World Baseball Classic Discussion

[26 to 6]

Does anyone else feel like getting out of this ridiculous tournament without an injury (knock on wood Papi) is a victory in itself?

I'm still waiting to hear George's reaction to the Damon shoulder thing. He hasnt commented yet.

[redsoxrules]

USA baseball definitely needs to fire Buck Martinez.

 

i agree there that guy is way to much overated,no offense but i laughed my head off when i heard he was going to be USA's coach

 

also its not only USA that should fire him its every ball club he goes to

[The Monster is my Mom]

It felt strange to root for Jeter and Arod when watching the game. I agree though, this game wasn't just Arod's fault. Everyone except the Braves (Chipper and Francour) didn't do anything.

[riverside sluggers]

I'm still waiting to hear George's reaction to the Damon shoulder thing. He hasnt commented yet.

 

Dont say you believe his shoulder hurting was because of getting ready for the WBC? I thought that it was evident that its the same bum shoulder that almost sidelined him in the 2nd half (cortizone shot after cortizone until it was max ammount they could give him)... The WBC isnt what caused it, good chance it wouldve flared up if he stayed in florida

[a700hitter]

This is 700 we're talking about here. All the blame goes to A-Rod, of coarse.

All the blame does not go to ARod. Losing was a team effort, but anyone who has been annointed the greatest ballplayer in the game today should step it up in these situations and carry the team. ARod never steps it up when he is needed most. Papi on the other hand might be in a slump, but when he is needed he steps up and puts the team on his back.

[jsinger121]

There are other players on Team USA who could have stepped up besides ARod. Even though ARod is a great player there are many other great players along side him that could have contributed that didn't. It's not fair to put all the blame on ARod when frankly no player on team USA got a clutch hit all tournament.

[a700hitter]

I'm not saying that ARod was the only star not to step up, but he is the biggest star on the US team, and he never steps up.

[mtbykr]

Other than Buck's normal flaws that have been pointed out; i believe the main reason that we lost is because it's so early in the year. I mean we just started spring training, mexico is already in the middle of their season as is cuba, korea and japan are done with their spring training and ready to start their season. The USA guys just looked lost, they were not ready to hit yet----i mean does anyone honestly expect with that lineup in august that we would only score 1 run!

[Cityofchampions33]

Why was he chosen? I haven't even heard of him before this 1st WBC. I honestly feel that this tournament will fall out in a few more tournaments, I mean not even the best players are participating, and someone very important to their team will get injured and that'll cause static for Selig. They should have it during the summer olympics, if it would be accepted, and have it held right after the all-star game, and then extand the break. I doubt that would work, but the timing isn't right as it is.

[ORS]

I honestly feel that this tournament will fall out in a few more tournaments, I mean not even the best players are participating, and someone very important to their team will get injured and that'll cause static for Selig.

I happen to think it is moving in the opposite direction. Given the skepticism surrounding this event before it started, I might have agreed with this before they started play. But, now that I've seen the games and given the buzz this has created, I think this tournament is gaining momentum. There have been reports that some of the US's premiere players that declined this time are experiencing some remorse about not participating. I think it will only get better the next time around.

 

They should have it during the summer olympics, if it would be accepted, and have it held right after the all-star game, and then extand the break. I doubt that would work, but the timing isn't right as it is.

The only reason this was created is because the IOC dropped baseball as an Olympic sport due to the fact that MLB wouldn't agree to a work stoppage to allow the pros to participate. Given the success of the WBC thus far and the fact that the timing allows the best players to play without decreasing revenue (revenue is lost if they shorten the season for the Olympics), I don't see them dropping this if the IOC changes it's mind.

[26 to 6]

Dont say you believe his shoulder hurting was because of getting ready for the WBC? I thought that it was evident that its the same bum shoulder that almost sidelined him in the 2nd half (cortizone shot after cortizone until it was max ammount they could give him)... The WBC isnt what caused it, good chance it wouldve flared up if he stayed in florida

Right, I agree. But George isnt going to see it that way. The injury occured at the WBC, and that's what George'll focus on.

 

I cant wait

[MC Hammer]

Right, I agree. But George isnt going to see it that way. The injury occured at the WBC, and that's what George'll focus on.

 

I cant wait

Hopefully he bitches Johnny out for going and makes him miserable ... I think tha'd be best for everyone

[RedSoxRooter]

Game on. DR vs Cuba. 0-0 after 1.

