How to fix the WBC
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 12, 2009 
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Are you watching the WBC? I’ve only seen bits and pieces on television.
I think a worldwide tournament is a good way to promote the game and it’s needed. But there is not a good time for such a tournament, that’s the problem. So you have games like yesterday, when Davey Johnson used eight pitchers against Venezuela because the game didn’t really count.
How are we supposed to take that seriously?
Here’s an answer: Seed the 16 teams like an NCAA tournament regional. Play best-of-three in the first round and the single-game elimination after that until the final, which would be best-of-three. Every game matters, people follow the bracket, you have a compelling tournament.
Potential seeding for this year:
1. Japan
2. Dominican
3. USA
4. Cuba
5. Venezuela
6. Puerto Rico
7. Korea
8. Mexico
9. Canada
10. Australia
11. Netherlands
12. Italy
13. Panama
14. Taiwan
15. China
16. South Africa
————-
Thanks to Nick, who suggested I go to Barbers Inc. on North Dale Mabry to get a haircut. Great place. Barbers Inc. is a cool place. There are skateboard decks on the walls, good music on the speakers and a tattoo shop in the back. So I owe you one, Nick
Get some ink, Pete!
Remind me why having this a week or so after the World Series wouldn’t work? Those handful of MLBers who played in the World Series might want to skip it, or not, but there still would be many players who might do this, especially if it’s held in nice warm-weather places, and this way they wouldn’t be in Spring Training mode and teams would worry a bit less about injuries than they do in March.
And obviously no solution is perfect, and some players might be exhausted by the end of the season, but I still think that would be more interesting than in March, when pitchers have to be on such strict pitch counts. Plus, all those guys who missed out on the playoffs would get a chance to have a more fun way to end the year.
After a full season of play, would you really want to spend your first few free weeks playing more baseball?
Meanwhile, where’s the poll?
“Remind me why having this a week or so after the World Series wouldn’t work?”
I think, Steve, that since most guys would have been done for a month it would be hard for them to get it going again, only to shut down again 2-3 weeks later…
Did you get the A-rod frosted tips Pete? Please say yes.
Re: haircut
Pics or it didn’t happen
As for the WBC, I like the current format, but the meaningless game 6′s in the first 2 rounds of pool play need to go.
Seeding all 16 teams from the start just opens a whole other can of worms, IMO
there may be better ways to format the wbc, but it will never move out of ST. every player ive heard on xm or on the radio who has been asked about moving the wbc to the asb or to after the season has shot it down immediatly.
any games during the asb would be detrimental to the championship season going on, and the teams would be much worse than they already are about having thier players playing exhibition games during the season.
the players outright reject the idea of a post season wbc.
that leaves ST, where it will stay.
teams bitch, but thier players are getting ready for the season just fine and despite all the wailing about injuries, they are no more likely to be injured during wbc games than regular ST games. and as far as viewing goes, wbc games are much more competitive and interesting than regular ST games are. and its only going to be every 4th year anyway.
i like the brackets, but this tournament (if they want to keep the major leaguers playing in it) will stay right where it is, in spring trainng.
wheres the poll?
the formatting of the wbc needs work but it will never move out of ST. not as long as they want major league players in it anyway.
every player i have heard asked whether they would play in an all-star break or postseason wbc has shot the idea down. nobody wants to extend the season and the teams will never allow thier players to play in an exhibition tournament in the middle of the championship season.
the players on the wbc teams are getting ready for the regular season just fine and they are no more likely to be hurt playing a wbc game than a regular spring training game.
tinker away with the format but this tounament wont be moving out of ST.
saucy I totally agree. Last night’s games let the wind out of my sails re: interest. You don’t need games to reseed, go by win/loss or runs scored. They probably have a reason for it though.
I despise the WBC. Too much injury risk. My hart was in my throat when Jeter got HBP.
You need to do it…. Frosted tips for everyone…. come on now don’t be an A Rod hater. And yes pics are needed.
I’m Guessing you pick Bowl # 4
mmmmm…venison
Kool, I was the first to vote on the new poll.
So, let me say FIRST!
Repost from previous subject on payrolls.
GreenBeret7
March 12th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I’d be interested to know how much income the Yanks get from the minor league franchises, most of which are owned by other people and whether the minor league owners pay any portion of the salaries. A question for CB, SJ, PAT M, or that Randy I guy (Yeah, I’m still waiting for you to turn your back) or somebody with connections.
Ellie, did you see the links to the CBA and answers on medical for 40 man roster?
yes GB thanks.
nice work if you can get it
I agree that the only way to make the WBC any good would be to have it be part of the post season.
I know a lot of players are burnt out by the post season, but if they want to represent their countries they will get up for it.
It’s also a nice parting gift for all the players who didn’t make the post season. Give them something competitive to shoot for after a long season.
The other good thing about a post season WBC is if God forbid anyone got injured, they still have enough time before the spring to get surgery or rehab and be ready for the spring.
I would have the teams start training together as soon as the regular season ended.
Any player on a post season roster cannot be selected.
Then as teams get eliminated from the post season, players can be added to the WBC rosters.
