World Baseball Classic

Use of Time · March 5 2013, 02:23 PM

I figured I would provide a forum to discuss the World Baseball Classic. I'm not sure how many baseball fans actually watch this event but I've always enjoyed it.

Its pretty cool seeing some of the teams that have grown due to the efforts of people like Wally Joyner, Art Howe and Barry Larkin. Seeing the Chinese team was pretty neat and listening to the stories about how they are being developed by former Major League players is a pretty cool story. Major League Baseball has done a phenomenal job of promoting the game across the world and while this event will never eclipse the importance of these countries individual regular seasons, its still a pretty good event.

Use of Time · March 7 2013, 02:18 PM

Maybe this thread will have some input once the western teams kick off this weekend. Cuba looks really good so far as they plowed through their pool which includes the defending WBC champion Japan. The U.S. has a pool in which there should be no reason they don't advance to the second round. Mexico is going to be good but Canada and Italy are definitely beatable.

Starbreaker · March 7 2013, 07:04 PM

I've watched some bits and pieces of games, but the announcers they have been using are incredibly annoying. It was fun watching the Dominican Republic destroy the Phillies. They ought to be a decent team.

Use of Time · March 8 2013, 03:43 AM

Italy upset Mexico today which is huge for the U.S. team as Mexico seems to be the only competition in their pool. USA vs Mexico tomorrow night should be interesting. They run out R.A. Dickey with a 65 pitch count limit.

I'm watching Venezuela vs. the Dominican Republic now. There is a lot of talent on the field in this game. Miggy, Reyes, Cano etc. That pool is really deep. Glad the U.S. isn't in that one.

Tom Hendricks · March 8 2013, 12:26 PM

Use of Time wrote:

Italy upset Mexico today which is huge for the U.S. team as Mexico seems to be the only competition in their pool. USA vs Mexico tomorrow night should be interesting. They run out R.A. Dickey with a 65 pitch count limit.

I'm watching Venezuela vs. the Dominican Republic now. There is a lot of talent on the field in this game. Miggy, Reyes, Cano etc. That pool is really deep. Glad the U.S. isn't in that one.

With that 65 pitch count limit, if RA is going well that could take him into the 7th inning.

Use of Time · March 8 2013, 09:17 PM

Maybe, maybe not. If he has the knuckler working and the Mexican players are unprepared, it could mean getting strikeouts for outs, which means deep counts. I don't know if Dickey has ever been much of a pitch to contact kind of guy but it would sure help tonight.

Tom Hendricks · March 9 2013, 02:01 AM

I was using a little hyperbole, last year he had amazing pitch counts in every start. with 65 pitches I fully expect 5 or 6 innings.

Mr. Laser Beam · March 9 2013, 03:44 AM

This is one of the (few) things I miss after I cut cable. Unfortunately MLB.TV doesn't carry the WBC...

Tom Hendricks · March 9 2013, 05:42 AM

4 inning and allowed 4 runs, doesn't look like RA had it tonight.

Use of Time · March 9 2013, 08:30 PM

Nah, it wasn't moving at all. It kept floating and catching way too much plate. That one to Agon was on a tee. The one contrast that strikes me as a huge problem for the U.S. is that other countries seem to try and manufacture runs while the Americans are playing American League three run homer ball. The Dominicans are too but they are getting away with it.

Use of Time · March 10 2013, 12:29 AM

The Mexico vs Canada game got nasty towards the end with a bench clearing brawl, debris on the field and what not. Its been awhile since I've seen a game get that violent.

Mr. Laser Beam · March 10 2013, 12:34 AM

^ Really? What brought that on? Somehow I can't imagine Canadians brawling.

bbailey861 · March 10 2013, 12:41 AM

Mexico was giving pitchers orders to hit the batters.

Mr. Laser Beam · March 10 2013, 12:50 AM

^ Huh. Why did they do that? Is there some bad blood involved here between the two countries or something?

Use of Time · March 10 2013, 02:33 PM

No bad blood, Canada had a 9-3 lead late which pretty much meant elimination for Mexico. One of the Canadian hitters tried to bunt for a hit in the eighth I think. Team Mexico didn't like that and dusted off the next batter prompting a warning. Immediately after the warning he drilled the hitter in the back and the rest is academic. The Mexican fans didn't help either as somebody drilled the Canadian pitching coach in the face with some bottle. I think there was a total of 7 player ejections with several arrests in the crowd. Nasty scene.

