2013 World Baseball Classic Thread

[Orioles4Life21]

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.

They are ranked number one by the IBAF. And have just made a statement by beating down Japan 6-0. Cuba will play the Netherlands and Japan will face Chinese Taipei to start the second round...there are still two outs to go but it looks like that's how it will shake out.

[DrungoHazewood]

They are ranked number one by the IBAF. And have just made a statement by beating down Japan 6-0. Cuba will play the Netherlands and Japan will face Chinese Taipei to start the second round.

Oh, ok, that's just a point-based ranking compiled from the results of international tournaments. And since the US halfheartedly approaches most international tournaments, often fielding their 68th-best team, while Cuba looks at them as sources of national pride it's not the best overall gauge.

As an aside, it is interesting to look at those rankings. I have to think the overall quality of a country's baseball declines exponentially as you go down the list, probably flattening out at "decent high school team" level around 30th or 40th. Pakistan is ranked 23rd. New Zealand jumped from Not Ranked (meaning below 75th, probably not even fielding a team) to 27th in one year. Iran, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have ranked teams.

I would love to see the home field of the Nepal National Team. It has to be at, like, 11,000 feet. Checked swings would fly 450 feet, and Gregg Olson's curve would break 3 mm.

[Orioles4Life21]

Oh, ok, that's just a point-based ranking compiled from the results of international tournaments. And since the US halfheartedly approaches most international tournaments, often fielding their 68th-best team, while Cuba looks at them as sources of national pride it's not the best overall gauge.

True but I was just pointing out that ranking because they have disappointed in recent international competition and I think they wanna show they deserve that respect still. And they have so far.

[Orioles4Life21]

I have spoken too soon! Japan has cut it to 6-3 with 2 down in the 9th. Edit- Cuba holds on for the 6-3 win.

[Lester Freamon]

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.

Japan didn't go quietly at the end but Cuba still made quite a statement IMO and Japan may not be quite as strong as they have been in the previous two WBC's - just basing this on run differential. We'll see, don't think you can count out anyone out of Cuba (duh), Japan, Taipei or Netherlands to move one. The next round is double elimination but Japan will go up against Wang in the first game. He looked awfully good in his first appearance, albeit against Australia.

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.

Absolutely agree. It's just that even with CC and Verlander, due to the timing of the event, they'd still, likely, be shaking off rust, trying to find their velocity and command.

Teixeira is out. I wonder who will replace him. I've read Konerko is being considered and that Ryan Howard would "love to do it".

[Lester Freamon]

Teixeira is out. I wonder who will replace him. I've read Konerko is being considered and that Ryan Howard would "love to do it".

Turns out they have named Eric Hosmer as Teixeira's replacement.

[isestrex]

Turns out they have named Eric Hosmer as Teixeira's replacement.

Excellent. It makes rooting for USA all the more palatable.

[Orioles4Life21]

A great day of WBC baseball about to get underway! Pools D and C open up with Mexico v. Italy at 3 and then the exciting DR v. Venezuela matchup at 6:30. Then later on tonight we have some second round action starting up with Cuba taking on The Kingdom of the Netherlands at 10:00.

[NewMarketSean]

Rod Lopez pitching for Mexico.

EDIT: Loooong first inning for Lopez. Mexico already down 2-0.

[NewMarketSean]

Wow, Karim Garcia still around, and only 37.

[crissfan172]

...and team USA-b (Italy) blows the lead immediately. 3-2 after 1.

[Orioles4Life21]

Rod Lopez pitching for Mexico.

EDIT: Loooong first inning for Lopez. Mexico already down 2-0.

I'm having flashbacks of Rodrigo Lopez being our opening day starter numerous times. Ew those were bad times. Although Rodrigo did have two decent seasons for us.

[NewMarketSean]

Decent game between Italy and Mexico.

[DrungoHazewood]

Decent game between Italy and Mexico.

Heck of a game. With Gonzalez up Italy could use Chris Davis.

[Lester Freamon]

Italy/Mexico was a great game. Italy was the underdog, I suppose, and I always root for the underdog but I felt horrible for Edgar Gonzalez and kinda wanted to see Mexico pull it out in the bottom of the ninth just to relieve some of his shame.

So now Italy has qualified for 2017 with that win and if they can beat Canada, which they managed to do in 09, they'll have a real shot at advancing. Crazy.

Strop came in a looked real good against VEN. As long as VEN can stay close this DR/VEN game is must see, although I am currently taking a little bit of a break to watch Archer.

Looking forward to seeing if Netherlands can hold their own with Cuba this time around as Cuba looks like they are on a mission.