The first games that count in the WBC happen when the World Series is over. Up until that point, they play exhibitions that don’t count in the WBC.
Otherwise, there is no good time for this.
Uncle Ellsworth
March 12th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
yes GB thanks.
nice work if you can get it
————————————————————
Happy to help, Ellie.
I love the double quarter pounder with cheese. But can you believe they are only 750 calories in each?
I wish there are more so I don’t have to eat at least 5 each day in order just to gain the slightest bit of weight.
I love world Cup soccer so it is painful to think what the WBC could be an is not. First, payers have to play for their country it is an honor to wear the uniform for your county. How Gary Sheffield, Sabathia and Wang get a free pass is beyond me. You owe your country this. Josh Beckett should have gotten the ball yesterday and went 9 if he had to. It should be played mid-season instead of the allstar game. Lets be honest the Allstar game is dumb and it has been for years replace it with a real passionate international tournament every four years. Finally, Have real rules about what country you belong to. The fact that Arod can be an American one year and Dominican because his mommy told him to be Cheapens the tournament.
The reason why countries like Japan, Cuba and Now Holland have been doing well in a tournament like this is because they come from cultures that care about international competition. It is country first and club second. The goal of every Brazilian is to bring home a World Cup for Americans it is to get a world series Ring. That in a nutshell is why the WNC is what it is.
Is there a weight gain pill that I can take, so I don’t need to eat so much?
when is this so call march madness tournament suppose to start?
Listening to Stephen A. Smith talk about baseball is painful
On the poll, I voted for “I love it, etc.” I was going to vote for “I watch it if it’s on,” but I realized I AM THE ONE PUTTING IT ON, so, of course, I’d watch it if it was on.
My real choice would be, “I LIKE it, I watch every game I can.”
I’m a made-to-order girl in an off-the-rack world.
March Madness is already here. It doesn’t wait until the tourney to start. We’re in it. Feel it. Embrace it.
No offense but all the people who have ideas how to fix the tournament are people who preface their idea with “i haven’t watched it” or “I’ve only seen bits and pieces.” Try watching it. Try watching all of the Netherlands’s games and tell me they mean nothing. Just because the US games are the most boring doesn’t mean the tourny isn’t working. I agree this system is stupid with the 6 different double elims and then a 4 team single elim, but please don’t take away from the games. This is infinitely better then spring training.
Please watch a game before commenting on your ideas to fix it.
Nick,
I totally agree. Go Bears!!
are the michigan wolverines in the tournament (or are they still banned)?
Invitations to the tourney have not yet been extended. If Michigan wins their conference tourney (underway now) they will get an automatic bid. Otherwise Michigan would have to get an at-large bid. Could happen, the Wolverines are a ‘bubble’ team. They could also end up in the NIT tourney.
It may seem a small thing, but actually radically improving the marketing of the WBC might help a lot.
The logo for example? Do you want to buy merchandise with that cheap thing on it? I know I don’t. It looks like it was designed by Selig’s nephew, or the guy that did the Mets new stadium logo.
Really? This is the best they can come up with? You know the World is round, and a baseball is round, and the stitching on a baseball shaped Earth would be kind of unifying — just one idea, and I’m not a designer.
As to the players moaning about doing it after the season — too bad guys. That IS how it is done in most other sports. Soccer, Rugby, Cricket etc all have their World Championships at a time when the sport is finished for the season. Though they do have much shorter seasons.
My guess is that you definitely can find enough major leaguers who would want to play in November.
I think having it in November is the best solution for fans. I know I hate November – February, since there’s no baseball to see. Having the WBC then would be something to look forward to.
Having it after the World Series does nothing for the sport, and that is the principal of this whole thing— to promote baseball globally and get it some publicity.
If you try putting it in November, right in the middle of the NFL Season/College FB plus the beginning of the NBA/NHL… nobody in America will care.
Guys will be tired after a long season and you’ll have the pitchers running on fumes like CC in the playoffs. And do you really think the players want to take time off from their vacations in November to play in this tournament? They don’t love it THAT much. You rarely get time off in baseball.
The timing of it is perfect from a marketing standpoint. Everyone is already turning to baseball mode as the winter comes to a close. Players are fresh and they are playing in a tournament rather than meaningless ST games.
While I enjoy watching the ST games as a means of getting my baseball fix, I think the WBC would be better served if they were the only baseball games on, no ST games.
I think some of the games have been fun to watch but agree that they could go as Pete suggested to make each game count more. Of course then it could mean that “your” team would be out too quickly and you won’t watch anymore. Just like the post season, when certain teams are not in it, viewership is down.
I also think the ST games should remain off TV. It brings up too much of this stupid talk when a player doesn’t do well, such as CC’s game. These games are to work on things, hone things, try new things.
oh
@jimmy
good point about the world cup soccer.But soccer is a worldwide sport for years and years.Baseball is just starting to get worldwide interest.It takes time to get there…
for now..as nick said it:Feel it,embrace it.Love this blog but pete’s saying that he doesn’t take this serieus just means he didn’t see the games in puerto rico.Why judge if you’ve only seen bits and peaces…?pff
Fans will be more wrapped up in Hot Stove talk in November, more so than the WBC. Combine that with NFL taking centerstage and this tournament will get no publicity at all if you put it after the WS. ESPN has College Football commitments and MNF so it will only be available on MLBN.
