch it a few times

#04 - to assist with downloading, the video has been uploaded in the small '320 x 240' size
#04 - when it begins playing, just right click on the picture to change the size / zoom level
#04 - probably the best size is 200% ... but it is also okay in the full screen mode

#05 - and finally, I agree with Brett ... the plays were tough ... but the runners advanced so an error had to be given!!

As you would have read in the notes above, the original video runs for three minutes ... for this reason the file is large, being 11.2Mb ... and most of it highlights the Japanese players ... and good luck to them!!

The two plays featuring Brett run for just 28 seconds
------------------------------------------------------------and these are the important ones as far as we are concerned!!
------------------------------------------------------------so I trimmed the video
------------------------------------------------------------and the new one is now included as well
------------------------------------------------------------just click on the play button below

Extract from the third inning of the Play-by-Play Report
Ichiro hits a high chopper over towards first base ... Roneberg underhands it to Moss who is covering the base, but it's over his head ... Nakajima goes to third base and Ichiro to second base ... the runners advanced on throwing error by Roneberg
BUT it wasn't this simple and here is a note from Brett giving a few more details on this play
I was holding the runner on at first base ... the hit was a chopper over my head ... I was running backwards toward the outfield ... got the ball and turned on the run backwards and then tried to flip to the pitcher covering the base ... it went over his glove by a fraction!! ... would have been an awesome play ... that guy is fast and was really running!!

Extract from the fourth inning of the Play-by-Play Report
Ichiro pounds one into the ground toward first base ... it was fielded there by Roneberg ... there is no play at home and Kawasaki scores ... Roneberg then runs over and makes a sliding tag on first base but Ichiro legs it out for an infield single
And here is a note from Brett on this play
He was out, too!! ... I argued with the umpire a bit ... but got no luck ... I even asked the runner Ichiro and he said he was out!! ... oh, well!!
NOTE - After watching this lots of times, I have to agree with Brett ... his foot does appear to touch the base a fraction of a second before the runner makes it!! ... as Brett says, "oh, well!!"