WBC Thread

[devilfan02]

This won't be a very popular thread but thought I'd throw it out there. I'm watching this Dom Reb/Ven game and it's pretty cool. The game's in Puerto Rico and the fans are absolutely crazy. They act just like Americans do at NFL games. I love it! Miguel Batista pitched a couple innings today and didn't look good. Hopefully it's just rust and/or jitters. We need him in a big way this year

 

[HooverDam]

I think the Venezuela vs Domincan Republic game was in Orlando- wasn't it?

I watched both it and the USA v Mexico game. It was interesting. The US's hats are really ugly, thats about the main thing I took away from it.

 

[AZZenny]

Canada vs. South Africa was a LOT of fun. South Africa was having the time of their lives -- this has to be about the biggest deal they've ever done -- and held it close, even led for awhile. (I left in the 8th due to freezing my patoolies off with Canada finally pulling ahead.)

Canada had nearly all the fans, but everyone cheered SA for good play -- decent middle infielders and good corner OF arms, and maybe half a good pitcher.

This has a very different feel than other games I've been around, and I encourage people to try to get to a game -- I was skeptical, but now I'm sold.

 

[devilfan02]

I think the Venezuela vs Domincan Republic game was in Orlando- wasn't it?

I watched both it and the USA v Mexico game. It was interesting. The US's hats are really ugly, thats about the main thing I took away from it.

Yeah, my bad. The game was in Kissimee, FL. I thought there was alot more to take away from it than fashion tidbits. The crowds were great at both games. I wish Dback games were like that. Instead, you can hear a pin drop at any moment while sitting at Chase. Way too boring of a crowd. I like the WBC so far, gonna go to the USA vs South Africa game on Friday. It should be great- we'll need to win (we're getting smoked by Canada at the moment) to advance to the 2nd round and Clemens is pitching for us

 

[HooverDam]

The USA-Canada game was really embarrassing. At least they do have a lot of major league players on their roster, so its not too shameful. Maybe it will make the US take things a little more seriously now.

 

[Zeno]

What a great tournament. I went to the Canada game and was disappointed with the loss but since then the US seems to be taking the games much more seriously. You had to applaud those Canadian's though they played their heart out.

Why more people aren't talking about this is beyond me. What better than to cheer your country on? Instead of just representing a city they are playing for the whole country. I can honestly say I would probably never have cheered Jeter and Rodriguez prior to this, but now instead of being Yankees they are Americans representing the country.

The US isn't the only reason to watch as tonights game between Puerto Rico and Dom Republic is full of star players playing with passion and pride. I haven't seen Cuba yet but I'm very curious to see what kind of talent they have hidden on that island.

Bottom line--this is a success and future Classics will only get better.

 

[Beaver]

I agree. I can't figure out why this is not garnering more publicity. I'm going with DomRep to win it, although they are now losing to PR.

 

[AZZenny]

Actually its getting excellent TV and internet 'attendance' as well as pulling pretty solid crowds. Every person I know who has gone to a game has had a great time. It's festive, it's cheerful, the players are leaving it all out there -- however little it may be. By gum South Africa fought to the end and almost upset Canada -- and when getting humiliated by the USA, they still tried hard, and then they stood and applauded Roger Clemens when he walked off the mound, just like all the fans.

It was a little like watching an American Legion Post team vs. an All-Star team, but it was still fun ball. Heck, when their pitcher struck out A-Rod, what a triumph that must have felt! To throw a scoreless inning against the USA at age 17 -- kid is a HS Junior -- what a rush! You have to love their heart and their excitement.

It was nice of the USA team to wake up in time to make Round two. LOL. Tonight, other than a bad call against Japan, they would likely be red-faced. The level of competition is pretty good!

 

[Zeno]

Puerto Rico rode their fans to that win last night. I would have loved to have been in that stadium, you'll probably never find a MLB stadium as festive as that game was last night.

The US benefitted from a good call yesterday thats for sure but mistakes are made all the time in baseball by the umpire . Lets hope the US can beat Korea tonight...that would almost assure them a spot in the semi-finals.

The WBC is awesome.