I mean, very few people in America are talking about it now, but it won’t even be acknowledged in November.
nick In SF….Indeed March Madness is upon us…..I took Marquette plus one, and ydid you see the finish…Getting ready for Staples tonight, Cal-Berkley laying 1, UCLA laying 8…..The best tome of theyear, Spring Training, March Madness……
WBC is more interesting to watch than ST. That’s about it.
In Selig’s eyes – every game should come down to K-rod pitching to Youk in the 9th inning.
The Netherlands victory over DR was thrilling. When Pujols made that error in extra innings to send the DR home! Wow!
oh wait… it wasn’t Pujols at 1B, it was “what’s his name”.
Don’t tell me… I’ll remember it. He’s the back-up 3B for the Rays… shoot, it’s on the tip of my tongue.
There’s my point.
The WBC is fine! It’s an extra month of competitive baseball that showcases talent from around the world. The only reason people keep knocking it is cause the media doesn’t get fully behind it.
They system isn’t terrible and the competition is only in it’s second year. How is it that other countries can get excited and feel such national pride watching the WBC but here in the US (where the WBC was started – where our national pastime is baseball) we can’t??
Put the WBC at the end of June. Would the US lose a game?
PAT M: Cal is getting +1.5 on my book. I’m about to head out to someplace where I can watch a few of the games, still no TV service at home yet. The Kansas and Boise St. losses have already hurt me, but the rest of the day is going pretty well.
Go Bears!
WBC: even more players would opt out if the tourney was held in November. In the Spring they’re just choosing between playing WBC games or ST games; in November the choice would be between WBC or vacation. And very few FA players would want to risk injury in the WBC. So no to November, and no to extended AS break. The Spring is the thing.
The WBC gives guys a legitimate reason to get away from camp…A different look to Spring Training….Almost like a vacation of sorts….
“Thanks to Nick, who suggested I go to Barbers Inc. on North Dale Mabry to get a haircut. Great place. Barbers Inc. is a cool place”
did they have a basketball hoop inside? Or fish in the floor?
I thoroughly enjoy the WBC. I feel it’s, in essence, baseball at its purest. It’s all about winning the game, not about the stats.
It obvioulsy needs some tweaking, the extra game to decide the seating for the second round seems kind of fruitless, but other than that, I love watching it.
It’s ashame the players aren’t in mid-season form, but that’s a small consideration. They’re professionals and able to raise their game when they need to.
I also really enjoy watching the teams from Japan and Korea. I love the way they embrace the fundementals. It’s a beautiful game.
Here’s how I would fix it…get rid of it, problem solved.
“I thoroughly enjoy the WBC. I feel it’s, in essence, baseball at its purest. I also really enjoy watching the teams from Japan and Korea. I love the way they embrace the fundementals. It’s a beautiful game”
+ 100 points
I think I’d need to buy a second home in a South American country or somewhere in Asia to be able to get into the WBC.
Looks like they love it. But here too much interest in spring training activities and such. And I suppose after the season football would dominate, so a tough sell here.
@yankees2123
why get rid of it?haven’t seen a good argument why this isn’t something we can just enjoy…
“why get rid of it?haven’t seen a good argument why this isn’t something we can just enjoy”
roger: he’s just a hater.
Here’s the real answer: I can’t imagine that anybody in this country, who is already a baseball fan, well ever going to care half as much about “Team USA” in the WBC as they do about the team they’ve been following throughout their lives.
Personally, I was thrilled when the Dominican team got bounced – get Cano and Marte back where they belong.
And the sooner Team USA is out, the better.
The World Baseball Classic is like a month-long All Star game or Pro Bowl.
And for those who say people like me “care more about my team than I do about my country” (I’m talking to you, MLB Radio), you’re INSANE!
I do care more about my team (the Yankees) that I’ve been following since I was 10 than I do about this (or any other) version of Team USA.
We’re not fighting the Nazi’s here.
Vinny B,
I don’t see the use for this tournament. I would much rather have our players with the team, getting ready for the regular baseball season, with the Aim of getting to the “True” classic, The World Series. Besides isn’t that what the Olympics are for, world competition. This whole thing is just a gimmick cooked up by Selig & his cronies.
Watching the Netherlands beat the Dominicans not once, but TWICE was some of the best baseball I’ve seen in the last 5 years.
I have an idea.. cancel the WBC next year. I watch almost every yankee game during the season and cant get myself to watch more then 2 innings of the WBC. If I were an owner and was paying a pitcher the kind of money they are making I would never allow them to play in the WBC. I’m schocked Roy Oswalt is on the team.
“Here’s the real answer: I can’t imagine that anybody in this country, who is already a baseball fan, well ever going to care half as much about “Team USA” in the WBC as they do about the team they’ve been following throughout their lives”
if you think this is all about Team USA, then you’re missing the boat. It is about the entire tourmenent
this is just dumb.
