World Baseball Classic

[Iginla & Sundin]

Even though I think I'm probably the only person on here that will watch this.Canada plays on the 7th against South Africa on Rogers Sportsnet.

[Jiggy_12]

You won't be the only one...alot of baseball fans on here.

edit: Tomorrow's game is actually an exhibiton game against the Jays, they don't play their first game of any meaning until Tuesday when they play South Africa.

[evman150]

I'll be watching.

I've been looking forward to this for a while. It's just two bad two of BC's best Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster aren't playing.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by evman150

I'll be watching.

I've been looking forward to this for a while. It's just two bad two of BC's best Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster aren't playing.

Yeah, Harden, Dempster, and Montreal's Gagne.

Arguably our 3 best pitchers are out, yet our team still isn't too bad. It'll be interesting.

[phiten]

Originally Posted by Iginla & Sundin

Even though I think I'm probably the only person on here that will watch this.Canada plays tommorow against South Africa on Rogers Sportsnet.

they play the jays tommrow, I plan on attending.

[socalwingfan]

It's weird - I love baseball - second only to hockey but I can't get into this tournament for some reason. I passed on free tickets to a couple of the games but I read every page of the Yankee's first game thread today. I don't know what it is, maybe once it starts i'll be watching but right now i'm more interested in spring training.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

It's weird - I love baseball - second only to hockey but I can't get into this tournament for some reason. I passed on free tickets to a couple of the games but I read every page of the Yankee's first game thread today. I don't know what it is, maybe once it starts i'll be watching but right now i'm more interested in spring training.

Are you American by birth, or did you move there from here?

I don't at all mean anything offensive by that, so please don't take any. The only reason I ask is because I have heard alot about how in the U.S there really isn't much interest in the tournament. Possibly because the feeling down there is a guaranteed win for the Americans, which I don't think is necessarily the case.

Is that the feeling you're getting from most people around you?

[socalwingfan]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Are you American by birth, or did you move there from here?

I don't at all mean anything offensive by that, so please don't take any. The only reason I ask is because I have heard alot about how in the U.S there really isn't much interest in the tournament. Possibly because the feeling down there is a guaranteed win for the Americans, which I don't think is necessarily the case.

Is that the feeling you're getting from most people around you?

Born and raised for 30 years in Calgary, lived down here the past 8. There is definitely a lack of interest down here in it - the few people I know that are interested in the games are definitely in the minority. I'm puzzled why though, I don't think anyone's assuming it's the US's to lose, I think people look so forward to spring training starting - this kind of disrupts that. Also a lot of people are worried about injuries - that and there is not a lot of hype on TV or radio - like i said in my earlier post - it's very weird!!!

[RedHot25]

I wish I could watch, but me no cable ! (and probably good news for the school work)

[nfotiu]

Not enough buy in from the players is killing it. The Dominicans would have been awesome to watch, but without Pedro, Manny, and Vlad, what is the point?

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Not enough buy in from the players is killing it. The Dominicans would have been awesome to watch, but without Pedro, Manny, and Vlad, what is the point?

Well Pedro and Vladdy have valid excuses (Injury, family). Manny though, not surprised. Nothing he does surprises me anymore.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

It's weird - I love baseball - second only to hockey but I can't get into this tournament for some reason. I passed on free tickets to a couple of the games but I read every page of the Yankee's first game thread today. I don't know what it is, maybe once it starts i'll be watching but right now i'm more interested in spring training.

Noone who cheers for the Yankees is a true baseball fan.

Seriously though, the Yankees are the dictionary definition of everything that is wrong with pro sports.

Part of the problem is that the tournament lacks any kind of prestige at this point. It's basically a bunch of exhibition games during spring training with the teams simply made up by nationality.

Hopefully MLB et al keep with it, because it will take a few tournaments before it starts to mean something.

[socalwingfan]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Noone who cheers for the Yankees is a true baseball fan.

Seriously though, the Yankees are the dictionary definition of everything that is wrong with pro sports.

Part of the problem is that the tournament lacks any kind of prestige at this point. It's basically a bunch of exhibition games during spring training with the teams simply made up by nationality.

Hopefully MLB et al keep with it, because it will take a few tournaments before it starts to mean something.

I used to hide the fact that I'm a fan of the Yanks because of all the grief I used to take - now I just don't care. I've been a fan since the late '70s and people forget the horrible 80's when Billy Martin got fired every other month and Steinbrenner would trade all their prospects for junk when he wasn't ripping Winfield or Mattingly. Unlike most Yankee fans, I wish that baseball would get their **** together so that all teams have an equal opportunity - I hate it when small market teams are treated as the minor league system for the handful of teams that can afford to overpay. That's why I've liked what the Jays have done this off-season, my wife's grandma is a huge Jays fan and we have been battling for years - this year should be interesting

[StoneCole]

I will be watching and I actually know two guys that bought a package to go down there and watch the Canadian games.

[HOZ]

Yesterday Japan thumped China 18-2 and Korea beat Taiwan. So it looks like Korea and Japan will be coming over from Asia....not that that was a surprise.

Update: Japan beat Taiwan 14-3 tonight. Korea won as well over China.

[sasketoon66]

I'll be watching, and since i'm from Venezuela....that's my team to cheer for!

