Then the Colombians have a chance to win, first and third, one out, batter hits a line drive to LF. Play at the plate and Bautista threw out their fastest runner to send it to the 10th.
World Baseball Classic 2017
- Thread starter Merkle's Boner
- Start date
DR strands two. Colombia has a chance to win again. I can't remember any game more exciting than these that I didn't have a rooting interest in.
Colombia goes 1,2,3. On to the 11th, with DR guys at first and second and no outs.
OVA. DR scores so many runs in the top of the inning I've lost track and turned off the game. no longer exciting.
Colombia goes 1,2,3. On to the 11th, with DR guys at first and second and no outs.
OVA. DR scores so many runs in the top of the inning I've lost track and turned off the game. no longer exciting.
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I think the metric is that a player needs to be able to qualify for citizenship in the country they play for. Israel's Law of Return makes it possible for any Jewish ballplayer to play for Team Israel. If Germany's laws were equally welcoming to "Germanic" ball players, it would be hard (for me, anyway) to get worked up over a mostly American Team Deutschland.
I dunno about "worked up", but if I were Venezuela, I'd feel very differently about getting beat by the USA than by getting beat by a bunch of Americans calling themselves the "Israel" team. Like, who gave USA two entries to this tournament, anyway? Do these guys care about the name on the front of their jersey? Certainly not the way the Venezuelans do, judging from what I've read. For example, the NYT:
They're not playing "for Israel", they're playing for a little attention from MLB scouts. It does make a bit of a farce of the proceedings, which I don't view as fundamentally farcical (as some do), but this isn't helping.
oh, right, like we treat them as first-class citizens to begin with. Neither taxation nor representation - could be worse!
Politics and snark aside, at least the Puerto Rican team is made up of Puerto Ricans who come from, you know, Puerto Rico. Likewise, Xander Bogaerts holds Dutch citizenship, grew up in a Dutch protectorate and speaks Dutch (among other languages). As long as there's not an Aruban team, it at least makes some sense that he'd want to rep the Netherlands.
I'll repeat my point and then leave this be. Sydney was saying earlier that for many Australian players, representing their country is the highest honor they'll ever have, and they speak and act accordingly. That may not be as true for Team USA as for some other participants but it's clearly a factor for all of them. For the Israel roster, meanwhile, this is a means to get a better minor league deal, maybe a spring training invite or something, and representing their "country" is clearly a very distant consideration if it's one at all. Some of them might not be able to pick out Israel on an unlabeled map, for all we know. I find that off-putting when trying to get into watching these matches - especially in a tournament where Team Israel is the cinderella story.
Politics and snark aside, at least the Puerto Rican team is made up of Puerto Ricans who come from, you know, Puerto Rico. Likewise, Xander Bogaerts holds Dutch citizenship, grew up in a Dutch protectorate and speaks Dutch (among other languages). As long as there's not an Aruban team, it at least makes some sense that he'd want to rep the Netherlands.
I'll repeat my point and then leave this be. Sydney was saying earlier that for many Australian players, representing their country is the highest honor they'll ever have, and they speak and act accordingly. That may not be as true for Team USA as for some other participants but it's clearly a factor for all of them. For the Israel roster, meanwhile, this is a means to get a better minor league deal, maybe a spring training invite or something, and representing their "country" is clearly a very distant consideration if it's one at all. Some of them might not be able to pick out Israel on an unlabeled map, for all we know. I find that off-putting when trying to get into watching these matches - especially in a tournament where Team Israel is the cinderella story.
In a way, this team is more like MLB: How many Bostonians play for the Red Sox? Would they be in our Fair City if they were not highly remunerated? For all we know, the players on Team Israel may be more proud of being Jewish, if not Israeli, than most MLB players are of being associated with the citizens who pay their salaries. These are just musings, not an attempt to prove you wrong.
Mexico up 8-1 heading to the bottom of the 5th. If Mexico wins, they will be in the three-way 1-2 playoff. Tiebreaker for the two slots is most runs against per inning amongst the three teams, worst team is eliminated and the other two have a game tomorrow. Currently Mexico is at 11 runs in 13 innings, Venezuela is at 18 in 15 innings and Italy is in the clubhouse with 20 runs against in 19 innings. If Venezuela gives up 3 more runs, they are out and Mexico plays Italy for the #2 slot in Pool D.
They let up exactly 3 more while also putting together a respectable comeback effort which ultimately fell short. So your Mexico/Italy playoff scenario will happen tomorrow. It's a shame the pitching gave up 30 runs in 3 games, because that VEN offense was stacked.
