WBC IGT: USA v MEX 3-16-06

[Willets Point]

You know something, this could be Roger Clemens last ever start.

0-0 in the 2nd.

[Willets Point]

Controversial call by ump robs Mexico of a home run off the foul pole.

On the other hand, in order to avoid elimination Mexico needs to keep the game scoreless for 13 innings so oddly this benefits them.

[Willets Point]

Mexico eliminates themselves by scoring a run. Now they have a chance keep USA out of the semis.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Why'd they take Perez out? Seemed like he was doing well.

[Zvon]

Willets Point wrote: Mexico eliminates themselves by scoring a run. Now they have a chance keep USA out of the semis.

interesting stuff.
Clemens looks good.
I will be surprized if the Rocket dont pitch this year after seeing him throw.

Great catch there off A-Rods long drive.

USA ties it on a sac fly.
1-1

[nymr83]

Willets Point wrote: Mexico eliminates themselves by scoring a run.

thats why this tournament is lame.
i've enjoyed the quality of the play but the format is BULLSHIT
double-elimination is a million times better than round-robin with lame tie-breakers.

[Willets Point]

Clemens leaves the game, POSSIBLY FOR THE LAST TIME EVER!!!!

[Zvon]

Nymr83 wrote: ="Willets Point"]Mexico eliminates themselves by scoring a run. thats why this tournament is lame. i've enjoyed the quality of the play but the format is BULLSHIT double-elimination is a million times better than round-robin with lame tie-breakers.

I think this game shows that you have a good point there.

Selig in the booth addresses the Bonds situation.
There was no way they could have him in the booth and not talk about it.
That would have been rediculous.

[Willets Point]

Capt. Clutch called out on strikes.

[TransMonk]

Selig is a boob. He spent a half inning not addressing the Bond's situation, or any other relevant question that was asked of him. He uses a lot of words to say absolutely nothing.

But, hey, another attendance record...yada, yada, blah, blah, snore.

[Willets Point]

Please don't let A-Rod be the hero. Pleasepleasepleaseplease.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

A-Rod merely walked.

Johnny Damon is pinch running for him.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Double Play! Mexico Wins!

[Willets Point]

Holy Shit!

Japan & Korea meet for the third time.

[Zvon]

Willets Point wrote: Please don't let A-Rod be the hero. Pleasepleasepleaseplease.

HA.

Selig went into more "depth" that i would have expected- tho he didnt say anything new.
There will be an investigation in regards to more than just this book and its allegations.
The talk of MLB historical records and fan sentiments was interesting.


DAMN!
Mexico eliminates US.

[nymr83]

ScarletKnight41 wrote: Double Play! Mexico Wins!

No, Mexico "lost" when they SCORED, i still think this is very lame.

[Zvon]

Nymr83 wrote: .........the format is BULLSHIT double-elimination is a million times better than round-robin with lame tie-breakers.

Its just so unbaseballish the way it's set up.

[Willets Point]

The announcers are trying to be apologists for the USA with the "short tournament" thing but the USA only had one convincing win and that was against South Africa. The question now is has the rest of the world caught up with the USA or was the USA just too disinterested. Or both.

Odd to see Mexico's players celebrating. "Yay, we're spoilers!"

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

MK will be disappointed that Team USA lost. Even though he rooted against Captain Intangibles when he was up at bat last Sunday.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Willets Point wrote: The announcers are trying to be apologists for the USA with the "short tournament" thing but the USA only had one convincing win and that was against South Africa. The question now is has the rest of the world caught up with the USA or was the USA just too disinterested. Or both. Odd to see Mexico's players celebrating. "Yay, we're spoilers!"

Wow. I'm shocked. A fine game by Mexico.

I was a little suprised at the Mexican team too, but the crowd seemed insanely into it and maybe they were reacting to that. Y'all see the Mexico team leading the fans in cheers? That was a great moment.

Amazing.

Can't wait for the Korea-Japan re-rematch. Assuming it will be televised this time . . .

Keith, seriously, watch these games. I promise, you'll enjoy them. And Jesus but the fans have been intense.

I really wish I'd taken time off and bought tickets to see some of these games . . .

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

="Nymr83"] ="ScarletKnight41"]Double Play! Mexico Wins! No, Mexico "lost" when they SCORED, i still think this is very lame.

I don't understand.

If Mexico hadn't scored a run, how could they have advanced? Were they doomed from the start?

[Willets Point]

I'm pulling for a Korea-Dominican Republic final.

