WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - KOREA VS CZECH REPUBLIC

March 12, 2023

Pavel Chadim

Tokyo Dome

Team Czech Republic

Postgame Press Conference

Korea 7, Czech Republic 3

Q. You battled until the ninth inning and you were just defeated. What's in your mind?

PAVEL CHADIM: We played hard. The result, we battled against probably the number three-ranked in the world, Korea. We played against Japan until the ninth inning, so did Korea, too. Today's contest that was so close, and my team, but everything did everything we could.

Q. You just finished the game and you have one game to go. You play against Australia tomorrow. What's your impression for Team Australia?

PAVEL CHADIM: Well, looking back at today's game, we fight very well.

And for tomorrow, I think the opponent, Australia, is very tough to compete with. For Australia, I don't clearly have information yet about Australia. We still have all the information about Korea. We as Pool B, China, Czech, Australia, we don't know what's going on for tomorrow. It's going to be another challenge to play against Australia, and it's a do-or-die situation tomorrow. If we cannot get a win, it's an elimination game and tomorrow's game is going to be important to the future.

Q. Any game plan for tomorrow's game against Australia?

PAVEL CHADIM: We just played here in the Tokyo Dome Game 3 games, and for tomorrow, this is going to be the last game for us, and Australia is ranked Top 10 among the world ranking. So to go for the quarterfinal, it's a winner-takes-all game.

So looking back on our previous three games, we had a great experience here in Tokyo Dome. We don't know the result yet but we gave everything we could, and we will give everything we can do.

Q. Tomorrow, can you tell me the probable starter for tomorrow if possible?

PAVEL CHADIM: We have not decided yet and it's not a proper timing to let you know. As soon as Team Australia is announced, then I will let you know.

Q. Rough game today but you have to be proud of both the team and Jeffrey Barto's performance. Can you tell me how you felt about his performance and also that you helped bring him back into the national team after he had planning to just be a coach?

PAVEL CHADIM: We wanted to show a lefty show against Korea. It's a game. It's a game. It's sport, baseball. Gave us a against in a must-win game. It was a little bit gift for him, like comeback gift. Thank you, Lukas, but maybe destiny will show us that his preparation from European Championship may be a medal game, you never know. But I am so happy for Jeff Barto. It was one of the best games way see from this guy, from Czech pitcher. He has Czech child, Czech woman, he's living long time, he's playing Czech extra league. I was so proud of him and so happy of him.

Q. After playing the top-ranked countries, what's the difference between Czech baseball and top-of-the-world baseball?

PAVEL CHADIM: Yes, there's still a gap. We are still on the way to, and probably the played game is fewer than other countries, but to get bonding and also maintain ourselves this is something we could do by ourselves. At the first Graham of these days, we give up five runs. There is a gap for the defense. We made a couple errors. There's a gap, yes.

But I respect the Korean teams because they are professionals. Czech players, we are representing the country of our own, but maybe in the near future we would like to be the same level as Korea and from now on, we would like to change, extend, we would like to have as much opportunity as possible to lift up European baseball as well as the Czech Republic's level of baseball.

Q. A while ago, you mentioned that your team's strength is team work, bonding, and in today, not were there only the Czech people, but many Japanese fans are cheering for you today. How do you feel about that?

PAVEL CHADIM: Yes, it was a special moment. I thank them a lot. We were supported by Japanese baseball fans. I didn't expect that so many Japanese fans cheered us.

So I wish many baseball fans -- baseball Japanese fans would visit and watch us play baseball during baseball season. You are more than welcome to visit; please.