World Baseball Classic

[flames_1987]

I just really enjoyed Canada's attitude in this all. I mean Whitt comes out to the mound with the bases loaded in the first huge smile on his face cracks a joke gives the guy a pat on the back he gets them to ground into a DP. Team worked so hard for this W they really deserve it.

[SuperManning]

For anyone wanting a canada wallpaper, i couldn't find any, so i made this one:

[Sylvanfan]

Wow huge turn around for Canada with a big win. After struggling against unknown South African pitchers at times they come out and hit the known stars like the D-train and the like. This is like Switzerland beating Canada at the Olympics in hockey. Hopefully they can pull out another win against the Mexicans. Would really suck to beat the US, but not advance due to run differential. LIGHT UP LOAIZA!!!!

[Footscray]

Originally Posted by troutman

This ranks up there for me with CAN winning the Gold Cup in CONCACAF soccer.

Ya that was amazing especially the win against mexico where hastings roofed that ball for the win. My favourite Canada soccer moment.

[octothorp]

Assuming Mexico wins tonight and the US wins tomorrow, the tie-breaking situation isn't very good for Canada:

USA: 8 runs against in games amongst tied teams
Mexico: 2 runs against + Canada's runs tomorrow
Canada: 6 runs against + Mexico's runs tomorrow

This means that if Canada loses tomorrow, they have to hold Mexico to 2 runs or less to advance. If they were to lose 1-0 tomorrow, the US would be eliminated and Canada and Mexico would advance. It's strange how the second tiebreaker (after runs allowed average) is earned runs allowed. So if Canada loses 2-0 or 2-1, but one of those runs is unearned, we advance. If we allow exactly two earned runs, it goes to the next tie-breaker, batting average. The US has 15 hits in the Canada and Mexico games, so to win the third tiebreaker, Canada would need just three hits. At least, that's what I make from the weird tie-breaking system they're using. Hopefully Mexico will lose tonight and tomorrow's game will simply determine whether Canada finishes first or second in the pool.

[JLHagg]

Thanks for the explanation on the tiebreaker, octothorp. Seems strange that earned runs are a category, let alone the prime category (I would have thought run differential). Could this not lead to some fishy stuff, though? Say the US is up huge tomorrow but realize they can't give up any earned runs...South Africa has a guy on 3rd with no one out. Clemens delivers to Varitek and...oops, silly Varitek, he let that one get by! Passed ball and an unearned run, wasting only a ball to the current hitter. This isn't the best example, but would be the ideal if you could actually pull it off subtly.

Originally Posted by octothorp

Hopefully Mexico will lose tonight and tomorrow's game will simply determine whether Canada finishes first or second in the pool.

I wholeheartedly agree, for both your sake and the Americans. Holy god that would be awful, to see them eliminated.

Also, congrats are in order to you guys for today's game. After JV hit that granny, I thought the US would storm back and take it, but that Adam Stern can play some center. Unlucky on the ball bouncing out of his glove towards the end, but luckily for the Canadians, nothing came of it.

[nfotiu]

Varitek's HR was absolutely devastating to Canada's chances.

Without that homer, all we'd have to do is hold Mexico to 5 or less runs, now we pretty much have to beat them, and they've saved one of their best pitchers for us.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by JLHagg

Could this not lead to some fishy stuff, though? Say the US is up huge tomorrow but realize they can't give up any earned runs...South Africa has a guy on 3rd with no one out. Clemens delivers to Varitek and...oops, silly Varitek, he let that one get by! Passed ball and an unearned run, wasting only a ball to the current hitter. This isn't the best example, but would be the ideal if you could actually pull it off subtly.

Hmmm, interesting point. Tomorrow's game against SA doesn't have any relevance, as the tie-breaker will only use stats from the Mexico/Canada/US head-to-head games. But theoretically, a situation could come up where that would be in a team's best interests.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Varitek's HR was absolutely devastating to Canada's chances.

Without that homer, all we'd have to do is hold Mexico to 5 or less runs, now we pretty much have to beat them, and they've saved one of their best pitchers for us.

I don't wanna sound like a huge homer here but a win of this magnitude just overshadow's that competley. Loiza doesen't scare me that much especilly for a team that just went through Willis

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Hmmm, interesting point. Tomorrow's game against SA doesn't have any relevance, as the tie-breaker will only use stats from the Mexico/Canada/US head-to-head games. But theoretically, a situation could come up where that would be in a team's best interests.

Canada and Mexico should just get together and agree to let Mexico win 1-0. It is best for both countries, as they each make the next round, and neither has to worry about the Americans.

[octothorp]

Not a good start tonight: 6-0 Mexico in the second.

[troutman]

Now 9-1 in the 8th.

http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/index.jsp

[Footscray]

Brutal tiebreak method - looks like Canada is out even after going 2-1. That is a very arbitrary way to knock a team out. Make it runs for instead of runs against and the US is going home instead.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Footscray

Brutal tiebreak method - looks like Canada is out even after going 2-1. That is a very arbitrary way to knock a team out. Make it runs for instead of runs against and the US is going home instead.

That is just as arbitrary as the system we have now, except that it benifits us.

I would argue run differential would be the best solution, just like international hockey, and unfortunately, that would put us out as well.

[evman150]

Disappointing for sure, but definitely not a total disappointment on the whole.

Canada is only getting better at baseball.

[Footscray]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

That is just as arbitrary as the system we have now, except that it benifits us.

I would argue run differential would be the best solution, just like international hockey, and unfortunately, that would put us out as well.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing in favor of one system over another, you can find a tiebreak method using numbers that will put any of the three teams outm they're all crappy. One team beating another is the only fair way, though i know time constraints come into play here preventing tiebreakers.

[evman150]

Anybody see the MEX/USA game?

Mexican puts it off the foul pole, about 15 feet up, umpire calls it a ground rule double.

Might be the worst call I have ever seen, as a viewer, player or umpire.

[henriksedin33]

Originally Posted by evman150

Anybody see the MEX/USA game?

Mexican puts it off the foul pole, about 15 feet up, umpire calls it a ground rule double.

Might be the worst call I have ever seen, as a viewer, player or umpire.

karma for the US's lucky call against Japan?

either way, mexico just won 2-1. Good to see all these upsets.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by evman150

Anybody see the MEX/USA game?

Mexican puts it off the foul pole, about 15 feet up, umpire calls it a ground rule double.

Might be the worst call I have ever seen, as a viewer, player or umpire.

Oh, there've been worse.

The kid in New York that interfered with a ball in play, in the playoffs, and the umps ruled it a home run, or instance.

Still, a brutal call, but I can't say I am disapointed with it. As the sister says, it makes up for the bad call the Americans got to help them beat Japan - and it was the same ump in both cases.

[habernac]

so now we know why the guy isn't in the big leagues anymore. Nice to see the favourites lose. I'm cheering for Cuba. how funny would a Korea/Cuba final be?