Come anticipate the World Baseball Classic with me

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I'm already kinda excited.

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

March 3-20, 2006: looks like logistics (specifically concerning Cuba) are being worked out, but pool play should be as follows:

Pool A (Tokyo Dome, Tokyo):
Japan
Korea
China
Chinese Taipei

Pool B (Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix):
USA
Canada
Mexico
South Africa

Pool C (Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan):
Puerto Rico
Panama
Cuba
Netherlands

Pool D ("Florida"):
Dominican Republic
Venezuela
Italy
Australia

Second round games will be played in San Juan and either Phoenix or Anaheim; semifinals and finals are going to be held March 18-20 in San Diego.

Thoughts? The most intriguing issue for me right away concerns the parks themselves; assuming Florida means Miami, you've got strong pitcher's parks in Arizona, San Diego, Anaheim, and Miami, and two totally batshit hitter's parks in the Tokyo Dome and Bithorn (which approximated Arena Football-like run totals during some Expos games in 2004). It may be a moot point until rosters are announced, but will this potentially put teams from those pools at an automatic disadvantage in later rounds?

― d4niel coh3n (dayan), Friday, 14 October 2005 14:23 (twenty years ago)

When will they start announcing the rosters?

I'm optimistic about Canada's team. The pitching will solid, that's for sure (will Gagne be ready in time?).

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 14 October 2005 15:39 (twenty years ago)

Oh wow DR and Venezuela in the same bracket. That should be fun.

I am really excited about this.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 14 October 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

Rosters are due to be announced no later than January 17. Baseball America ran a series of articles projecting the rosters and previewing pool play a few months ago:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050511worldcuprosters1.html
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050511worldcuprosters2.html
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050511worldcuprosters3.html
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050511worldcuprosters4.html

The Dominican team looks terrifyingly good.

― d4niel coh3n (dayan), Friday, 14 October 2005 15:59 (twenty years ago)

Venezuela
1B—Edgardo Alfonzo (Giants)

BWAH HAH HAH

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

C—Miguel Olivo (Mariners)
1B—Albert Pujols (Cardinals)
2B—Alfonso Soriano (Rangers)
3B—Aramis Ramirez (Cubs)
SS— Miguel Tejada (Orioles)
LF—Manny Ramirez (Red Sox)
CF—Jose Guillen (Nationals)
RF—Vladimir Guerrero (Angels)
DH—David Ortiz (Red Sox)
SP—Pedro Martinez (Mets)
SP—Bartolo Colon (Angels)
SP—Odalis Perez (Dodgers)
SP—Daniel Cabrera (Orioles)
RP—Francisco Cordero (Rangers)
Manager: Felipe Alou (Giants)

CRIMINY WHAT A BATTING LINEUP!!!

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:14 (twenty years ago)

Ooooh these lineups look great. I like the fact that Magglio Ordonez and Ozzie Guillen will be reunited.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

Laugh at Venezuela's 1B choice all you want but seriously:

SP—Johan Santana (Twins)
SP—Carlos Zambrano (Cubs)
SP—Freddy Garcia (White Sox)
SP—Kelvim Escobar (Angels)
RP—Francisco Rodriguez (Angels)

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

!!!!!!!!!

Translation: Yeah, that's OK.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

Venezuela's outfield is scary, but otherwise their lineup is no great shakes. That staff though. Scary. The only thing though is that I'll bet middle relievers are going to be a lot more important in this game than closers and almost as important as starters, esp. since the managers won't want to push the pitch counts of guys.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

Rosters are due to be announced no later than January 17. Baseball America ran a series of articles projecting the rosters and previewing pool play a few months ago:

Don't forget that ARod said he wants to play for the Dominican, which would push ARam to the bench!