You really rather see derek jeter play meaningless games in spring training than seeing him play agaimst delgado and beltran is games that mather.It’s you’re country agianst them!And I always thought that americans where patriotic…
“Watching the Netherlands beat the Dominicans not once, but TWICE was some of the best baseball I’ve seen in the last 5 years”
me too. I really cared about what was happening
Cuba vs Mexico @ 10pm
ignore the hate
I can’t bring myself to watch any other teams in the league, let alone some meaningless tournament.
I’ve been to 3 of the WBC games in San Juan and the enthusiasm was incredible from the fans and the players who really put their hearts and best effort into it. It may not be too important to fans in the states but to people from all the other countries it seems to be a matter of national pride to compete among the best in the world even if they aren’t in best season form. Plus fans get a chance to see some of their national heros who will not be back in MLB such as Moises Alou from Dominican and Bernie Williams from Puerto Rico. The comments from players of the Netherlands and their manager attest to the fact that eliminating the Dominican team was their greatest triumph in their international baseball history. Dominican players commented that it was a national disgrace for them, and the Puerto Rican players and fans couldn’t be prouder after winning the first round even if they lose every other game the rest of the way. So don’t knock it till you’ve seen it and felt it up close cause its really important for these countries. As for the format, I have to admit that the 6th game really doesn’t mean much except for an excuse to play an extra game and move more money on the event which actually helps motivate the economy of Puerto Rico in these difficult political and economic times.
Having a format that people could understand would help. The NCAA tournament is nice because you get a simple bracket and can track it everyday.
Also, Korea should probably be the number 1 seed since they won the olympic gold medal last year.
I like the solution, but he Asian teams need to play the first round in Asia for obvious reasons. The seeding system would force them to hike to America for the chance to go 0-2 within the first two days.
Jeter will play against Bernie on Sat. (if they are in the line-up)
The problem is it’s not the “best players in the world” – and it never will be.
If you can get by that and root for the uniform, I guess it’s ok.
It’s like when the NFL or MLB went on strike. They had replacement players come in and people still watched and cheered for the uniform.
I wouldn’t mind seeing just all non-MLB players. It would be more of an even playing field. Sorta like the futures game at the All Star break. (even it that case – the best AAA prospect with a chance of making a MLB roster would probably sit it out)
Plus that scenario would kill Selig’s Classic dream idea of the world’s “best vs. the best”. (which we really aren’t seeing now anyways)
On the WBC I think they should make it for players 25 and under. That means most if not all the pitchers will be top prospects who you can bring to a training camp a month early to build up their arms rather than teams seeing multi-million dollar investments being risked as guys throw too hard too early.
I like the seeding idea… obviously you just play the Asian round seperately. this has nothing to do with patriotism. Just because a group of people come up with a contrived event it does not obligate anyone to root for the USA. Roger… you’re nuts.
As for paying contracts… if a guy is on the 40-man the Yankees may him and if he’s not the minor league team does. Someone can correct me if I’m mistaken. The Yankees also pay all the transitional costs for guys changing levels in the system and they pay a set fee to call up a guy who is not on the 40-man which is why you see some guys “recalled” and sometimes a guy’s contract is “purchased”.
saucY,
If you’re around, thanks for the link.
What he said about famous people in Hawaii is true. We treat them like anyone else. They’re no better than us. j/k. We treat everybody nicely, and because we live in such cramped quarters, we stay out of each other’s business.
Is that blog a good one? I check out Ball Don’t Lie on a daily basis, but never checked out the baseball blog.
I think the tournament is doing fine as is. All the international stadiums are packed with the exception of Toronto. So it’s not really popular in the US big deal, for once it’s not about the US, it’s about making baseball more popular elsewhere.
The US-Venezuela game wasn’t meaningless, it decided if they faced Puerto Rico or the Netherlands, which would you rather play?
They should make it mandatory that the best players in the world play. This should be the USA Roster
(choose 4 from)
Halladay
Sabathia
Hamels
Oswalt
Lincecum
Webb
1B – Teixeria
2B – Pedroia
SS – Jeter/Rollins
3B – Wright/Chipper
LF – Holliday
CF – Sizemore/Granderson
RF – Hamilton
C – Mauer
DH – Chipper? Howard? Berkman?
BP – Nathan, Papelbon, Shields, Lidge, Fuentes, BJ Ryan, Jenks
The USA isin’t a big deal… thats why this tournament is before the baseball season. It is opportunistic for all the nations and it has the publicity of MLB because the new season is almost upon us.
What CC did with his day off….
http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=1406
He’s wearing purple shorts? awesome
^^^ cute!!
They are Nike!
“They should make it mandatory that the best players in the world play.”
No way I want to live in your reality. Let me introduce a concept known as “democracy”. It’s not fashionable these days, but it’s a good system and it works.
Anyway, how EXACTLY do you think that is going to work?
1. Define “best players”. There’s several ways of doing that, and not everyone will agree on them.
2. There’s playing and there’s playing. Ask Manny Ramirez about that one. Do you really think forcing him to play would work?
This is not warfare, this is not the draft. People have choices. If the tournament isn’t appealing to big name players, then is it really worth holding in its present form?
I’m in favor of the WBC. But I’m not in favor of forcing people into ANYTHING.
Just say no to forced baseball. That’s Cuba’s game, not ours!
