In the first semi-final game in this year's WBC, the Kingdom of the Netherlands added Dodgers All-Star closer Kenley Jansen, but there was one catch. The catch was that he was only available for one inning of work, per the request of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. This caused the Netherlands manager, Hensley Meulens, to make a decision on where to put Jansen in for his one inning of work. In an effort to stop Puerto Rico's star studded lineup, Jansen was put in to pitch in the 9th, which was the Netherlands first mistake. Jansen faced the bottom of the order, which has good hitters, but nowhere near as dangerous of hitters than those that were due up in the 10th, and 11th. This is where the second mistake comes in, and it is also bringing in Jansen early, but it caused a bigger problem. Both teams had very good closers, Jansen for the Netherlands, and Edwin Diaz of the Mariners for Puerto Rico. Both pitchers had similar restrictions, but Diaz was more expendable, but he was used how Jansen should have been. Due to the wonky 11th inning rules in international play (I talk about those in a past post), Puerto Rico kept Diaz out there to pitch a second inning, and it resulted in a Puerto Rico win. What I would have done is brought Jansen into the game in the 10th, so he could face Lindor, Correa, and pinch hitter Kike Hernandez. I feel that Jansen would have been better in the 11th, but you can't tempt fate with Lindor and Correa if you don't have to. I feel if Jansen had been brought in later, the Netherlands would have had a much better chance of winning, or at least extending the game. Another thing the Netherlands should have done is brought in Loek Van Mil (the pitcher who came in to pitch the 10th and 11th), let him work 2 innings against the bottom of the lineup, and then the top of the lineup (I know I said I would rather Jansen face Lindor, and Correa, but Van Mil faced them in the actual game, so Hensley Meulens was ok with Van Mil facing the tough part of the line up) and bring Jansen in for the 11th inning, with the extra innings rules in place. The final downfall of the Dutch team wasn't something they could control, but I'll still talk about it, and that is Didi Gregorious. Didi was sent back to Yankees camp Monday due to a shoulder injury, so he was ineligible to play, and this hurt the Dutch immensely. Didi had been the Netherlands starting DH, but without him Curt Smith took the role. Now I have nothing against Curt Smith, but he was the one who rolled into the inning ending double play in the 11th, that sealed the Netherlands fate. I feel if Didi had been batting, he would have had a better chance of getting that run in, extending the game, or possibly winning it for the Netherlands. Regardless however it was a crazy game, and congrats to both teams for playing an excellent tournament.