WBC Thread

[burlingtonbandit]

Nice job by Osuna. And by Agon for telling the catcher to switch up the signs. Clear the guy at 2nd bases was tipping pitches.

[HERPDERP]

uuhh so you guys, Mexico apparently is eliminated due to some innings fiasco.

 

This is going to be an embarrassment for MLB.

 

Apparently they told Mexico before the game how many runs they had to win by in order to proceed, and it was wrong all along lol

[KingKat]

uuhh so you guys, Mexico apparently is eliminated due to some innings fiasco.

 

This is going to be an embarrassment for MLB.

 

Apparently they told Mexico before the game how many runs they had to win by in order to proceed, and it was wrong all along lol

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/reprieve-venezuela-still-alive-wbc-loss-mexico-082442431--mlb.html

 

'The issue that we have is regarding partial innings (defended). They have one interpretation and we have another. Even the MLB writer published that we were going to play tomorrow, because he has the same interpretation like we did,'' Mexico team captain Adrian Gonzalez said. ''Now they are giving us the chance to file a protest and they (MLB) will give us an answer tomorrow.''

[KingKat]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/reprieve-venezuela-still-alive-wbc-loss-mexico-082442431--mlb.html

 

'The issue that we have is regarding partial innings (defended). They have one interpretation and we have another. Even the MLB writer published that we were going to play tomorrow, because he has the same interpretation like we did,'' Mexico team captain Adrian Gonzalez said. ''Now they are giving us the chance to file a protest and they (MLB) will give us an answer tomorrow.''

 

So I'm assuming that one of the teams was walked off at one point and didn't complete the inning and the issue is over whether that should count as a full defensive inning or not. I feel like it shouldn't. If you got walked off in 1/3 or an inning or whatever, you shouldn't get to artificially lower your runs allowed average by adding extra outs that you weren't actually able to get.

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

Well, he said it

 

And won't be asked to manage again I don't imagine

[HERPDERP]

Didn't Whitt f*** up a line-up card situation like 10 years ago? He was the bench coach at that time.

[KingKat]

I didn't realize this until just reading about it but... Dempster passed on all the previous WBCs. So after he snubbed Team Canada three times, they begged him out of retirement to come get shelled for them? That's pathetic.

[Laika]

Yadier Molina not happy with food, travel, security and MLB following game in Mexico... http://sports.yahoo.com/news/puerto-rico-catcher-rips-mlb-over-mexico-security-210627386--mlb.html

 

"The organization of the event as a whole has not been good," Molina said. "We don't have good food. The first day, we didn't have good transportation. It has been mediocre organization of the event... I think since we are professional baseball players we deserve more attention."

 

lmao, not even trying to hide the entitlement.

[BTS]

What a frustrating tournament. When the roster is paper thin, you really notice when guys like Votto, Paxton, and Taillon can't be bothered to play. 3-4 innings each from those two pitchers could have made the difference vs. Columbia.

[Laika]

So I'm assuming that one of the teams was walked off at one point and didn't complete the inning and the issue is over whether that should count as a full defensive inning or not. I feel like it shouldn't. If you got walked off in 1/3 or an inning or whatever, you shouldn't get to artificially lower your runs allowed average by adding extra outs that you weren't actually able to get.

 

The core issue is that all of the tie-breakers are f***ING AWFUL WOW.

[Laika]

Well, he said it

 

And won't be asked to manage again I don't imagine

 

Seems like he has a job for life... or until he decides to stop doing it.

 

Whitt has no Canadian roots, correct? He's from Michigan, played for the Blue Jays for his entire career, and just decided not to leave?

[Jonn]

I didn't realize this until just reading about it but... Dempster passed on all the previous WBCs. So after he snubbed Team Canada three times, they begged him out of retirement to come get shelled for them? That's pathetic.

 

He claimed the reason he passed on the WBC in the past is that he wouldn't be effective. He didn't think he would be ready in Spring Training to compete at a high level.

 

So it's quite ironic he thought he could be effective four years into retirement. Canada Baseball didn't beg him. He called them and said he wanted to do it. Same with Gagne.

