The Official World Baseball Classic Thread

[disarcina]

time of year flipping channels between WBC, ST and March Madness stuff.

the Pac 12 games are hard to watch with the sound on -- Bill Walton's commentary has done something this year that I thought was impossible -- reached a more absurd level.

[disarcina]

four years ago USA did not get out of the first round.

must win game tomorrow. Fortunately we are playing an 0-3 Canada team that looks as if they're having trouble competing.

some of the Latin American teams appear to be just loaded with talent.......they could probably make a run for the MLB championship.

[Broad Street]

Borenstien and Israel playing surprisingly well.

[WeatherWonk]

9 hours ago, disarcina said:

four years ago USA did not get out of the first round.

must win game tomorrow. Fortunately we are playing an 0-3 Canada team that looks as if they're having trouble competing.

some of the Latin American teams appear to be just loaded with talent.......they could probably make a run for the MLB championship.

Let's face it. Every team that plays Team USA is super motivated, and has rabid fans behind them. Plus, their best players agree to play.

Come on USA! We can do better than this!!

[Stradling]

13 minutes ago, WeatherWonk said:

Let's face it. Every team that plays Team USA is super motivated, and has rabid fans behind them. Plus, their best players agree to play.

Come on USA! We can do better than this!!

While I agree we can do better with the roster,  last night we lost because one of our very best bullpen arms got shelled.  It's not like we had a pitcher that shouldn't have been in the game, it was Andrew Miller. 

[eligrba]

9 hours ago, disarcina said:

time of year flipping channels between WBC, ST and March Madness stuff.

the Pac 12 games are hard to watch with the sound on -- Bill Walton's commentary has done something this year that I thought was impossible -- reached a more absurd level.

AMEN!!!

[Sully151]

12 hours ago, WeatherWonk said:

Lots of runs; I'd say the hitters are way ahead of the pitchers. Not surprising at this point in ST.

Tell that to the Angels ST lineups the past couple of days, especially Mabin.

[Homebrewer]

14 hours ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

We have some swagger, but it looks like Andrew Miller isn't ready for opening day yet...

Thats been a big part of this event, the fact that the major league pitchers are still in spring training- early season mode.

But it's made for some exciting comebacks. Managers have big pens to use, and they (most of them) have been using them...1 inning or less has been the norm.

[Homebrewer]

Colombia clawing their way back into this...good team, gritty, well managed and coached. They almost beat USA and I'd love to see them shock the DR.

[WeatherWonk]

Colombia with a two out rally, to move within one run of the mighty Dominicans.

Go Colombia! We need a loss by DR, in Pool C.

But the US must win as I believe the tie-breaker with Colombia is runs, should the Colombians win.

[WeatherWonk]

WOW, Ernesto Frieri comes in for Colombia. Is he still pitching professionally in the US?

[Homebrewer]

24 minutes ago, WeatherWonk said:

WOW, Ernesto Frieri comes in for Colombia. Is he still pitching professionally in the US?

and gets Cano to ground into an inning ending DP..now I've seen everything

They said he's looking for a ML job..

[AngelsLakersFan]

Frieri looks great. I'd throw him an offer.

[Blarg]

8th inning Frieri strikes out Bautista, Santana gets thrown out trying to take 2nd, then strikes out the last batter. 

Where was this guy three years ago? 

[Homebrewer]

Ernesto 6 up 6 down..(nice defensive work by Colombia as usual...they've really been impressive)

[WeatherWonk]

3 minutes ago, Blarg said:

8th inning Frieri strikes out Bautista, Santana gets thrown out trying to take 2nd, then strikes out the last batter. 

Where was this guy three years ago? 

As I recall, he threw everything at one speed. He was eventually easy to time.

Plus, he had control problems.

[Homebrewer]

 

[WeatherWonk]

Now, another mediocre former Angel closer gives up a tying HR.

Colombia needs to get another run, here. I dont like their chances in extra innings against the DR.

[WeatherWonk]

Rodney comes back to K the last hitter..............and display the bow and arrow move!

[AngelsLakersFan]

7 minutes ago, WeatherWonk said:

Now, another mediocre former Angel closer gives up a tying HR.

Lots of bad Angels pitchers in this tournament! 

[AngelsLakersFan]

They really shouldn't be using runs allowed as the tie breaker, run differential makes far more sense. One of the best pitchers in the league has a bad night and the US may end up on the outside looking in now.

[Homebrewer]

They were mostly just bad for us.

F'n Butcher.

[WeatherWonk]

1 minute ago, Homebrewer said:

They were mostly just bad for us.

F'n Butcher.

So true. Frieri has 30 something saves one year, but I never felt like we had the game won. Same with Rodney. Both pitchers walked a lot of batters. Bad for a closer. Frieri also gave up some critical HRs, as I recall. Cant remember the situations, though.

[Homebrewer]

COMEON COLOMBIA

[Troll Daddy]

A lot more entertaining than a meaningless ST game. 

If the Dominicans lose ... do they play the Americans in a tie breaker?