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Monday, February 16, 2009

WBC News: AP confirms that Japan is training, Byun-Hyung loses his Passport and more

Well, Japan has begun to train, the AP has confirmed (the Yomiuri reported it yesterday). Interesting note:

A crowd of 37,000 people packed into Sun Marine Stadium to watch the first official day of practice. Japan will begin defense of the title it won at the inaugural WBC in 2006 on March 5 at Tokyo Dome.

Japan Fans: the Green Bay Packers Fans of the World Baseball Classic.

In a embassing development for Korea, Byun-Hyun Kim will not be participating in the WBC, not because of injury, a team holding him out or the need to fight for a job, but because he lost his passport. Maybe Ruben Rivera stole it.

Cole Armstrong, a prospect for the White Sox, has dropped off of Team Canada.

Matt Lindstrom sees the Classic as a potential learning experience, and hopes to get some advice from Joe Nathan.

Mister Baseball has a preview of Team China, and he comes to the general conclusion I had: they don’t stand a chance of getting out of the first round.

Italian preview will wait for next time. Feel free to discuss what the all-time Italian-American Baseball team would be.

Gamingboy Posted: February 16, 2009 at 10:08 PM | 10 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: international, japan, miami, white sox

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1. CraigK Posted: February 16, 2009 at 11:32 PM (#3078450)

Don't know about a whole team, but the Italian-American team is loaded at catcher, with Yogi Berra, Joe Garagiola, and Mike Piazza.

2. Tim Stauffer, Trot Nixon's Coming (Dan Lee) Posted: February 17, 2009 at 12:07 AM (#3078475)

You could easily go DiMaggio-DiMaggio-DiMaggio in the outfield. Though I'd maybe play Yogi in left and flip a coin to decide which of Vince and Joe plays center and which plays right.

Dolph Camilli at first?

3. Crispix Attacks Posted: February 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM (#3078480)

Byung-Hyun Kim should go to an INS detention center, that is, to jail.

4. Gamingboy Posted: February 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM (#3078481)

Further updates:

The Tribune says...

WBC update: Reliever Matt Thornton said he and Mets reliever J.J. Putz were informed they will be on the United States' 28-man World Baseball Classic roster, and he will leave Sox camp on March 1.

Pujols confirms he wasn't able to get the insurance, so he can't participate.

Australia beat Taipei in a Exhibition

For those of you so desperate for baseball you are willing to listen to a internet broadcast of the Australia/Taipei exhibitions, they can be found here, including live broadcasts.

Broadcast schedule (translated to EST in the USA):

Tuesday at 3:00 AM
Wednesday at 1:00 AM
Thursday at 1:00 AM

Seriously though, I'm more putting this up here just for curiosity factor and to show how Baseball is different in other countries (in the USA, you have to pay for streams of anything higher than A-Ball... but in Australia, baseball is so niche even the National Team that has pro players on it is streamed free of charge!). If you actually are listening to these games, you have better be in the Pacific or a similar location, have a medical excuse (like Insomnia) or you better be related to Justin Huber or something.

5. Gamingboy Posted: February 17, 2009 at 12:26 AM (#3078499)

Nevermind, didn't know the last one was still active for edit comment. (http://www.baseballvictoria.com.au/site/baseball/vic/downloads/State Programs/International Games/6.htm is the correct Box Score for the Australia/Taipei exhibition in the above post)

6. jwb Posted: February 17, 2009 at 12:34 AM (#3078510)

I thought Kim was living in San Diego and running a sushi restaurant.

7. Gamingboy Posted: February 17, 2009 at 02:00 AM (#3078606)

One more piece of WBC news: the Netherlands has arrived in Florida to train. Their first exhibition game (against Eckerd College) is the 21st.

8. Miko Supports Shane's Spam Habit Posted: February 17, 2009 at 03:24 AM (#3078660)

decide which of Vince and Joe plays center and which plays right.

You favor Vince above Dom?

9. Gamingboy Posted: February 17, 2009 at 04:59 AM (#3078718)

Who'd manage, Lasorda? I mean, because he is dumber than 10 dogs.... but he is the only Manager who I can think of off the top of my head as "Italian-America!"

10. Alex meets the threshold for granular review Posted: February 17, 2009 at 05:37 AM (#3078732)

La Russa is Italian, Gamingboy.

Don't know about a whole team, but the Italian-American team is loaded at catcher, with Yogi Berra, Joe Garagiola, and Mike Piazza.

Plus Roy Campanella (Italian father), Joe Torre, Ernie Lombardi, Mike Napoli, Tom Pagnozzi, Paul Lo Duca, and Sal Fasano.

Sal Maglie, Barry Zito and Mike Mussina as starting pitchers, Julio Franco in relief.

Jason Giambi at first base, Craig Biggio at second base, Phil Rizzuto at short, Ron Santo at third base. Mark De Rosa, Gary Gaetti, Tony Lazerri, Ken Caminiti as backup infielders.

Tony Conigliaro, Rocky Colavito, the DiMaggios as outfielders.

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Monday, February 16, 2009

WBC News: AP confirms that Japan is training, Byun-Hyung loses his Passport and more

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