WBC Thread

[KingKat]

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.

 

It's the fourth one. Japan won the first two and the Dominican took the third.

[Stangstag]

Lol. Pinch hitting Hosmer for Goldy is borderline criminal

[Laika]

Lol. Pinch hitting Hosmer for Goldy is borderline criminal

 

Did this actually happen?

[Stangstag]

Did this actually happen?

 

Yeah just now. It was runners on the corners, 2 outs. Hosmer grounded out the the pitcher.

[P2F]

Yeah just now. It was runners on the corners, 2 outs. Hosmer grounded out the the pitcher.

Holy hell, that's indefensible!

[Stangstag]

Holy hell, that's indefensible!

 

The only reasons are that:

 

A. It was a RHP (doesn't matter when its Goldschmidt hitting)

 

B. You want all the players to get play time

 

Still a stupid decision from a tactical standpoint. If you're trying to win.

[KingKat]

Yeah I couldn't believe that. Hosmer as defensive replacement, fine. Probably a marginal upgrade on defense but Hosmer as pinch hitter is idiotic.

[Jonn]

Yeah I couldn't believe that. Hosmer as defensive replacement, fine. Probably a marginal upgrade on defense but Hosmer as pinch hitter is idiotic.

 

I'm pretty sure Goldy is the superior defender as well lol.

[Stangstag]

I'm pretty sure Goldy is the superior defender as well lol.

 

Yeah this

[KingKat]

I'm pretty sure Goldy is the superior defender as well lol.

 

Yeah this

 

I thought Hosmer was some kind of God at 1B. Now you tell me he's overrated on defense too?

[jaysfan2014]

US only has 3 arms left in the pen--Robertson, Miller and Jake McGee. How much longer can the US hold out before they have to consider using a position player to pitch, espcially considering WBC rules? Can't afford to use Stroman or Duffy..

[Jonn]

US only has 3 arms left in the pen--Robertson, Miller and Jake McGee. How much longer can the US hold out before they have to consider using a position player to pitch, espcially considering WBC rules? Can't afford to use Stroman or Duffy..

 

No position players will pitch. No MLB team would be ok with that.

[TheHurl]

Idiots here at my work made me change the WBC game to the Raptors...admittedly I refused to change the other TV from Duke/UNC

[Laika]

Idiots here at my work made me change the WBC game to the Raptors.

 

are you a security guard?

 

bartender?

[Jonn]

Broadcasters making excuses for USA lol

[KingKat]

Christian Yelich looks like he's 15.

[jays4life19]

I thought Hosmer was some kind of God at 1B. Now you tell me he's overrated on defense too?

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-talk-about-eric-hosmers-defense/

[Angrioter]

USA suxxx

[Angrioter]

Colombia is going to lose this game by themselves.. USA is just awful

[TheHurl]

are you a security guard?

 

bartender?

 

Sport Programmer at a City run soccer facility, which happens to have a bar. So I spend my Friday nights with sweaty old Slavic Men (O35 league is Fridays)

[KingKat]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-talk-about-eric-hosmers-defense/

 

That was a good read. Man, Hosmer is a very overrated player.

[Orgfiller]

So Felix, building from his streak of non-Felix like pitching, struggles against Puerto Rico and then asks his manager (Omar Vizquel for those not keeping up) to leave the game in a bases loaded 2-out situation.

 

Oh boy.

[Laika]

So Felix, building from his streak of non-Felix like pitching, struggles against Puerto Rico and then asks his manager (Omar Vizquel for those not keeping up) to leave the game in a bases loaded 2-out situation.

 

Oh boy.

 

he asked to leave? like, signalled for Vizquel to come get him?

[TheHurl]

seth lugo is somehow puerto rican?

 

The Cajun part of Puerto Rico.

[Bobthe4th]

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.

 

Also, in football (soccer) the winner of the World Cup can be any of numerous countries, and there are lots of countries that can field good teams. This competitiveness means players want to test themselves on the world stage against the best.

 

At the WBC you've got at most 3 or 4 countries that can regularly field a decent team.

[Bobthe4th]

Another handicap for the WBC is that the vast majority of elite players already play in the same league.

 

If a player wants to test himself against the best, or if a fan wants to see that contest, the MLB is a much better opportunity.

 

Compare to the cricket (one day version) or rugby union world cups. Both have only around 6-8 elite countries but all the best players play, and they are both seen as the pinnacle of the sport. A big part of this is because you have separate elite domestic leagues around the world, dispersing the talent.

[CJ-Freeway]

That was a good read. Man, Hosmer is a very overrated player.

 

That's cos he's tall and good looking (no homo)

[Spanky99]

So Felix, building from his streak of non-Felix like pitching, struggles against Puerto Rico and then asks his manager (Omar Vizquel for those not keeping up) to leave the game in a bases loaded 2-out situation.

 

Oh boy.

 

Did this happen?

[Laika]

Canada scored a goal!

[Inklink]

Friggin Shift