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Open WBC Remaining Round 1 Games Thread

Exxod_-_master_of_the_guard_tiny by ThundaPC on Comment 767 comments

Australia just ran over Mexico to the point where the mercy rule had to come into play after the bottom of the 8th inning (Score: 17-7).  I think it's about time for a new thread, probably for the rest of the games in Round 1.

3/10 Update: How bout them Netherlands?  Wish I could have seen that game.
3/11 Update: Well, wow.

========================== Schedule ==========================

Monday 3/9
Pool A - Korea 1, Japan 0
Pool C - Italy 6, Canada 2
Pool D - Netherlands 1, Puerto Rico 3
Pool B - Mexico 14, South Africa 3

Tuesday 3/10
Pool C - Italy 1, Venezuela 10
Pool D - Dominican Republic 1,  Netherlands 2 (11)
Pool B - Cuba 5, Australia 4

Wednesday 3/11
2:00pm PDT --- Pool D - Netherlands vs. Puerto Rico                    [ESPN2]
3:30pm PDT --- Pool C - Venezuela vs. United States                    [MLB Network]
7:00pm PDT --- Pool B - Mexico vs. Australia                                    [MLB Network]

Thursday 3/12
6:00pm PDT --- Pool B - (Mexico/Australia Winner) vs Cuba         [MLB Network]

============================================================

Pool A - Korea (1), Japan (2)
Pool B - Cuba
Pool C - Venezuela, United States
Pool D - Netherlands, Puerto Rico

============================================================

Round 2 begins Saturday March 14th at 10:00am PDT.

2 recs  |  Comment 767 comments

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Through the order once

and Kenji with Japan’s only hit. Huh.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 3:24 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Japan lineup is due for a shakeup.

I can see Fukudome getting benched.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 3:47 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Skewered on the Paths.

Running gaffe by the Koreans.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 3:57 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Stoopid base running.

Koreans keep running out of their innings.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 4:41 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Bad baserunning or good D?

I only have gameday. I guess with no force on, they should stay home unless they know they’re going to first. Baserunning decisions in those kinds of situations kind of baffle me.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 4:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ran on contact with no outs.

And they’re running with their heads down.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 4:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

PH Ogasawara

Orange Dolphins, really?

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 4:46 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Oh No Joh.

Hope not filled of I am.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 4:50 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

But

With out out? And only four outs remaining. There’s no way that pays off.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stupid and illogical.

You’re much more likely to score with a runner on first and one out than a runner on second and two outs. Also, Ichiro can steal and he’ll likely be safe. Just a stupid, stupid, nonsensical move by Japan.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 9, 2009 5:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, honestly, I'm not a fan of the play.

But I can see where they’re coming from too.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 5:35 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Butcher boy would have been nice.

But I’ll live with the sac bunt.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 5:16 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Whoops a doodle

Bet you wish you had that out back now, eh Japan.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 5:18 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

If an MLB manager had done that in a similar situation

I would fired him. Maybe not that day, but it would’ve come up when I fired him.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:18 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's an entirely justifiable play.

You won’t have many MLB friends.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 5:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Really?

Hang on, I have to find the win expectancy guide…

Ah:

Home team, 8th inning, runner on first, one out, -1: 31.7%
Home team, 8th inning, runner on second, two outs: 26.3%

You just can’t give up outs in that situation.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:21 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry

That reads more harsh than I probably wanted it to.

But bunting forces you into a situation where you need a hit to score Ichiro. If you don’t bunt, you just need (in sequence) a single and a productive out to score him… or he can steal second. I don’t think (and I don’t know Japan well enough to say this) that the #2 hitter would get doubled up in that situation, so I don’t see what bunting accomplishes, other than waste an out.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:26 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

A move that makes you significantly more likely to lose is a justifiable play?

Maybe it’s justifiable to old school thinkers who don’t understand baseball probability in the MLB, but there’s a reason the successful teams don’t bunt in situations like that anymore.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 9, 2009 5:26 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Like abelard

I’m not trying to be rude here, but I can see how it would come off as such.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 9, 2009 5:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So I'm sorry if it offends.

I should finish my thoughts before posting.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 9, 2009 5:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I blame the fact

that I’ve been up for almost 24 hours straight.

I’m not strongly against bunting (IIRC, the Book established that it’s good to occasionally bunt randomly, just to avoid being completely predictable) but I don’t know why they wouldn’t steal in that situation, or let him hit away.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:30 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I'm not completely against the bunt.