March 5 2013, 02:23 PM	#1
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	World Baseball Classic I figured I would provide a forum to discuss the World Baseball Classic. I'm not sure how many baseball fans actually watch this event but I've always enjoyed it. Its pretty cool seeing some of the teams that have grown due to the efforts of people like Wally Joyner, Art Howe and Barry Larkin. Seeing the Chinese team was pretty neat and listening to the stories about how they are being developed by former Major League players is a pretty cool story. Major League Baseball has done a phenomenal job of promoting the game across the world and while this event will never eclipse the importance of these countries individual regular seasons, its still a pretty good event. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.

March 7 2013, 02:18 PM	#2
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	Re: World Baseball Classic Maybe this thread will have some input once the western teams kick off this weekend. Cuba looks really good so far as they plowed through their pool which includes the defending WBC champion Japan. The U.S. has a pool in which there should be no reason they don't advance to the second round. Mexico is going to be good but Canada and Italy are definitely beatable. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.

March 7 2013, 07:04 PM	#3
Starbreaker Fleet Admiral	Re: World Baseball Classic I've watched some bits and pieces of games, but the announcers they have been using are incredibly annoying. It was fun watching the Dominican Republic destroy the Phillies. They ought to be a decent team.

March 8 2013, 03:43 AM	#4
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	Re: World Baseball Classic Italy upset Mexico today which is huge for the U.S. team as Mexico seems to be the only competition in their pool. USA vs Mexico tomorrow night should be interesting. They run out R.A. Dickey with a 65 pitch count limit. I'm watching Venezuela vs. the Dominican Republic now. There is a lot of talent on the field in this game. Miggy, Reyes, Cano etc. That pool is really deep. Glad the U.S. isn't in that one. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.

March 8 2013, 09:17 PM	#6
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	Re: World Baseball Classic Maybe, maybe not. If he has the knuckler working and the Mexican players are unprepared, it could mean getting strikeouts for outs, which means deep counts. I don't know if Dickey has ever been much of a pitch to contact kind of guy but it would sure help tonight. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.

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March 9 2013, 02:01 AM	#7
Tom Hendricks Muad'Dib Location: Syracuse, NY	Re: World Baseball Classic I was using a little hyperbole, last year he had amazing pitch counts in every start. with 65 pitches I fully expect 5 or 6 innings. __________________ You find the truth of yourself on the battlefield. Of course I'm a creationist. I believe man created god.

March 9 2013, 03:44 AM	#8
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: World Baseball Classic This is one of the (few) things I miss after I cut cable. Unfortunately MLB.TV doesn't carry the WBC... __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

March 9 2013, 05:42 AM	#9
Tom Hendricks Muad'Dib Location: Syracuse, NY	Re: World Baseball Classic 4 inning and allowed 4 runs, doesn't look like RA had it tonight. __________________ You find the truth of yourself on the battlefield. Of course I'm a creationist. I believe man created god.

March 9 2013, 08:30 PM	#10
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	Re: World Baseball Classic Nah, it wasn't moving at all. It kept floating and catching way too much plate. That one to Agon was on a tee. The one contrast that strikes me as a huge problem for the U.S. is that other countries seem to try and manufacture runs while the Americans are playing American League three run homer ball. The Dominicans are too but they are getting away with it. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.

March 10 2013, 12:29 AM	#11
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	Re: World Baseball Classic The Mexico vs Canada game got nasty towards the end with a bench clearing brawl, debris on the field and what not. Its been awhile since I've seen a game get that violent. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.

March 10 2013, 12:34 AM	#12
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: World Baseball Classic ^ Really? What brought that on? Somehow I can't imagine Canadians brawling. __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

March 10 2013, 12:41 AM	#13
bbailey861 Vice Admiral Location: Kingston, ON	Re: World Baseball Classic Mexico was giving pitchers orders to hit the batters.

March 10 2013, 12:50 AM	#14
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: World Baseball Classic ^ Huh. Why did they do that? Is there some bad blood involved here between the two countries or something? __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

March 10 2013, 02:33 PM	#15
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	Re: World Baseball Classic No bad blood, Canada had a 9-3 lead late which pretty much meant elimination for Mexico. One of the Canadian hitters tried to bunt for a hit in the eighth I think. Team Mexico didn't like that and dusted off the next batter prompting a warning. Immediately after the warning he drilled the hitter in the back and the rest is academic. The Mexican fans didn't help either as somebody drilled the Canadian pitching coach in the face with some bottle. I think there was a total of 7 player ejections with several arrests in the crowd. Nasty scene. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.