World Baseball Classic

[AppGuy04]

begins today for the US

live coverage of US vs Mexico at 4PM ET on ESPN 2

probably the best game of the day is at 1PM ET, Venezula vs Dominican Republic- two of the favorites coming into the tourney

[TexasTerror]

Does anyone care about the WBC?

I just do not think it's a big deal in the least bit. 'World Baseball Classic' just sounds like a bunch of exhibitions. It's not a 'World Championship' or even an 'Olympics'...of course, the USA baseball team couldn't even qualify for the 2004 Olympics and most people have the slightest clue about the US national baseball team as is...

It's like the 'World Cup of Hockey'. It was cool to have all the professionals, but what did it mean to most of the countries? Nothing. In hockey, it's all about the Olympics and to a lesser extent, the World Championships (which most in the US do not know exists)...

[Reed Rothchild]

I'll be watching. I can't get enough Baseball. College BBall is slow right now and I can't stand the NBA

[blur2005]

Does anyone care about the WBC?

I just do not think it's a big deal in the least bit. 'World Baseball Classic' just sounds like a bunch of exhibitions. It's not a 'World Championship' or even an 'Olympics'...of course, the USA baseball team couldn't even qualify for the 2004 Olympics and most people have the slightest clue about the US national baseball team as is...

It's like the 'World Cup of Hockey'. It was cool to have all the professionals, but what did it mean to most of the countries? Nothing. In hockey, it's all about the Olympics and to a lesser extent, the World Championships (which most in the US do not know exists)...
No, the whole point of the World Baseball Classic is that there are professionals representing their countries. The USA team that didn't qualify for the Olympics was made up of college players. That's the key difference, and the whole reason to watch these games.

[TexasTerror]

No, the whole point of the World Baseball Classic is that there are professionals representing their countries. The USA team that didn't qualify for the Olympics was made up of college players. That's the key difference, and the whole reason to watch these games.

The whole reason is to watch professional players who are no where near regular season (in many cases, in others, a few weeks away) playing shape play each other in exhibition games, representing their countries? Doesn't seem much different than the exhibition season... :nod:

FYI, Olympic team was collegiate and minor league players... :)

[UNHWildCats]

DAVID ORTIZ!

[AppGuy04]

DAVID ORTIZ!

It's Big Papi

Dominicans up 2-1 in the 4th Inning

Bartolo Colon pitched the first 3 for the Dominicans, Johan Santana for Venezuela

Carlos Zambrano now pitching for DR

[UNHWildCats]

Im a member of Sox Nation i know hes Big Papi im wearing my SENOR PAPI shirt today

[SoCon Din]

I'll be watching. Anytime a team suits up with the USA across their chest, I'm very interested. Same reason I'd rather watch the World Cup than Major League Soccer.

[HiHiYikas]

Not one player or manager wanted this thing to happen in March, and the next one is being planned 5 years from now so it doesn't coincide with the Winter Olympics.

I think the event has great potential, but I'm hoping this first one fails in a lot of ways so the leadership is forced to revamp and possibly move to November for 2011.

[SoCon Din]

Don't know about hoping for it to fail. Seems it just needs a little more promotion, time to hype the next event.

Just saw Chipper Jones homer to put the US ahead 2-0 in the eighth against the country to the south.

[UNHWildCats]

Not one player or manager wanted this thing to happen in March, and the next one is being planned 5 years from now so it doesn't coincide with the Winter Olympics.

I think the event has great potential, but I'm hoping this first one fails in a lot of ways so the leadership is forced to revamp and possibly move to November for 2011.

There not gonna move it til november, for fear more players will back out because of the long season just ending.

[ngineer]

I'm a big Phillies fan--since I can remember (about 50 years) and,yet, I cannot get excited about this....

[AppGuy04]

US digs too big a hole against Canada and can't get out. They lose 8-6 in a game that should have been about 6-3 towards the US. All these "gold glovers" that the US has, have been botching alot of plays in the field. Makes you wonder how exactly they determine who is a good fielder, because honestly, I could make most of these plays they are screwing up

[GannonFan]

I just can't get excited about this glorified exhibition - it's almost not even baseball out there. All the pitchers are on pitch counts so they're only out there for a handful of innings. I think catchers are on restricted time as well (can only play so many innings). And with this happening in early March, most of these guys are just getting back to playing after being off for several months. And finally, there's a reason that the baseball season is 162 games long over 6+ months - in any one game, anybody can win - it's not unusual to see major league teams lose a one-off game to one of their minor-league affiliates. The WBC is terribly short and really, anybody can probably win this thing - does that translate into who's better? Certainly not. Just a big waste of time if you ask me.

[AppGuy04]

I just can't get excited about this glorified exhibition - it's almost not even baseball out there. All the pitchers are on pitch counts so they're only out there for a handful of innings. I think catchers are on restricted time as well (can only play so many innings). And with this happening in early March, most of these guys are just getting back to playing after being off for several months. And finally, there's a reason that the baseball season is 162 games long over 6+ months - in any one game, anybody can win - it's not unusual to see major league teams lose a one-off game to one of their minor-league affiliates. The WBC is terribly short and really, anybody can probably win this thing - does that translate into who's better? Certainly not. Just a big waste of time if you ask me.

I think the groups are too small. Look at the US, they could lose one game and be out. There need to be more teams or same teams and larger groups

[AppGuy04]

For the US to advance they have to win vs South Africa Friday and...

Canada beats Mexico

or

Mexico beats Canada and scores more than 3 runs

[AppGuy04]

Mexico beats Canada 9-1; puts US in control of its own destiny

They beat South Africa today and they move on

[UNHWildCats]

USA Spanked South Africa.

Sun vs. Japan
Mon vs. South Korea
Wed vs. Mexico

[dbackjon]

USA Spanked South Africa.

Sun vs. Japan
Mon vs. South Korea
Wed vs. Mexico

As they should have.


Good games coming up.

[AppGuy04]

US is down to one game with Mexico

But honestly, I think Korea has to beat Japan for the US to have a chance to advance

[AppGuy04]

Korea wins, which helps the US. All they have to do is beat Mexico and they move on.
http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060316&content_id=1351985&vkey=wbc_news&fext=.jsp&sid=wbc