WTF? WBC not on TV

[Guest Rotblatt]

Ridiculous. Tonight's games determine the fates of the Puerto Rican, Cuban & Japanese teams, and they're not being shown on TV.

Well, maybe UPN 9 is showing the Japan game at 10:00, but it's not on the schedule.

How can the WBC expect to succeed if they don't get any air time?

Anyway, PR & Cuba tied at 1 in the top of the third. 3 walks by Dicky Gonzalez and two ground-outs were enough to get one across in the top of the 1st, and Bernie fucking Williams homered from the leadoff spot for Puerto Rico.

Pretty cool way to start it off, Bernie.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Those team have a glaring lack of Derek Jeter, therefore cannot be shown

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I was surprised at that too. I was looking forward to cheering on the Puerto Rican team tonight.

I guess I'll read about it in the paper tomorrow.

[metirish]

Yeah this sucks, college basketball takes over ESPN tonight.

[Guest KC]

I think they underestimated how a decent sized niche of baseball fans would
end up being caught up in the games. I didn't think that I'd be all that interested
but I was wrong and have been frustrated by the tv scheduling and lack of info of
when games are on and the tape delays.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Me too. I'm far more interested in this than I thought I would be.

It looks like something good actually happened on Bud Selig's watch. I never woulda guessed it.

[Guest Rotblatt]

metirish wrote: Yeah this sucks, college basketball takes over ESPN tonight.

Uh, college basketball and COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL.

Who watches that? I mean, seriously.

Japan v. South Korea is being shown at 1:00 on tape delay, but I'm not willing to stay up until 4:00 on a weeknight and I don't want to wait to find out who wins until tomorrow night.

[Theoldmole]

Me too, on the interest and the frustration.

[metsmarathon]

oops... missed this thread...

"anybody else think its absolutely ridiculous that with all the zillions of channels espn has out there, teh most important game for team usa - that being japan v korea - is, like seemingly all other team usa-relevant games that ive wanted to see, only available for viewing on tape delay, at 1:00 am?

i mean, yeah, i want to be able to see all the latin teams and all, but if they want teh games to do well in this country, why the hell dont they show games i want to see?

and instead have womens' college softball and tennis..."

yeah, i guess y'all also think its ridiculous.

edit: i've also gotta ask why mlb.com doesn't have any glaringly obvious link to TV schedules whereupon i could find when and where the games were being aired in my local market. i mean, maybe they have it on the site, and its really reaally well hidden, cos i've been unable to find the darned thing.

its prolly hidden so i cough up the dough for the MLBtv thingy... bastards!

[metirish]

I just saw on the news that Cuba beat Puerto Rico 4 - 3 to advance to the semi-finals, the PR is out......Cuba will play the DR Saturday at Petco Park, no score in Korea V Japan.

[metsmarathon]

5 hits between the two teams in the bottom of the sixth, no score, and we can't see a damned thing of it. sigh.

bed time.

[Frayed Knot]

Some ESPN programming guy was on FAN today explaining that this other stuff: NBA game, NCAA softball, NIT, Tennis - was booked well ahead of time and so the WBC got shunted off to either ESPN Deportes and/or tape delay.
I also suspect that they didn't know what to expect ratings-wise from this new event and so weren't all that interested in giving priority to March baseball, particularly for games not involving the Red, White & Blue.

Thursday's game will be on (although it might not matter by then) as will both games on Saturday (1 day - 1 night) plus the Monday final.



Meanwhile: Japan & Korea scoreless in the 7th

[Guest Rotblatt]

Japan got robbed. Again. Lead-off walk to Korea in the eighth. Single to right-center. Runner tries for third and gets nailed but called safe. Next batter hits a double, scoring two runs.

I missed the replay of the call cause my fucking computer froze for the third time tonight, but he really really looked out to me.

Japan's down 2-0 and it's not looking good for them. Barring a miracle, Team America will advance tomorrow.

I'm very crabby.

[TransMonk]

The Korean runner was safe at third. The 3rd baseman didn't hang on to the ball for the tag.

It's now 2-1 Korea in the bottom of the ninth.

This game has been by far the best in the tourney so far...in fact both of today's games were excellent.

