World Baseball Classic thread

[jaysblue]

Germany for beer and pretzels would be a good fit for baseball in the summer haha. Could see them enjoying the chilled experience at the ballpark.

 

Not sure about other countries like Italy, France or Spain.

[TheHurl]

yeah I guess many European countries don't seem to like baseball, but there is opportunity just based on the VOID of proper team sports they do like.

 

look at Germany for example. they like soccer, they sort of like hockey... what else? basketball? I don't see why baseball couldn't eventually be cool in a country like that.

What did basketball do to make momentum in Europe decades ago? It's essentially a pure North American export sport.

I bet f***ing handball is in their top 8 most popular sports.

Some of these European countries seem to be much more into individual sports and athletics.

 

You are correct. It is interesting how individual sports can thrive in Europe. Cross Country skiing just got their own channel in Norway. Track thrives in many euro countries, Tennis, Alpine, Motorsports. It's odd cultural difference. If people think baseball is slow, they should attend a live track event.

 

Top 10 most popular Sport in Germany!

1- Fußball! (Soccer)

2- Golf. Even though it is not as popular on TV channels as soccer, golf is one of the most played sports in Germany

3- Ice Hockey

4- Basketball

5- Motorsport

6- Handball

7- Tennis

8- Skiing

 

Also from the first site that came up which showed anything with Germany baseball. 7% of Germans say they enjoy baseball (which also might be purely to do with American forces presence)

[Terminator]

Like Hurl says Europe has money and they like American culture enough that it's a worthwhile endeavor to try and expand there. MLB is never going to be huge there but if MLB can just get 10% of Europe to have an interest in MLB it's worth it.

 

England would be the most natural target but they are a cricket country. They are the most closely linked to American culture though so they are an obvious target. Australia is in a similar boat even though it's not Europe.

 

And like Laika alluded too, their sports suck. No reason baseball can't become more popular than handball.

 

South American countries like Colombia and Brazil make a ton of sense as well.

[glory]

Yeah in India and Pakistan especially. Good point.

 

I think India can grow to be a baseball/MLB market. It's going to take some time/investment, and some representation, but I feel like its similarity to cricket (bat to ball) is probably a good thing. I believe I read that MLB opened an office over there a few years ago so I'm guessing they have started building an infrastructure already. I feel like India and China have real potential to become stronger baseball countries, as well as the UK which they have already gotten into.

[Carlos Danger]

South American countries like Colombia and Brazil make a ton of sense as well.

 

Colombia is weird when it comes to baseball. They are right beside Venezuela, and Panama, two baseball hotbeds. However, baseball in Colombia is only popular on the north eastern coast. Get away from that coast or inland and it is just pure soccer (futbol). They also like basketball.

 

The space and equipment you need for baseball is so much different than basketball. There are also concrete soccer "courts", in addition to grass fields. Basically a small rectangle almost like a basketball court in heavilly built up areas, but for soccer, not basketball.

 

There is the odd baseball or softball field in major cities inland. However, I still could never fathom/don't know enough about the history to understand why baseball is very regional in Colombia and it had never neen as popular as two of their neigbors.

[Laika]

Colombia is weird when it comes to baseball. They are right beside Venezuela, and Panama, two baseball hotbeds. However, baseball in Colombia is only popular on the north eastern coast. Get away from that coast or inland and it is just pure soccer (futbol). They also like basketball.

 

The space and equipment you need for baseball is so much different than basketball. There are also concrete soccer "courts", in addition to grass fields. Basically a small rectangle almost like a basketball court in heavilly built up areas, but for soccer, not basketball.

 

There is the odd baseball or softball field in major cities inland. However, I still could never fathom/don't know enough about the history to understand why baseball is very regional in Colombia and it had never neen as popular as two of their neigbors.

 

Probably as simple as the northern coastal cities absorbing Caribean culture

[G-Snarls]

[Terminator]

 

Going to have to take both the team and insurance company's side in this one lol. The guy is a walking IL trip.

[Spanky__99]

Nick Pivetta drops out of tournament for Canada.

[Grant77]

Nick Pivetta drops out of tournament for Canada.

 

That one really hurts. f*** Boston.

[Stangstag]

Nick Pivetta drops out of tournament for Canada.

 

Sweeet

[Terminator]

I could really fire a cannon shot at Grant right now after he posted that low hanging fruit but I'd have to insult the entire country of Canada to do it and it's just not worth it IMO

[wilko]

Nick Pivetta drops out of tournament for Canada.

 

[John_Havok]

Nick Pivetta drops out of tournament for Canada.

 

Yeah, he's still recovering slowly from COVID and hasnt been to Sox camp yet so theyre not letting him go. Seems like the right call

[Carlos Danger]

Kirks out for Mexico

[Stangstag]

Time to bump this baby.

 

Cuba Vs Netherlands 11pm tonight.

 

Should get to see at least a handful of good players. Luis Robert, Xander, etc

[BTS]

IS MLB.TV airing these?

[Spanky__99]

IS MLB.TV airing these?

 

Look UTube, man.

[Brownie19]

11 pm? f***, where is the game?

[John_Havok]

11 pm? f***, where is the game?

 

Fox sports 1

[Spanky__99]

11 pm? f***, where is the game?

 

MLB.com or MLBNetwork I think.

[WryNGinger]

11 pm? f***, where is the game?

 

Taiwan

[G-Snarls]

Man... I just got back from 4 days in Phoenix last night. Wish I could have timed my trip better so I could have gone to see a game.

[G-Snarls]

USA vs Mexico game sold out in 15 minutes

[Terminator]

Anybody watching? Yoenis Cespedes is batting cleanup for Cuba this game became a must watch

[Spanky__99]

Anybody watching? Yoenis Cespedes is batting cleanup for Cuba this game became a must watch

 

lmao... Classic!!!

[Stangstag]

Our boy Josh Pelacios with a huge go-ahead RBI

[Spanky__99]

Our boy Josh Pelacios with a huge go-ahead RBI

 

Good game so far, from the Netherlands.

[Spanky__99]

First upset, the Netherlands beat Cuba 4-2

[Stangstag]

This constant singing/dancing s*** at the Taiwan/Panama game is pretty interesting lol. Cheerleaders dancing on the dugout while the game is going on