EDIT: Controversy! The Twitter tells me Venezuela is claiming that they, rather than Mexico, will be the ones to face Italy because of "a change in interpretation of defensive innings." We'll see.
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Man I hate tiebreakers. I would be more interested in this competition if it was double elimination. I barely care about college baseball but enjoy the college world series since there's more suspense
Yeah, it turns out Mexico is out because in one game Mexico gave up 5 runs in the 9th without recording an out to lose that game, so they didn't get credit for that inning.
They lost the tiebreaker 1.12 vs. 1.11 (Venezuela) vs. 1.05 (Italy)
They lost the tiebreaker 1.12 vs. 1.11 (Venezuela) vs. 1.05 (Italy)
Since "Israel" gave up 12 runs to "the Netherlands" what does that mean for their going on to the next round?
They probably have to beat Japan, and even then they are not in good shape on the tiebreaker. They would be greatly helped by Cuba beating either Japan or the Netherlands.
The Italy-Venezuela tiebreaker starts in 10 minutes, on ESPN Deportes (though if it's available in english I'd be interested to know). It's like having a Game 7 in March!
Venezuela is led by Miguel Cabrera, King Felix, Jose Altuve, etc. Their roster would be scary for MLB teams to play. They baaaaaarely edged Italy 11-10 in 10 innings on Saturday.
Italy is represented by the likes of Tommy Layne, Gavin Cecchini, Francisco Cervelli, Daniel Descalso etc. They have a handful of legitimate major leaguers but no stars, and half their roster has zero ML service time. They have exactly one player who was actually born in Italy. Just in case you were wondering who the underdog was here.
Venezuela is led by Miguel Cabrera, King Felix, Jose Altuve, etc. Their roster would be scary for MLB teams to play. They baaaaaarely edged Italy 11-10 in 10 innings on Saturday.
Italy is represented by the likes of Tommy Layne, Gavin Cecchini, Francisco Cervelli, Daniel Descalso etc. They have a handful of legitimate major leaguers but no stars, and half their roster has zero ML service time. They have exactly one player who was actually born in Italy. Just in case you were wondering who the underdog was here.
I'm watching it in English on SportsNet1 (Canada), so it's being broadcast in English and must be being shown somewhere.
Not quite true. Alex Liddi (arguably the best native Italian player of all time) was born and raised on the boot, as were a couple others, I think. It's a shame, because Italy does have a relatively rich baseball history (look up Nettuno, Italy, AKA "Baseball City") and could field a team of native born players that would be able to hold their own.
This game has the fielding quality of the Little League World Series. 5 innings of major league quality play, but the 6th so far is suited for a Yakety Sax soundtrack.
edit: totally crazy-pants 9th inning. I won't spoil it, just... go watch a condensed game or whatever MLBTV puts out about this one. Way more entertaining than any ST game you'll probably see this month.
edit: totally crazy-pants 9th inning. I won't spoil it, just... go watch a condensed game or whatever MLBTV puts out about this one. Way more entertaining than any ST game you'll probably see this month.
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Italy had a 2-1 lead into the 9th and the 2nd pitch was crushed by Miggy Cabrera into the RCF stands to tie it up.
And now Venezuela takes the 3-2 lead on a ball off the top of the wall by Odor to drive in a runner from 1B. He bat flipped like it was hit 50 feet past the fence and then walked up the line. Ends up with a single.
Um, of all people with a bat flip... it's a good thing they weren't playing the DR.
And now Venezuela takes the 3-2 lead on a ball off the top of the wall by Odor to drive in a runner from 1B. He bat flipped like it was hit 50 feet past the fence and then walked up the line. Ends up with a single.
Um, of all people with a bat flip... it's a good thing they weren't playing the DR.
[QUOTE="InstaFace, post: 2170218, member: 73971
edit: totally crazy-pants 9th inning. I won't spoil it, just... go watch a condensed game or whatever MLBTV puts out about this one. Way more entertaining than any ST game you'll probably see this month.[/QUOTE]
Forget any ST game, that was more entertaining than most games you'll see all year. A freaking 9th inning suicide squeeze!
edit: totally crazy-pants 9th inning. I won't spoil it, just... go watch a condensed game or whatever MLBTV puts out about this one. Way more entertaining than any ST game you'll probably see this month.[/QUOTE]
Forget any ST game, that was more entertaining than most games you'll see all year. A freaking 9th inning suicide squeeze!
Considering I was rooting for them, you can imagine why someone like me might be disappointed, can't you?
