World Baseball Classic

[Brian in Mesa]

Bonds to play in World Classic, report says

'There are still a few details to be worked out' for Giants star to play

NBCSports.com
Nov. 30, 2005

San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds will play for the United States in the World Baseball Classic in March, the Oakland Tribune reported Wednesday.

"It's not official," agent Jeff Borris told the newspaper. "There are still a few details to be worked out. But he has agreed to play."

Bonds played in 14 games last season after returning from a series of knee surgeries and batted .286 with five home runs and 10 RBIs. The seven-time MVP has 708 career home runs, and is third on the all-time list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755).

"I'm ecstatic," Major League Baseball players' union special assistant and former Pittsburgh Pirates star Bobby Bonilla told the Tribune. "He pretty much agreed in principle to play without hesitation. I'm just happy he's going to be a part of it.

The World Baseball Classic will be played March 3-20.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10264568/

 

[AZCB34]

Hmmm...smells alot like some character cleansing by Bonds to me. Before BALCO, there is NO WAY he would have done this.

I heard a report he wants to come back next year 40 pounds lighter as well.

 

[green machine]

Hmmm...smells alot like some character cleansing by Bonds to me. Before BALCO, there is NO WAY he would have done this.

I heard a report he wants to come back next year 40 pounds lighter as well.

Well, assuming he's off the juice, he will come back about 40 pounds lighter anyways...so why not say that's your goal?

 

[FinleyLover]

Has anyone heard or read when and where the tickets will be available? Looked on MLB.com site but nothing there.

 

[devilfan02]

Has anyone heard or read when and where the tickets will be available? Looked on MLB.com site but nothing there.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/tickets.jsp

it was on mlb.com

 

[devilfan02]

We have a round 1, Pool B consisting of USA, Mexico, Canada and South Africa from March 7-10. Its at both BOB and Scottsdale Stadium. I'm gonna look into gettin some tickets, they go on sale Dec. 12th. Although this whole World Baseball Classic is kind of a shame, I wouldn't mind cheerin on the U.S. against our North American rivals

 

[Brian in Mesa]

United States Says No to Cuba's Bid to Play
December 15, 2005
By MURRAY CHASS

The United States Treasury Department has thrown the first curve at the World Baseball Classic.

The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control notified Major League Baseball on Tuesday that Cuba would not be allowed to have a team in the inaugural classic, which is scheduled to be played in March.

"We just received notice yesterday," Paul Archey, senior vice president for international baseball matters, said last night. "We're obviously disappointed in the decision, but we're going to continue to look into it and see what we need to do to have it changed, if at all."

Officials involved in the planning of the world tournament said the reason for keeping Cuba out was unclear, but it appeared to be linked to the possibility that if the tournament made a profit, the Cuban team could take American dollars home to its island, which is what the Cuban embargo is meant to prevent.

In 1999, the Cuban national team, as part of a home-and-home series, played the Orioles in Havana and in Baltimore. Cuba obviously gained money from those games.

"This came as a complete surprise to us," said Gene Orza, the No. 2 official of the players union, which has joined with Major League Baseball in organizing and sponsoring the event. "We thought the administration was supporting the event."

A Cuban ban could lead to a boycott of the classic by individual players from other Latin countries and by baseball federations in those countries.

If a boycott were to develop, it could jeopardize the classic. "I don't think that's likely," Orza said. "We haven't heard anything to that effect."

Archey said organizers have a backup plan in the event Cuba cannot play, but he said he wanted to pursue the matter "before we make any decisions."

"We're still in the phase of getting information," he said. "We may know a little more in the coming days. We've been in communication throughout the licensing process, and we want to see what we may be able to do to address their concerns."

A spokeswoman for the Treasury Department, citing policy, refused to confirm or deny the department's action, which was communicated to baseball officials in a letter they received Tuesday.

But the spokeswoman, Molly Millerwise, wrote in an e-mail message, "Generally speaking, the Cuba embargo prohibits entering into contracts in which Cuba or Cuban nationals have an interest."

The embargo, she added, "denies Castro the hard currency he uses to enrich his regime."

The Cubans had been installed in a pool with Panama, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. They are scheduled to play in San Juan, P.R., on March 8, 9 and 10. If they were to advance to the second round, they would also play their games in San Juan. The semifinals and finals of the classic are scheduled for San Diego on March 18 and 20.

Archey said organizers would not wait long to see if they could get Cuba back into the tournament, but he added, "I don't have a timeline on it. We want to let it run its course."

 

[Dback Jon]

Stupid Cuban Foreign Policy. Bending over backwards for the Cuban-American Terrorists in Miami strikes again.

 

[AZZenny]

Got this from a Japanese Baseball newsletter I'm on.

Just to be helpful in all this, the U.S. government decided not to allow
Cuba to play because the tournament might earn revenue for the Castro regime.

Major League Basebll has reapplied, suggesting that any financial gain for Cuba should be categorized as a charitable contribution. Cuban officials have also said they'd donate any revenue to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Then, making this all the more enjoyable to watch, Puerto Rico's baseball federation sent a letter to the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) declining to host any games if Cuba was banned from playing. Preventing Cuba from participating, Puerto Rico argued, "is a violation of the Olympic Charter."