 

Canada Baseball really f***es up having him start 2 of the 3 games. It goes beyond comprehension.

[glory]

The process needs to change. You can't have one team with an all-star team (Dominican) and the other starting guys in their 40's who have been retired for years. It hurts the integrity of the entire tournament.

 

Maybe they should do the WBC with minor leaguers only. They will be much more likely to participate in it, and will expose fans to the lesser known players.

[KingKat]

Seems like he has a job for life... or until he decides to stop doing it.

 

Whitt has no Canadian roots, correct? He's from Michigan, played for the Blue Jays for his entire career, and just decided not to leave?

 

Whitt is a terrible tactician. That's established but not necessarily a deal breaker. This is similar to a college gig where being a well liked guy that the players will want to play for is much more important than on field strategy. That being said, there's not a whole of evidence suggesting that players are all that excited to play for him. Maybe it is time for a change.

 

And you're right that he's not Canadian. Just a guy with ties to Canadian baseball. Maybe they should get Robbie Alomar to do it. Not a Canadian either and probably not a good manager either but he's a Canadian baseball hero. Playing for Alomar would mean a lot more to these guys. Maybe they could work an arrangement where Whitt does all the grunt work in the other tournaments and demotes himself to bench coach for the WBC. If he's serious about attracting better players he should accept this. If not, they can find someone else who would.

[TholesWeirdEye]

He claimed the reason he passed on the WBC in the past is that he wouldn't be effective. He didn't think he would be ready in Spring Training to compete at a high level.

 

So it's quite ironic he thought he could be effective four years into retirement. Canada Baseball didn't beg him. He called them and said he wanted to do it. Same with Gagne.

 

Canada Baseball really f***es up having him start 2 of the 3 games. It goes beyond comprehension.

 

 

No kidding. Watching dumpster throwing meatballs down the middle yesterday was a joke.

[Spanky99]

Didn't Whitt f*** up a line-up card situation like 10 years ago? He was the bench coach at that time.

 

Yes.

[Spanky99]

Seems like he has a job for life... or until he decides to stop doing it.

 

Whitt has no Canadian roots, correct? He's from Michigan, played for the Blue Jays for his entire career, and just decided not to leave?

 

Pretty much... I feel his frustration, but they wouldn't get rid of him.

[Brownie19]

Whitt is a terrible tactician. That's established but not necessarily a deal breaker. This is similar to a college gig where being a well liked guy that the players will want to play for is much more important than on field strategy. That being said, there's not a whole of evidence suggesting that players are all that excited to play for him. Maybe it is time for a change.

 

And you're right that he's not Canadian. Just a guy with ties to Canadian baseball. Maybe they should get Robbie Alomar to do it. Not a Canadian either and probably not a good manager either but he's a Canadian baseball hero. Playing for Alomar would mean a lot more to these guys. Maybe they could work an arrangement where Whitt does all the grunt work in the other tournaments and demotes himself to bench coach for the WBC. If he's serious about attracting better players he should accept this. If not, they can find someone else who would.

 

Do you really think decisions are based on who the manager is? Would Joey Votto really commit just so he'd be able to say he "played for Robbie Alomar" - like that would be some special memory he could look back at the end of his career? I guess I could buy players wanted to say they played for some legendary manager - but not an ex. ball player, who's not a manager. I don't buy it.

[KingKat]

Do you really think decisions are based on who the manager is? Would Joey Votto really commit just so he'd be able to say he "played for Robbie Alomar" - like that would be some special memory he could look back at the end of his career? I guess I could buy players wanted to say they played for some legendary manager - but not an ex. ball player, who's not a manager. I don't buy it.

 

I think it could factor in the decision yes. Do I think it would turn a hard no into a yes? No of course not but they need to do everything they can to make it appealing to the players and yes I think tying it to a legendary figure could be part of that.

[Terminator]

I think it could factor in the decision yes. Do I think it would turn a hard no into a yes? No of course not but they need to do everything they can to make it appealing to the players and yes I think tying it to a legendary figure could be part of that.

