WBC Thread

[HERPDERP]

Yeah, because he hasn't blown a game in the last 2 years, right?

 

he himself has said it was his worst of his career. This isn't like a blown save against the bottom feeders of the MLB.

 

http://www.albat.com/clasicomundial/Roberto-Osuna-Falle-a-Mexico-la-peor-noche-de-mi-carrera-20170310-0001.html

[HERPDERP]

Wow maybe you should send him a nice tweet and tell him to pick his head up

 

I was far more offended by what he and his trainers call a 'leg press'

 

Not going to risk getting blocked

[glory]

That's why I'll never take the WBC seriously.

 

I think Ryan Dempster and Eric Gagne pitching in 2017 accomplishes that alone.

 

I want the NBA to do something like this so Canada's team would have Steve Nash and Rick Fox on it. Because why the F not?

[Jonn]

I think Ryan Dempster and Eric Gagne pitching in 2017 accomplishes that alone.

 

I want the NBA to do something like this so Canada's team would have Steve Nash and Rick Fox on it. Because why the F not?

 

The future of our Basketball program is actually extremely promising.

 

As for Baseball. Its been discussed that if LA hosts the 2024 Olympics that MLB would consider a break to allow the top MLB players to compete for their country. Perhaps that's the incentive needed. You would think you would want to compete for your country out of Pride though.

 

If you're a Canadian baseball player and you see Canada get curbed stomped on National Television you would think that would bother them.

[Terminator]

Canada could field a really good basketball team. They'd have an entire two-deep depth chart with guys currently in the NBA.

[AdamGreenwood]

The future of our Basketball program is actually extremely promising.

 

As for Baseball. Its been discussed that if LA hosts the 2024 Olympics that MLB would consider a break to allow the top MLB players to compete for their country. Perhaps that's the incentive needed. You would think you would want to compete for your country out of Pride though.

 

If you're a Canadian baseball player and you see Canada get curbed stomped on National Television you would think that would bother them.

 

Votto should be bloody ashamed of himself. Hope he gets booed loudly next time he is at the RC.

I understand the guys fighting for jobs not showing up, but he had no excuse.

[Jonn]

Canada could field a really good basketball team. They'd have an entire two-deep depth chart with guys currently in the NBA.

 

Pumping out first round picks every year now. 2 more coming this year and they both play for Oregon. If anyone is looking for a team to cheer for in March Maddness it's the Oregon Ducks.

 

Rowan Barrett Jr is also the #1 prospect in the 2019 class. His Dad is the Assistant GM of Canada Basketball so we are in good hands.

[Sammy225]

Votto should be bloody ashamed of himself. Hope he gets booed loudly next time he is at the RC.

I understand the guys fighting for jobs not showing up, but he had no excuse.

 

Why i think it is dumb having the WBC on this time of year. Guys are not at 100% yet and who is to judge him if he is more committed to the team thats paying him millions then a meaningless tourney that likely sees them eliminated in the first round. I know i am likely one of the few that says if you want to make up a tournament like this do it at the end of the year like the World Hockey Championships.

[KingKat]

Why i think it is dumb having the WBC on this time of year. Guys are not at 100% yet and who is to judge him if he is more committed to the team thats paying him millions then a meaningless tourney that likely sees them eliminated in the first round. I know i am likely one of the few that says if you want to make up a tournament like this do it at the end of the year like the World Hockey Championships.

 

I think you'd have an even harder time getting players to sacrifice part of their off-season for this. At least all their sacrificing with this format is pointless, boring spring training baseball. I bet a lot of the players prefer the competitiveness of the WBC to that.

[Sammy225]

I think you'd have an even harder time getting players to sacrifice part of their off-season for this. At least all their sacrificing with this format is pointless, boring spring training baseball. I bet a lot of the players prefer the competitiveness of the WBC to that.

 

Ya I am just saying in terms of a meaningless tourney.. Some players may not see it as worth it and want to just get ready for the season... And obviously there are players who see that by looking at players backing out of team USA.

[Jonn]

Ya I am just saying in terms of a meaningless tourney.. Some players may not see it as worth it and want to just get ready for the season... And obviously there are players who see that by looking at players backing out of team USA.

 

It doesn't seem meaningless to the Latin countries. Looks like they have s*** loads of fun. I want to have s*** loads of fun.

[Sammy225]

It doesn't seem meaningless to the Latin countries. Looks like they have s*** loads of fun. I want to have s*** loads of fun.

 

It would nice if other countries treated it like the DR or something but when you got one of the best pitcher in the world (Kershaw) and THE best player in the world (Trout) not really wanting to play in it, ad Kershaw admitted in an interview he was not fond of the timing then it takes something away from it.

[KingKat]

It would nice if other countries treated it like the DR or something but when you got one of the best pitcher in the world (Kershaw) and THE best player in the world (Trout) not really wanting to play in it, ad Kershaw admitted in an interview he was not fond of the timing then it takes something away from it.

 

In the early days of the tournament, it was assumed that over time the tournament would pick up steam and more players would participate as it became more popular but it seems instead like it's spinning it's wheels. I'm not sure what could be done to make it better. Players like Kershaw might complain about the timing but the fact is the timing is about as good as it could possibly be. It's during spring training, a time when players are risking injuries anyways but a lot of the players are still sheepish about getting injuries as if getting injured in the WBC is somehow worse than getting injured in spring training. I think the problem is largely with MLB teams. Until teams are more supportive and encouraging about it, players are going to continue to feel conflicted about participating except for those playesr, like the Dominicans, who flat out care more about their country than they do about their MLB team.