Just….95% against it?

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Mar 9, 2009 6:01 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Inaba.

Do your fucking job.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 5:40 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

That

was not productive.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:40 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Michihiro Ogasawara.

Hit or grow your beard back.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 5:41 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Ugh

That was not a pretty loss.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:41 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Not a pretty win either.

They should have won by 3 or 4 runs if they didn’t keep running out of good plays.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Mar 9, 2009 5:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

I was utterly amazed by the 6-2-5 double play. Not to mention the inning where Korea had runners gunned down at third and picked off second. Japan was lucky to be in it for so long.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:48 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, about time for me to get some sleep.

I was going to say “hurry up and get this over with,” but in the time it took me to type the subject line Japan made the last out.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 5:42 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I second that

I need sleep.

At least I got to see Darvish.

by abelard on Mar 9, 2009 5:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

These sixth games seem pretty pointless

Japan and Korea are now 1-1 in head-to-head play, and if it was a true double-elimination format, there would be a rubber match. Choosing Korea as the top seed from the pool seems a bit arbitrary, but I guess it’s an arbitrary decision that everyone agrees with at the beginning, so whatever.

More importantly, since the Pool B sixth game is after the Pool A sixth game, if someone would rather play Korea than Japan, it would be to their advantage to lose the Pool B sixth game. And any game where a team has an incentive to lose isn’t really a game worth playing, in my book.

I would rather just have them play the first five games, give the top seed to the undefeated team, and then play full-on double elimination in the final round.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 10:37 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I suppose so

It seems like teams would be much more willing to tank one game where they certainly gain their advantage by losing than they would be willing to tank a lot of games when the payoff is uncertain even if they do lose. Also, MLB franchises have long-term goals to keep in mind whereas WBC teams essentially have only short-term goals.

It’s a matter of degree. Thankfully, the incentive for tanking in MLB seems to be much smaller than in the NBA.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's because of the number of players on the field, honestly

in MLB, not only are the players drafted relatively far from the majors, you need ~20 players to field a competitive team. In the NBA, the players drafted contribute immediately, and the disparity between the top talents in the draft and the average ones is much higher than in MLB.

NBA teams have a huge incentive to tank sheerly because of the way that basketball works, as opposed to MLB.

by seattlebruin on Mar 9, 2009 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm ok with the Pool A sixth game being so early

because teams in the Asian Pool are going to have to travel across an ocean in order to play the next round. To have them all end at the same time and have the second round played soon after would probably harm the traveling teams.

by Two Rs and Two Ls on Mar 9, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You could just not play it

I agree that there are scheduling problems with trying to play them simultaneously, but you can avoid that by not playing the last game. I suppose they figure they would lose money in the deal, but I think that they could make a lot of that up by playing full-on double elimination in the championship round.

It’s not really a huge deal, it’s just something that I would do differently.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree. They could have just scrapped the sixth game flown Japan to San Diego after their first two wins, but i guess

they wanted to have some sort of “championship” game at each site. Really made no sense since it’s a double elimination and if Japan won, Korea would have two losses, but still advance.

Shouldn’t make much of a difference though. Cuba and Japan were probably gonna meet up anyway in Game 3, in San Diego. With the loser having to play an elimination game in Game 5. Now they will likely play in Game 1. With the loser having to play two games in the loser bracket.

by Rudy4three on Mar 9, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would agree with the notion that having a 6th game is pretty silly to begin with.

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Maybe some Marketing sense, because the more you can get Japan and Korea to play each other, the greater the rivalry, but whatever.

by Two Rs and Two Ls on Mar 9, 2009 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just realized that I'd be an asshole if I lived 10 minutes away from Petco and missed the WBC for the second time.

So today I bought some cheap park pass tickets for Japan vs. Whoever Wins Pool B. I’m hoping for Cuba or Mexico. Either way would be awesome. The Cubans always have a fun team to watch, and the Mexicans should draw a great crowd in San Diego.

by Teej on Mar 9, 2009 11:48 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I wanted to go to the games in LA

but the prices were absurd. I may still try and scalp depending upon who ends up there.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2009 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just bought $15 tickets that get you into the park but you don't get seats.

I imagine I would spend most of my time walking around anyway, so I figure this is the way to go. I don’t need to see every pitch as much as I just want to see the pageantry of the whole thing.

by Teej on Mar 9, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Do they have these for the games in LA?