 

I agree, it could help. I wonder if Larry Walker getting involved would help. He's a former star player and Canadian. The WBC team and the National Basketball team need to do something to improve the players they get and getting the right guys to run the teams would help.

 

Hell, even enlisting celebrities to help recruit would make sense. Basketball should name Drake the assistant General Manager to Nash being GM. He might be able to get the top talent to come play.

[KingKat]

I agree, it could help. I wonder if Larry Walker getting involved would help. He's a former star player and Canadian. The WBC team and the National Basketball team need to do something to improve the players they get and getting the right guys to run the teams would help.

 

Hell, even enlisting celebrities to help recruit would make sense. Basketball should name Drake the assistant General Manager to Nash being GM. He might be able to get the top talent to come play.

 

Larry Walker is already the hitting coach but giving him a more prominent, visible role and an active part in recruiting could help.

[Spanky99]

I agree, it could help. I wonder if Larry Walker getting involved would help. He's a former star player and Canadian. The WBC team and the National Basketball team need to do something to improve the players they get and getting the right guys to run the teams would help.

 

Hell, even enlisting celebrities to help recruit would make sense. Basketball should name Drake the assistant General Manager to Nash being GM. He might be able to get the top talent to come play.

 

Larry Walker was there as a bench/hitting coach.

[Sammy225]

Larry Walker was there as a bench/hitting coach.

 

Thought he was the first base coach. I know it really doesn't matter but i am not sure if it gets the Vottos of the world there. I think it is case that canadian and american players have to think that this Tournament means something. Like previously mentioned the World Cup of Soccer is huge because their is so much prestige, The Olympics are the Olympics and in the eyes of a lot of hockey players the pinnacle. I don't know how you get the WBC to mean more in North America like it does to the Latin Teams.

[Laika]

I believe Quantrill is also a coach already too.

 

One guy who I don't think has any involvement is Matt Stairs.

 

I do wonder if honorary Canadians Alomar and Raines would have any interest in being involved with Baseball Canada.

 

Doing some research and Terry Puhl could be The Guy to replace Whitt with...

 

"n August 2006, Puhl coached the Canadian National Senior team at the Olympic qualifier in Cuba. Canada advanced to the next round of qualifiers in 2007.In a 15–12 defeat of Panama, Puhl replaced catcher David Corrente with pinch hitter Reed Eastley in the 8th inning, despite the fact that Corrente had four hits in four at bats. Eastley hit a 3-run home run to tie the game. In the bottom of the ninth Reed Eastley came to bat for a second time, this time with the bases loaded and the game on the line. Puhl instead called on pinch hitter Jeremy Ware, whose grand slam won the game for Canada."

 

He's been a State University head coach for ten years now.

[Spanky99]

Thought he was the first base coach. I know it really doesn't matter but i am not sure if it gets the Vottos of the world there. I think it is case that canadian and american players have to think that this Tournament means something. Like previously mentioned the World Cup of Soccer is huge because their is so much prestige, The Olympics are the Olympics and in the eyes of a lot of hockey players the pinnacle. I don't know how you get the WBC to mean more in North America like it does to the Latin Teams.

 

They're never going to get ballfans or players, to get as excited for this tournament, as the Latin Americans and the Koreans and Japanese fanbase's, it is what it is. I doubt they sell-out in the West Coast unless Japan make the finals.

[Orgfiller]

Yadier Molina not happy with food, travel, security and MLB following game in Mexico... http://sports.yahoo.com/news/puerto-rico-catcher-rips-mlb-over-mexico-security-210627386--mlb.html

 

Entitlement aside, this proves why an MLB team will never be based in Mexico like some suggested not too long ago. Just far too much insecurity for the players and their families.

[Brownie19]

If Steve Nash can't attract Canadian basketball players - nobody is going to help attract Canadian baseball players...

[TholesWeirdEye]

If Steve Nash can't attract Canadian basketball players - nobody is going to help attract Canadian baseball players...

 

Who's Steve Nash?

[Laika]

Maybe the problem is Canadians in general...