BBTF.org/m/wbc : World Baseball Classic Semi-Final Number 2 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. RollingWave posted on March 18, 2013 at 05:55 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I hope Honkballer and the DR can put up a show comparable to the PR / Japan one.

2. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:22 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

A Dutch-PR final in the WBC would be equivalent to, say, US-Australia in the World Cup soccer final.

3. Random Transaction Generator posted on March 18, 2013 at 10:51 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

A Germany-Finland Olympic ice hockey gold medal game.

4. puck posted on March 18, 2013 at 11:03 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Hasn't Finland medaled in ice hockey several times?

5. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 11:04 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oh, c'mon, Puerto Rico isn't THAT bad.

6. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide posted on March 18, 2013 at 11:23 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Hasn't Finland medaled in ice hockey several times?

Yes. Bronze in 2010, Silver in 2006, Bronze in 1998 and 1994, Silver in 1988.

7. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 18, 2013 at 11:33 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

In soccer you hear the term "golden generation" from time to time. It's generally used to note a team that while not traditionally great has put together a particularly strong team. The Ivory Coast, Belgium and a few years back Russia had teams this was applied to. I mention this because I think Dutch baseball seems to be in such a phase right now. They did well in '09 and they are doing well now and in four years could be even better if Profar, Bogaerts and Simmons progress as hoped by their teams.

8. Baldrick posted on March 18, 2013 at 12:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm going to the game tonight. Pretty excited! I haven't seen live baseball since September.

9. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 12:26 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

In soccer you hear the term "golden generation" from time to time. It's generally used to note a team that while not traditionally great has put together a particularly strong team. The Ivory Coast, Belgium and a few years back Russia had teams this was applied to. I mention this because I think Dutch baseball seems to be in such a phase right now. They did well in '09 and they are doing well now and in four years could be even better if Profar, Bogaerts and Simmons progress as hoped by their teams.

I remember reading somewhere that the Korean baseball team is said to have been in one of those phases until recently as well, although they don't quite fit the definition.

10. cmd600 posted on March 18, 2013 at 12:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

In soccer you hear the term "golden generation" from time to time. It's generally used to note a team that while not traditionally great has put together a particularly strong team. The Ivory Coast, Belgium and a few years back Russia had teams this was applied to. I mention this because I think Dutch baseball seems to be in such a phase right now. They did well in '09 and they are doing well now and in four years could be even better if Profar, Bogaerts and Simmons progress as hoped by their teams.

Isn't eight years (and longer, considering those last three names will likely be around longer than 2017) getting to be a fairly long time for one generation of athletes? I see the Netherlands doing pretty well in 2009, even better this year, and with even more special talent coming down the line as a sign that whatever they are doing to develop baseball players is working pretty damn well as opposed to lucking into their best generation of talent.

11. puck posted on March 18, 2013 at 01:28 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't know the Netherlands players much at all besides Andruw, Profar, Balentien, Bernadina, and Bogarts. (I think I've heard of the last 3.) Are most of their players from Curacao? I did notice one of the starting pitchers has been pitching in the Dutch league most of his career.

12. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 01:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't know the Netherlands players much at all besides Andruw, Profar, Balentien, Bernadina, and Bogarts. (I think I've heard of the last 3.) Are most of their players from Curacao? I did notice one of the starting pitchers has been pitching in the Dutch league most of his career.

They mostly are from Curacao, although there are also a couple from Aruba. The European Dutch are mainly pitchers.

13. Voros McCracken of Pinkus posted on March 18, 2013 at 03:14 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Greg Halman was a European. So sad...

14. vortex of dissipation posted on March 18, 2013 at 03:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I remember reading somewhere that the Korean baseball team is said to have been in one of those phases until recently as well, although they don't quite fit the definition.

They did win the Olympic Gold Medal in 2008, and made it to the final of the WBC in 2009, which is a pretty good pair of achievements.

15. Dave Spiwak posted on March 18, 2013 at 06:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How many of team Italy's players were born in Italy? I assume most of the team was made up of Italian Americans. Thanks in advance for the answer -- I'm sure it's been asked here before.

16. Jarrod HypnerotomachiaPoliphili(Teddy F. Ballgame) posted on March 18, 2013 at 07:36 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

One source says seven players. I think eleven actually play in the Italian league.

