Running 2009 World Baseball Classic Thread

The only problem with a November WBC is that it would compete with football. Some agents may not like their free agents risking injury prior to the signing period, too.

 

I dunno, I guess I just assumed. I'd love to see a pitch-f/x study on it.


Italy is looking very competent against Venezuela. Lots of good defensive plays.

 

Yeah, the overlap with football is a serious concern but it's better than a lot of cold (as in, unready not unwarm) players gearing up too quickly in March. (And you know these guys can't help themselves once they get out there and their adrenaline is flowing. Peavy and Dice-K know they have to get ready, but dammit, they want to win.) November is more conducive to that.

Agents, schmagents. Fuck 'em. They'll never be happy.

The only other reasonable schedule would be a mid-summer break in July, but I don't like that idea at all. It makes sense in Euro soccer because of the weather and the holidays, but it doesn't make sense in baseball.

 

Buck, why not? From say, July 10-20? It's not like the guys are going to forget how to play if they skip two weeks in the middle of the season. It's a question, because we're blowing off the All-Star game, of reworking 7-8 games of a 162 game schedule. That can't be beyond human ingenuity, even in baseball.
July is when baseball has the sports calendar to itself. That seems to me to be the best time to attract attention to a baseball event MLB really wants to promote.

 

Italy still tied 0-0 with Venezuela and honestly getting the better of the game. Several great defensive plays.

Bobby Abreu was on second with one out and took third on a deep fly to right. He took a very long turn toward home and turned around to walk slowly back without looking up.

The base coach sees the throw coming in and starts gesturing wildly for him to get back, and he starts to run but it's too late and they get him .

Actually, I saw the reply and the reason he was walking back was because he thought there was no one on the bag, but the pitcher backing up the play snuck behind him.

 

OK, I've got the giggles. From Phil Rogers ...

 

Veneuzeula still batting up 4-0 in the fifth. Italy ran out of pitchers

 

Good God, did anyone see the MLB Network coverage of this? Gushing does not begin to describe it. For the love of piss, shut the hell up already. Nobody gives a crap. [/rant]

 

I love this shit.

 

Lots of people do. Just not most Americans and yourself.

 

Was Mariano Duncan not available?