BBTF.org/m/wbc : WBC Day 7 OMNICHATTER

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Freeman was set to play for Canada

(www.torontosun.com)

posted on March 23, 2013 at 10:24 AM by The Mighty Quinn to wbc | 3 comment(s)

But does he know the lyrics to ” Let’s Go to the Mall” or the “Beaver Song”?

“LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. - How many national teams can boast having a suitable replacement for an MVP winner?

Had Joey Votto’s knee prevented him from playing in this month’s World Baseball Classic, Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was ready and willing to wear the maple leaf.

“I told the players association to make sure they let the WBC know that both my parents were born in Canada,” Freeman ...

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1. Weekly Journalist_ posted on March 07, 2013 at 10:19 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

What a fantastic slate of games...the last three anyway.

2. Random Transaction Generator posted on March 07, 2013 at 10:21 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

The one game I really wanted to watch this week (Canada vs Italy) is during the 3 hour period where I won't have access to a TV (driving).
I'm hoping it's on the radio (in/around Toronto), but I'm not betting on it.

3. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 10:43 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

What a fantastic slate of games...the last three anyway.

What, you mean you don't want to see Anthony Rizzo, Chris Denorfia and Alex Liddi try their hardest to avoid being mercy-ruled?

4. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 01:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Now that I think about it, the fact that I said that probably ensures it'll be a 10-inning barnburner.

5. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 07, 2013 at 01:33 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm going to be really excited when we get to the day where the blowout rule is done away with. It'll be a sign that baseball worldwide is really growing.

6. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 01:36 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Also, can somebody please tell Jon Morosi to stop trying to help? His intentions are good but his methods have zero tact.

7. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 02:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

What, you mean you don't want to see ~~Anthony Rizzo, Chris Denorfia and Alex Liddi~~ Frank Catalanotto, Jason Grilli and Alex Liddi try their hardest to avoid being mercy-ruled?

That's what they said in 2009. Now it's about how quickly Canada can mercy-rule Italy so that they can get revenge for Matt Stairs and Stubby Clapp.

Plus Pat Venditte is on team Italy. Sure, he can only throw with one arm right now, but you can watch him pitch and imagine the possibilities.

8. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 02:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Bad news for Canada: Brett Lawrie's ribcage injury flared up and he'll probably miss the WBC. Although apparently he'll stick around for the first game, so maybe it's a case of he's going to wait a bit before making a final decision or something. Although I'm guessing it's just a case of wanting to stick around with the team for at least one game before he has to leave.

9. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 04:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Mexico-Italy not full by any means whatsoever (probably a few thousand), but still better than basically every non-Home Team game in the Asian pools. Although admittedly, having these lower-interest games in Talking Stick helps as well.

10. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 04:14 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

At the very least it looks and sounds a lot better than the B games that I've seen this year.

11. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 04:19 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Woah, Italia/Italia-America!

12. Random Transaction Generator posted on March 07, 2013 at 04:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Catalanotto sighting!
(Italy's 3B coach)

13. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 04:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That's good to see, I was wondering if Frankie Cat was still involved with team Italy somehow.

14. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 04:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

If Lopez is knocked out of this game early- which seems likely- it could hobble Mexico the whole tournament, given pitch-count rules and rest day considerations.

15. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 04:30 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The game between Canada and Italy tomorrow has been moved to Chase Field and moved to 2:08 ET due to weather concerns.

Given that they were selling tickets for that game assuming it was going to be at Walking stick and priced accordingly, THAT will resemble the Asian Pool B-games

16. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 04:45 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

WHO IS KARIM GARCIA?

17. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 05:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This game has moved back to what I thought it'd be like...

18. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 05:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wait, did DREW BUTERA JUST HIT A HOME RUN, EQUALING HIS TOTAL THAT HE'LL HAVE DURING THE REGULAR SEASON THIS YEAR?

19. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 07, 2013 at 05:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

And now it's back again.

