BBTF.org/m/wbc : World Baseball Classic OMNICHATTER Day 1

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 ...

Reader Comments and Retorts

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1. Double-Spin Mechanic posted on March 01, 2013 at 01:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Not everybody at once! Form a line. This will be an orderly chatter. Right? Anyone?

2. Good cripple hitter posted on March 01, 2013 at 02:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Well, I'm really excited about the opportunity to watch Taipei vs Australia. Doyle is on Australia's roster. I'm not sure if he'll be in the starting lineup, but even a blurry shot of him on the bench in a baseball uniform would be exciting for me.

Looking at Sportsnet's TV schedule, I'd be tempted to watch Cuba vs Japan at 5 AM next Wednesday, and the Puerto Rican pool games are all at reasonable hours.

It's semi-meaningful baseball in March, broadcast at bizarre hours. What's not to like?

3. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 01, 2013 at 02:19 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'll be up watching the game tonight. Seems like there would have been some logic in having the defending champs Japan open the tournament in a spot of honor type thing (the way the host nation typically starts the World Cup).

4. Gamingboy posted on March 01, 2013 at 02:36 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Starters tonight:

Chien-Ming Wang (CT) vs. Chris Oxspring (AUS)
Masahiro Tanaka (JPN) vs. Rafael Fernandes (BRA)
Suk-Min Yoon (KOR) vs. Diegomar Markwell (NED)

Actually, those aren't that bad of match-ups..

5. cmd600 posted on March 01, 2013 at 03:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Chris Perez out 3-4 weeks, team USA will have to dig deep and find a way to fill ~2 IP.

6. Gamingboy posted on March 01, 2013 at 03:05 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Chris Perez out 3-4 weeks, team USA will have to dig deep and find a way to fill ~2 IP.

Kyle Lohse, your country needs you!

7. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines posted on March 01, 2013 at 03:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Kyle Lohse is playing for the Iroquois Confederation team.

8. cmd600 posted on March 01, 2013 at 03:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Serious question though, do they even bother replacing him? I know if I'm GM-ing a team, there's no way in hell I let them take one of my better pitches out of camp this late in the process. Guys are already well into a system to get ready for the season. And with eight other relievers on the roster (most better than Perez), if you end up really needing him, you've done something wrong.

9. JJ1986 posted on March 01, 2013 at 03:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Is Brian Wilson healthy? They could take him and no GM would care.

10. Gamingboy posted on March 01, 2013 at 03:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

One thing to note is that there is a list of players (which hasn't been made public this year) of players who have agreed to act as back-ups if somebody gets hurt. For example, I'd read that Chase Headley is on that list in case a slugger or David Wright gets hurt, and that Jamey Carroll is prepared to work as a light-hitting-do-everything-guy if Willie Bloomquist goes down (thus officially confirming that Jamey Carroll is a poor man's Willie Bloomquist). Presumably somebody on that list will replace Perez.

Or, less likely but I guess possible, there's the chance that one of the previous players who turned it down has changed their mind (I seem to have read that Clayton Kershaw regrets how he didn't say yes- although if Kershaw were to join they'd have to make Holland or Gio Gonzalez a long reliever).

Actually, the bigger worry I have is that this Perez injury will make the Indians do everything-short-of-officially-and-publicly-restraining-him to keep Pestano from the WBC.

11. esseff posted on March 01, 2013 at 03:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Just checked out ticket prices for the final at AT&T this month. Sample price: Back of the outfield bleachers (26th row and up) are $94 per ticket plus $21 in tack-on charges for $115 total.

12. cmd600 posted on March 01, 2013 at 03:55 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Just checked out ticket prices for the final at AT&T this month. Sample price: Back of the outfield bleachers (26th row and up) are $94 per ticket plus $21 in tack-on charges for $115 total.

$70 on stubhub (hint: I've got an extra ticket I'm looking to move)

13. Gamingboy posted on March 01, 2013 at 05:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Morosi is saying J.J. Putz might be the replacement for Perez.

14. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire posted on March 01, 2013 at 06:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Awesome! I just arrived back to spend a week in the U.S. so I doubt my jet lag will let me stay up but I'll watch 'em on tape delay tomorrow.

15. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 01, 2013 at 08:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Over/under on how much Brazil gets outscored by in Pool play?

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

Over/under on how much Brazil gets outscored by in Pool play?

More than Brazil would like but fewer than you'd think.

17. The Yankee Clapper posted on March 01, 2013 at 09:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Chien-Ming Wang (CT) vs. Chris Oxspring (AUS)

Wang is auditioning for a MLB contract. Hope he makes it. It's been a long time since he's been healthy, but he was pretty good once.

18. RollingWave posted on March 01, 2013 at 09:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Over/under on how much Brazil gets outscored by in Pool play?

probably about the same they would outscore those guys if they were playing soccer?

19. Gamingboy posted on March 01, 2013 at 09:48 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Actually, depending on how badly Brazil beats up on China, there is actually a chance they finish with a positive pythagorean. The real question is: How much will China get outscored in pool play?

20. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 01, 2013 at 09:50 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

More than Brazil would like but fewer than you'd think.

Yeah, I just looked at their roster, they have a lot more players in pro baseball than I expected. China is really the runt of the litter in that division.