[Footscray]

We don't get to see the opener for Canada on sportsnet due to another epic Oilers clash - can they hang on to 8th place for another night? Riveting stuff those middle of the standings clashes.

[JLHagg]

Fine, since no one has posted, I'll take over here. Anyone get to see the games today? Some pretty good stuff. Viva Dominicana! Ortiz is just insane and when Venezuela brought in Carlos Hernandez (and, being from Houston, I can tell you he's a former Astros uber-prospect who tore up his left (throwing) shoulder playing winter ball, sliding into second base. Ugh.), for the lefty-lefty matchup, I could already see the ball caroming off the moon. Which it totally did. 2 HR's for Ortiz, 11-5 win for the D.R.

The US had some suspect defense at the beginning and only put 2 runs on the board against Mexico, but a combined 4 hit shutout by a cadre of American pitchers made the solo shots from Chipper Jones and Derrek Lee stand up. Buck Martinez threw a bunch of pitchers out there, who I will try to list off the top of my head: Jake Peavy, Mike Timlin, Chad Cordero, Dan Wheeler, Todd Jones, Joe Nathan, with Brad Lidge closing it out. It wasn't pretty at all times, but the Mexicans are tough and you knew they'd play us hard. Can't wait for the Rocket vs. South Africa. They're a plucky club, though, so who knows? (More on that in a sec.)

I saw portions of Panama/Puerto Rico. Panama really put up a great fight, but in the end, P.R. was able to squeak it out 2-1. An Alexis Rios solo shot and an RBI double from Bernie Williams in the 5th put the Puerto Ricans on top, where they stayed. Panama played pretty well, despite a near-void in major league talent. Carlos Lee and Bruce Chen are the only Panamians in the majors that come to mind, and I'm not sure if Chen is in the majors anymore.

Canada/South Africa...hoo boy. What's goin' on there, boys? The Canadians had to rally twice, including in the 9th, to take the 11-8 win over a South African team with virtually no pro experience. Chris Reitsma - Calgary native, or at least a big Flames fan, from what I've heard, and am far too lazy to look up - struggled and gave up 3 runs in the 8th to give the South Africans the late lead. Kinda scary, though, to think that Canada nearly dropped one to possibly the worst team in the WBC, with Dontrelle Willis on the docket for tomorrow to face the primarily left-handed (8 of the 9 in the starting lineup, 12 of 15 position players, JEEZ!) Canadian club.

Italy/Australia - didn't see this at all, but all it takes is once glance at the box. Australia is a joke. They got mercy-ruled by the Italians after 7, gathering only one hit and committing two errors. NICE WORK GUYS. Blue Jay Frank Catalanotto went 2-4 with a 3B, a RBI and a run scored for Italy. Trent Durrington had the first (and only) hit in Australia's short WBC history with a double.

Tomorrow's schedule:
Cuba vs. Panama - interesting matchup, as Panama is pretty tough and we honestly have no clue what to expect from Cuba. (1 PM ET, ESPN2)

Canada vs. Los Estados Unidos - come and get your whuppin'. (4 PM ET, ESPN2)

Italy vs. Venezuela - I have a feeling Venezuela will look just a *little* better than the Aussies. (ESPN Deportes, 10:30 PM ET, tape delay)

Puerto Rico vs. Netherlands - I just looked at the Netherlands' roster again. I could have sworn they looked stronger the last time I looked. No major league pitching means Andruw Jones and Randall Simon need to hit dingers left and right. Still, I think this group may be the hardest to pick. It seems like the Dominicans, Venezuelans, Americans, Mexicans, and of course, the Japanese and Koreans from last week's action, are all locks. (No offense to my fellow Calpuckers, but I just don't think Canada will beat Mexico or the US.) Puerto Rico should get a slot, but the other three will have a dogfight. Cuba could be great or terrible. Panama looked great against Puerto Rico, but where was the offense? Carlos Lee needs to put the team on his back. Same with Andruw Jones and the Netherlands, I guess. Anyway, this game is live on Deportes at 7:30 PM ET if you habla the espanol. Otherwise, it's a 2:30 AM ET start time on the Deuce. Weak.

South Africa plays Mexico, but it's only being shown on Deportes, and at 10:00 AM tomorrow morning no less. Screw that.

[flambers]

What a terrible game, hopefully Canada will be better next game. Their first pitcher did a good job but Quantrall was terrible.

[troutman]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...rts/index.html

Jay Mohr's take:

I caught a bit of the World Baseball Classic at 3 a.m. I don't want to sound negative, but Ichiro Suzuki and a bunch of guys who are 5-8, 140 pounds doesn't strike me as classic. Classic to me is the fact that Taiwan sold the naming rights OF ITS COUNTRY to China. In the WBC, as well as in the Olympics, they are referred to as China-Tai Pei. The team is forbidden to fly the Taiwanese flag in international play, so they had to create a hybrid/interim flag. It looks like a surrender flag with a Care Bear on it. Adorable, but not quite intimidating.

Japan crushed China-Tai Pei, which may not register as news on many people's radar, but it certainly registered on mine. Isn't Taiwan the country that takes the American children behind the woodshed for a beating every year in the Little League World Series? Where are all these young baseball Gods going after they hit puberty? Apparently, not to batting practice. Where is Danny Almonte when you need him?