Fun tournament so far! Canada got a bit lucky against the UK despite the score.

And the Germany-Czech game had a lively atmosphere (though I was seated behind 3B right inbetween a German softball team and a group of about thirty Czechs who had come down for the game).

The quality of play doesn't seem too bad, though pitching depth is apparently an issue for everyone but Canada so far.

Nearly six hours after it was originally scheduled to begin, Friday night's World Baseball Classic qualifying-round game between France and South Africa was suspended due to rain.

The elimination game at Roger Dean Stadium was tied, 2-2, after nine innings and will be resumed in the top of the 10th inning Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. It was initially scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday night, only hours after Israel beat Spain, 4-2. But a consistent rain storm pushed back first pitch by two hours and 18 minutes, and another flash of heavy rain delayed the game 26 more minutes.

At 12:52 a.m. ET on Saturday morning, another rain storm passed through the area, finally causing officials to suspend the game and, at one point, knocking out the power at Roger Dean Stadium.

Looks like another 3,000+ crowd in Regensburg. GB leads CR 12-4 in Bottom 8.

GB beats CR 12-5. Will face loser of Canada-Germany. Czechs are the first team eliminated, thanks to the whole rain suspension in Jupiter. Canada-Germany figures to probably be the best game of the tournament as far as the level of play goes. Germany is probably the only team in the pool with even the slightest shot of beating Canada.

GB beats CR 12-5. Will face loser of Canada-Germany. Czechs are the first team eliminated, thanks to the whole rain suspension in Jupiter. Canada-Germany figures to probably be the best game of the tournament as far as the level of play goes. Germany is probably the only team in the pool with even the slightest shot of beating Canada.

Plus the final could be a Canada-Germany rematch. Or a Canada GB rematch. Either way, THIS TIME ITS PERSONAL!

I was quite surprised for the turnout in GB-Czech. It was a dreadful rainy morning, the game was delayed by 45 minutes. They made an announcment that they were opening the behind home plate section for anyone who wanted to sit there, which led me to believe they were expecting a sparse turnout. But it ended up being a fairly big crowd. Lots of Czechs there, and they were having a good time despite the score.

It was never really in doubt but the Brits didn't exactly play great baseball throughout.

Looks like the France-SA game was supposed to be underway again, but has been delayed. Anyone know the status?

Looks like the France-SA game was supposed to be underway again, but has been delayed. Anyone know the status?

I think it's in rain delay again. Because, y'know... Florida. Really, the Jupiter pool is just a mess. I understand that none of the teams in that pool really has quality stadiums in their country (okay, Spain does- they still have one of the stadiums from the 1992 Olympics in working order, but considering the economic climate there maybe MLB was weary), but it's obvious that it'll be, by far, the least attended of the pools... and the rain isn't going to help.


I'm guessing that the November pool in Panama City will be the most attended: in the 2011 Baseball World Cup, for example, they were getting 4-figure attendance for most of the games that involved Latin American countries, at least before the rains came. Heck, the opening game, between Panama and Greece, had 20,000 people there.

Taipei will probably get big crowds for the home team's games, but if memory serves the Taiwanese have never really attended non-CT games very much during their tournaments, and I have to think that that will be even more true for a New Zealand-Thailand matchup.

Canada-Germany figures to probably be the best game of the tournament as far as the level of play goes.

I watched most of Spain-Israel and thought it looked pretty good. Canada has a stronger team than Israel, but do you really think Germany is stronger than Spain?

I watched most of Spain-Israel and thought it looked pretty good. Canada has a stronger team than Israel, but do you really think Germany is stronger than Spain?

It'd be close. Probably would depend on who was pitching, but I'd give the slight edge to the Germans. Have been more impressed by them.

After the introduction, they've gone back to the logo. Apparently there was a brief rain delay so it hasn't started yet.

Walk, walk, strikeout, home run for Canada to start the game.

Boom. Jimmy Von Ostrand gives the Canadians an early lead, 3-0. Burgos not doing well.

And Jimmy V. Ostrand is, like, what, third in the depth chart for Canada at 1B in the WBC proper?

Avery has no idea where the ball is going right now

Neither does Adam Loewen.

Edit: I made that post before the second throw.

Video Link

And Jimmy V. Ostrand is, like, what, third in the depth chart for Canada at 1B in the WBC proper?

Forget Votto, sweet swingin' Jimmy V is first string all the way.

Jimmy Von Ostrand with a mammoth blast. (or LF is really short in that stadium)

Small ball by Germany. Stretching a single into a double and then two outs that move him over and in.

Exchange from the commentators:

"Czechs dig the longball is no longer in play as the Czech Republic was eliminated this morning"
"I bet you spent hours working on that one."

That Germany has it tied up this late should make Canada worried.

South Africa beat France 5-2 in 11. Although the horribly depleted and no doubt tired South Africans are probably going to crushed by Spain, I'm glad they won a game, really deserve it and it's good that an African country can have success in baseball, however briefly.

Tyson Gillies allows Canada to go ahead again. It just carried out of there.

If Canada wins this game, and then loses the final against GB/GER, could they be the only team to be eliminated out of two WBC tournaments with a winning record of 2-1?

If Canada wins this game, and then loses the final against GB/GER, could they be the only team to be eliminated out of two WBC tournaments with a winning record of 2-1?

Probably. I personally think they should have gone with the straight double elimination instead of this modified one.

Yeah, I follow a lot of gaming tournaments (nerd) and usually the team coming from the "loser's bracket" has to beat the team from the winner's bracket twice. I guess maybe that's unfeasible for these qualifiers for some reason, but it's just weird that every team EXCEPT the team that starts 2-0 gets to lose once without being eliminated.

Yeah, I follow a lot of gaming tournaments (nerd) and usually the team coming from the "loser's bracket" has to beat the team from the winner's bracket twice. I guess maybe that's unfeasible for these qualifiers for some reason, but it's just weird that every team EXCEPT the team that starts 2-0 gets to lose once without being eliminated.

Given how MLB and the IBAF tinker with the WBC, I'm going to on a limb and say that if Canada is upset by Germany we'll see them go to the full-on double elimination.

Though it would be kind of funny (and painful) to have a 4-4 overall record and never advance a series.