Early in the tournament but my favorite thing is that the teams that should have been punching bags have so far been competitive.

20. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 05:38 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't know how they come up with the rankings, but the broadcast claimed Italy's ranked 9th in the world, and Mexico's ranked 11th.

21. Devin has a deep burning passion for fuzzy socks posted on March 07, 2013 at 05:42 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That would appear to be correct by the 2012 IBAF rankings.

I note there's a big dropoff from Venezuela at 8 to Italy at 9.

[Edited to add]: And the DR is down at 13, so I wouldn't put a lot of stock in it for WBC purposes.

22. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 05:44 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't know how they come up with the rankings, but the broadcast claimed Italy's ranked 9th in the world, and Mexico's ranked 11th.

Well, it partly probably has to do with resources and players available. Mexico's best players are usually busy playing professionally, often high-up, and Mexico's baseball federation probably doesn't have all of that money. Italy, meanwhile, while it's a niche sport there, they usually are able to get most of their best players (from their league) and get some marginal Minor League prospects of Italian descent.

23. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 05:46 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

To the edit from Devin: Much like Mexico, the DR suffers from the fact that the national federation is often underfunded and poorly run, and most of the ballplayers really only become available for WBCs. When it comes time for other tournaments, they usually are left with the leftovers.

24. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 05:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Just to give an example of what Team Dominican usually trots out in non-WBC competition, take a look at what they sent out in the 2011 IBAF World Cup.

25. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Thanks for the explanations. That makes sense.

26. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm enjoying the four old Mexican fans behind the plate. They seem to be enjoying the experience immensely. It's possible that they may have enjoyed an adult beverage.

27. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:04 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Is it safe to say that this would be the best soccer game in the WBC?

Mexico once again grabs the lead!

28. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Brazil-Japan wouldn't be bad. Generally with the US and these two teams would be a decent World Cup group.

29. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Has any player used the WBC to catapult himself to a big league job or meaningful minor league shot in the first couple of tourneys ?

30. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Does Dice-K count? I'm struggling to think of anyone else, but he's an obvious example.

31. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:26 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Has any player used the WBC to catapult himself to a big league job or meaningful minor league shot in the first couple of tourneys ?

Peter Moylan.

32. Bitter Calculus Instructor posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

[29] Pudge Rodriguez was unsigned in the 2009 offseason and he played in the WBC. He turned a strong WBC performance into a contract with the Astros. Of course, he was already an established MLB player and probably could have gotten at least an NRI to spring training if it wasn't a WBC year.

33. Bitter Calculus Instructor posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Italy down to their last three outs

34. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

And Romo is coming, BCI.

35. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Little Nicky Punto!

36. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Who knew Nick Punto had it in him?

37. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:19 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Forza Italia!

38. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I love how commentators now precede statements with "It's a small sample size but..." "It's a small sample size but Menechino is 2-2 off Rivera" and so on.

That was one hell of an AB.

39. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Surprised the runner on second didn't score there.

40. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So was I. I thought there was a chance he'd go for it, but it looked like he didn't even think about it.

41. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wow, that's a devastating error.

42. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

What's Italian for "Holy Crap"?

43. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

FORZA ITALIA!

44. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:26 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Edgar Gonzalez is killing this team.

45. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

If I'm Canada I'm feeling really good right now.

46. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Well, we'll be joining DR-Venezuela in progress...

47. Weekly Journalist_ posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

What a catastrophe for mexico

48. Good cripple hitter posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Game's not over, surely they have a shot against the Italian bullpen.

Nevermind, it's Jason Grilli.

49. Bitter Calculus Instructor posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Was it a good play by Cruz to cut down Rizzo or was it one of those grounders he shouldn't have been running on?

50. Gamingboy posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Game's not over, surely they have a shot against the Italian bullpen.

Jason Grilli is the Italian closer.

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Freeman was set to play for Canada

Reader Comments and Retorts

Wbc Think Factory