Tell the players they will be suspended if they don’t play in the WBC!!!
M,
Glad you caught that link. It’s a decent blog, I think.
2 things: I think if a player gets injured in the WBC, he should be docked his pay for every game he misses. It’s stupid to risk your health for something nobody really cares about. 2nd-The reason it can’t be played after the WS-it’s too cold.
Would you really want to risk all of the best players’ health on something that matters to U.S. citizens this little? I’d rather no Yanks played in it. That being said, if they are playing I’ll watch, but that’s besides the point.
NY Mets IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Santana 2.2 4 3 3 0 2 1 10.13
DeSalvo 0.1 3 1 1 0 1 1 3.38
Redding 2.0 8 9 9 1 0 3 40.50
So will the papers tomorrow say that Johan is done? he is a bum?
In Communist Cuba, the game plays YOU!
thats what i was thinking seeding from the beginning or just make the team with a 2-0 number 1 seed in that pool and just go on 2 play in the second round …. that last game to decide seeding is sort of pointless
and the WBC classic matters to them or else they wouldnt be playing in it …especially players from the latin american countries
Just found out from a friend who declined the weekday plan they were offered that they did get a Sunday plan after going into the pool. I looked on NYYfans apparently this happened to a lot of people.
Seems like the Yankees held back to get people to accept less desirable plans.
How to fix the WBC?
Easy: Cancel it, or play it in the summer time.
As long as it’s being played in March, it ain’t going to be as popular or as competitive as it really could be.
Sure, there’s some popularity & competitiveness now, but it could be twice as much so on both counts.
Jennifer were the seats better or worse than what they were originally offered?
Well the ones they were originally offered were week day tickets. The seats were almost behind homeplate in the upper deck.
These tickets are Sunday a little past third.
Pat, thanks for posting! CC’s son looks exactly like CC….
2.2, 3 ER is different than 1.2, 5 ER
If Santana got lit up like CC did, the papers would be sure to mention that he is not 100% and the injury is worse than most of us thought etc.
“I had some good times and bad times,” he said.
Take a guess who said this! What a joke!
Jennifer still upper deck? I like my seat and was too nervious if I turned them down to try and gt my Saturday plan back I would either be shut out or get worse seats as I am now on the mail lvel
pavano?
gayle
Yes that is what they wanted. Yeah a lot of people just accepted the plans they were offered for fear of being shut out. The Yankees get an F for the way they handled the entire ticket situation.
Maybe try to call and see if you can switch your plan? It doesn’t hurt.
Damn Yulesky would be an amazing infielder in the majors.
dan- ding ding ding we have a winner.
I bet he won’t take the mound at a Yankee stadium, especially the first series. He is to much of a candy ****
Isin’t Yulesky considered the Cuban version of A-Rod?
http://www.fannation.com/truth.....ref=fromSI
Interesting stuff about Jorge/Joba …………good for Jorge, lol. I love that he gave Joba some straight talk – this is the kind of thing the Yankees missed when he was gone.
And on AJ:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....ams/1.html
2. A.J. Burnett, Yankees, $82.5 million, five years.
Agent: Darek Braunecker.
Burnett has lots of knocks, including nine stays on the disabled list, yet still hit the jackpot. A Marlins person called Yankees GM Brian Cashman to warn him about Burnett’s eccentricities, basically telling Cashman that while Burnett may be the most talented pitcher in the game and is as tough a competitor as they come, he also has the ability to stub his toe and be out two months and could become “another Pavano” for them. Cashman listened, but still took the advice of his scouts and players who loved Burnett’s ability. Braunecker said from the beginning that he would get five years, and he did just that.
***I like that Cash absorbed all the info he could about Burnett and then just decided to take a gamble. I appreciate that AJ is risk, a big risk, BUT if it works out, he could be just huge for us. I also like the fact that Cash has not become gunshy about big contracts just because Pavano didn’t work out. If he became tentative, then I would really worry. It sounds like the Marlins guy was a straight shooter – I’m positive that AJ will thrive. I do think he’s a tough guy – he’d have to be, to purposely avoid the NL so he can pitch in the AL East. I just feel that he wants the big stage……That said, let’s see if he can stay healthy. I’m not going to assume the worst – what’s the point?
Yeh.
There were some rumors of Yulesky defecting from Cuba after the 06 classic… but those were false and he actually he said he wanted to stay in Cuba because they play baseball for the passion not for money like MLB players or something like that.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....5382.story
And as for the pain of so many needles, Burnett said: “It feels good after a while.” Hmmmmmmm
As to regrets, my cousin had a HUGE dragon tattooed on her back when she was 18 and I’m sure she regrets it now, in her late 40s……..
Yulesky if he were to ever defect would probably be a top 3 position player in the majors. He legitamately is 30/30 – 40/40, capability a game changer on defense and instinctively one of the smartest heads up fielders in the game of baseball. Picture Jeter’s instincts combined w/ Arod’s offensive abilities. He’s said many times he will not defect and I can respect that.
I really wish more Cubans would defect. Cuba develops true baseball players— it’s like its in their genes.