17. Good cripple hitter posted on March 18, 2013 at 07:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Damnit, I just finished that:

players on Italy's roster who were born in Italy

Alex Maestri (2 starts, 7 IP, 1 win, 1.23 ERA)
Luca Panerati (3 games, 1 start, 3.2 IP, ERA of 0)
Alex Liddi (5 games, 17 AB, .235/.364/.235, 3 runs, 3 rbi)
Alessandro Vaglio (2 games, 1 AB)
Lorenzo Avagnina (3 games, 5 AB)
Mario Chiarini (5 games, 17 AB, .235/.300/.235 2 runs 3 rbi)
Stefano Desimoni (3 games, 1 AB, 1 run)

18. Good cripple hitter posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Non-Italian players from the Italian League:

Chris Cooper
Tiago Da Silva
Marco Grifantini
Nick Pugliese
Anthony Granato (although he hasn't played since 2011)
Juan Infante
Jack Santora

5 of the Italian players play in Italy, so that makes 12 Italian League players who played for Italy in the WBC.

19. JJ1986 posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

5 of the Italian players play in Italy

Which one besides Liddi doesn't?

20. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Which one besides Liddi doesn't?

I know Maestri is in Japan....

21. Good cripple hitter posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Right, Maestri last pitched with Orix.

22. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:28 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

By looks of pregame show, attendance will be far smaller than last night, and it doesn't make me confident for tomorrow. The San Francisco experiment not going to turn out as well as how it was in San Diego and LA.

23. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:45 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Seriously, San Francisco- all of the semis and finals games in LA and SD were close to packed houses. You fail, SF.

24. Dale Sams posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:47 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So the Netherlands introductory music is...the Theme from Platoon? I know we used to fear the DR going commie but man...

25. Tschingsch posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Damn, I was looking forward to hearing the announcements for the Netherlands team in Dutch like they're doing for all the other countries.

26. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Do you think the Dutch know that the rest of the world thinks their language inherently funny?

27. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Am I the only one who finds the anthems simply being played in this fashion rather than sung by some flavor of the week pop star is roughly 1,000,000,000 times more respectful and stirring?

28. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 18, 2013 at 08:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Hey Harold, ARod was born in and played for the US.

29. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:01 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Hey Harold, ARod was born in and played for the US.

A-Rod is a citizen of the world and plays with whatever country he wants.

30. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

If the Dutch beat the Dominicans the DR might try to annex Curacao and Aruba to prevent it from happening again.

31. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The Dutch language is spelled funny, but it just sounds like German. None of the inherent hilarity of Swedish.

32. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:14 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Volquez blinded by the Honkbal Magic.

33. beer on a stick posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:14 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

A-Rod is a citizen of the world and plays with whatever country he wants.

Ichiro could do that if he wanted to.

GAAN HONKBAL!

34. Weekly Journalist_ posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yeah this crowd is depressingly bad. We need Asian teams or Mexico in the finals from now on.

35. Tschingsch posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My guess is that a lot of seats were bought by Japanese fans, and with them out they're not showing up. I know I looked into buying ticket strips for the series, and a lot of the empty seats I was not able to get. Also, it looks like the outfield is pretty well filled.

36. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Nice catch!

37. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yeah this crowd is depressingly bad. We need Asian teams or Mexico in the finals from now on.

Or put it in LA or something where the attendance will be high just because they go to everything.

38. Weekly Journalist_ posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Nice grab!

39. zonk posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The Dutch language is spelled funny, but it just sounds like German. None of the inherent hilarity of Swedish.

I always thought Dutch sounded like German after a German spent a night hitting Amsterdam's hash bars...

40. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

that fan almost pulled a bartman

41. zonk posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Is that Ruben's kid?

42. RollingWave posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Or put it in LA or something where the attendance will be high just because they go to everything.

and also leave everything early ;)

43. zonk posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:30 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That big overhand curve is like 5 mph from being an eephus pitch...

44. Good cripple hitter posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:32 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Is that Ruben's kid?

No, Moises is an unrelated Sierra. Ruben's kid is also named Ruben. Ruben Jr recently parlayed a .063/.059/.063 stint over 7 games in the Frontier League into a minor league deal with the White Sox.

45. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:32 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Or put it in LA or something where the attendance will be high just because they go to everything.

and also leave everything early ;)

Hey, money is money.

46. Dale Sams posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:33 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I question the music choice for the new Jackie Robinson movie.

47. RollingWave posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

why is Cano shortening to bunt? especially against a 86mph pitcher?

48. Gamingboy posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:45 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Eenhorn. It's Dutch for Unicorn.

49. zonk posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Ha! Victory!

I've been begging my Dutch colleagues for weeks to catch the Honkbal fever - just got an IM from one of them "OK, so I'm up at this ungodly hour. Why is it you Americans are not very good at this game?"

50. RollingWave posted on March 18, 2013 at 09:50 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

lol

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Freeman was set to play for Canada

Reader Comments and Retorts

Wbc Think Factory