 

I can't wait for tonights game

[RedSoxRooter]

0-0 in the 5th. God, I really do love the WBC! I was totally wrong in first judging it.

[a700hitter]

0-0 in the 5th. God, I really do love the WBC! I was totally wrong in first judging it.

RedSoxRooter or Bud Selig?

[yankeessuck013]

1-0 Dominincana in the 7th.

[riverside sluggers]

Julian Tavarez & Papi are coming back

 

Who wouldve thought the WBC would end up with Cuba vs Japan or Korea?

[26 to 6]

Julian Tavarez & Papi are coming back

 

Who wouldve thought the WBC would end up with Cuba vs Japan or Korea?

Um..me.

 

Not so much the Korea part until the tournament started, but Cuba and Japan were teams I predicted making it to the final 4 prior to the start of the tourney.

 

Cuba is a baseball powerhouse, and always has been. They just never got the recognition because most baseball fans dont follow outside of the Majors. I like to follow the Minors, NPB, and International play as well. Good to see that Cuba will finally be getting some recognition.

 

Hopefully, everyone defects!

...especially Gourriel (sp)

[jsinger121]

Cuba wins 3-1.

[Optimist]

http://www.public.asu.edu/~dgilfill/gallery/flags/images/korea_flag.jpg

 

Let's go Korea!:thumbsup: :clap:

[Optimist]

Kim giving up a 2 run homer in a big situation...what's new?:thumbdown

 

(Except that, this time, I'm not crying tears of joy.)

[26 to 6]

Kim giving up a 2 run homer in a big situation...what's new?:thumbdown

 

(Except that, this time, I'm not crying tears of joy.)

lol

 

I can still see those balls leaving Yankee Stadium

[Moose]

There goes the unbeaten team.

 

 

Kinda unfair. You won the series against them, 3-1 (or 2-1?), yet you're not the one advancing.

[mtbykr]

Not to beat a dead horse, but this was an interesting article:

 

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=131181

 

 

Timlin, who was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in three appearances in the inaugural 16-nation tournament, said the timing of the event put the U.S. at a disadvantage

 

 

“Most of the other teams had played so much more than we had that they were a little bit more ready to play,” said Timlin,

 

“I think you need to get guys together sooner, make some adjustments and get guys at-bats earlier,” he said. “I think we got caught where our hitters were a little overmatched, timing-wise.”

 

 

and of course, you have tek and timlin lobbying the rocket to retire in boston:

 

“He gave room enough where he could change his mind,” Timlin said. “I told him we’ve got a good team, and from what I read in the paper, I told him the aspects he brought up, we have those. We’ve got a good lineup, a good pitching staff, a solid defense and we’ve got a chance to be in the playoffs and make a run to the World Series. Those are the criteria he was talking about.”

 

Varitek said he made a pitch to Clemens while catching the seven-time Cy Young winner during workouts.

 

“I tried to make sure he keeps his eyes on us and doesn’t forget about us,” he said.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

There goes the unbeaten team.

 

 

Kinda unfair. You won the series against them, 3-1 (or 2-1?), yet you're not the one advancing.

I agree, I think MLB needs to look at that in the future. Maybe make the last 2 rounds best 2 of 3. Korea only lost 1 game the entire thing and it turned out to be the 1 game they couldnt lose.

[26 to 6]

So I predicted 75% of the Final 4 and now 100% of the Finals prior to the tournamnet.

 

And honestly, these are the two teams I wanted to see. The two baseball powerhouses that are somewhat mysteries to casual American baseball fans. Sure to make for a hell of a game. And also happens to be an Olympic rematch of 2000 semi-finals (which Cuba won).

 

But after seeing what I saw of Korea in this tournament I definately look at Korean baseball in a different sense. I always looked at them as Japan wannabe's until watching them in this tournament. I cant wait to see what they have in store for us in 2009.

[The Monster is my Mom]

So I predicted 75% of the Final 4 and now 100% of the Finals prior to the tournamnet.

 

 

Did you want a gold star?

[26 to 6]

As a matter of fact..

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Did you want a gold star?

Give the man his due. Good job 26-6 !

[redsoxrules]

There goes the unbeaten team.

 

 

Kinda unfair. You won the series against them, 3-1 (or 2-1?), yet you're not the one advancing.

 

i agree,i think they should have done like the previous round put the final four teams in the same pool ,made them play each other once and then the top 2 teams of that pool goes to the final game