I am watching the game here:http://m.mlb.com/tv/e164-486924-2017-03-13/v1237804683
Yep, errors have been key. Cubs prospect John Andreoli (born in Worcester, MA) has been very good (HRs) for Italy.
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It may already be worse. Not sure if you keep up with the news, but PR is basically being governed — quite anti-democratically and colonially in a way reminiscent of Haitian postcolonial history — by a junta representing bondholders.
How can the DR be beaten? Can't imagine it.
EDIT: Oh, wow, DR loads the bases, then strikeout, flyball catch in right field, out at the plate! The PR players are to excited about what they just did!
EDIT: Oh, wow, DR loads the bases, then strikeout, flyball catch in right field, out at the plate! The PR players are to excited about what they just did!
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No to highjack this thread too much but they are basically bankrupt and have no mechanism to withstand it because of their special status.
Back to your regularly scheduled WBC...
Just wait until "The Netherlands" qualifies for the one "Europe" slot at the 2020 Olympic Games.
And someone asked who could beat the DR? Maybe the team of Cubans who ISN'T playing?
Not that it's the be-all-end-all, but... is there a European country who could field a credible baseball team of "native-born players plus residents"? Maybe @Old Fart Tree is the right person to ask...
Maybe the US team that was ahead 5-3 in the 8th, or the Puerto Rican team that is up 3-1 currently in the 7th.
Minus the Caribbean players, The Netherlands is still probably Europe's strongest baseball nation...but the games against Italy and France would be closer.
Dominican Republic loses their first game since 2009, that group is brutal.
Netherlands already up 9-0 on Cuba. Assuming that holds, Israel needs to beat Japan to force a three way tie at 2-1 and then the runs against tiebreaker applies like it did with Mexico/Venezuela.
Netherlands already up 9-0 on Cuba. Assuming that holds, Israel needs to beat Japan to force a three way tie at 2-1 and then the runs against tiebreaker applies like it did with Mexico/Venezuela.
That is silly. They've extended the lead to 13-1 in the 6th, which I guess counts against them in the tiebreaker.
So if Japan beats Israel, Japan and the Netherlands advance to the final four. If Israel beats Japan, then the team with the least runs allowed per inning advances first and the other two play for the second spot. Right now, it's:
Netherlands-11 runs allowed in 26 innings
Japan-11 runs allowed in 20 innings
Israel-13 runs allowed in 17 innings
So Israel would likely have to beat Japan twice in a row to advance, unless the first game is 1-0, in which case Japan would advance first and the other two would play for second. I think that's right, this is all a bit confusing and I did the math myself since I couldn't find an up-to-date article anywhere.
Netherlands-11 runs allowed in 26 innings
Japan-11 runs allowed in 20 innings
Israel-13 runs allowed in 17 innings
So Israel would likely have to beat Japan twice in a row to advance, unless the first game is 1-0, in which case Japan would advance first and the other two would play for second. I think that's right, this is all a bit confusing and I did the math myself since I couldn't find an up-to-date article anywhere.
The Netherlands could do it. As it is, there are a number of Euro-born and raised players on their roster, and they've produced some recent Major Leaguers (Rick Van Den Hurk and Loek Van Mil both had fringe MLB careers, and Greg Halman was on his way to being the greatest European player ever and a guy with 20-hr potential before his tragic murder at the hands of his brother).
Italy has traditionally been the other Euro baseball power, but the Dutch seem to have been pulling away from them in the last decade (though Marten Gasparani recently set a Euro record with a >$1M signing bonus with the Royals).
Beyond the Dutch and the Italians, the Germans and the Czech's might actually have the best baseball programs on the continent right now. Max Kepler is a born-and-raised German (the son of two ballerinas) and he could be an everyday player for the Twins this year, and baseball fields are supposedly popping up in nearly every Czech city these days.
Edit: visual evidence!
Eagles Park in Prague:
Home field of their intracity rivals, the Tempo Titans:
A full house at Armin-Wolf-Arena in Regensburg for the 2009 World Cup:
The same venue was used for the 2013 WBC Qualifying pool won by Canada:
Neptunus Familiestadion in Rotterdam is home to the most successful club in Europe:
And here's the newly constructed ETO ballpark in Hoofddorp. This is the best ballpark in Europe, with an MLB quality playing surface, first class amenities, and plenty of room to expand with temporary seating (they built it specifically hoping to get an MLB regular season game some day):
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http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=18912300
Baez tagging Cruz, while celebrating and not even looking at Criz for the tag.
That is some confidence.
Baez tagging Cruz, while celebrating and not even looking at Criz for the tag.
That is some confidence.
