Coming to you live from the...Venezuela/Australia game...

That's right...I'm in Taipei City for the annual rivalry game between Venezuela and the Aussies. I'm only being slightly sarcastic about the rivalry, but the way this game is shaping up, it could easily be labeled as such moving forward. More on that later...

To recap - I, Jake Fehling, was with the U.S. team in Taichung. A day before play began, I was shipped up to Taipei assist with the overall IBAF operation. So far so good up here, although I miss getting to follow Team USA in person.

Fortunately for the three of you at home following this blog, we still have a more than competent blogger still with the team - Jeff Singer, or as the three of you know him, the author of the Youth National Team blog. The Karate Kid post? That's Singer.

So, after several days in the Howard Plaza Hotel in downtown Taipei City, I have dislodged myself from my phonebooth of a room and made my way to the VEN (1-1)/AUS (1-1) game. Through three-and-a-half, it's 4-0 Venezuela. The play has been rather uninspiring thus far, but what has kept everyone's attention have been the close plays at the plate, controversial calls and near bench-clearing after a spikes-up slide into home and subsequent jawing between the teams. Again, less than half-way through this, so we could be in for a good one here.

Meanwhile down in Taichung - speaking of uninspiring play - the U.S. (2-0) is down 6-2 to Italy (1-0) through the Team USA half of the 5th inning. Thanks to the miracle that is television station TVBS, I have been able to follow along with this game...and, well, I'm wondering if I'm jinxing the guys...in fact, I don't think I'm going to keep typing about it...I don't want to make it worse...

So that's where we are. The U.S. has looked dominant up to this game, the weather in Taipei is muggy and overcast and my hotel room and I aren't the most compatible two things in the world. I did however, eat at a TGI Friday's last night, and I have fallen in love with the Taiwanese McDonalds' rice-bun burger, so all is well in the Far East.

More from me and Jeff to come...my question, Jeff, is when you blog, do you blog wearing your children's medium-sized "BB" USA jersey and helmet? Folks, I wish you could get this TV feed...Jeff Singer, Team Bat Boy...classic.