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:37 (twenty years ago)

I can't get over how terrifying that DR lineup looks. Pujols, Ortiz, Ramirez, Guerrero, Rodriguez. . . Jesus I wouldn't want to have to pitch to that.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:40 (twenty years ago)

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

Interesting note: after the first pool round, the remaining eight teams will be split into two pools for another round, rather than play single-elimination quarterfinals. Therefore:

Teams eliminated in Round 1 will have played: 3 Games
Teams eliminated in Round 2 will have played: 6 Games
Teams eliminated in the Semi-Finals will have played: 7 Games
Teams in the Final will have played: 8 Games

"Each team will comprise a roster of up to 30 players (with a minimum of 13 pitchers)." I'm interested in seeing how managers will handle pitching staffs, since at most they're looking at eight games over two and a half weeks. Pitch count limitations may be part of tournament rules, according to the FAQ (and to the great relief of MLB managers, I'm sure).

― d4niel coh3n (dayan), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:40 (twenty years ago)

The US lineup seems really old and weak by comparison to that.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

Part of the fun of this is speculating, but there are a ton of American players absent from that BA list who can compete with the DR team.

Mike Young? Adam Dunn? Travis Hafner? Mark Teixeira? You could put a pretty good pitching staff together out of Halladay, Peavy, Willis, Hudson, Carpenter, Oswalt, Lidge, Cordero, Ryan...

― d4niel coh3n (dayan), Friday, 14 October 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

(or just take Oakland's starters?)

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 14 October 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

Haha well without Harden they're aren't quite as attractive.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 14 October 2005 17:23 (twenty years ago)

(haha: Harden will get hurt, no worries!)

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 14 October 2005 17:31 (twenty years ago)

Mindinrewind-

I read an article about Gagne gearing up to reutrn to play for Team Canada, much to the chagrin of the Dodgers.

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Friday, 14 October 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't want to have to pitch to that.

Assuming that you're not a MLB pitcher, that's smart thinking.

― Leeeeeeeeee (Leee), Friday, 14 October 2005 18:27 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

From Kit Krieger (who runs the Cuban baseball tour I took) on the SABR list:

Less than 12 hours after getting a message from Cuba that the Cubans would decline the invitation to play in the World Cup, the Cubans announced that they would participate. The announcement was accompanied by Fidel Castro launching a stinging criticism of Cuban players who have defected in pursuit of money. Fidel added that the defections had not diminished the quality of baseball on the island and asserted that for every player who left, ten more take their places.

We will await word on who the Cubans send to the World Cup. It is not
certain that he will send the best players in the 16-team Cuban league. According to my Cuban friends, the National Series will not be interrupted by the World Cup. In fact, the tournament takes place over the final days of the regular season in Cuba, which is slated to end on March 12th.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 1 December 2005 22:15 (twenty years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/tracerhand/tejada.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/tracerhand/a-rod.jpg

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 00:24 (twenty years ago)

Team USA will be playing the Giants during spring training. WHAT WILL BARRY DO??

― Obsessing over the unobtainable and nonexistent. (Leee), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 00:32 (twenty years ago)

DH on both teams.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 00:38 (twenty years ago)

Would he wear a half Giants/half USA cap, like those awesome Bay Bridge series caps?

― Obsessing over the unobtainable and nonexistent. (Leee), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 00:49 (twenty years ago)

I bought tickets for the Semifinals at Petco. Can't wait.

― tylero (tylero), Thursday, 15 December 2005 03:50 (twenty years ago)

THEY BANNED CUBA WTF

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 15 December 2005 03:59 (twenty years ago)

total lamesville, dude.

it's not really a true competition w/o cuba. btw...the netherlands? is it safe to presume that there are pretty much no dudes from the continent on the team and it's all guys from the antilles and surinam?

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Thursday, 15 December 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

not so fast, Sir Ponson (pending any hard time) will be representing the Dutch contigent via Aruba.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 15 December 2005 16:40 (twenty years ago)

When I read this the first thing I thought was that maybe Bush fears the Cuban team will feature some Iraqi/Afghan POWs from Guatanamo Bay who naturalized into Cuba... how long have some of those folks been held there?

