World Baseball Classic

[CanSocDem]

As for 'dancin' with the one that brung you', my Canadian team is out of it already so I can focus on more important things... Like kicking USA ass again('06) and taking note of all the Blue Jays still playing.

Dominican Republic with Joey Bats and Jose Reyes should make the finals but I think Japan with their Dream Team will take it all. What I know about Japanese baseball I got from an article written by an American journalist in the 70's and the Tom Selleck movie (Mr. Baseball?), but it makes me think that they have a much better understanding of the game. For the sake of the game I hope they prevail...

Even their fan base is smarter than us. They make up catchy tributes and sing them in unison; we hurl epithets and beer bottles at juiced up knuckleheads....sigh.


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[indie9197]

1. Why would Reyes even play with Machado, Segura, and Cano in the infield?

And why do you think Japan should win "for the sake of the game"?
I agree that a really loud heckler can get annoying at a game, but would prefer that to the air horns and car alarms you hear at the Mexican games. (I don't remember the beer bottle incident)
I don't think many in the USA follow the Classic, unless you have ties to other countries that are playing. Baseball does not fit well with a short playoff type format, IMO.

[CanSocDem]

2. Why wouldn't they....???

This is about baseball and the love of the game. Just like the USA, country trumps everything and if your life or career is going nowhere, this could be 'the only game in town'.

For the purpose of making money for the owners, petty rivalries are encouraged. It keeps you financially engaged for 162 games and gives the players a 'script' for the money they make.

Japanese baseball is polite. North American baseball is not. Japanese fans are into every pitch while our TV commentators babble endlessly about everything EXCEPT the game. They(the Japanese) could teach us a few things....



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[True Dough]

3. I haven't seem much action

and I've heard/read that the Puerto Rican team is strong.

I did watch the game between the U.S. and Venezuela last night and, as expected, the U.S. roster is like a dream team. What I didn't expect was for the Venezuelan line up to be so impressive. I recognized every one of their hitters, just didn't realize all of them came from the same country! Their pitching, particularly the bullpen, isn't as deep as the Americans, so that was their downfall.

[CanSocDem]

4. I'm surprised...

...by the teams that are 'competitive'. The Netherlands....?????

And the ones that aren't. Cuba...????

Now it just comes down to looking for individual achievement and hoping that none of my guys gets injured.

Anyway, these games are still more exciting than grapefruit league games.



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