ROGER: “You really rather see derek jeter play meaningless games in spring training than seeing him play agaimst delgado and beltran is games that mather.It’s you’re country agianst them!And I always thought that americans where patriotic…”
Roger, you’re missing the point… The WBC games are meaningless, too.
I am patriotic, so are most Americans… If there was something SIGNIFICANT on the line, like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then ya… I’d be all over it.
But it’s a stupid exhibition that MLB is forcing down our throats.
And to answer you question, if Team USA is in the final against whoever, tied in the 9th, and the Yankees are playing the Royals on YES in the second inning of a 8-1 game, I will be on YES.
I have not watched an inning of the WBC, and that’s not changing anytime soon… No matter when they play it.
I hope Chapman (the kid who throws 102 MPH) decides to chase the MLB money
This Cespedes guy has been compared to Bernie and Carlos Beltran. Very dangerous bat and very sound defensively CF.
‘I hope Chapman (the kid who throws 102 MPH) decides to chase the MLB money
’
He actually might, and I’ll tell you why, he’s had injuries before, mainly elbow and other disclosed. The 102 is real, but he is a real emotional kid, think Oli Perez w/ better stuff. The inj. history alone might be why he attempts to stay in the states and get paid. Fidel’s reaction is what would prevent him, but Fidel is strongly sick, rumors of him on his death bed. Aroldis you just don’t see arms like that.
Americans are just not as passionate about baseball as people from other countries. The NFL rules now in America.
Baseball’s popularity has declined significantly in recent years in America, the ratings indicate that. Infact, if you are not a Yankees, Mets, Sox, Cubs, Cardinals fan… your fandom comes and goes based on how good your team is.
Baseball’s popularity in other nations has increased and their passion level is significantly higher than that of USA.
What has Karim been doing in the offseason ?
Brandon can tell you— baseball is larger than life to some of these kids in Latin America. USA doesn’t have that same level of enthusiasm about the game.
Karim Garcia is still around?
This Mexico team looks dangerous
The Yankees New York Yankees gave Damaso Marte a three-year, $12 million contract to stay, and they do like him. But a team official recently told me he would not be surprised if Phil Coke, not Marte, emerged as the late-inning lefty of choice for Joe Girardi. The official said that Marte will start the season in that role, but that it is not hard to imagine Coke doing so well consistently in earlier innings in April and May that the two just end up flip-flopping.
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports......html#more
PC Dan, no they don’t.
Nitro I guess so and yes they are.
Man Vasquez just missed a long bomb on 3-2, he’s starting to adjust to big level pitching, he wasn’t fooled much on offspeed in this AB even though he struck out it was a tough AB.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....ed_on.html
It seems to me like the Yankees are perfectly fine with Coke, but it’s hard to see him as a starter in this rotation. Also, Coke did some nice relief work last season, and the Yankees have not forgotten. Also, Coke is a few years older than both Kennedy and Hughes. Perhaps this plays a role in how he’s perceived.
For the second part of your question, I talked to a longtime scout last week and the subject of both Hughes and Kennedy came up. He liked Hughes, thinks he’s still got a chance to get past last season, maybe evolve into a real good 3 or 4 guy in a good rotation. The only real knock is a fastball that he says needs more movement to be really effective against big league hitters.
**I happened upon this by accident. I have basically decided to ignore scouts, “experts”, etc………in regards to Phil because there’s simply no point in judging him until we see him pitch consistently when healthy. I posted this because I find it funny that the scout seems to think being a real good 3 or four (a four?!) is something good. Ouch – I realize that #3′s are valuable, but given how highly regarded Phil was, to have him turn out to be a #3 would be very unsatisfying for me. A four? I can’t even think about it…….
Unlike America, the best athletes in these Latin American countries play baseball.
Didn’t Oli Perez shut down the USA team in 06 and out-pitch Clemens?
He can still step up at anytime and dominate. He has been good in big games. But you never kno what you will get with him. I’d think he’d be better in round 2.
Tom,
True. Here, they gravitate towards NBA/NFL.
WOW Great finish in the U-Conn/SYR game
have fans vote the players on the wbc team
USA and Cuba should play for Elian Gonzalez.
Soul that’s a big problem but it’s also that in latin america the kids put the video games down. In America you got the best athletes really being stupid, an NBA/NFL contract is nowhere near an MLB contract yet they choose these other sports. Even if the best athletes in America were to play baseball I still think the latin america/world countries are to advanced in discipline, conditioning, it’s just not the same, they play baseball like it’s life or death, they lose a tourney it’s tears and broken clubhouses, it’s just not the same here in the US
Here’s Lahera big CL stuff
Brandon – Agree 100%. USA lacks the passion for baseball that these other nations do.
It’s just a game/entertainment for America. It is part of the culture in Latin America and parts of Asia.
There is no question that the NFL is king in the US now…
But to say we, as a whole, don’t have the passion for baseball that other countries do is more than a stretch.
What we don’t have a passion for is a three-week exhibition being played by this quickly-thrown-together team that we’ve never know or seen before, and never will again when this is over.
I have about as much passion for Team USA of the WBC as I do for the NFC Pro Bowl team. Could not care less.
Now the Yankees??? That’s an entirely different story.