The IBAF agreed with Puerto Rico's reasoning and said it will revoke its sanction of the tournament if the U.S. doesn't approve Cuba's participation. The tournament would then be in jeopardy since any nations that chose to play despite the ruling would be subject to penalties in other IBAF international events.
The IBAF hosts its own baseball World Cup every other year and sanctions teams to participate in the Olympics. The IBAF is a member of the International Olympic Committee and must adhere to those standards.

My bet is that the U.S. finds a way to gracefully back down. But in the meantime it should make for good reading.

-----

By the way, the Japanese media have been largely cynical of the Classic, believing it's nothing more than a way for Major League Baseball and some US players to earn more money.

Goes on to say Ichiro is excited to play for Japan and has already begun workouts; he said he plans to lead Japan to win the whole thing. Matsui debated long and hard but said he wants to concentrate on getting the Yankees to the WS. One White Sox player faxed his refusal to Japan Team manager Sadaharu Oh, which is seen as quite a slight in terms of Japanese courtesy for one's elders/'superiors.' Kid has become way too Americanized!!
__________________

 

[Zeno]

I just bought tickets for the US Vs. Canada game. I really hope there is a decent turnout for the games, locally at the very least. It'll be better than any spring training game.

I think its a great idea and hope everyone from players to fans to media takes it seriously.

 

[BC867]

With this thread beginning about Barry Bonds pledging to play in the World Baseball Classic . . . here's the latest.

Bonds bails on World Baseball Classic
Barry Bonds won't go to bat for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic. Bonds, 41, had pledged to play for the United States but, on Monday, withdrew his name from consideration for the tournament, which begins March 3.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2006/01/23/Sports/bonds060123.html

 

[NavyVet]

Two players per team to be tested after each World Baseball Classic game
February 6, 2006

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- Two players from each team will be tested for banned drugs after each game of the World Baseball Classic.

The International Baseball Federation also said Monday it will have 80 players tested at random before the tournament, to be played from March 3-20.

Testing will be done under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, which covers more substances than the drug-testing agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

An initial positive test to IBAF testing most likely would result in a two-year suspension from international competition, but players would not be subject to discipline by the commissioner's office under the major league drug agreement.

In addition, the IBAF agreed to make Dentsu its marketing agent though 2013.

_______________________________

Anybody wonder why Bonds pulled out?

 

[Zeno]

Peavy is scheduled to pitch game 1 Vs. Mexico and Willis game 2 Vs. Canada. A solid roster, but the Dominican roster is awesome. I still can't understand why this isn't getting more press and fan reaction. What better way to cheer baseball than for your own country?

Team USA's final roster
ESPN.com

Pitchers

Roger Clemens, RHP, free agent (formerly Houston Astros)
Chad Cordero, RHP, Washington Nationals
Brian Fuentes, LHP, Colorado Rockies
Todd Jones, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Brad Lidge, RHP, Houston Astros
Joe Nathan, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Jake Peavy RHP, San Diego Padres
C.C. Sabathia, LHP, Cleveland Indians
Scot Shields, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Huston Street, RHP, Oakland A's
Mike Timlin, RHP, Boston Red Sox
Billy Wagner, LHP, New York Mets
Dan Wheeler, RHP, Houston Astros
Dontrelle Willis, LHP, Florida Marlins

Catchers

Michael Barrett, Chicago Cubs
Brian Schneider, Washington Nationals
Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox

Infielders

Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Mark Teixeira, Texas Rangers
Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
Michael Young, Texas Rangers

Outfielders

Johnny Damon, New York Yankees
Jeff Francoeur, Atlanta Braves
Ken Griffey Jr., Cincinnati Reds
Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies
Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays
Randy Winn, San Francisco Giants

 

[MigratingOsprey]

i'm definitely watching my man dontrelle pitch game 2 - looking forward to it

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...d=1322190&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

Gonzo backs out of WBC

 

[green machine]

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...d=1322190&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

Gonzo backs out of WBC

Not quite. Gonzo was never in it. He wasn't selected, but because of the injuries they asked him to fill in. He chose not to.

 

[Zeno]

I know this an old thread but I love the WBC, gives me a chance to cheer for American baseball players that I wouldn't otherwise (Jeter & A-Rod as an example).

It seems they are expanding the tournament now...

The field for the world's largest international baseball tournament is getting even bigger.

World Baseball Classic Inc. announced Wednesday the introduction of a play-in round to the 2013 installation of the World Baseball Classic that will allow 12 new countries to compete for the first time. The new round will bring in 16 teams divided into four pools, and the winner of each pool will advance to play in the World Baseball Classic.

Four teams -- Canada, Chinese Taipei, Panama and South Africa -- will compete in the play-in round after not winning a game in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. New participants will include France, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, and New Zealand in addition to participants from the Americas: Colombia, Nicaragua and Brazil.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110601&content_id=19867988&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Nice - I hope we get some games out here again - I enjoyed the US/Canada game, even if it was a bit embarassing