World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

[jLp_vAkEr0]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

KO!!

PUERTO RICOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[dodgerblue]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

Well, Puerto Rico just beat the USA by the ten run mercy rule, 11-1 in 7 innings. The USA has to beat the Netherlands tommorrow to survive.

and after that they'll have to beat VEN. or PR or it'll be another early exit. This is a tough pool, imagine if the DR had made it in as well.

[Scottdau]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

This team is just weak, aren't there better Americans we could have chose from?

[SPTO]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

It's pretty sad that the US got mercied. I think that's even worse then losing out early last time. Did the US get mercied in the last WBC?

[ryanm1058123]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

Words can not say how much hate I have for Jake Peavy.

Hate the guy so much. Pitch well just ONCE in a big game is all I ask for.

[DrJones]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

This team is just weak, aren't there better Americans we could have chose from?

Sure, but they either bailed or were "injured".

[Kelverin]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

Sure, but they either bailed or were "injured".

Or playing for other countries?

[Scottdau]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

That is what is wrong. If you are born in the USA you should have to play for the USA. Oh well, I think we put together a crappy team as usual.

[Scottdau]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

Or playing for other countries?

I wish Jake played for another country.

[Kelverin]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

I wish Jake played for another country.

I wish he would not participate as well.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

Sure, but they either bailed or were "injured".

A lot of guys don't have a whole lot of pride. The only thing they take pride in is the almighty dollar. Playing on these teams doesn't seem to be an issue for Latin or Asian players so why can't the Americans do the same thing?

[Scottdau]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

I wish he would not participate as well.

Yeah I hear that. That is why I happy that Tim is not there. To me it is a danger. Players are going to go more out then they would in spring training.

[Scottdau]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

A lot of guys don't have a whole lot of pride. The only thing they take pride in is the almighty dollar. Playing on these teams doesn't seem to be an issue for Latin or Asian players so why can't the Americans do the same thing?

I disagree. I just think that the other teams are better and play better as a team. Also, I think it is something for another team to beat us. Makes the that Country feel good. Like they beat the big bad Americans.

[CoRruPt-]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

This year's USA team seems to have a better clubhouse vibe than the one 3 years ago.

You just had a bunch of superstars there, with names like Clemens and A-Rod and from interviews I've heard from the guys who also played on the team in '06 they basically echoed the same thing.

Pride is not a problem IMO, but instead the time to build chemistry is so much more important. Think about why the USA men's basketball team didn't win gold in Athens. Think about how they changed the program so they would have time like the other European national teams to gel, playing in the world championships each year, etc, and look how well it worked for them in '08.

Similarly the Latin American teams have a lot of time to build team chemistry. A lot of the guys play winter ball down south. I'm sure they also have some sort of Latin American championship where these countries play against each other constantly.

It's the same deal here IMO. If USA baseball wants to take this seriously, they need to think about building an A team in the offseason and have them constantly play together, pick guys that would be good cogs, utility guys, scrappy guys mixed with some star power. It seems like the mindset of USA national sports has always been about "let's throw some all-stars in there and see what develops" and that never works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_World_Cup <-- it's a shame that MLB doesn't let its players participate. For what good reason is there not to? If anything it's a good opportunity for national teams to tune up for the WBC. I mean, FIBA doesn't put the same restrictions on the NBA on its annual world championships.

In the PR game the top 5 US hitters went 1-15. That's pathetic.

[Scottdau]

Re: World Baseball Classic '09 - Discussion Thread

I don't know about all that. I just think we SUCK!