World Baseball Classic Thread

[metirish]

Of course that must be it, I'm just happy Pedro and Wagner are out.

[Frayed Knot]

Except that the reason Pedro isn't pitching is that he's way behind in where he should be at this point. That's a bad thing, not a good.
I'd rather he be healthy and pitching for the DR.

[Guest ABG]

Frayed Knot wrote: Except that the reason Pedro isn't pitching is that he's way behind in where he should be at this point. That's a bad thing, not a good. I'd rather he be healthy and pitching for the DR.

Well, yeah, but everything's relative. I wish he was 28 still and hitting 97 on the gun, but that's not what we have.

[Frayed Knot]

I should have read Rubin's column first instead of repeating things I heard from various radio sources - most of which turned out to be incorrect;

"Players on WBC active rosters are not permitted to participate in Grapefruit League games once the tournament begins. So even though the Mets got special permission for Martinez to remain in Port St. Lucie during the tournament and to join the Dominican team only for his games, Martinez would have been barred from spring-training games, potentially setting back his preparation for the season."

Only for injury or bereavement replacement can a player be added to the tourney at a later stage.

[Guest Spacemans Bong]

First Mets jersey sighting amongst the Korean fans. I assume a Koo or Seo jersey.

[Frayed Knot]

Sign at the stadium in Yankee camp in Tampa:

"Thank you for expressing your concerns. We are sorry that certain players will not be present for portions of spring training. There players have elected to participate in the World Baseball Classic ... The New York Yankess [sic] did not vote to support this event. Any comments you have regarding the World Baseball Classic should be directed to the commissioner of Major League Baseball or the Major League Baseball Players Association."


Wah fuckin' Wah!

I mentioned a while ago that I suspect that George is at least as concerned over a potential loss in his precious ST attendance as he is about the possiblity of injuries. This note says at least as much about how the Yanx get pissed off when MLB doesn't act like a satellite revolving around the Yanquis (something which is the proper order of things from the NYY vantage point) as it does about their spelling skills.



The Yanx, btw, did NOT vote against the WBC (as has been widely reported), rather they abstained in the vote - giving themselves the out of claiming they didn't vote against it in case this thing is a success. They did the abstain thing during the last collective bargaining agreement vote also.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

A MFY Spokesmen lying to the Times said that George didn't even sanction the sign above, but those mavericks in the ticket office did.

[seawolf17]

They spelled Yankees wrong. Classic.

[Guest Rotblatt]

="seawolf17"]They spelled Yankees wrong. Classic.

hah! Thats hilariss.

[Guest Rotblatt]

MLB is so fucking cheap, it's not even funny. They can't broadcast the radio for these games for free? I mean, seriously, that's ridiculous.

Even better, their scoreboard/Gameday thing is down (and has been all day), meaning there's no way to follow the game live WITHOUT paying for it.

[Centerfield]

People are saying more people will be pulling for Mexico than team USA despite the fact the matchup takes place on US soil.

Maybe some of it has to do with the US putting together a team that is really, really hard to root for. Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and Chipper Jones. Sheesh. I may have to root for Canada.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm hoping that the winner will come from Latin America. It would mean much more to the fans than it will to us if the US wins.

Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico are all kosher for me. Cuba, too, I guess.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Well, I'm able to listen using my password from last year's MLB radio subscription, so I withdraw my complaint.

[Elster88]

I just don't give a crap. I'm surprised people are actually rooting for a team.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Elster88 wrote: I just don't give a crap. I'm surprised people are actually rooting for a team.

I can't explain it, but I'm totally into it.

Probably because I want to see Team America fall on their asses:

]America... America... America, F*** YEAH! Coming again, to save the mother f***ing day yeah, America, F*** YEAH! Freedom is the only way yeah, Terrorist your game is through cause now you have to answer too, America, F*** YEAH! So lick my butt, and suck on my balls, America, F*** YEAH! What you going to do when we come for you now, it’s the dream that we all share; it’s the hope for tomorrow F*** YEAH!

edited for posterity.
edited again for posterity.

[nymr83]

I thought the use of the F-word on this board was restricted to IGTs of games the mets lose.

[Lundy]

I really am looking forward to this tournament. Although I wish there were Mets to root for, I will be pulling for Jeter, Rodriguez, Clemens, and the rest of Team USA.