The dangerous Jorge Vasquez w/ runners on 1st and 2nd.
To put it more simply: It’s not the SPORT people don’t have a passion for… It’s this team that was just thrown together a week ago.
Hmmm…don’t know about that pitch.
The Cuban A-Rod with a 2 RBI double
“The Cuban A-Rod with a 2 RBI double”
he’s more like Pujols.
IDK why but I keep feeling like Mexico has a bit of a comeback left in them.
UConn-Syracuse going to a 4th overtime
This Syracuse/UConn game is bananas
This Cuse/UCONN Game is unreal
As a Syracuse alum, I have to say, HOLY MOTHER CAN’TSAYITONANEWSPAPERBLOG EXCREMENT
You can _have_ four OT games?
What a game… a battle of attrition.
Damn
Brandon, tiene que hacer mejor tan esto.
Has there ever been a 5 OT game in college or pros?
Mexico never got the chance to attempt a comeback… 2nd time in this first round alone that the mercy rule has been placed on them.
Damn refering to Cuba crushing Mexico, mercy rule.
Sat.
USA vs PR
NED vs VEN
Sun.
Cuba vs Japan
Mexico vs Korea
Oh my goodness gracious.
5 OTs
‘Brandon, tiene que hacer mejor tan esto.’
Cuba si es fuerte este ano. Vasquez se ves como un buen batiador mucho poder en ese tipo.
Guys, I actually think I might get sick from the nerves!
The Knicks-Magic game on April 10th was moved to ESPN2 (first primetime game this season for the Knicks), replacing Washington-Toronto that was originally scheduled.
I just checked some of the other games for that day and look what they are
Cleveland @ Philly
Miami @ Boston
New Orleans @ Dallas
Utah @ San Antonio
… and they chose to televise the Knicks in the early time slot?
This is a GREAT basketball game. Wow
1 AM – 5 OTs between 2 Big East rivals. Gets no better.
funny how the MLB doesn’t have the mercy rule. lol
Brandan: Ah, pensaba que era hablando de Syracuse/UConn…
Team USA will not be coached by Davey Johnson on Sat. he will be attending his step son’s wedding, Barry Larkin will debut as a manager on Sat.
Now I ask this…you telling me Davey didn’t know he had a prior committment before he took this gig. I mean give me a break.
What’s this 5 OT game people are buzzing about.
P.S. 5 OTs and the highest they scored is 108 pts ?
Brandon – Like most people on this blog have said tonight… the USA just doesn’t take this seriously, its nothing more than entertainment for these guys….
A guy like Sojo wouldn’t even attend his own wedding if it conflicted with a baseball game lol
Brandon: it’d help if Syracuse could make a shot. Of course, I shouldn’t be complaining, I haven’t been playing baskeball for over an hour…
Maybe Davey thought they wouldnt get out of the first round ha ha
Just heard the news. 5OT. Wow.
classic game
march maddness > nba playoffs
LOL… 6 overtimes
Wow, this is surreal
A 6th OT! This is amazing.
These kids are exhausted.
OMG…hello OT #6
6 OT’s?
OT # 6 – neither team deserves to lose.
Come on CUSE !
Guys, seriously, I think I might have a heart attack.
This has to be the worst coaching I have ever scene in NCAA basketball. Go to the rim draw a foul, everyones legs are done.
Let’s
Go
Orange!
“Team USA will not be coached by Davey Johnson on Sat. he will be attending his step son’s wedding, Barry Larkin will debut as a manager on Sat.”
hopefully Larkin will do better than him.
This game is nuts. Jonny Flynn is a phenom.
1 in the morning and the Garden is buzzing… and this is only quarterfinals game.
NYC basketball fans at their finest.
Refuse to ‘Cuse!
How is this game nuts because it has 6 OTs ? Uconn should have finished this as much as I’m rooting for Cuse’
“NYC basketball fans at their finest.”
Cuse fans at their finest
Come on ‘cuse!! There we go!
How do you all think I feel? I’m a Syracuse alum, and I have European friends visiting and I had to explain to them that yes, we do televise college basketball in America…
Right as I say that you start to hear “Let’s go Orange” chants. Music to my ears…
Oh, and I told everyone via facebook that if Syracuse wins I’ll go to class tomorrow in a Syracuse t-shirt and a mini-skirt.
I’m not actually sure I have my miniskirt with me, but that’s not the point.
I had such a hard time finding tickets last night.. it’s quite possible there are more Syracuse fans in NYC than Knicks fans.
Whoever wins this game has to play tomorrow night at 9
Well hello Syracuse
The real question is how can Europeans televise darts and curling?
They will be dancing on Marshall St. tonight!
at least for another 45 mins. until the bars close… lol
Rebecca, you rock.
SU fans are the best
Big East always draw great crowds… they love their hoops in NY. The Big East tournament is always an electric crowd. The fact that they are here at 1 AM and barely anyone has left just exemplifies that.
This is their entertainment until the Knicks became good again. At the Big East games, you can always count on a thriller.
These announcers are exhausted.
Nick, I’ll ask.
I didn’t realize there were so many ‘Cuse fans on LoHud! Makes me proud, it does!
