World Baseball Classic thread

[Stangstag]

Sorry - I didn't enjoy watching Cal Quantril walk a bunch of nobody's. I actually turned it off before Canada came to the plate and went back to watching the Players. I guess if the Players wasn't on, I may have left the Canada game on - but only because the Jays spring training game wasn't on TV.

 

Soooo you watched half an inning and claim the game was boring. You’re aware of the final score right?

[Laika]

He might have wanted to trigger the mercy rule. Had GB scored, he could have needed two extra innings from pitching.

 

hmmmmm

 

A. Use best pitcher to pitch against good teams like USA and Mexico

B. Use best pitcher to mercy the Brits

 

Canada is probably going nowhere so maybe mercying the Brits is the best we can hope for anyway

[Grant77]

hmmmmm

 

A. Use best pitcher to pitch against good teams like USA and Mexico

B. Use best pitcher to mercy the Brits

 

Canada is probably going nowhere so maybe mercying the Brits is the best we can hope for anyway

 

We beat Mexico last time, didn't we? Colombia looks beatable as well. Who knows with the US game, there's always a chance.

[Brownie19]

Soooo you watched half an inning and claim the game was boring. You’re aware of the final score right?

 

I am yes. I didn't say it was boring - I just said I couldn't get through the 1st inning. I thought I would enjoy it, but I didn't, especially with the Players on TV. I think GB having zero players I've ever heard of hurt it for me.

 

Look man - you seem concerned that I didn't enjoy it. It's OK - we don't have to enjoy the same things. I really enjoyed watching the golf if you're interested.

[Laika]

We beat Mexico last time, didn't we? Colombia looks beatable as well. Who knows with the US game, there's always a chance.

 

Yeah

 

Canada is not horrible but so weak in pitching - this is why Brash should be deployed against two of Mexico/Colombia/USA if possible and why using him against GB was silly. He's one of the team's only MLB quality arms!

 

Should have let Adam Loewen or Scott Mathieson or one of the other 40 years olds who has not pitched professionally in years finish that game.

 

It was a shame to even use Curtis Taylor against GB but Ernie kind of had to roll out a legit arm to take control of the circus game.

[Carlos Danger]

Yeah

 

Canada is not horrible but so weak in pitching - this is why Brash should be deployed against two of Mexico/Colombia/USA if possible and why using him against GB was silly. He's one of the team's only MLB quality arms!

 

Should have let Adam Loewen or Scott Mathieson or one of the other 40 years olds who has not pitched professionally in years finish that game.

 

It was a shame to even use Curtis Taylor against GB but Ernie kind of had to roll out a legit arm to take control of the circus game.

 

I remember Canada did the same thing last WBC. I want to say it was with a their best closer..Maybe Axford at the time ICR. They were in a blow out game or something like that, they were playing a really good team next game and they are using their closer. I might have the details wrong, but I distinctly remember thinking WTF!!??

[Captain_Obvious]

Hey Ernie!

 

I am Danny Jansen's mama. Get your facts straight.

[Laika]

I remember Canada did the same thing last WBC. I want to say it was with a their best closer..Maybe Axford at the time ICR. They were in a blow out game or something like that, they were playing a really good team next game and they are using their closer. I might have the details wrong, but I distinctly remember thinking WTF!!??

 

Looks like maybe you are thinking of 2013. They used Axford to close out 10-3 win over Mexico.

 

Then the next day they are losing 5-4 to USA going into the 9th. They use Mathieson to end the 8th and to begin the 9th but he can't keep USA off the bases and they have to use Axford anyway. Combined Mathieson and Axford give up 4 ER and the game is out of hand.

 

Maybe if they held Axford back and he was 100% fresh, he is fresh and the one being used for the final 1.1 innings and it's a 5-4 game heading into Canada's final chance... against prime Craig Kimbrel, lol.

[Captain_Obvious]

hmmmmm

 

A. Use best pitcher to pitch against good teams like USA and Mexico

B. Use best pitcher to mercy the Brits

 

Canada is probably going nowhere so maybe mercying the Brits is the best we can hope for anyway

 

Again, I think he did it to save a couple of arms from an already taxed bullpen. As you said, it probably does not matter.

[Carlos Danger]

Looks like maybe you are thinking of 2013. They used Axford to close out 10-3 win over Mexico.

 

Then the next day they are losing 5-4 to USA going into the 9th. They use Mathieson to end the 8th and to begin the 9th but he can't keep USA off the bases and they have to use Axford anyway. Combined Mathieson and Axford give up 4 ER and the game is out of hand.

 

Maybe if they held Axford back and he was 100% fresh, he is fresh and the one being used for the final 1.1 innings and it's a 5-4 game heading into Canada's final chance... against prime Craig Kimbrel, lol.

 

That is the game, I guess a while ago! lol That is the same game with the awesome brawl, correct?

[Terminator]

Team USA's pitching sucks compared to what it could be. Unfortunately, Canada's is downright awful. Team USA's bats are cold though right now so if Canada can hang a crooked number I think they have a chance.