[seawolf17]

I will root for Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens on the 38th of Neveruary.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Italian-America crushes Australia, 10-0. Piazza goes 1-3 with a double and a walk. He didn't allow a SB, either. Of course, only one Autstralian reached base, so . . .

Pitching for Italy: Gilli, who went 4.2 IP, with 1 H, 7 K and 0 BB.

Sweet line. Anyone know anything about him?

#8 hitter, Saccomanno (3B) went 2-4 with a double, a dinger & a walk.

DeSantis releived for Gilli and went 2.1 perfect innings, K'ing 2.

[Frayed Knot]

I suspect that in a fair fight (ie; no distant relatives allowed) Australia would likely beat Italy; they've produced a handful of ballplayers and prospective ones of late. But, unfortunately for the Aussies, their country is even younger than this one and they don't have a big enough population to have sent a significant number of emigrees here.

[Guest Rotblatt]

I'm psyched to see how Cuba does today (1:00 p.m. EST). Panama doesn't have a lot of major leaguers (Bruce Chen, Einar Diaz, Olmedo Saenz, Carlos Lee, Jose Macias & Ruben Rivera) but enough that it should be a good test for Cuba.

[soupcan]

From everything I've been reading it seems that Cuba is more than just a sleeper.

The team has been practicing together for three months.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I have to admit, I'm paying more attention to this thing, and liking it more, than I expected to.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Vladdy (on the bereavement list) is going to join the Dominicans in time for the 3rd game of Round 2.

Sick, sick, sick lineup, and their defense will improve as well.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Alan Schwartz from BA did a live chat on the WBC. Here's a little bit about Gourriel--and the Mets, but don't get your hopes up.

] Q: nate from madison,wi asks: what are the chances that Gorriel of cuba defects, that kid can play. could he break latin player signing records? A: Alan Schwarz: Mr. Gourriel is hereby invited to defect at my Manhattan apartment, where I will have an agent contract waiting for him.....Seriously, I left my Cuban Guide to Defection at home, and have no insight into his desire to do that. (Omar Linares, his predecessor as Best Cuban Not to Play in Majors, routinely said he was loyal to Castro and proved it.) Again, while I have no specific knowledge, I would think that players in general might be less anxious to defect now that Castro has one ventricle out the door. And yes, Gourriel would get at least a top first-round contract ($4 million?), especially since he'd be on the open market. I hear the Mets need a second baseman....

I wasn't sure if he'd be drafted or wind up on the open market if he defected. Since it's the latter, I suspect it would come down to Boston or the Mets. Frankly, we need it more, and probably have more to spend then Boston.

I should stop dreaming, but jesus does that kid sound exciting. I can't wait to see him on the TV & not just hear about him . . .

[MFS62]

This email came to my friend in Canada from the canadian hall of fame today.
Thought I'd share.
Later

************************************************************************************
Canadian upset of USA amazing but explainable
High times in 90's bearing fruit now

by Tom Valcke, president & CEO of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum

St. Marys - Canadians shouldn't be nearly as shocked as our friends south of the 49th parallel over our 8-6 upset of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. National pride and baseball passion have been increasingly oozing out of both players and fans in each of the four host cities as the inaugural battle of the world's best players is gaining momentum, and the stars and stripes' faithful are quickly learning that the globalization of America's pastime is already well underway. Nobody but manager Ernie Whitt and his troops thought we had a chance to throw maple syrup on their parade.

Granted, the absence of Cy Young winning Eric Gagné, premier starter Rich Harden, 33-save man Ryan Dempster and three-time batting title and former MVP Larry Walker does help build the case for the 'David versus Goliath' analogy. But this team has heart, and Stubby Clapp's unrelentless energy and get-dirty approach can be contagious, especially when it comes down to one nine-inning game against anybody. Also, with Walker on the coaching staff, don't think any player is going to have the nerve to come into the dugout not having left everything they had out on the field, the way Walker did throughout his outstanding career.

Baseball Canada's front office deserves credit as well, as the integrity and credibility of their management team of Jim Baba, Greg Hamilton and Andre Lachance has given the Ottawa-based operation an unprecedented and deserving level of efficiency and respect. President Ray Carter oversees this very well-run ship that has had its share of rough seas in its evolution but is running on smooth under his leadership.

Coupled with this, unquestionably the biggest win in the 40 year history of Canada's national team program, our impressive performances at recent World Cups and the near miss of a medal at the Athens Olympics have spurred many media, fans, and budding national federations to ask what Canada is doing now to reach these new heights.