American sports fans have other priorities so there won't be outrage but this is pretty embarrasing to be eliminated this early as the host nation playing our national pastime.

[nymr83]

]I don't understand. If Mexico hadn't scored a run, how could they have advanced? Were they doomed from the start?

i believe that because of the ERA tie-breaker they have needed to add 12 or 13 scoreless innings to their total (and then win of course) so yes they were technically alive but in a very lame sort of way...if i were the manager i'd have ordered my hitters to stand in the box facing the stands and do allkinds of other dumb shit to make a point.

[Guest Rotblatt]

="Yancy Street Gang"]I don't understand. If Mexico hadn't scored a run, how could they have advanced? Were they doomed from the start?

Given the tie-breaker rules (which is basically based on team ERA), they would have had to play 14 innings without allowing any runs, AND they would have had to win by 3 runs.

So basically, a 14-inning game ending with a 3-run HR.

Or put another way, there was no way they were advancing to Round 3.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I enjoyed this, especially the closeup, once again, of a disconsolate Gayrod watching the other team celebrate.

[Willets Point]

="Yancy Street Gang"] ="Nymr83"] ="ScarletKnight41"]Double Play! Mexico Wins! No, Mexico "lost" when they SCORED, i still think this is very lame. I don't understand. If Mexico hadn't scored a run, how could they have advanced? Were they doomed from the start?

It has something to do with the Runs Allowed per 9 innings that is used as a tiebreaker. To advance tonight Mexico would have had to played 13 innings without allowing a run to get their RA/9 down. After the 13th then if Mexico scored and won they would advance. By scoring a run earlier in the game Mexico created a situation that they would either win in 9 innings (as they did) or have to allow the USA to score a run to tie it up to go to extra innings but then pushing their RA/9 back up again.

[TransMonk]

I will be interested to see if the American players take getting ready for the tournament more seriously in '09. I don't think any of them expected this to be as competitive as it was, and if the WBC is played in March again next time, I wonder how many players (or even the team itself) takes much more time preparing. It could be similar to the USA basketball team, which is preparing NOW for the 2008 summer Olympics. Korea, Mexico and even Canada looked much more like machines than these individual cogs. Pundits keep whining about the timing of the game...well, if these guys want to win they may have to cut their 3 month vacation short and prepare better.

In their defense, if this was played in November I don't see them losing.

[Frayed Knot]

Part of the problem with the goofy tiebreakers was that this whole thing was partly run through the International Baseball body (whatever it's called - essentially it's baseball's equivelant to FIFA) ... and this body - like most whose function it is to organize sports for Olympic-like tourneys - is very European titlted which accounts for it's soccer-like tiebreaking procedures.
I suspect Selig felt the need to go through this body in order to get all the various teams on board even though it probably would have been better off if MLB ran the whole deal and just thumbed their nose at the Euro-bureaucrats. But I suppose that being the 800-lb gorilla is one thing but it's best not to act like it in order to keep everyone happy.
Hopefully they'll learn some stuff from this inagural outing and fix what needs doing before 2009 when they hope to do it again.

[Guest Rotblatt]

="TransMonk"]I will be interested to see if the American players take getting ready for the tournament more seriously in '09. I don't think any of them expected this to be as competitive as it was, and if the WBC is played in March again next time, I wonder how many players (or even the team itself) takes much more time preparing. It could be similar to the USA basketball team, which is preparing NOW for the 2008 summer Olympics. Korea, Mexico and even Canada looked much more like machines than these individual cogs. Pundits keep whining about the timing of the game...well, if these guys want to win they may have to cut their 3 month vacation short and prepare better. In their defense, if this was played in November I don't see them losing.

I dunno. The only team who was mid-season was Cuba. Granted, Cuba's playing pretty well, but all the other teams had more or less the same disadvantage.

And if you look at the stat leaderboard, it's chock full of MLB players--Griffey, Chan Ho Park, Jae Seo, Beltre, Lee, Piniero, Santana, Peavey, Koo, Jeter, Larry, Ortiz, Bay . . .

I mean, the MLB guys are dominating, just not necessarily the USA MLB players.

I DO think some of it has to do with desire. The other teams wanted it more--which, incidentally, is what Oh had to say after Japan's loss to Korea.

[metsmarathon]

i'm a little bummed that i hafta wait till '09 for the next go around of this wbc thingy. it was way cooler than i expected, and i was for it from the get go.

otoh, i no longer have to root for arod, jeter, larry, and rocket all on teh same team (even tho i don't technically hate arod). so maybe it is better this way.