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It appears not.

Petco has the big “Park at the Park” feature, where there’s a grassy area with a T-ball field and places to lay out a blanket and watch the game from way out past center field, so they always sells really cheap tickets. I think it’s $5 during the regular season. The view sucks, but you also have access to the rest of the park if you want to walk around.

by Teej on Mar 9, 2009 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ah well

would’ve been cool but not a big deal.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm thinking about going to Altitude on top of the Marriot to watch the games

you can see the whole field except CF and RF from up there, it’s really nice.

Plus if there’s no cover on club nights, there won’t be cover in the middle of the day.

by seattlebruin on Mar 9, 2009 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think the Cuba vs Japan game is gonna be really really good..

However, they shoud break up the teams more.. Stick like Pool A winner with Pool C winner.. and Pool B runner up, and Pool D runner up, so you get some new matchups…

by Rudy4three on Mar 9, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mexico playing in SoCal

would be frightening no matter the opponent.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2009 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nice

What pitch did he hit?

by marc w on Mar 9, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So....gameday's working for you?

It’s blank when I check that game – the Italy/Canada game isn’t working either. Damn.

by marc w on Mar 9, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It might require flash...

My computer here at work doesn’t have functional flash and I’m getting all of the background graphics, but the gameday app itself doesn’t show up in the center of the screen.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Same boat - no flash

What I meant was that the box scores on mlb.com aren’t updating – and, in the case of the Ned/PR game, don’t show up at all.

by marc w on Mar 9, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Looked like a fastball.

And it should have been a single, but he hit it to Bernie Williams, so it was a double.

by Teej on Mar 9, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey it's Ramon Vasquez

I remember hating him once upon a time

by Graham on Mar 9, 2009 4:31 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He was a member of 2001 Tacoma Rainiers

and as such, I cannot hate him. But yeah, that late HR to win a game for the Rangers was a gut punch all right.

by marc w on Mar 9, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

NAILED!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 4:36 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Liddi with a sac fly.

Italy putting some pressure on the Canucks.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 4:41 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I have to admit

I’ve been really rooting for the under dog teams to win.

Except in that first Korea game where I was just impressed with how Korea looked. I still felt bad for their opponent.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2009 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wasn't he just a fill-in guy with them?

Used to do a little bit of everything locally, including the occasional Tacoma Rockets WHL games back in the day on KSTW.

by marc w on Mar 9, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

His Wiki says he was a part of FSN Northwest.

So he probably did a lot of different sports. And it says he was a commentator for the Blue Jays, which I didn’t know.

by Wilder. on Mar 9, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yup.

He was FSN, and was more than happy to get a play by play job with the Fish as there looked to be no openings in Seattle any time soon.

by msb on Mar 9, 2009 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I suddenly have the urge to see the Netherlands win the WBC.

Because they are the underdog that can pull it off.

by Wilder. on Mar 9, 2009 5:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I was just going to bring them up

I’m not sure about how their run prevention units stack up, but I think that Australia has a good-sized advantage in offense over the Dutch.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So far I approve of the new mlb video player that is in beta

The video quality is sexy compared to what I’m used to out of the 800k windows media player feeds from last year.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 5:17 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, it's vastly improved.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

the 600k stream today looks nice and hasn’t been choppy at all.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Damnit Halman.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 5:20 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow, damn near another fantastic play.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 5:25 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

And Italy escapes out of a bases loaded jam.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 5:29 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Liddi double

I was just looking at this kid’s numbers at Wisconsin. Not so great, strikes out all the time. But, he’s only 20.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 5:34 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

YES YES YES!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 5:35 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Highlight of that kids life

Go Netherlands!

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2009 5:35 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Alex Liddi just doubled a minute ago.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 5:36 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

BWAHAHAHA!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 5:53 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

FUCK! That was a DP!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 5:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

HOLY CRAP! HOW DID THOSE GUYS NOT ADVANCE?

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:02 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Man, the kid wanted it.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:04 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

This at bat is insane.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:06 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

ONE MORE OUT! ONE MORE OUT!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:06 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

COME ON KID! DO IT!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

ONE MOR ESTRIKE!!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:09 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

OH FYCJK YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

YE SYES YES YES YES YES YES !!!!!!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

AMAZING!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Mets fans are suiciding with how awful

some of their players have looked in the WBC.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2009 6:11 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

For all of the complaining that I do about baseball broadcasts in general...