[Laika]

Team USA's pitching sucks compared to what it could be. Unfortunately, Canada's is downright awful. Team USA's bats are cold though right now so if Canada can hang a crooked number I think they have a chance.

 

Canada has a handful of prospect-y pitchers who, just by looking at K-BB numbers, have some stuff.

 

I guess there is a chance that a bunch of pitchers you have never seen before with okay stuff could keep an all star baseball lineup relatively quiet.

 

My prediction for tonight is that it's a close game until the 8th inning and then Ernie Whitt calls on Adam Loewen for some dumb f***ing reason and he comes in throwing 90 poo and gets his tits lit up.

[Stangstag]

Canada has a handful of prospect-y pitchers who, just by looking at K-BB numbers, have some stuff.

 

I guess there is a chance that a bunch of pitchers you have never seen before with okay stuff could keep an all star baseball lineup relatively quiet.

 

My prediction for tonight is that it's a close game until the 8th inning and then Ernie Whitt calls on Adam Loewen for some dumb f***ing reason and he comes in throwing 90 poo and gets his tits lit up.

 

Haha you just know this is going to happen

[Terminator]

Would be hilarious to see Team USA grind out a win over GB and then get tossed from the tournament after getting their asses beat by Mexico and Canada in back to back games. Part of me (the Canadian part) wants it to happen.

[G-Snarls]

Team USA's pitching sucks compared to what it could be. Unfortunately, Canada's is downright awful. Team USA's bats are cold though right now so if Canada can hang a crooked number I think they have a chance.

 

Their lineup should be able to score some runs against anyone

 

Giving up runs is the problem

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

The gap in lineup quality is pretty staggering

 

Eek

Edited March 13, 2023 by G-Snarls

[Ehjays]

[Grant77]

Great Britain is beating Colombia, that's big for us. The Mexico game is going to be the big one again this WBC, it appears.

[Carlos Danger]

I don't understand why Pop couldn't pitch for Canada....?

[Terminator]

I don't understand why Pop couldn't pitch for Canada....?

 

Yeah I agree. There's a ton of pitchers who dipped out of participating in the WBC for various teams. Seems like Canada could and Team USA got hit pretty hard by non participants.

[Carlos Danger]

Yeah I agree. There's a ton of pitchers who dipped out of participating in the WBC for various teams. Seems like Canada could and Team USA got hit pretty hard by non participants.

 

Canada is missing Taillon, Paxton, Piveta, Pop, *Romano (*If he pulls an A Rod and a Stroman) Josh Taylor, Votto, off the top of my head.

[Spanky99]

Canada is missing Taillon, Paxton, Piveta, Pop, *Romano (*If he pulls an A Rod and a Stroman) Josh Taylor, Votto, off the top of my head.

 

USA, Canada and Cuba had a tonne of non commits.

[Laika]

Canada did okay. Some of the guys not playing like Paxton and Soroka, you get it.

 

Rowan Wick would have been nice.

 

Pivetta hurts. Taillon hurts.

[Stangstag]

Canada did okay. Some of the guys not playing like Paxton and Soroka, you get it.

 

Rowan Wick would have been nice.

 

Pivetta hurts. Taillon hurts.

 

Yeah I don’t really get it.

 

If I was a professional ball player i’d be there no question. WBC has to be more exciting than the yearly monotony of spring training

[G-Snarls]

Yeah I don’t really get it.

 

If I was a professional ball player i’d be there no question. WBC has to be more exciting than the yearly monotony of spring training

 

With some exceptions for guys with frequent injuries/new teams

 

Like I get it if you're Jacob DeGrom and the Rangers

[G-Snarls]

Even without DeGrom and Verlander... They still could have had say:

 

Gerrit Cole

Alek Manoah

Corbin Burnes

Spencer Strider

Max Fried

Shane McClanahan

[Stangstag]

Even without DeGrom and Verlander... They still could have had say:

 

Gerrit Cole

Alek Manoah

Corbin Burnes

Spencer Strider

Max Fried

Shane McClanahan

 

Plus a bullpen with Hader, Williams, Pressly, Helsley, Bednar, etc

[Brownie19]

Yeah I don’t really get it.

 

If I was a professional ball player i’d be there no question. WBC has to be more exciting than the yearly monotony of spring training

 

I don't know man - in terms of talent - this is equivalent to like the Spangler Cup. Biggest difference is there isn't many opportunities to represent your country in baseball. I know some people just love the idea of wearing the Canadian uniform and representing the country they love - but others don't. I'm not going to shame anyone who didn't bother - knowing Canada had little to no chance of winning anything - when they could otherwise be preparing for the jobs that pays the bills.

 

I mean if you're some no-name guy from GB/China or guys like Dasan Brown (and other Canadians who aren't close to making the majors) - sure - go for it. But if you're Taillon, who just signed with a new team, I can totally see that you want to be with them - getting to know the organization/teammates and getting prepared to excel for a new team.

 

It will be interesting to see if this decision affects Otto Lopez's ability to make the Jays.

[Spanky99]

 

It will be interesting to see if this decision affects Otto Lopez's ability to make the Jays.

 

Nah, if anything it might springboard him. This is not close to the Spengler Cup, maybe the bottom feeders.