2009 World Baseball Classic Thread
 

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah I figure I'd make a separate thread for this so it doesn't get all lumped in with the offseason shit.

Anyway, some teams have already revealed their rosters, but the provisional 45-man rosters for all of the teams are set to be revealed at 6 PM EST today.

Pretty excited for it.</font>

Its a cool concept but I never really got into any of the games 4 years ago. I do like the gear they put out though, might have to pick up a Team USA hat.

I like it, but am not quite into it yet. Maybe when I start to see the rosters it'll hit.

I'm going to Round 2 in Miami. Pretty pumped. A couple friends from work went last time and said it was better than a World Series game. The latino fans are insane.

Oh and Mark Teahen is a traitor to his country. He's from California and is playing for Canada.

I love the concept but I can't watch any baseball where the fans brings drums to the game. So fucking annoying. Also Jerry and Scott Hairston are playing for Mexico. Get the fuck out of here.

I am pretty excited to see that, judging by the Dominican's roster, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez will be starting some games in the Classic. If the Dominican doesn't destroy everyone this year, they should be disbanded.

Their lineup is ridiculous. Carlos Pena-Placido Polanco-Jose Reyes-Aramis Ramirez is their B team infield.

-edit Website had it wrong

B-Team infield will probably be

Kevin Youkilis - Brian Roberts - Jimmy Rollins - Evan Longoria

Why is A-Rod playing for the Dominican Republic? He is American, just add it to the list for that guy...

Apparently Pujols isn't allowed to play because he had offseason surgery or something and it's against rules. Not the Cardinals' rules because they said they don't care. But yeah if he can't play even though he wants to and is able to, that's pretty gay.

Just noticed Manny Ramirez isn't on the Dominican roster

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah the Dominicans are insane. I'm pretty excited about Team USA though, David Wright will likely be getting the starting nod now that A-Rod jumped teams.</fon>

<font color=goldenrod>What I wanna know is why so many people are worrying about their MLB players getting hurt (mainly pitchers). The only guy hurt in the 2006 Classic was Luis Ayala...I guess the only thing you could say is that players might strain themselves because they actually have incentive to win these games, but still...they have a shitload of regulations for pitchers.</font>

Yeah, how many Mexicans have you met with the names Jerry and Scott?

The only real bullshit so far is that A-Rod played for Team USA last year but is playing for another team this year.

I guess I can kinda understand teams like Mexico, Italy etc. stretching it to get players, since there isn't exactly tons of talent getting pumped out of those those countries but a guy like A-Rod playing for the DR is so stupid.

As for guys getting hurt, not a lot of guys did but I know some players didn't really have strong years/really slow starts after participating in the classic so I think that's more of the issue. It really changes the whole routine since its a very early start for MLB guys.

It would be a more compelling tournament if the league took a one-month break every four years and held it mid-season. That would never ever ever happen though.

As a Brewer fan, I'm not too thrilled at the prospects of Yo Gallardo being Mexico's ace less than a full year removed from ACL surgery, going into a season where he's going to be expected to be a top of the rotation starter. Whatever...at least I'm looking forward to Ryan Braun launching a few home runs.

The infield alignment is pretty much set, but any guesses on the outfield? I'm thinking Braun-Sizemore-Quentin, but then you're running the risk of your lineup being too right-handed, with Sizemore and McCann being the only lefties. I'd probably start Rollins over Jeter at short, but then you'd have all of New York and the majority of baseball writers up in arms. Still, even with Jeter at short the lineup looks pretty solid...my only concern is the lack of an obvious clean-up guy.

<font color=goldenrod>I remember the Mets came hot right out of the gate in 2006 when a lot of their lineup was in the classic, as is the case once again this year.

Realllly hope that's the case again this year. All indications are that they are not upgrading their offense...that lineup has won before, but it needs to not fail in the clutch for a 3rd straight season.</font>

A Rod is the worst dude.

Have they announced rosters yet?

My canadians should be solid with Francis-Harden as our 1-2, Morneau, Votto, Martin hitting.

Harden and Francis both said they're not playing

Dempster's not, either, from what I read.

Maybe they could let Stubby Clapp pitch. I have no idea if he's any good...I just love that name. It sounds like the name of a crappy wrestler bound to show up on ECW one day.

Christ. Scott Richmond is gonna be our #1.

Doesn't help that you're in the same pool as the U.S. and Venezuela. At least you guys should beat Italy. :lol:

Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea, March 5-9 in Tokyo.
Pool B - Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa, from March 8-12 in Mexico City.
Pool C - Canada, Italy, the U.S. and Venezuela, from March 7-11 in Toronto.
Pool D - Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico, from March 7-11 in Puerto Rico

It's kind of weird that all four Asian countries would be in the same pool.

Was the draw seeded? Who was the top seeded team in Pool B, Australia, Cuba, Mexico? Eh.

Final rosters posted. Kinda underwhelming squads. USA might actually win this.

Thank the Baby Jesus Gallardo's not pitching for Mexico.

I'm thinking Japan repeats. Yu Darvish is going to go nuts.

<font color=goldenrod>I'm still not worried about Mets players getting injured. Hell, IIRC the Mets that went to the WBC in 2006 started the season off hot right out of the gate.</font>

Bradley Hawpe will carry team USA...if he's still playing

<font color=goldenrod>Grady Sizemore, Joe Nathan, BJ Ryan out for USA

Adam Dunn, LaTroy Hawkins, Joel Hanrahan in. Good God.</font> :|

LaTroy Hawkins, really?

It's disappointing that USA doesn't really take this seriously.

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah, a lot of people pulling out due to injury worries.</font>

There wasn't a better reliever in the United States than LaTroy Hawkins? I find that hard to believe.