21. Gamingboy posted on March 01, 2013 at 10:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Really, the only reason China is even in this group is because in 2009 they played the game of their lives against a sub-par Chinese Taipei team (the CPBL didn't send all of it's best players due to a dispute between the CPBL and the Taiwanese baseball federation, if memory serves) that had a bad day.

22. RollingWave posted on March 01, 2013 at 10:47 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

China is getting better I think they may not be blew out by Brazil though obviously that depend on the day.

If Wang is you know.. anything close to Wang, Taiwan should do well.

Though it should be noted that interestingly, Taiwan and Korea both played poorly in exhibition games in the last couple of days. so who the hell knows. baseball on a small sample is insanely unpredictable.

23. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 01, 2013 at 11:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm slightly disappointed that Taiwan isn't in the same pool as China, an upset victory by the PRC over the RoC would probably get some play on the state press organs in the mainland and might increase the general population's interest in baseball. Plus, I remember playing basketball in Wudaokuo, some of those kids would be way more suited for other sports.*

*note: so am I, I am horrific at basketball.

24. Karl from NY posted on March 01, 2013 at 11:01 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Serious question though, do they even bother replacing him?

Sure. You can always find some AAA journeyman or unsigned guy still trying to get a camp invite.

Wonder if Roger Clemens is is in game shape?

25. Gamingboy posted on March 01, 2013 at 11:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

MLB Tonight is on. Apparently they will be doing a feature on the 2009 Netherlands team. And everybody loves honkbal.

Okay, different prop bet that nobody is taking: What happens more within the next three of their teams games- Barry Larkin wins or Shane Larkin losses?

26. Gamingboy posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:17 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oh, such Honkbal memories.

27. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:30 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm going with Shane Larkin losses.

And that piece on 2009 was great. Delmonico was very candid and interesting.

28. Gamingboy posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:31 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oh, fancy clockworky opening thingy....

29. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:32 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

The thing about it that struck me was the intensity of the Dominican players. The naysayers can voice their opinions on the tournament but watching those guys it's hard to believe it is some kind of meaningless exhibition.

30. Gamingboy posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:33 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

The thing about it that struck me was the intensity of the Dominican players. The naysayers can voice their opinions on the tournament but watching those guys it's hard to believe it is some kind of meaningless exhibition.

Jose, I get the feeling that the naysayers don't actually watch the WBC, so they just assume that their assumptions are reality, when they aren't.

31. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:36 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

The American players were definitely in it to win it in 2009, after they took it lightly in 2006. I don't think people get how much playing for ones country matters to a lot of players. We're going to see a lot of players who view this as one of the most important things they'll play in, and that's exactly how it should be. And hopefully when I'm watching the 13th WBC at age 70, I'll be joined in my excitement about this.

32. Good cripple hitter posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:37 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yes! Doyle's starting for Australia!

33. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:39 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like Wang in a game like this. With the pitch count rules he's the kind of guy if he's on could really eat up some innings compared to other starters.

34. Gamingboy posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:41 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wang looks good so far, albeit with just two batters so far.

35. Gamingboy posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:41 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wait, wait, what? He looked safe to me...

36. Good cripple hitter posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:41 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Is it just me, or was that a horrible job by the first base umpire?

37. Fly should without a doubt be number !!!!! posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:42 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

What was that?

38. Fly should without a doubt be number !!!!! posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:42 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

That was possibly the worst call I've seen since the perfect game.

39. Gamingboy posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:43 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is in Taiwan, so it is entirely possible that a crime syndicate is threatening that ump's family.

40. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:43 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Didn't look even close to me.

41. Good cripple hitter posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:45 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is in Taiwan, so it is entirely possible that a crime syndicate is threatening that ump's family.

You know a call is bad when a batter has to be restrained from attacking the umpire by his first base coach in the first inning of the first game of an international tournament.

I love how the broadcast didn't even show a replay or mention that it looked like a bad call.

42. SM posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:45 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Are they really not going to show any replay of that play at first?

43. Fly should without a doubt be number !!!!! posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:46 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Small ball!

Also, that's not how I've heard Cheh-Suan Lin's name pronounced.

44. Fly should without a doubt be number !!!!! posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:46 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

They're all in with the Taiwanese flags on the official merchandise. I didn't think that was allowed.

45. Gamingboy posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:47 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Are they really not going to show any replay of that play at first?

I don't know. It's very much a possibility that this is a pool feed that where the replay isn't available unless whoever is manning the control room decides to use it.

46. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:47 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm no expert but the play by play guy seems to have done his homework on the Taiwanese names. He's not hesitating or struggling at all with them. I don't know I'd he actually IS pronouncing them correctly but he has me believing he is.

47. Fly should without a doubt be number !!!!! posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:48 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Does Taiwan have flocked helmets? Classy.

48. Fly should without a doubt be number !!!!! posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:48 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

They just mentioned the call and are complaining. That's good.

49. Gamingboy posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:48 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Lance Barksdale is at first? Is he still suffering jet lag?

50. Fly should without a doubt be number !!!!! posted on March 02, 2013 at 12:49 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is a pretty nice looking ballpark. I was expecting a dome.

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Freeman was set to play for Canada

Reader Comments and Retorts

Wbc Think Factory