2013 World Baseball Classic

[Joey Zyla]

I think there's a chance we will see USA in the final for the first time.

Is anyone else watching the games?

World Baseball Classic: Home (http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/index.jsp)

[Joey Zyla]

Nice comeback from China! :up:

[EuroTroll]

I'm not very familiar with this "based ball". :p A fun game, is it? :cheese:

Seriously though, does any country stand a chance against the USA?

[Joey Zyla]

A fun game, indeed. ;)

And probably two or three countries stand a chance against the USA, namely Japan.

[Tazio]

Japan is currently two time defending champions. This tourney has a hard time drawing the best players internationally.

The World Baseball Classic could be a great event — but it flatly isn’t.
Every four years when the Olympics or World Cup comes around, we’re given a glimpse of what this tournament could be. Whether it be basketball, soccer or hockey, players are more than willing to sacrifice their time and their bodies to not just represent their country, but form a pool featuring the best of the best of the best in their respective sport.

The players representing their home countries in the WBC are no such thing.

Let’s put this in simple terms. Team USA will feature a starting rotation of R.A. Dickey, Gio Gonzalez, Ryan Vogelsong, Ross Detwiler and Derek Holland. While there are some great young arms in that group (and Dickey, too), they are not representative of the best American players that Major League Baseball has to offer.

How about a starting rotation of Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, CC Sabathia, Stephen Strasburg and David Price?

The basic problem with the WBC is that people tune into such a tournament to see the absolute cream of the crop of competition. But since there’s apparently no urgency on the part of players to participate, why should there be any urgency to actually watch the games?

Especially considering that MLB teams for the most part don't want their players to participate.


But aside from that, teams, too, are putting pressure on players not to leave camp, as Kershaw admitted the Dodgers did with him. Obviously the Dodgers have a lot of their success wrapped up in that of Kershaw, but it’s still unfortunate, at the very least, that teams are allowed to put pressure on their players not to participate in the WBC
World Baseball Classic May Feature 45 All-Stars, But Weak Rosters Drain Tournament Intrigue | MLB | NESN.com (http://nesn.com/2013/03/world-baseball-classic-may-feature-45-all-stars-but-weak-rosters-drain-tournament-intrigue/)

This will undoubtedly be an exciting tournament, but hardly representative of the best Baseball has to offer. I may catch the championship round. :dozey:

[Joey Zyla]

R.A. Dickey is the man, though. Long live the knuckleball! :D

[Tazio]

:s tareup: Yes he is a great story :up: , but then again it illustrates why top MLB "hard throwers" are discouraged. A knuckleballer can throw twice as many pitches as a guy whose stock in trade is the heater, screwball, or other more conventional breaking balls with 1/2 the stress on his arm.

[Tazio]

I'm not very familiar with this "based ball". :p A fun game, is it? :cheese:

Seriously though, does any country stand a chance against the USA?As Joey pointed out the U.S. has yet to make the championship game. In fact we haven’t even medaled in the first two tourneys. The first championship game was played here in San Diego and saw Japan defeat Cuba for the title. The second was played in Los Angeles where Japan defeated South Korea. And yes it's an extremely fun game to play one I played until I was 44 and only quit that young because of a severe hamstring tear. :(

[steveaki13]

I am not a huge fan of American sports. i.e I dont support any particular teams or watch the sports reguarly. However I watch MLS, Ice Hockey & Indy Car at times. NASCAR at times, I can watch Basketball & American Football.

The one sport from the US that I really dont get is Baseball. So I fear I wont be making many appearances on this thread.


When I think of Baseball countries, I think USA, Japan, Cuba & Venezuela. Are any of these apart from Japan at the top?

[Tazio]

I am not a huge fan of American sports. i.e I dont support any particular teams or watch the sports reguarly. However I watch MLS, Ice Hockey & Indy Car at times. NASCAR at times, I can watch Basketball & American Football.

The one sport from the US that I really dont get is Baseball. So I fear I wont be making many appearances on this thread.


When I think of Baseball countries, I think USA, Japan, Cuba & Venezuela. Are any of these apart from Japan at the top?Excluding the USA the Dominican Republic has produced more than twice as many MLB players than any other country, followed by Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Cuba. Japan would probably have more but they have historically had a very good domestic system which has kept most of their best players at home. Cuba would be close to or equal with the DR if it wasn't for travel restrictions IMO.

[steveaki13]

Excluding the USA the Dominican Republic has produced more than twice as many MLB players than any other country, followed by Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Cuba. Japan would probably have more but they have historically had a very good domestic system which has kept most of their best players at home. Cuba would be close to or equal with the DR if it wasn't for travel restrictions IMO.

Cheers Doc.

Interesting am always keen to learn.

[Tazio]

If you are really interested in Baseball, I highly recommend "Baseball" The Ken Burns documentary, it is absolutely awesome.

