World Baseball Classic thread

[Stangstag]

Talkin’ Baseball (@talkinbaseball_) • Instagram reel

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9,897 likes, 249 comments - talkinbaseball_ on March 16, 2023: "This is very telling (via @lavidabaseball)".

 

That's really telling. I mean in some cases, I think they are asking guys who don't play in the majors, so of course the WBC means more to them as a World Series isn't a realistic option - but lots of ML players from the DR agree.

 

Yeah the WBC is important. It could really help grow the sport in other countries like Canada/UK/Europe where they don’t give a s*** about Baseball.

 

Really hoping the Diaz injury doesn’t hurt the growth of the WBC going forward.

 

I think they need to strongly consider changing the timing of the tournament though. Should probably take place after the World Series. That way if there’s an injury the player would have all offseason to heal, and it wouldn’t affect a team’s WS chances. Also if guys are tired after the grind of 162 and choose to go home instead, let em.

[John_Havok]

Yeah the WBC is important. It could really help grow the sport in other countries like Canada/UK/Europe where they don’t give a s*** about Baseball.

 

Really hoping the Diaz injury doesn’t hurt the growth of the WBC going forward.

 

I think they need to strongly consider changing the timing of the tournament though. Should probably take place after the World Series. That way if there’s an injury the player would have all offseason to heal, and it wouldn’t affect a team’s WS chances. Also if guys are tired after the grind of 162 and choose to go home instead, let em.

 

Canada loves baseball, it's just too damn cold for too mnay months in the vast majority of the provinces to have meaningful #'s of kids playing it to a high enough level.

[Terminator]

Yeah the WBC is important. It could really help grow the sport in other countries like Canada/UK/Europe where they don’t give a s*** about Baseball.

 

Really hoping the Diaz injury doesn’t hurt the growth of the WBC going forward.

 

I think they need to strongly consider changing the timing of the tournament though. Should probably take place after the World Series. That way if there’s an injury the player would have all offseason to heal, and it wouldn’t affect a team’s WS chances. Also if guys are tired after the grind of 162 and choose to go home instead, let em.

 

That's a good point about an injury. If this happened in November then Diaz would have a chance to play still.

[Stangstag]

Canada loves baseball, it's just too damn cold for too mnay months in the vast majority of the provinces to have meaningful #'s of kids playing it to a high enough level.

 

Are you sure man? I can count all the baseball fans I know in person on 1 hand.

[Laika]

Yeah the WBC is important. It could really help grow the sport in other countries like Canada/UK/Europe where they don’t give a s*** about Baseball.

 

Really hoping the Diaz injury doesn’t hurt the growth of the WBC going forward.

 

I think they need to strongly consider changing the timing of the tournament though. Should probably take place after the World Series. That way if there’s an injury the player would have all offseason to heal, and it wouldn’t affect a team’s WS chances. Also if guys are tired after the grind of 162 and choose to go home instead, let em.

 

we all talked about this in another thread but there is no right answer.

 

Spring Training = players might not be fully ready. players have to balance competing in the WBC with things like trying to win an MLB roster spot, or gelling with new teammates.

 

After World Series = players are tired as f***, burnt out. added innings for pitchers might have increased injury risk at this time?

Middle of the year = you'd lose the All Star game every 4 years and the MLB schedule might need slight changes. May need to contract WBC to fit in shorter timeframe.

 

Maybe they should do it DURING the MLB playoffs? I think the world hockey championship used to do this, or does do this. Players can join their country teams if and when they get eliminated from league play.

[John_Havok]

That's a good point about an injury. If this happened in November then Diaz would have a chance to play still.

 

It's an unfortunate situation for sure. But the WBC will always be in the spring. It's in the perfect place after the Super Bowl and before the MLB regular season when people who are baseball fans are craving baseball content. They'll never move it to being in season because that would be terrible. Moving it to the end of the season would basically ensure that 0 pro pitchers ever show up since all their arms would be dead tired by then and they'd be risking all kinds of additional arm injuries depending on when they had shut down.

 

This isn't even a repetitive motion injury, it's a total freak accident that cannot be prevented. s*** happens.

[John_Havok]

we all talked about this in another thread but there is no right answer.

 

Spring Training = players might not be fully ready. players have to balance competing in the WBC with things like trying to win an MLB roster spot, or gelling with new teammates.

 

After World Series = players are tired as f***, burnt out. added innings for pitchers might have increased injury risk at this time?

Middle of the year = you'd lose the All Star game every 4 years and the MLB schedule might need slight changes. May need to contract WBC to fit in shorter timeframe.

 

Maybe they should do it DURING the MLB playoffs? I think the world hockey championship used to do this, or does do this. Players can join their country teams if and when they get eliminated from league play.

 

MLB is a partner in the WBC and wouldnt want to take eyes away from their primary product by running the tourney at the same time as the playoffs, would they? Like, as far as advertising goes, if im a company and i'm paying big money for MLB playoff spots, would I want another MLB product in direct competition with that taking eyes away from my spots?

[Laika]

MLB is a partner in the WBC and wouldnt want to take eyes away from their primary product by running the tourney at the same time as the playoffs, would they? Like, as far as advertising goes, if im a company and i'm paying big money for MLB playoff spots, would I want another MLB product in direct competition with that taking eyes away from my spots?