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 15 December 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

Stupid bullshit, but I'm guessing that something is worked out and Cuba plays.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 15 December 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

is it safe to presume that there are pretty much no dudes from the continent on the team and it's all guys from the antilles and surinam?

i can only hope that win remmerswaal re-surfaces. he was a reliever with the bosox in the early 80's who had a lot of success at pawtucket then one year he never showed up for spring training. sox couldn't find him, his agent couldn't find him, everyone assumed he just went back to the netherlands. he had this scrunched up face with a fruity little mustache that made him look like clayton from the robert guillome vehicle Benson.

― kt... (kt...), Thursday, 15 December 2005 17:09 (twenty years ago)

clayton endicott?

i thought aruba WAS part of the netherlands antilles? if not, i meant dutch holdings in the carribean.

oh, well. all bet that italian team is SWEET! can i get a lou merloni, please?

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Thursday, 15 December 2005 17:34 (twenty years ago)

And South Bay product Jason Simontacchi!

As for the Nederlanders: don't forget Rikkert Faneyte!

― Obsessing over the unobtainable and nonexistent. (Leee), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:09 (twenty years ago)

I'm hoping that Alex is right. Fuck a baseball tournament that can't find a way to include Cuba.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:51 (twenty years ago)

I mean what happened in '96 when the Olympics wuz here? Cuba showed up then, right?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 15 December 2005 20:48 (twenty years ago)

more nederlanders:

hensley "bam bam" meulens!

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Thursday, 15 December 2005 21:36 (twenty years ago)

Bert Blijleven could come out of retirement!

― ojitarian (ojitarian), Friday, 16 December 2005 00:34 (twenty years ago)

"I think our policy regarding Cuba is pretty well known," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "We want people in Cuba to participate in freedom."

COCKPUNCH

― maura (maura), Friday, 16 December 2005 02:47 (twenty years ago)

Can anyone in this fucking administration open their mouth and not sound like a fucking dong?

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 16 December 2005 02:52 (twenty years ago)

dave, don't you want to PARTICPATE IN THE FREEDOM of sounding like an mba dropout who had one too many 'late night strategy sessions'

― maura (maura), Friday, 16 December 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

Alex Rodriguez told The Post yesterday he has decided not to participate in the inaugural WBC this March because he didn't want to dishonor his native America or the Dominican Republic, where his parents are from.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/58869.htm

― maura (maura), Friday, 16 December 2005 21:41 (twenty years ago)

Why doesn't he play for both teams?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 16 December 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

Cuba banned by Bush

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 21 December 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

Have you guys seen the unis yet?

― gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 7 January 2006 17:17 (twenty years ago)

Whoops:

http://shop.mlb.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2164444

― gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 7 January 2006 17:17 (twenty years ago)

A lot of these designs are sub-minor league quality but here are some uni/cap designs I like:
China
Mexico
South Africa

― gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 7 January 2006 17:21 (twenty years ago)

I like the "Dominicana" jersey okay, and the green Mexico cap isn't bad. But the interlocking Netherlands, South Africa, and DR logos? Ugh. Somehow the USA logo is even worse.

I'm assuming that since these are all BP jerseys, the official ones will be a little more tasteful, but the caps mostly look like they ripped off the team logos from Baseball Stars or something.

― d4niel coh3n (dayan), Saturday, 7 January 2006 18:05 (twenty years ago)

Canada and the Dominican Republic look almost exactly the same. Maybe we can poach some of their players in the confusion.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 7 January 2006 18:32 (twenty years ago)

That chinese cap is mad thuggish

― Jimmy Mod (I myself am lethal at 100 -110dB) (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Saturday, 7 January 2006 18:55 (twenty years ago)

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john smoltz does not know the words to a single song. i like that about him though

― it's a new day in the international landscape (z_tbd), Tuesday, 14 March 2023 03:42 (three years ago)

two scoreless innings in the Canada/Colombia game so far - unthinkable!!

