In-WBC Thread

[Frayed Knot]

Tournament this year is a double double-elimination format.
Two teams from each will be promoted out of pool play and then those eight will play a new double elimination round.

The far east group gets started first, and defending champ Japan kicked things off last night (this morning) in Tokyo with a 4-0 shutout of China.
Korea will then play Taipei before the winners play winners and losers play losers until two teams are out.

The remaining groups go at it starting this weekend:

* Mexico, Australia, Cuba & South Africa convene in Mexico City

* USA, Canada, Italy & Venezuela in Toronto


Semi final and final rounds are in San Diego, Miami, and Los Angeles

* Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Netherlands & Panama in San Juan, PR

[Gwreck]

It's "double elimination" but once each pool of 4 is down to 2 teams, they both advance to the next round. But then still play each other to determine who's #1 and who's #2....so the #2 team gets to advance despite having 2 losses.

[Frayed Knot]

Two teams from each group advance out of the pool play (the other two are eliminated) and then start a wipe-the-slate-clean new round of double elimination.
So, yeah, teams don't take their losses with them. The only carry-over from round 1 is that your winner or runner-up status determines who you play first in round 2 (Winner of 'A' plays Runner-Up from 'B' while Winner from 'B' plays 'A' Runner-up, etc.)

The second double-elimination cuts things down to four teams who then go into a regular single-elimination semi-final then final format.

[A Boy Named Seo]

That stupid Olympic extra-innings rule was adopted this year and will be in effect for every inning starting with the 13th. Hopefully we won't even see it.

[nymr83]

Japan is playing what i can only assume is a rerun on espn2 right now.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Cool, didn't know that was on. Japanese fans are awesome.

[nymr83]

I wonder how you say "balk" in Japanese? Judging by the bewildered look of the pitcher, there is no translation in Chinese.

[Frayed Knot]

Nymr83 wrote: Japan is playing what i can only assume is a rerun on espn2 right now.

Yeah, the far east games are on espn2 live at about 4 in the morning or something.

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN deportes, and MLBN will be carrying all the games in varying combinations.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Who the hell cares?

[bmfc1]

The Dominican Republic team gets an upgrade as Fernando Tatis replaces Alex Rodriguez. This makes 16 Mets who are participating in the WBC.

Edited March 5, 2009 by Guest

[Guest Edgy DC]

Hi. I care.

[batmagadanleadoff]

That's what I was askin'.

[Frayed Knot]

Korea mercy-rules Taipei (9-0 in 7 innings) setting up a Mao-v-Chaing elimination game.

[Frayed Knot]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: That stupid Olympic extra-innings rule was adopted this year and will be in effect for every inning starting with the 13th. Hopefully we won't even see it.

Hopefully they're not using that in the later rounds.
I don't like in the earlier rounds either but at least there they're using the multiple games needed in a short period of time logic.

[Centerfield]

You know, they aren't more MFY's in this thing? Texiera, CC and Burnett should all be playing for the US. Wang should be playing for China, Matsui for Japan. Unpatriotic fucks.

[metirish]

Yet they chain their fans to seats during "God Bless America"....false patriotism at it's best.

[Guest Edgy DC]

George Steinbrenner's whole "born on the fourth of July" rep is at stake.

AT STAKE!

[nymr83]

]Wang should be playing for China

he was born in Taiwan, pitched for them in the '04 olympics

[Frayed Knot]

Well they could have used him because Taiwan (Taipei) lost to the commie China and is the first team eliminated from the tourney.

Japan thumped Korea in the winners' bracket game so Korea faces China in the next elimination contest.

[bmfc1]

Reyes is not in the lineup for the DR team--instead of being in PSL, getting some ABs, he's sitting on the bench today.

[Theoldmole]

Are there really that many black guys in the Netherlands?

[nymr83]

TheOldMole wrote: Are there really that many black guys in the Netherlands?

I think The Netherlands includes The Netherlands Antilles, where Andruw Jones is from. They just beat the DR!

]Reyes is not in the lineup for the DR team--instead of being in PSL, getting some ABs, he's sitting on the bench today.

thats annoying, if I were the Mets I'd have told DR that he plays or he stays here.

[nymr83]

The Panama/Puerto Rico game right now has taken on added importance for PR, they probably thought that if they choked they could beat up on the netherlands in the next game, but DR's suprise loss means that the loser of this game will be facing the DR lineup and Johnny Cueto/Odalis Perez.

[dgwphotography]

And Carlos In Delgado Da vita goes yard for PR...

[Guest Edgy DC]

]thats annoying, if I were the Mets I'd have told DR that he plays or he stays here.

Can the Mets do that? If I were the Mets I'd tell Russia to disarm.

I think we all need to relax about players playing for their nations. We're a month out from opening day and Reyes is a major league veteran. He's going to be fine. And if anybody gets hurt, he's probably no more likely to get hurt at Port St. Lucie.

[nymr83]

]Can the Mets do that?

of course they can. they can say "you can't play" to any player under contract, nd if they can say you cant play then obviously they can give permission that is conditional.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Anyone who saw Abreu get picked off third by Italy should be breathing a small sigh of relief that he's not headed to our outfield when this thing is over.

He turned the bag too far on a tag-play, then walked back to the base oblivious to his coach telling him to hustle Italy;s third baseman materializing from behind the coaching box to take a throw from the infield and nail him.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Nymr83 wrote: ]Can the Mets do that? of course they can. they can say "you can't play" to any player under contract, nd if they can say you cant play then obviously they can give permission that is conditional.

It's a ridiculous condition and you know it.

MLB is behind this and they aren't going to have the teams playing the asshole.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Is this Orber Moreno?

edit --- Yes, yes it was.

[nymr83]

I didn't watch, why did Difelice (4 shutout innings, 3 hits, no walks) get lifted by Italy after the 4th inning with only 45 pitches thrown? the guy was cruising and you cant even blame the pitch limits for removing him.