…I have to say that this is basically just how I want to watch baseball. The announcing isn’t inspired by any means, but they are concentrating on the game at hand and not hammering us over the head with some predetermined storylines. (Except for the underdog story line, but even that has seemed fairly innocuous.) There aren’t endless cross-promotions for some show that I’m not interested in and they are basically just showing us the game. No weird noise-making 3D graphics, no overlay graphics to show me how far off first base the lead runner is, no ridiculous tiny sample size statistics. I love it.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 6:14 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

And they've been completely unbiased.

This game has been so exciting in part because they’ve let the game dictate the emotion.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They seem to know a lot about the non-MLB players, which is nice.

Even if they’re just reading off a sheet, it’s nice to get some background info on these players. Particularly the Dutch.

by Teej on Mar 9, 2009 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

YES YES YES

Just got the video feed working again.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 6:20 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

In the other game...

Liddi 2-3 with a double, 2 RBIs and a SB.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 6:21 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I wish they had a radar gun

These pitches seem extremely hittable to me.

by OlSalty on Mar 9, 2009 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Man these uniforms...

Growing on me…I want a Halman one now…

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 6:28 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Oh shit.

This guy pitched in NAIA baseball in Idaho (TVCC and Albertson’s)

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 6:28 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

XD

3 Ks, wow.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 9, 2009 6:33 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

That was one shitty pitch and he STILL missed it.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:33 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Needs more DP.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 9, 2009 6:34 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Walked the bases loaded.

Yadier up.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 9, 2009 6:36 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

There is just no fucking way they are going to do it again.

No fucking way.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:36 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Leon Boyd in to determine the fate of the team.

No pressure.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 9, 2009 6:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Man the Italian pitcher just got hosed against Bay.

At least two strikes got called balls.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 9, 2009 6:39 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:40 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Damn.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 9, 2009 6:40 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

It was fun while it lasted

Who is the DR starting tomorrow?

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 6:41 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Is this feed legit?

It seems like MLB network would …not be pleased…for this to be going out for free.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 6:44 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Well of course it's not legit.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That was a nice throw to get the runner at the plate

They just need some offense to go with their defense. Holding this lineup to 3 runs over 8 innings isn’t anything to be ashamed of.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 6:45 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Huh

I don’t remember it even coming up, but I’m assuming that he wants to stay in camp and fight for a job. It seems to me like he’s a lock for 4th OF, but theoretically he’s competing with Morse/LaHair/Prentice Redman. And in reality I hope to god he’s not actually competing with them. He would probably make the Netherlands team better though, shame.

by appleshampoo on Mar 9, 2009 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow

he swings at anything not straight

by marinerdan on Mar 9, 2009 6:49 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Come on Halman....

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:49 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Damn.

Down to their last out.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 9, 2009 6:49 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Man, didn't even bother to drag it out.

Ah well.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 9, 2009 6:50 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Fuck.

Oh well, that was a hell of a game.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 6:51 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

This atdhe.net has great video quality.

It does however have a red safety rating from McAfee.

by redwolf75 on Mar 9, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

And Canada is eliminated.

Let’s go Africa!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 7:15 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Kind of unlucky for them...

There basically seem to be 9 “top” teams and Canada wound up as the loser in the group with 3 of those teams. That’s not to say that Australia or the Netherlands (heck, maybe even Italy at this point) couldn’t still surprise someone and advance, but if they could play some sort of hypothetical round-robin best-of-seven competition, I would guess that the US, Canada, Venezuela, Japan, Korea, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic would emerge as the clear top 9.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cantu with a wild throw on routine play

If Mexico actually gets eliminated here, they’re going to be the laughing stock of baseball.

by JLC on Mar 9, 2009 7:34 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Their first loss was a 7-17 blowout against team Australia

And their second loss would be to team freakin’ South Africa. How the hell could you even go back to Mexico after that?

by JLC on Mar 9, 2009 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Meh

It’s baseball, not college basketball (where the #1 seeds can always beat the #16 seeds), two bad games shouldn’t make a laughing stock of anyone.

This has to be a hard place to pitch, too. In terms of blowout potential, I’d bet it’s right up there with Coors Field in the ’90s.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Considering the fan turnout and fervor with which these teams play

I get the impression that getting eliminated this early in the competition to South Africa and Australia would be very embarrassing.

by JLC on Mar 9, 2009 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Embarassing, sure...