[Tazio]

I said I wasn't going to watch this tourney but I got sucked in, and I have to say it has been very good Baseball, much better than I expected. Big surprises so far as Italy and The Netherlands have progressed to the second round with Italy getting unexpected wins over Mexico, and Canada, while The Netherlands advanced with a shocker of a win over Japan. The Dominican Republic seems to be the team to beat. They square off against the US Tuesday the 12th in second round pool play.
There was a brawl in the Mexico-Canada game.
Canada-Mexico Brawl: World Baseball Classic Rules There Will Be No Suspensions (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/11/canada-mexico-brawl-world-baseball-classic-no-suspensions_n_2852037.html?utm_hp_ref=sports)
Ernie Witt the Manager of the Canadian team was asked if anyone on his team was hurt, and without hesitation he ejaculated:
"You can't hurt a Canadian" :beer: ;)

[veeten]

Yes, and the surprise team of the tourney, the Netherlands, who beat the Cuban team in a close game.

and, also the Italian team, that has moved into the second round along with Team USA. Pino would be proud of his 'cousins from across the pond'. :D

[Tazio]

:s tareup: :o That's right my bad, Japan crushed The Netherlands, who got in by beating Cuba :bulb:

[MrJan]

I am not a huge fan of American sports. i.e I dont support any particular teams or watch the sports reguarly. However I watch MLS, Ice Hockey & Indy Car at times. NASCAR at times, I can watch Basketball & American Football.

The one sport from the US that I really dont get is Baseball. So I fear I wont be making many appearances on this thread.

I'm the same...although I also think that basketball is kinda pointless and largely about show.

I went to watch a Blue Jays v Yankees game when I was in Toronto 18 months ago and really couldn't get to grips with it. I used to watch a bit of baseball on tele about a decade ago so I understood the game, but by **** is it boring. It wasn't helped by being a particularly poor game and about 40 degrees, but it's still not something that I'm desperate to follow or get back to see again (unlike hockey, which I think is amazing and watch quite a bit of). It's strange because I'll happily watch cricket all day, I think that the difference must be that in cricket they actually hit the ball a bit more often, rather than a string of fly balls that are easily caught.

What is the baseball classic anyway? Sort of like the football or rugby world cup?

[Tazio]

I'm the same...although I also think that basketball is kinda pointless and largely about show.

I went to watch a Blue Jays v Yankees game when I was in Toronto 18 months ago and really couldn't get to grips with it. I used to watch a bit of baseball on tele about a decade ago so I understood the game, but by **** is it boring. It wasn't helped by being a particularly poor game and about 40 degrees, but it's still not something that I'm desperate to follow or get back to see again (unlike hockey, which I think is amazing and watch quite a bit of). It's strange because I'll happily watch cricket all day, I think that the difference must be that in cricket they actually hit the ball a bit more often, rather than a string of fly balls that are easily caught.

What is the baseball classic anyway? Sort of like the football or rugby world cup? I appreciate your candor and agree that not only is Baseball hard to watch in cold weather, it is also hard to play. As for the appreciation of the game it is very subjective and certainly not for everybody. It is very helpful if you grew up playing the game as its subtleties are many, and I dare say that most Americans don't understand all the complexities of the game, as many strategies aren't even used until the pro, or at least college level. For example; how many Baseball fans on this forum know what the wheel play is, or how the pitch type, (most importantly pitch speed) is communicated to outfielder’s right before it is thrown for positioning information, or who is covering second when a double-play is in order?
As for this tourney it can hardly be compared to the world cup but it is played with a similar format. The main difference is that it comes during MLB spring training and the players pro teams have a lot of input on how often and on what days the pitchers throw. There are also set pitch limits, and limits on how often a pitcher can throw, all to protect his value to his pro team/career! However international Baseball is awesome IMO and fills in some time with meaningful games for aficionados when the MLB are only playing exhibitions.

[Rollo]

I'm the same...although I also think that basketball is kinda pointless and largely about show.


Baseball is kinda pointless. It's pointless in the same way that cricket is gloriously pointless and it also comes with a very very rich vein of history and tradition just like cricket. Baseball in the United States is as much a part of the heart of America as cricket is in India and is written about with as many column inches where writers wax lyrical as cricket is in England.


As for this tourney it can hardly be compared to the world cup but it is played with a similar format.

This tournament fulfils the same function as a World Cup in other sports and its effectively replaced the previous Baseball World Cup which has now been discontinued. The inclusion of professionals brings it in line closer to the kind of World Cup as in Rugby, Cricket or Football.
Baseball isn't really that big in Australia and so it's only received passing coverage in the media here; not helped by the fact that Australia is quite frankly rubbish at it. The only time it broke into a 6pm news bulletin was a brawl between Mexico and Canada, which says more about the idiots watching telly here than it does about the tournament.