Nick in SF
March 13th, 2009 at 1:11 am
The real question is how can Europeans televise darts and curling?
————————————————————
They could make it more exciting by throwing darts at the curlers, or, curlers at the dart players.
C’mon… you’re down 8 points. Start chucking 3′s like Larry Hughes!!!
so much for sleeping tonight…I’ll take it if the ‘Cuse can hold on!
“I didn’t realize there were so many ‘Cuse fans on LoHud! Makes me proud, it does!”
The only thing I love more (in sports) than Syracuse Basketball is the Yankees.
Harris got rejected at the rim tonight more than David Lee LOL
Both teams played their heart out. No losers tonight.
What a great game. A Classic
Rebecca – I was at the game in New Orleans when Cuse beat Kansas (with Melo) for the title – this games ranks up there with it!
(well almost…lol)
A survivor ? dude this is an embarrassment to Uconn. I’m sorry but 6 OTs and 2 halfs and all you can score is 117 ? forget them in the NCAA tourney.
6 OTs and only 125 points?
If this was an NBA game, it would be in the 200s…and I would love to see that.
Congrats Syracuse!
What a game
Thank God I get to go to sleep now.
Nah Brandon. It’s not Uconn’s fault they ran into an unstoppable Syracuse.
Dude West Virginia is going to smoke you tomorrow.
Glad I stayed up to watch this. What a game
Correction tonight.
Now UConn gets the Dominican Republic in the losers’ bracket, right?
Rebecca,
I was going to congratulate you on Syracuse’s win yesterday, but that was nothing compared to tonight! Great win!
How long were you holding that one in your arsenal Nick
Maybe in a few years… we’ll see a Knicks-Heat playoff game like that
Nick,
It could happen. They’re probably both headed to the NIT.
Have I ever mentioned that applying to Syracuse was the best decision I ever made?
I wish Gus Johnson was doing play by play of this game
Strictly improv, Brandon. And I’m driving.
So, has no one talked about Papelbon’s comments (in Esquire) about Manny?
Even Linda Cohn tsked tsked about the ‘cancer’ comments.
Careful, Nick in SF. You might land in a Mexican jail for texting while driving.
vtred it’d sound like him over hyping a Knicks game, I understand it’s a 6 OT game but come on I’ve seen better games than that. It’s going to be pushed as a classic because of the length but even the shooting pct % to this game saids it I think SYR was 41 % Uconn had 27 TO and shot 35 or 36 %. Length wise I give them both credit, hype wise to this game come on.
That Nets/Suns game from a couple of seasons ago that ended 161-157 was a classic and it only lasted 2 overtimes!
I’m back home, m, the Federales can’t touch me now. And I’m over the bridge, past the danger zone.
Haha, Nick. Good to see you got home safely. The blog was worried after you posted about the gun battle.
Checked out your photo album, but oddly enough there weren’t any pictures of you.
Here’s Malusis on WFAN, he’s a Cuse’ alumni so you can bet he’s going to overhype it till 6 AM.
“Classic” has different interpretations
Look no further than the YES Network which made that Melky catch against the Sox a “classic”. Aside from that catch, there was nothing noteworthy about the game. That was a May game where David Pauley started for the Sox and we won 2-1.
Melky’s catch was a classic the game wasn’t. Pedro vs Roger was a classic, Texas vs NYY wasn’t… This game at MSG wasn’t a classic, it was a great game but not a classic.
There is partying in the streets here in Syracuse tonight!
Game for the ages.
One word.
Insomnia.
-dennis
Amazing game, epic.
I thought the game was over in regulation when he hit that 3 pointer
Speaking of classics. Wang vs. Wakefield tomorrow night.
An all-time classic game… 6 OTs. So much heart shown in this game. The guys were running on fumes from the 3rd OT on.
Pictures of me??? I can’t imagine anyone would be interested in such a thing. Anyway, that album was mostly set up to showcase pictures of people wearing Yankee gear in exotic faraway lands. One world, one team.
oh please…..
i hate both of these teams but even I can admit that this was one of the best games i’ve ever seen.
ECG 234
That ball at the end of regulation must just have been barely still touching some tatoo ink on Devendorf or it woulda counted.
Looked like he had gotten it off on time.
Six overtimes and yet 5 fouls still knocks you out of the game? time to change that stupid rule. First OT you six six and you get another one every other OT
Stats don’t determine if a game is “Classic”.
(for example: that’s like saying a 24 inning baseball game isn’t “classic” because guys went 1 for 13 in their AB’s)
SU-UConn last night will be remembered for a long long time.
It’s hard to put stats on heart and a will to not give up.
SU trailed by four in the first OT, by three in the second OT, by six in the third OT, by two in the fourth OT and by four in the fifth OT – and never led in any OT until the sixth and final one.
And that was after victory was taken from them in regulation on a buzzer-beater! Most teams would have packed it in.
ps:
Of course the WBC is “classic” too because Selig tells us so. He put it in the name!
No Problem Peter!! I am a regular reader from NY now living in Tampa and I know how important it is to find a good Barber! You need any more tips let me know.
Good thing Pete gets his barbering tips from Nick and not me. I have always used a bowl…