If we wanted someone to just serve up gopherballs we should've just made Eric Gagne a naturalized citizen and put him on Team USA.

Japan beat China 4-0

Yu Darvish went 4 innings with no hits and 3 K's. He is sick nasty

Every guy he strikes out in the WBC is going to earn him like $10 million on a contract when he finally gets posted. You know, assuming we'll still have a monetary system by then.

<font color=goldenrod>Woke up at 7 AM today, felt weird turning on the TV and seeing live baseball. But yeah Darvish is gonna make a crapload when he gets posted, maybe even more than Dice-K.</font>

At 22 or whatever the hell he is, Darvish deserves way more than Dice K or anyone else. He is a gem

<font color=goldenrod>Wow, I thought Korea/Japan would be a good competitive game. Before even seeing the other teams play yet I'd say it will be hard as balls to stop Japan from repeating.</font>

Volquez is pitching for the DR today. Very interested to see how he looks

Wow 2 errors by DR in the first inning leading to 3 runs for Netherlands

Volquez 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 WP, 3 K

Heeeeeeeeeeere coooooooooomes Pedrooooooooooooooooo

Awesome. Just watched the Netherlands beat Dominican Republic. USA vs. Canada is just starting on ESPN but I've got to watch the Mizzou basketball game instead :mad:

I like this thing, both games seemed to be well attended too.

<font color=goldenrod>Wow, what an upset.

Not sure why Felipe Alou had Jose Bautista pinch run for Papi though, it ultimately came down to Bautista at the plate with two outs :o Meanwhile Jose Reyes sat on the bench. Hopefully he plays next game.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Putz incredibly close to blowing this...he better not be this way during the season</font> :o

<font color=goldenrod>WOOOOOOOO :love:

What a fucking game.</font>

Joey Votto is a man.

<font color=goldenrod>Imagine if Panama wins this one...I'm sure we were all expecting a DR/Puerto Rico matchup, but not in an elimination game.</font>

Dominican Republic really saved their own asses today. Hopefully USA pencils in their trip to Miami tonight. Can't wait til this weekend!

yup

who wants to touch me

Johnny Cueto dominating some bitches

<font color=goldenrod>I'm liking the tournament so far this year...one change I'd like to see made for next time is to scramble up the 16 teams so we get 4 randomly drawn pools, gives more potential for intriguing matchups (and also eliminates some of the givens, really obvious which teams are advancing in some pools).....then again that runs the risk of there being a pool with DR, Japan, Cuba, and Puerto Rico with two of those teams getting knocked out in the first round whilst two from a pool of Italy, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, and the Netherlands gets to advance and get slaughtered.</font> :o

Tbh I agreed with Big Vito when I initially saw the draw, but I can see why they would do it like this after seeing some of the games. I mean the stadium in Toronto is probably the biggest they are using, and it never would have sold out had Canada been playing anybody else. I think setting up the natural rivalries and making Team USA the "bad guy" on Canadian turf was brilliant.

The Asian teams make it difficult too. I really doubt Taipei would be too keen about travelling to Canada for two games and then go home.

Just watched the Mexico/Australia replay from last night. Australia crushed Mexico 17-7. Mexico doesn't have a horrible squad, either. That's an upset.

I'm pretty sure half the Twins farm system is from Australia.

Few Aussies in the Phillies system too

I love the Classic, the Puerto Rico Netherlands game was great

lol Vinny Castilla is the manager for Team Mexico.

Luis Sojo managing Venezuela :love:

<font color=goldenrod>HOLY SHIT, WHAT A FUCKING GAME!</font>

Holy fuck! No Dominican team?!?!?!

<font color=goldenrod>Carlos MarmLOL</font>

So this weekend, I'm paying $250 to see U.S., Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and NETHERLANDS?!?!?!

THE Netherlands.

Do the Netherlands have any MLB players? I heard Bert Blylevin is the pitching coach, which is awesome. I wonder if anybody in Holland is even noticing though. I have a friend who is a soccer reporter in Holland. I'll ask if it's made a dent.

He said he hasn't been outside yet but he's sure it'd be on the front page of the sports sections today and that in general baseball gets decent publicity over there. Go figure.

Randall Simon (The Sausage King of Chicago), Sidney Ponson, Rick VandenHurk, can't think of anyone else. I think Andruw Jones is from there, but I don't think he's playing.

Most of those guys are from the Caribbean islands the Netherlands own though. It's not like you're talking about a team from Amsterdam or whatever

There's a lot of minor league prospects, too...Yurendell DeCaster from the Washington system is the big one, IIRC, and he's the one who had the game-winning hit against the DR.

<font color=goldenrod>DAVID WRIGHT</font> :love:

I love the World Baseball Classic. I hope it becomes big, like the World Cup

<font color=goldenrod>I think we're getting a Korea/Japan final...I know that's the biggest international rivalry in baseball, but still we've already seen that matchup 3 times this tourney (soon to be a 4th and maybe eventually a 5th) so I really hope it winds up different.

It's crazy really how good those teams are...especially since the individual leagues they play in are widely considered to be on par with Triple-A skill level.

If they are basing it on international rivalries, I really hope they put Puerto Rico and Cuba in the same pool next go around.</font>

The WBC was fucking insane. I had the time of my life in Miami. It felt like I was in Latin America during the Puerto Rico/Venezuela game. I was decked out in Venezuela gear and sheered for the squad alongside thousands of foreign speaking strangers. We were high fiving everyone, the music was crazy, and everyone was dancing between innings. The U.S.A./Puerto Rico game was fucking intense. I was right behind home plate for that game. I can't wait to go again in 2013.

Japan does it again.