[TransMonk]

Korea wins 2-1. Undefeated...who'da thunk?

[Guest Rotblatt]

TransMonk wrote: The Korean runner was safe at third. The 3rd baseman didn't hang on to the ball for the tag. It's now 2-1 Korea in the bottom of the ninth. This game has been by far the best in the tourney so far...in fact both of today's games were excellent.

Yup, you're totally right--he was safe. Pretty darn clear on the replay.

The starting 3B, 3-time gold glover Iwamura, tweaked his hammy trying to score from second on a single to center in the third or fourth inning. He pulled up a little lame about 2/3 of the way down the third-base line and was thrown out by a hair. He had to leave the game and Chiba Lotte 3B Imae entered for him. Imae was the guy who was unable to hold on to the throw from CF Fukudome, costing Japan an out and a run.

So basically, one pulled hammy was enough to cost Japan the game.

A very good game, even though my computer kept freezing, and the bad guys one.

At one point, Ichiro lept into the stands to try and catch a foul ball. He was unable to make the play past the fans, and after he landed he turned around and barked at them, clearly pissed off.

I've never seem him so upset--and this was before Japan was losing.

All 3 games Japan lost in the WBC were by 1 run--and the game agasint the USA probably should have gone to Japan. Tough, tough tournament for them. Of course, if Team America loses to Mexico, Japan could advance, but I suspect Team America will crush them.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Well, with Puerto Rico out, I guess my rooting allegiance will switch to the Dominican Republic.

Did Delgado play in last night's game? He's been out longer than expected. Carlos' elbow has been overshadowed by Pedro's toe.

[Guest sharpie]

Delgado had a pinch-hit single in last night's game.


Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Jose Valentin, Duaner Sanchez, Endy Chavez, please report to Port St. Lucie.

[Centerfield]

They were cutting into the Cuba-PR game last night on ESPN News. I was torn watching Beltran hit, I wanted him to do well, but I also wanted PR to be eliminated so the Mets could come home.

As it turned out, Beltran singled and Pudge was nailed trying to score from first (ball was bobbled). Worked out perfectly.

I saw highlights of the Japan/Korea game this morning. After the last out was made, the camera showed Ichiro swearing in the dugout. You're right, I've never seen him lose his cool like that, but then again, I guess he feels like he has to back up his words from earlier.

Japan having all sorts of problems in and around 3rd base this round.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Centerfield wrote: They were cutting into the Cuba-PR game last night on ESPN News. I was torn watching Beltran hit, I wanted him to do well, but I also wanted PR to be eliminated so the Mets could come home. As it turned out, Beltran singled and Pudge was nailed trying to score from first (ball was bobbled). Worked out perfectly. I saw highlights of the Japan/Korea game this morning. After the last out was made, the camera showed Ichiro swearing in the dugout. You're right, I've never seen him lose his cool like that, but then again, I guess he feels like he has to back up his words from earlier. Japan having all sorts of problems in and around 3rd base this round.

Ichiro was also uncharacteristically pressing at the plate. He swung at a few terrible pitches--really suprised me.

I hope Iguchi & Matsui feel like shit. They could REALLY have helped Japan out. I mean, their pitching was plenty good enough--one or two more quality at bats per game might have tipped Japan over.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, I was thinking about how seriously Japan took this and how poorly this might reflect on Matsui --- his extended explanation notwithstanding.

[Centerfield]

The Japanese are pretty easygoing. I'm sure it's no big deal.

[Centerfield]

As an aside, when I initially thought about this tournament, I was looking forward to seeing Shinjo again. And then it occurred to me that he wasn't that good in Japan and might not be asked to be part of the team. I didn't see or hear anything about him.

Does anyone know if he was asked?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Shinjo


has been busy


making ads


for underpants.

[Elster88]

Jacked.

[Guest Edgy DC]

What channel is showing the World Underwear Classic? I'd put Brent "ToolShed" Mayne up against Sparkle.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

No contest. Look at how cut Shinjo is!

PS -- In that 3rd photo... is that chick's package bigger than Shinjo's?

[Guest Edgy DC]

An embarrassing situation that Brent Mayne has never found himself in.