World Baseball Classic

[Kimmi]

So it's down to US vs D.R. for the last semi-final spot? We've lost this, boys.

 

USA! USA!

 

Another very good game.

[Kimmi]

The first semifinal game, Netherlands vs. Puerto Rico starts in about 30 minutes.

 

The second semifinal game, U.S. vs Japan, is on tomorrow night.

 

The championship game will be played on Wednesday.

 

Who's in???

[iortiz]

PR will win it all

[Fisk]

Some really bad baseball from the Netherlands. Some really good baseball from Molina.

[dgalehouse]

Question : The Netherlands team largely consists of Carribean players. Why then is it that Puerto Rico is a separate team from the U.S. ? Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Somebody has to ask these questions.

[User Name]

Puerto Ricans can choose to play for the US if they so desire, and Americans of any heritage (See: Machado, Manny) can play for any foreign team that they have familial ties to.

[dgalehouse]

Yes, but the point is that Puerto Rico is not a foreign country.

[User Name]

It is by WBC standards.

[Kimmi]

Last night's game was another good game. PR won it in the bottom of the 11th, with that new rule of putting a runner on 1st and 2nd to start the 11th inning or later.

 

Seriously, baseball doesn't get much better than this.

[sk7326]

Boo! WBC is better if the US doesn't win

[mvp 78]

Boo! WBC is better if the US doesn't win

 

Why? It may actually get Americans to start watching and caring about it.

[sk7326]

Why? It may actually get Americans to start watching and caring about it.

 

At its heart, the WBC is a showcase to expand baseball's reach worldwide. In pro wrestling terms, the US being there to put other countries over is immensely helpful for TV exposure of course. But it's getting fans to care in Italy, Netherlands (and then suddenly having guys play baseball and turn into Guys (see Max Kepler)) that is the real benefit to the game at large.

 

When there is a day that there is meaningful WBC zonal qualifying - that's what I'm looking forward to.

[Kimmi]

Boo! WBC is better if the US doesn't win

 

Nah, I'm pulling for the US all the way.

 

The WBC has kept me entertained while waiting for the season to start.

[User Name]

Got my Puerto Rico hat on.

[Fisk]

I find it hard to root against Puerto Rico just for the fact of how much they are into it.

[a700hitter]

Got my Puerto Rico hat on.

How is that received on your island?

[User Name]

f*** the US team is the general consensus here. Then again, it always has been.

[a700hitter]

f*** the US team is the general consensus here. Then again, it always has been.

That surprises me considering all the investment by MLB in state of the art facilities in the DR. My nephew has played there the last 2 years, and the word I hear is that the facilities in the U.S. do not compare favorably.

[User Name]

The MLB and the corresponding teams and their owners =/= the US baseball teams on international competitions.

[a700hitter]

The MLB and the corresponding teams and their owners =/= the US baseball teams on international competitions.

Got it.

[Spudboy]

Thank you Marcus.

 

Order has been restored to the baseball world.

[a700hitter]

Thank you Marcus.

 

Order has been restored to the baseball world.

He has been one of your favorites.

[a700hitter]

Usa! Usa! Usa! Edited March 23, 2017 by a700hitter

[sk7326]

That surprises me considering all the investment by MLB in state of the art facilities in the DR. My nephew has played there the last 2 years, and the word I hear is that the facilities in the U.S. do not compare favorably.

 

Given this is national pride, and there is national narratives - how the US has let PR's economy go to seed might resonate more than baseball's investment in baseball players.

[a700hitter]

Given this is national pride, and there is national narratives - how the US has let PR's economy go to seed might resonate more than baseball's investment in baseball players.

Not sure how USA has done that.

[sk7326]

Not sure how USA has done that.

 

massive debt crisis, with some handcuffs the mainland has put on them ... but that is another thread

[a700hitter]

massive debt crisis, with some handcuffs the mainland has put on them ... but that is another thread

If anyone could speak to that, it would be U.N. My understanding is that they are a sovereign nation.

[User Name]

Yes and no. It's a complicated subject, and SK is only partially right. It's a messy issue.

[mvp 78]

If anyone could speak to that, it would be U.N. My understanding is that they are a sovereign nation.

 

Per the Supreme Court, they are a territory and lack sovereignty.

[User Name]

Per the Supreme Court, they are a territory and lack sovereignty.

 

This is both correct and relative.