 

I dunno. Maybe they could do creative scheduling so almost none of the big WBC games actually overlap with MLB playoff games.

[John_Havok]

I dunno. Maybe they could do creative scheduling so almost none of the big WBC games actually overlap with MLB playoff games.

 

Yeah, that's not unrealistic I suppose. I think it would still be really hard to attract any MLB or even minor league pitching to the WBC with that timing, most of them would just be ready to shut down. I could be wrong but i can't really envision a team sending their pitchers there after the season is over.

 

I think the position players would be totally fine with it though

[John_Havok]

Are you sure man? I can count all the baseball fans I know in person on 1 hand.

 

You should make more friends I guess

 

Baseball is really popular in Southern Alberta, BC lower mainland and southern Ontario. East coast has pretty rabid baseball fans. Its certainly not on the level of hockey, but I think it's probably #2 in front of basketball unless the Raptors are actually deep in the playoffs.

[Laika]

Yeah, that's not unrealistic I suppose. I think it would still be really hard to attract any MLB or even minor league pitching to the WBC with that timing, most of them would just be ready to shut down. I could be wrong but i can't really envision a team sending their pitchers there after the season is over.

 

I think the position players would be totally fine with it though

 

might be sort of an AFL situation where some teams actually WANT their arms to go

like if a prospect or young player got hurt for two months and needs innings and experience

[John_Havok]

might be sort of an AFL situation where some teams actually WANT their arms to go

like if a prospect or young player got hurt for two months and needs innings and experience

 

True. Would definitely not have the luster and shine that it could have though. I'm in the camp that while the timing of the WBC is not perfect, it's the best it can be if they want to get the bigger names of the game involved without disrupting the regular season.

[philly30]

You should make more friends I guess

 

Baseball is really popular in Southern Alberta, BC lower mainland and southern Ontario. East coast has pretty rabid baseball fans. Its certainly not on the level of hockey, but I think it's probably #2 in front of basketball unless the Raptors are actually deep in the playoffs.

 

Where does the CFL rank?

[John_Havok]

Where does the CFL rank?

 

It used to rank way higher, but it's definitely on the downturn. Probably somewhere between poker and darts.

[Terminator]

we all talked about this in another thread but there is no right answer.

 

Spring Training = players might not be fully ready. players have to balance competing in the WBC with things like trying to win an MLB roster spot, or gelling with new teammates.

 

After World Series = players are tired as f***, burnt out. added innings for pitchers might have increased injury risk at this time?

Middle of the year = you'd lose the All Star game every 4 years and the MLB schedule might need slight changes. May need to contract WBC to fit in shorter timeframe.

 

Maybe they should do it DURING the MLB playoffs? I think the world hockey championship used to do this, or does do this. Players can join their country teams if and when they get eliminated from league play.

 

During the playoffs would be a great time to have it except for the fact that high stakes baseball is already being played and I'm not sure MLB would want it to compete with the playoffs.

 

Some sort of minor league tournament would be cool too. I know Canada loves the World Junior hockey tournament and something similar for baseball in late fall could be good. Just axe the AFL and instead push a World Junior Tournament on the teams. Could even do it yearly.

[Stangstag]

You should make more friends I guess

 

Baseball is really popular in Southern Alberta, BC lower mainland and southern Ontario. East coast has pretty rabid baseball fans. Its certainly not on the level of hockey, but I think it's probably #2 in front of basketball unless the Raptors are actually deep in the playoffs.

 

I live in the GTA burbs (a fairly white town actually) and i’d put the popularity as

 

Hockey > Basketball > NFL/CFL > Baseball = Soccer

[Terminator]

Couldn't give less of a s*** about the WBC now that Canada is out and March Madness is on.

 

What a BORING ass tournament.

[WryNGinger]

Could they not do some kind of system ala FA Cup European soccer? I don't watch soccer, legit asking if there is a way that type of system would work with balancing WCB games between regular league action.

[wilko]

Couldn't give less of a s*** about the WBC now that Canada is out and March Madness is on.

 

What a BORING ass tournament.

 

Bandwagon bastard!

[John_Havok]

[Stangstag]

 

Excellent news. Keep it rolling and hopefully more participants next time and more viewers

[Stangstag]

Mexico prayed to the BABIP gods this inning for sure

[BigCecil]

Excellent news. Keep it rolling and hopefully more participants next time and more viewers

 

100%. I love this tournament. Can only get better.

[Stangstag]

Another big upset wow

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

Venezuela lineup

 

2B Jose Altuve

RF A. Santander

1B Luis Arraez

C S. Perez

CF Ronald Acuna

LF D. Peralta

3B E. Suarez

DH G. Torres

SS A. Gimenez

 

SP matchup:

 

Lance Lynn vs Martin Perez

Edited March 18, 2023 by G-Snarls

[Stangstag]

 

Trea batting 9th lol come on. Good they got Schwarber in there though

[Spanky__99]

Should be a good game, what was Molina doing in that 9th inning last night, lol... free outs are the worst.

[Stangstag]

Should be a good game, what was Molina doing in that 9th inning last night, lol... free outs are the worst.

 

Already looking like a crazy game

[G-Snarls]

3-2 usa