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 14 March 2023 19:44 (three years ago)

excited to see this Edouard Julien kid make the bigs. some seriously great looking ABs these last three games.
Young, Caissie and (to a lesser degree) Robson all look promising too.

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 14 March 2023 19:53 (three years ago)

and how could i forget future Blue Jays legend, Otto Lopez!!!

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 14 March 2023 21:52 (three years ago)

welp. unless the US loses by 12 runs tonight, Canada is out.

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 15 March 2023 22:35 (three years ago)

big game between Puerto Rico and Dominican Republican tonight, with the winner advancing. wish i could watch!

venezuela was the only team besides japan to go 4-0 in "pool play" (still having trouble saying or thinking "pool play")

― it's a new day in the international landscape (z_tbd), Wednesday, 15 March 2023 23:00 (three years ago)

I enjoy the atmosphere of WBC but please sir i beg you bring on the pitch clock

― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Thursday, 16 March 2023 00:08 (three years ago)

PR/DR game was great. still not sure how/when diaz fucked up his knee, appeared to be after the game ended

― na (NA), Thursday, 16 March 2023 12:54 (three years ago)

Looked like the mildest celebrating is ever seen. I guess he just landed awkwardly?

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 16 March 2023 13:17 (three years ago)

uhh early report js that Diaz may miss the entire season :/

― Michael F Gill, Thursday, 16 March 2023 17:53 (three years ago)

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35873349/mets-edwin-diaz-expected-miss-season-torn-patellar-tendon

― omar little, Thursday, 16 March 2023 18:06 (three years ago)

@VanHicklestein Yadi is handling the managerial stress well pic.twitter.com/CCdJpfkOeP
— Ben (@badiguess) March 18, 2023

― it's a new day in the international landscape (z_tbd), Saturday, 18 March 2023 04:58 (three years ago)

This US/Venezuela game has been a fun one.

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 19 March 2023 02:34 (three years ago)

it really has. that trea turner HR was a bomb!

― it's a new day in the international landscape (z_tbd), Sunday, 19 March 2023 02:37 (three years ago)

finally got the kids in bed just in time to see it.

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 19 March 2023 02:54 (three years ago)

seems a little unfair they have to play again tomorrow

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 19 March 2023 03:07 (three years ago)

ts: daniel bard vs martin perez

― mookieproof, Sunday, 19 March 2023 04:50 (three years ago)

RANDY AROZARENA. 😎

No hay más.

pic.twitter.com/RXfT2ijRAo
— Playdoit México (@playdoitmexico) March 21, 2023

― Andy K, Tuesday, 21 March 2023 00:40 (three years ago)

WHAT AN END

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 02:51 (three years ago)

heartbreaker

― The Terroir of Tiny Town (WmC), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 02:53 (three years ago)

God damn this has been great, sorry it has to end

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 04:17 (three years ago)

That was one of the best games I've ever watched.

― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 04:31 (three years ago)

lfg Team Japan

― papal hotwife (milo z), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 05:16 (three years ago)

so uhhh why isn't regular MLB like this??

― frogbs, Tuesday, 21 March 2023 16:01 (three years ago)

I was pulling for Mexico last night but I can't deny this has the makings of a classic final, go USA!

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 16:39 (three years ago)

my gf is leaving town for a while late tonight, and we are scrambling trying to find a restaurant or bar that might be showing the final that's near the train station (this seems to be impossible)

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 17:05 (three years ago)

what about Real Sports?

