2013 World Baseball Classic Thread

[Orioles4Life21]

I thought the Classic could use it's own thread besides just the Japan vs. Brazil thread. Feel free to merge if necessary though. A lot of people don't like the WBC but I think the competition among the different nations is cool. Especially when we get more premier matchups like Cuba vs. Japan or the DR vs. Venezuela. Also, I am of Cuban descent so this is one of the rare chances I have to see the great baseball product that Cuba has to offer. Any other thoughts on the tournament or the individual games? Or specific countries you're rooting for? (I imagine it's the U.S. for most of us)

[crissfan172]

For the most part, I like watching it to see some young talent, especially for a team like Cuba, where the next big thing might be playing.

I'm rooting for the Netherlands (for Schoop and kind of a young underdog team) and the US. I really can't wait to watch the USA/Mexico game this weekend.

[Orioles4Life21]

For the most part, I like watching it to see some young talent, especially for a team like Cuba, where the next big thing might be playing.

I'm rooting for the Netherlands (for Schoop and kind of a young underdog team) and the US. I really can't wait to watch the USA/Mexico game this weekend.

I agree. I think it's interesting to see teams with little to no MLB players do well like Japan, Korea, and Cuba. And yea I'm excited to see how the U.S. group plays out. Mexico should be tough and Canada isn't bad either. Also, Venezuela's roster is stacked and I can't wait to see that team play against Puerto Rico, Spain, and the always tough Dominican team. As far as a potential finals matchup, I think Cuba vs. USA would provide some really interesting storylines!

[Orioles4Life21]

Cuba is leading China 6-0 in the 5th. It looks like Cuba and Japan will be advancing out of Pool A as most expected. A great matchup is set up for tomorrow between the host Japan and the Cuban team to decide the pool winner.

Edit- Cuba wins 12-0

[Orioles4Life21]

Korea leads Australia 5-0 in the 8th. Looks like they'll pull even with the Netherlands at 1-1. Could be an interesting tie breaker scenario if the Netherlands beats Australia and Korea beats Chinese Taipei. That would make all three of those countries 2-1.

[Orioles4Life21]

After Schoop's bomb, the Netherlands lead Australia 4-0. If this holds up then they would be 2-1. If Korea then beat Chinese Taipei, it would go to a complicated tie break procedure to decide which two advance.

[Orioles4Life21]

Chinese Taipei leads Korea 2-0 in the second. The Netherlands is in and Korea would have to win by at least 6 runs to advance. So barring an offensive explosion by Korea it looks like it will be The Netherlands and Chinese Taipei joining Cuba and Japan in the next round. I think Cuba and Japan would both be favored to advance out of that group.

[Lester Freamon]

Count me in as one of the people who love the WBC.

Disappointed for Brazil and Barry Larkin. They end up 0-3, but they were ahead in each of their games at one point. Now they will have to go through the qualification process again which will mean no guarantee that they are back in four years. Still, overall, they kinda impressed.

Very cool to see Netherlands, and Schoop, get through but really tough for Korea. They had been to the finals and the semi-finals their first two times around and now they don't make it out of pool play based on modified run differential as the tie-breaker.

Doubt I'll actually drag myself out of bed to watch Japan vs. Cuba tomorrow morning but I am definitely going to record it, and avoid spoilers, so that I can enjoy that game. I am seriously very excited to watch these two go at it, just to watch the talent. Not sure how hard the two will go after it seeing as they are both through to the next round.

Cuba, Japan, Taipei and Netherlands is a good group. Obviously, Cuba and Japan are the heavy favorites to continue on but Taipei and Netherlands are no pushovers.

Also very excited to see DR go up against Venezuela on Thursday. Would not be surprised to see DR, Ven, Cuba and Japan end up being the semi-finalists. But we'll see...

Votto just decided to DH for Canada. Good for them, they should be able to pull out a win over Italy and not have to go through qualifying again.

The US has a tendency to crap the bed in this competition. I would love for them to win this thing and they obviously have a great chance. The US will always be at a bit of a pitching disadvantage, in comparison with Cuba, Japan and even DR and Venezuela, because of the arms being mostly in spring training mode but I still think it is the most talented roster top to bottom.

[howboutthoseos]

Adam Jones batting 7th today in exhibition game against the White Sox. Hasn't batted yet.

[howboutthoseos]

Adam Jones with a double -- 1 for 1

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2013_03_05_usaint_chamlb_1

[howboutthoseos]

Jonsey now 1-for-2 with a 2B and a K.

[Orioles4Life21]

Lester I am up for the Cuba-Japan matchup! It should be a great one. Not much is in the line but neither is the type of team that will mail it in. And I think Cuba is hell bent on proving that they deserve their ranking as best team in the world.

[Orioles4Life21]

Cuba's Yasmani Tomas just hit an absolute bomb. 1-0 Cuba in the 3rd.

[DrungoHazewood]

And I think Cuba is hell bent on proving that they deserve their ranking as best team in the world.

What ranking is that? I seriously doubt they're the best team in the world, especially without any of their defectors. They might be the best "amateur" team in the world, defining amateur in the same way the Soviets used to: we don't pay anyone much of anything so everyone in the country is an amateur, while the rest of the world just gets to count teenagers and college kids.

[DrungoHazewood]

The US has a tendency to crap the bed in this competition. I would love for them to win this thing and they obviously have a great chance. The US will always be at a bit of a pitching disadvantage, in comparison with Cuba, Japan and even DR and Venezuela, because of the arms being mostly in spring training mode but I still think it is the most talented roster top to bottom.

The US is at a disadvantage because a fairly large subset of the American players just don't care very much. That's the case with some foreign players who choose to not play, but not to the degree it effects the Americans. I think it's cultural as much as anything - we're dominant and pretty isolated. So we don't have a history of international competition in baseball, we just assume we're the best in everything without really ever being tested in a lot of cases... we treat it like a meaningless exhibition with all downside. So the best of the best usually don't show.

If we had CC and Verlander, maybe a couple other top starters, and 3-4 good closers all going 100% we'd be overwhelming favorites, even in short series/tournament kind of setup.