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Thursday, March 07, 2013

WBC Day 7 OMNICHATTER

The WBC really gets going with four games across three countries!

3:00 PM- Mexico vs. Italy, Pool D
6:30 PM- Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela, Pool C
10:00 PM- Cuba vs. Netherlands, Pool 1 (2nd round)
5 AM (March 8th)- Taipei vs. Japan, Pool 1 (2nd round)

All games on MLB Network and ESPN Deportes (or wherever you find it in your country).

Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 12:40 AM | 329 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: international, wbc, world baseball classic

Reader Comments and Retorts

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1. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 10:19 AM (#4382706)

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

2. Random Transaction Generator Posted: March 07, 2013 at 10:21 AM (#4382709)

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: March 07, 2013 at 10:43 AM (#4382723)

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: March 07, 2013 at 01:11 PM (#4382877)

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: March 07, 2013 at 01:33 PM (#4382895)

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: March 07, 2013 at 01:36 PM (#4382896)

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: March 07, 2013 at 02:10 PM (#4382929)

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: March 07, 2013 at 02:35 PM (#4382965)

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: March 07, 2013 at 04:02 PM (#4383050)

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: March 07, 2013 at 04:14 PM (#4383069)

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

11. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 04:19 PM (#4383076)

Woah, Italia/Italia-America!

12. Random Transaction Generator Posted: March 07, 2013 at 04:21 PM (#4383078)

Catalanotto sighting!
(Italy's 3B coach)

13. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 04:22 PM (#4383081)

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

14. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 04:27 PM (#4383089)

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: March 07, 2013 at 04:30 PM (#4383091)

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: March 07, 2013 at 04:45 PM (#4383106)

WHO IS KARIM GARCIA?

17. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 05:17 PM (#4383146)

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

18. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 05:34 PM (#4383172)

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: March 07, 2013 at 05:35 PM (#4383175)

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: March 07, 2013 at 05:38 PM (#4383181)

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: March 07, 2013 at 05:42 PM (#4383189)

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: March 07, 2013 at 05:44 PM (#4383195)

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: March 07, 2013 at 05:46 PM (#4383201)

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: March 07, 2013 at 05:49 PM (#4383208)

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: March 07, 2013 at 06:02 PM (#4383230)

Thanks for the explanations. That makes sense.

26. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: March 07, 2013 at 06:03 PM (#4383232)

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: March 07, 2013 at 06:04 PM (#4383234)

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: March 07, 2013 at 06:12 PM (#4383242)

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: March 07, 2013 at 06:18 PM (#4383248)

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: March 07, 2013 at 06:22 PM (#4383251)

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

31. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 06:26 PM (#4383255)

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: March 07, 2013 at 06:27 PM (#4383256)

[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: March 07, 2013 at 07:00 PM (#4383297)

Italy down to their last three outs

34. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:03 PM (#4383299)

And Romo is coming, BCI.

35. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:17 PM (#4383305)

Little Nicky Punto!

36. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:17 PM (#4383306)

Who knew Nick Punto had it in him?

37. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:19 PM (#4383307)

Forza Italia!

38. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:22 PM (#4383311)

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: March 07, 2013 at 07:22 PM (#4383312)

Surprised the runner on second didn't score there.

40. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:24 PM (#4383313)

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: March 07, 2013 at 07:25 PM (#4383315)

Wow, that's a devastating error.

42. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:25 PM (#4383316)

What's Italian for "Holy Crap"?

43. RMc don't hate anyone Asian Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:25 PM (#4383317)

FORZA ITALIA!

44. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:26 PM (#4383318)

Edgar Gonzalez is killing this team.

45. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:27 PM (#4383321)

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

46. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:27 PM (#4383322)

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

47. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:29 PM (#4383323)

What a catastrophe for mexico

48. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:29 PM (#4383324)

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

Nevermind, it's Jason Grilli.

49. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:29 PM (#4383325)

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: March 07, 2013 at 07:29 PM (#4383326)

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

Jason Grilli is the Italian closer.

51. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:30 PM (#4383328)

Fratelli ditalia!!!

52. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:30 PM (#4383329)

Rizzo was running on contact and didn't even have a shot. He was halfway home when the throw arrived.

53. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:31 PM (#4383330)

Following on gameday, and it doesn't have Gonzalez with an error. I take it Rizzo double should have been called an error?

54. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:32 PM (#4383331)

Yeah, it clanked off Gonzalez's glove. He might've been fighting the sun, but there's no way the winning run should've scored on the fly ball.

55. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:32 PM (#4383332)

Yeah, it clanked off Gonzalez's glove. He might've been fighting the sun, but there's no way the winning run should've scored on the fly ball.

Even considering that LF isn't usually Edgar's position...

56. RMc don't hate anyone Asian Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:34 PM (#4383334)

Michigander Jason Grilli in for Italy!

57. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:37 PM (#4383342)

When does agon bat this inning.

58. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:38 PM (#4383344)

Gonzalez is in the hole.

59. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:40 PM (#4383345)

That was possibly the worst possible result. Flyout, didn't even move the runner up or anything.

60. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:40 PM (#4383347)

Couldn't the USA use grilli?

61. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:41 PM (#4383348)

Couldn't the USA use grilli?

Yeah, but he signed up for Italy very early on.

62. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:43 PM (#4383350)

This is not a good situation for Grilli.

63. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:44 PM (#4383352)

According to gameday, Grilli wasn't anywhere near the zone with those last four pitches.

64. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:44 PM (#4383354)

Grilli can bark all he wants but that looked outside to me.

Wish he's gotten the call but Gonzalez to decide the game is theater at its best.

65. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:45 PM (#4383355)

Drama!!

66. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:45 PM (#4383356)

Just noticed the daytime WBC was happening! And I tune in for a winning-run-on-first, Adrian Gonzalez up situation. Yay baseball!

67. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:45 PM (#4383357)

Shadows screwed it up.

68. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:46 PM (#4383359)

Gonzalez just looks slower somehow. Something went wrong when he had that shoulder surgery, I dunno.

69. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:47 PM (#4383360)

This is about as tense as I can imagine spring baseball being.

70. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:48 PM (#4383361)

A little tenser now?

71. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:48 PM (#4383362)

Probably a break for italy

72. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:49 PM (#4383363)

Sure wish I was watching an Astros Royals split squad game

73. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:49 PM (#4383364)

I can't believe how tense this game turned out to be.

74. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:49 PM (#4383365)

That's not a terrible result for Italy. Don't like the winning run in scoring position but Cantu instead of Gonzo is better for Italy. Assuming Grilli can throw a strike of course..

75. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:49 PM (#4383366)

Cantu is always good in these WBC games.

76. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:49 PM (#4383367)

Bases juiced. It's all up the Jorge Cantu. Wonder if they'll bring the hook.

77. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:50 PM (#4383369)

Cantu's coming out of his shoes on this pitch...

Nope, good eye. This one...

Nope, controlled swing. That's not the Jorge Cantu I know.

78. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:50 PM (#4383370)

Grilli over 30 pitches, unavailable against Canada now.

79. Tschingsch Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:50 PM (#4383371)

Almost sounds like they're chanting "Beat L.A.", which would be funny...

80. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:51 PM (#4383372)

3-2, bases loaded.

81. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:51 PM (#4383373)

Wow, I was almost certain Grilli was in full on meltdown mode there.

82. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:51 PM (#4383374)

Haha awesome.

83. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:52 PM (#4383376)

He swung at ball four

84. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:52 PM (#4383377)

This is very bad news for Mexico and very good news for Canada.

85. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:52 PM (#4383378)

And Grilli gets out of it! Mexico is suddenly at risk of going to qualifiers.

86. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:53 PM (#4383380)

So, Cano is the reason they are ahead... and it's raining.

87. RMc don't hate anyone Asian Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:54 PM (#4383381)

Che ne dite!

88. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:56 PM (#4383385)

The DR is hammering Venezuela. The ghost of Chavez is very disappointed.

89. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:58 PM (#4383386)

Rain delay. Damnit.

90. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 07:59 PM (#4383387)

Rain delay! Drat, that'll pop a hole in the atmosphere and flow of this game, but it probably protects Venezuela here.

91. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:02 PM (#4383391)

The DR is hammering Venezuela. The ghost of Chavez is very disappointed

Is it true that they are going to give him the Lenin treatment?

92. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:06 PM (#4383392)

Is it true that they are going to give him the Lenin treatment?

I've only heard rumors about that. He was building a fancy mausoleum to be dedicated to Simon Bolivar, and the unkind rumor was that he was going to have himself placed there too. So who knows.

And while I think Chavez was an autocratic twit, I still find this highly amusing: "Chavez invested Venezuela’s oil wealth into social programs including state-run food markets, cash benefits for poor families, free health clinics and education programs. But those gains were meager compared with the spectacular construction projects that oil riches spurred in glittering Middle Eastern cities, including the world’s tallest building in Dubai and plans for branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums in Abu Dhabi." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=173521347

Yes, providing benefits to the poor is nowhere near as worthwhile as building a giant dick in a misogynistic slave state.

93. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:09 PM (#4383395)

They just said it probably will be 20 minutes before they start agian.

94. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:39 PM (#4383414)

Here we go. Cesar Jimenez of Seattle's system is in.

95. RollingWave Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:40 PM (#4383416)

Dear Baseball god.

I'll donate 20 bucks to BBTF if Taiwan wins tonight.

96. TVerik Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:43 PM (#4383420)

Isn't Nelson Cruz hurt?

97. Gamingboy Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:43 PM (#4383421)

I'm trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Did somebody get locked in the bathroom?

98. RollingWave Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:45 PM (#4383423)

As for Chavez:

He deserve a ton of criticism for the dictatorship, but not all aspect of his rule was without merits.

As for Venezuela vs Dubai, there is also the thing with UAE having 8 million pop vs 28 mill in Venzula, not to mention they only need to take care of half of those pop in the UAE (aka the once with the dick) . with a higher oil revenue too. I'm sure if Chavez only needed to cover for about 4 million people he would look a lot smarter too.

Also, whatever you want to say of the Arab world, the ancient clan system is also not without merits, their society was far more stable to begin with.

99. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:46 PM (#4383425)

OK, that's a weird delay.

100. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: March 07, 2013 at 08:48 PM (#4383428)

He deserve a ton of criticism for the dictatorship, but not all aspect of his rule was without merits.

Yeah, that's where I am on him. He reduced the number of people living on less than $2 a day from 35% to 13%, which is impressive. Those advances don't absolve him of his many faults, but he's not the same as an Ahmadinejad.

Baseball's back on!

Out by a MILE.

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