― francisF, Tuesday, 21 March 2023 17:13 (three years ago)

Leafs (barf)

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 17:17 (three years ago)

Doc Ellis is. But nowhere near the station

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 17:30 (three years ago)

hey i didn’t say it’d be pleasant to be in there lol

― francisF, Tuesday, 21 March 2023 17:35 (three years ago)

I haven't watched any of these games and was getting excited about tuning in tonight until I realized it's on Fox Sports

John Smoltz, you were my hero when you pitched for the Barves, but god DAMN man could you PLEASE shut the fuck UP

― Brad C., Tuesday, 21 March 2023 18:27 (three years ago)

Update: watching at hoops

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 23:27 (three years ago)

Sitting in the “Japan” section - so this will be fun

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 21 March 2023 23:28 (three years ago)

Schwarbomb

― frogbs, Wednesday, 22 March 2023 02:16 (three years ago)

So - Ohtani innthe 9th?!

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 22 March 2023 02:19 (three years ago)

ohtani vs trout should be fun

― it's a new day in the international landscape (z_tbd), Wednesday, 22 March 2023 02:37 (three years ago)

Another amazing ending

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 22 March 2023 02:46 (three years ago)

was hoping they'd meet in the middle and hug like on that hockey episode of the Simpsons

― frogbs, Wednesday, 22 March 2023 02:57 (three years ago)

That was a good game but imho the Mexico game had a bit of everything any real baseball fan could ask for.

Also, not looking forward to the incoming hazing for the next couple weeks haha. Already getting taunted 3.5 days before arrival.

― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 22 March 2023 04:08 (three years ago)

Ohtani and Trout going back to lose 92 games with the Angels after the most exciting game of their lives pic.twitter.com/MmHwXxh2pI
— Richard Staff (@RichardStaff) March 22, 2023

― limb tins & cum (gyac), Wednesday, 22 March 2023 07:22 (three years ago)

what a ninth!!!

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 22 March 2023 23:06 (three years ago)

also just want to say i love schwarbs so much.

but man ohtani. fuckin a. the dream.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 22 March 2023 23:07 (three years ago)

While Sandy Koufax was striking out Willie Mays last night in the AB of the century, I was sitting with my brother-in-law at a G League basketball game--I'd gotten us tickets for his birthday--watching the Raptors 905 try to secure a 15-15 record in their last game of the season. They did. It was thrilling.

― clemenza, Thursday, 23 March 2023 01:24 (three years ago)

lol are you really shitting on that at-bat

i mean i'm happy that you had a good time at a basketball game but read the room dog

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 23 March 2023 07:11 (three years ago)

Look at this legend.

The country has also fallen in love with Nootbaar’s pepper-grinder celebration, a move nearly every Japan player now does after big plays. Pepper-grinder sales in the nation have actually increased by 15% over the past few days. Fans bring them to the ballpark or shake them at sports bars while tuned into the WBC.

The MLB Japan store has Ohtani & Nootbaar Pepper Mill t-shirts https://t.co/28b1w8DxVU #STLCards #WorldBaseballClassic #GrindThePepper pic.twitter.com/JPcMRQJObU
— Dan Chibnall (@bookowl) March 19, 2023

― limb tins & cum (gyac), Thursday, 23 March 2023 07:51 (three years ago)

Tracer: I thought the self-deprecation was obvious there. I'll include emojis and arrows next time, promise.

― clemenza, Thursday, 23 March 2023 11:58 (three years ago)

no need! the sarcasm on “AB of the century” came across loud and clear!

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 23 March 2023 12:20 (three years ago)

That was not meant sarcastically at all. Surprised I have to explain this, not surprised you'd feel the need to make an issue of it.

― clemenza, Thursday, 23 March 2023 12:27 (three years ago)

well i'm surprised and delighted you consider that the AB of the century. it was pretty great.

in other news how good was Yoshida?? most ribbies in the tournament. looking forward to watching him out in from of the Monster with his flashy throws back to the infield.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 23 March 2023 13:17 (three years ago)

The Red Sox Instagram has been posting highlights of him all tournament along with all their other guys on teams! Incidentally, I thought of you when I saw that someone in one of the games had no hits but an orr bee eye on account of having hit a sac fly.

― limb tins & cum (gyac), Thursday, 23 March 2023 13:22 (three years ago)

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