But the secret is only partly about what we're doing now. It is equally significant to understand what was happening in our country a decade or so ago, from the grass roots all the way up to the Major Leagues. The dropout rate for baseball players tends to peak when youngsters are in the neighborhood of being 12 years of age, which coincides with our roster of twenty-somethings currently busting out in Phoenix.

Chronologically, Canada hosted (Brandon, Manitoba) and won its first ever World Junior Championship in 1991, taking and keeping the National Junior program to new heights.

Also in 1991, Major League Baseball ownership decided to incorporate Canadians in their annual First Year Player draft, and in short order, scouts became so plentiful in Canada that it became impossible for a quality prospect to be overlooked.

In 1992, The Toronto Blue Jays brought the first-ever World Series title to Canada, and baseball was played as an official medal sport for the first time in the Barcelona Olympics. The Blue Jays repeated their amazing feat in 1993.

The Expos had baseball's best record when the 1994 season was cut short due to the strike.

Three national training centres were emerging, the National Baseball Institute in Vancouver, the Academy of Baseball Canada in Montreal, and the Prairie Baseball Academy in Lethbridge, Alberta.

When the top of the sport's pyramid does well, it helps the foundation. And it works both ways. When more kids are recruited and retained, it gives the national team program a higher quantity and quality of players in the pool at selection time.

While baseball was booming during this period on so many fronts in the early-to-mid 90's, more kids signed up, more parents watched baseball on television, and more coaches committed themselves by researching their responsibilities and attended clinics, all contributing to strengthening the base. Baseball fever was never as hot in the north, and consequently, fewer youth quit baseball. It is now evident that the cream has surely risen to the top.

Canada placed 19 players in the Major Leagues last year, and not just roster-fillers, but impact players such as 2004 National League Rookie-of-the-year Jason Bay, rock-solid veteran Corey Koskie, Twins emerging slugger Justin Morneau, and the seemingly ageless masher, Matt Stairs. There have been a total of 221 Canadians to play in the Major Leagues.

Our starting line-up versus the USA made a total of $6.6 million dollars in the majors last summer, while the USA starters earned $74 million dollars. Would we have beaten them in a best-of-seven series? Unlikely. But that is the beauty of baseball, and the power of the Maple Leaf when it gets placed on the chests of our best players.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Well, I got to see a couple Gourriel at bats last night, and color me impressed. He was very patient at the plate and working from behind in the count didn't bother him. In his first at bat, he watched a couple go by, then yanked a slider that looked a little low on the outer half of the plate into deep left field for a ground rule double. From what I could tell through the crappy MLB.tv quality, he has very quick hands. I was impressed he managed to pull that ball . . . They showed his HR from the other day too, and it struck me how level his swing is--he doesn't seem like he's trying to hit home runs. Everything's on a line.

He ended up 1-3 with 2 BB and a K in Cuba's route of the Netherlands.

[Guest Rotblatt]

3/8

In exhibition games, Japan beat Seattle 4-2 on Wednesday. RHP Koji Uehara, who shut down Chinese Tapei for 5 innings in the first round, dominated Seattle, allowing only 1 hit, which was quickly erased on a DP. He struck out 6, walking none.

Uehara is maybe their third or fourth best starter.

Ogasawara, Kawasaki, Ichiro & Nishioka all had RBI singles. Kawasaki also bunted for a base hit, stole second, then scored on a Nishioka single.

Ichiro went 2-4 against his American team.

3/9

A squad of mostly AAA Rangers defeated Japan yesterday, 8-4. Japan ace Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched a solid 4 innings, allowing 1 unearned run while striking out 4. As soon as Matsuzaka left, the bullpen was exposed--Tsuyoshi Wada and Hiroyuki Kobayashi combined to allow 7 runs.

[Guest Rotblatt]

3/9

Korea lost 7-4 to the split-squad Royals. Korean captain, Jong Beom Lee, went 2-4 with a ribbie and 2 K's and chalked the loss up to time difference and jet lag. He's confident that by the time Round 2 starts, they will be ready.

Chan Ho Park got the nod for Korea, and only lasted two innings, giving up 4 hits & 2 runs, K'ing 1. Seo & Kim pitched in relief of Park, but I can't figure out how they performed.

[MFS62]

So now, for the USA team, it all comes down to having to beat South Africa.

"Oh no! Not the Boer worms!" *

Later

*= can you name that movie upon which that terrible pun was based?