 

[AZZenny]

YIKES!! It's Korea up 6-1 on the USA right now, top of the fifth inning. It's all the freakin MFYankees on the USA Team...

 

[Mulli]

Yesterday the announcers kept saying the US team and the Japan team were matched up equally. How can this be true? The score notwithstanding, it seemed the US team on paper is much stronger talent-wise. Can someone help me out? Is Japan really that good, once you get past Ichiro? Seemed to me US was a bit sluggish for most of the game.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

YIKES!! It's Korea up 6-1 on the USA right now, top of the fifth inning. It's all the freakin MFYankees on the USA Team...

We get Venezuela and Puerto Rico live, but ESPN wants me to stay up to midnight to watch a tape delayed US game?

 

[Zeno]

Texeira is 0 for stinking 12 in the tournament. Buck Martinez has to stop playing everyone and play his best players. Derek Lee is hitting much better and should be in the lineup every game.

Holliday needs to sit too since he hasn't had a hit at all, Buck hasn't given Francoeur much of a chance at all. He can't do worse than 0Fer.

 

[AZZenny]

Mulli808 -- I think it's called discipline... little things... and totally team-first. Japan and Korea definitely have all that. They are extremely disciplined players and prepare down to the tiny details, they take the game very seriously in that sense. They take nothing for granted, either. I sort of doubt we could say that about the US team.

And, of course, the whimsical baseball gods will have their fun...

 

[Mulli]

Mulli808 -- I think it's called discipline... little things... and totally team-first. Japan and Korea definitely have all that. They are extremely disciplined players and prepare down to the tiny details, they take the game very seriously in that sense. They take nothing for granted, either. I sort of doubt we could say that about the US team.

And, of course, the whimsical baseball gods will have their fun...

amen to that.

 

[AZZenny]

Holy Kimchee! Korea beat Japan 2-1! OOOOOweee - that bad call may now become an international incident. That's like if we lost to Cuba or Iraq or something. Pissed off another former ally!

 

[Sunshooter]

I hope to see Lee Seung Yeop and Daisuke Matzusaka in MLB

 

[Kel Varnsen]

If I understand correctly, the US will advance if it either wins the game outright or loses by one run.

The US is the visiting team tonight, but what if it was the home team and was losing by one run going into the bottom of the ninth? What would you do? Go up and strike out on purpose three times?

This tiebreaking thing is goofy.

 

[AZZenny]

They just said they have to win to advance. If they lose at all, Japan advances.

So what's the problem with the US team? I haven't looked, but get the sense their OBP isn't stellar, although right now they are taking walks.
Interesting two former DBacks -- Villareal and DeLa Rosa (we had him for a couple hours) held USA off pretty well tonight.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I guess it was only a 1-0 loss that would have done it.

It's hard to say because I didn't see most of the games, but I have the impression that some of the big name offensive players were there, but not enough pitching.

Of course, it's not so good that our soccer team can score more often against Mexico than our baseball team can.

 

[Zeno]

The hitters didn't show up. The pitchers (aside from Willis) played very well.

Hopefully the future teams will learn from the mistakes made in this years event. They need less sluggers and more speed among other things.

 

[Lefty]

I have always liked Villareal. It just sucks that Brenly screwed up his arm in his rookie year. It looks like he is close to being 100% and I hope he does really well this year even though he is not a Diamondback anymore.

 

[HooverDam]

The hitters didn't show up. The pitchers (aside from Willis) played very well.

Hopefully the future teams will learn from the mistakes made in this years event. They need less sluggers and more speed among other things.

Agreed- you wouldve thought they wouldve learned from USA Basketball putting together a team of dunking slashers. Ah well, the WBC was embarrassing.

 

[AZZenny]

BK DID IT AGAIN! >>choke<< >>choke<< 2 run HR at night in Petco. Then he almost took the next guy's knee off.

Japan - Cuba final! That's great. Should be stellar baseball, hard fought, two baseball-mad nations.

 

[AZZenny]

JAPAN! World Champions REAL World Champs. LOL. Game was interesting, but the semi's were better baseball.

I'm ready to accept Cuba back into the hemisphere... anyone else?