[TholesWeirdEye]

In the early days of the tournament, it was assumed that over time the tournament would pick up steam and more players would participate as it became more popular but it seems instead like it's spinning it's wheels. I'm not sure what could be done to make it better. Players like Kershaw might complain about the timing but the fact is the timing is about as good as it could possibly be. It's during spring training, a time when players are risking injuries anyways but a lot of the players are still sheepish about getting injuries as if getting injured in the WBC is somehow worse than getting injured in spring training. I think the problem is largely with MLB teams. Until teams are more supportive and encouraging about it, players are going to continue to feel conflicted about participating except for those playesr, like the Dominicans, who flat out care more about their country than they do about their MLB team.

 

 

I wonder if contracts players sign would have stipulations regarding non MLB baseball activities like the WBC?

Wasn't Martin not "allowed" to go because of his knee surgery in the off season?

[Laika]

I wonder if contracts players sign would have stipulations regarding non MLB baseball activities like the WBC?

Wasn't Martin not "allowed" to go because of his knee surgery in the off season?

 

It's not exactly that the MLB contact has a stipulation, it's that the insurer of that contract for Toronto has said or otherwise has a policy saying that they will not insure his MLB contract if he is injured in the WBC.

[Laika]

I love the WBC. It's annoying that Canada could be a top ~5 team but they field a garbage squad... but I still love the tournament. It's just fun.

[KingKat]

I love the WBC. It's annoying that Canada could be a top ~5 team but they field a garbage squad... but I still love the tournament. It's just fun.

 

It's an absolute blast. It's just frustrating to feels like it's stagnating. I wonder if the tournament would be easier to market to casuals and non-baseball fans if they flat out called it a World Cup. I mean that's clearly what is aspires to be so why not just own that ambition.

[glory]

The future of our Basketball program is actually extremely promising.

 

As for Baseball. Its been discussed that if LA hosts the 2024 Olympics that MLB would consider a break to allow the top MLB players to compete for their country. Perhaps that's the incentive needed. You would think you would want to compete for your country out of Pride though.

 

If you're a Canadian baseball player and you see Canada get curbed stomped on National Television you would think that would bother them.

 

In the NBA version of the WBC, Wiggins won't play, but Rick Fox will. That's how stupid this whole thing is.

[Laika]

It's an absolute blast. It's just frustrating to feels like it's stagnating. I wonder if the tournament would be easier to market to casuals and non-baseball fans if they flat out called it a World Cup. I mean that's clearly what is aspires to be so why not just own that ambition.

 

I don't really think the label matters.

 

A lot of other sports with massive pro leagues see top players avoid their respective World Cup / World Championship / Olympics or whatever. Really, soccer seems to be the exception in that so many of their elite players embrace the World Cup. It's historical, I suppose.

 

Golf was just in the Olympics for the first time in forever and it felt like no pro golfers gave a s***. The World Championship in hockey has pretty big participation issues. IIRC lots of basketball players avoid the Olympics.

 

It's hard to manufacture these new institutional competitions and convince an entire sport to give a s*** about them.

[Sammy225]

I don't really think the label matters.

 

A lot of other sports with massive pro leagues see top players avoid their respective World Cup / World Championship / Olympics or whatever. Really, soccer seems to be the exception in that so many of their elite players embrace the World Cup. It's historical, I suppose.

 

Golf was just in the Olympics for the first time in forever and it felt like no pro golfers gave a s***. The World Championship in hockey has pretty big participation issues. IIRC lots of basketball players avoid the Olympics.

 

It's hard to manufacture these new institutional competitions and convince an entire sport to give a s*** about them.

 

I think that is it. The Olympics for hockey has been around forever and it was just molded in to you that it is the pinnacle as is the World Cup. This is the third year of this and i think players are still thinking of something optional.... I don't know how you can get ball players out of that mindset.

[Laika]

I think that is it. The Olympics for hockey has been around forever and it was just molded in to you that it is the pinnacle as is the World Cup. This is the third year of this and i think players are still thinking of something optional.... I don't know how you can get ball players out of that mindset.

 

Just leave it alone for 40 years!

[Jimcanuck]

Really, soccer seems to be the exception in that so many of their elite players embrace the World Cup. It's historical, I suppose.

 

Soccer World Cup audience is huge and a driving factor for player salary = high participation rate. Whereas hockey's annual World Championship and World Cup and this baseball WBC have little or no impact on salaries.

 

Pro golfers are basically mercenaries. They have endorsement contracts but the Oympics isn't going to be much of a factor in the endorsement amounts.

 

For some players there is national pride at play, but for many others, its simply a financial decision.

[Stangstag]

Leyland's lineup construction is pretty gross.

[Jonn]

Tito Polo is goat

[JFD]

I'll be happy if no Jays get injured during this dumb tourny. Seeing Osuna in high leverage situations this early makes me cringe.

[Spanky99]

Wonderful.. The Statcast nerds have their representative talking jibberish. Catch probability was 79% on the Pompey double.

 

Who gives a f***.. It's getting a little bit too much now. That f***ing dweeb probably doesn't even like the game itself in it's physical form. I like stats, but it's getting f***ing stupid.

 

You do know that dweeb was HOF'er John Smoltz, right? Sometimes us old guys need to evolve, gruber, lol. Meh... I guess early 40's is old, lol. Yer Dumn.

[Spanky99]

I'll be happy if no Jays get injured during this dumb tourny. Seeing Osuna in high leverage situations this early makes me cringe.

 

What would be the difference, if he was in camp?

[Spanky99]

Meh... peace, I'm out for my sister's going away gathering.

[Orgfiller]

This is exciting as hell.

[CJ-Freeway]

Damn lol