…but I wouldn’t think that makes them “the laughing stock of baseball.”

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I've never seen a laughing stock of anything

the term is kinda hyperbolic by design.

by JLC on Mar 9, 2009 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's a little bizarre to see the pitcher throwing to the batter...

…and zero fans behind them. This must be a multi-purpose stadium.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 8:00 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow this game is completely the opposite of the last one.

BOOOOOOORRRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 9, 2009 8:08 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Huh, South Africa is hanging around in this game

This game doesn’t seem nearly as exciting as the score suggests it should be. I blame pitchers not throwing enough strikes and a stadium that makes the Al Davis Reconfigurable Hole seem like an intimate fan experience.

by ubelmann on Mar 9, 2009 9:03 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Italy

 has a huge chance for an upset today. I love that Lopez has been raking lately.

by Zwakamatsu on Mar 10, 2009 2:02 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Or rather

a chance for a huge upset.

by Zwakamatsu on Mar 10, 2009 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hahaha

so that Pepsi add in the background is just a green screen? Funny!

by Zwakamatsu on Mar 10, 2009 2:14 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

You didn't know this?

It’s been this way for years.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 10, 2009 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Excellent.

Venezuela needs to score a lot of runs given their pitching situation.

by appleshampoo on Mar 10, 2009 2:19 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Nil Nil

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 10, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for the link higher up

first live baseball I’ve seen in a long while

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 10, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So do they have other games as well?

This can potentially ruin my family and career and I am OK with that.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 10, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah just hit the main domain and there's a list.

Who knows how long it will be around though. Seems ripe for legal action/shutdown.

by appleshampoo on Mar 10, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Netherlands vs. DR on MLB Network

Tom STUIFBERGEN is pitching for team Nederlands. Awesome name.

Halman not starting in this game.

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 3:45 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

What the fuck?

Diaz, you fat moron, that wasn’t a foul tip! It hit his forearm!

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 3:52 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

LOPEZ!!!

I’m not gonna lie but the WBC is giving me a small amount of hope that Lopez can sustain what he did in the second half last year. Even if it is irrational.

by Zwakamatsu on Mar 10, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It'd be nice if I could finally direct my hatred at one of the two

I hated inconsistently oscillating between he and Yuni.

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Damn Lopez

SSS aside, he’s kickin ass in this tournament.

by IceStormV1 on Mar 10, 2009 3:55 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

So USA vs Venezuela rematch

Will Felix be able to pitch again?

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 10, 2009 3:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I think so

Need to wait a minimum of 3 days if a pitcher throws 50+ pitches, which Felix did on March 7th.

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought it was 4 days.

Can’t seem to find where I read that though.

by appleshampoo on Mar 10, 2009 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oops

Read that wrong. 4 days it is.

by ubelmann on Mar 10, 2009 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That kind of makes sense, too

You’re essentially allowed one “start” per round.

by ubelmann on Mar 10, 2009 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Here is the best I can find

The 2006 rules, which say that it is a minimum of 3 (not 4) days after throwing 50+ pitches. And then an article on rule changes, which ups the limits from 65/80/95 to 70/85/100 for rounds 1/2/3. I don’t see any mention of extending the 3-day waiting period to 4 days, though.

by ubelmann on Mar 10, 2009 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Endy Chavez with a double!

Yeah, Italy’s bullpen isn’t great.

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 3:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I know it's the Netherlands lineup

But Ubaldo Jimenez is nasty.

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 4:45 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

10 K's!

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 10, 2009 4:47 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Venezuela wins it, 10-1.

Looking forward to the rematch vs. U.S.A.

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 5:16 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

C'mon Netherlands

If you pull this off, I’ll go streaking at some undisclosed point in time.

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 5:25 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

They need to actually score at some point.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Mar 10, 2009 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

HBP!

C’monnnnnnnnnnnnnnn errors!

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good gravy that was an awful bunt

At least the idea was decent.

by JLC on Mar 10, 2009 5:27 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

7 inning shutout.

Wow.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 10, 2009 5:47 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

7 shutout innings.

Wow, the Netherlands has the Dominican’s number.

by Wilder. on Mar 10, 2009 5:47 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

They did it to Puerto Rico too.

At this point you start to wonder if “fluke” is really the right word. Once is happenstance, twice coincidence, three times is enemy action. Maybe they’re really that good.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Mar 10, 2009 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs