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.
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.No one else finds it a little... peculiar isn't strong enough a word, but unseemly feels too strong... that the "Israel" team is a bunch of Jewish-Americans playing in MLB / MiLB who grew up in the US and may have never even been to Israel, much less be a citizen?
I mean, to take a less-emotionally-charged example: "Germanic" is the single biggest ethnicity of origin in the US, but if a bunch of players whose families had been here for generations decided "you know what, we're not going to make the USA squad so let's just find our great-great-grandparent who was German and go make a German team" despite none of them giving the slightest damn about Germany, that wouldn't quite feel right, would it?
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.The roster was filled with minor leaguers, former major leaguers and baseball misfires, all of them Americans with enough Jewish heritage to play for Team Israel. Meanwhile, the best Jewish players, a small group that includes recognizable major leaguers like Ryan Braun, Kevin Pillar, Joc Pederson and Ian Kinsler, had opted to play for the United States in the tournament, or not at all.
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Despite its unlikely pedigree, Team Israel has blended in an organic, if slightly peculiar, way. The players share a desire to impress the scouts on hand — no member of Team Israel is currently on a 40-man major league roster, although many would like to be — and to capably represent a country and a religion that many of them have only recently come to know.
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Whatever the outcome on the field, Team Israel has provided an awakening of sorts for the players, allowing Kelly and Decker and their teammates to explore their heritage. Kelly, whose mother is Jewish but who went to a Roman Catholic high school, saluted the Jewish holiday of Purim, which arrived this weekend, and can now say a few words in Hebrew. Decker, who was not religious growing up, has embraced Jewish humor more than anything.
Wait until he finds out about Puerto Rico. . .Like, who gave USA two entries to this tournament, anyway?
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.If Venezuela gives up 3 more runs, they are out and Mexico plays Italy for the #2 slot in Pool D.
That game was already the second round. It's another round robin.Since "Israel" gave up 12 runs to "the Netherlands" what does that mean for their going on to the next round?
So that disastrous inning cost them twice. Ouch.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 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.Since "Israel" gave up 12 runs to "the Netherlands" what does that mean for their going on to the next round?
I'm watching it in English on SportsNet1 (Canada), so it's being broadcast in English and must be being shown somewhere.The Italy-Venezuela tiebreaker starts in 10 minutes, on ESPN Deportes (though if it's available in english I'd be interested to know). ....
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.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.
Why? Is Pedro pitching?... it's a good thing they weren't playing the DR.
No, but Jose Bautista is on that team.Why? Is Pedro pitching?
Considering I was rooting for them, you can imagine why someone like me might be disappointed, can't you?On the other hand, I'm not sure how much sympathy I have for a team that goes 1-2.
I am watching the game here:http://m.mlb.com/tv/e164-486924-2017-03-13/v1237804683I 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.
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.oh, right, like we treat them as first-class citizens to begin with. Neither taxation nor representation - could be worse!
No to highjack this thread too much but they are basically bankrupt and have no mechanism to withstand it because of their special status.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.
Just wait until "The Netherlands" qualifies for the one "Europe" slot at the 2020 Olympic Games.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.
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...Just wait until "The Netherlands" qualifies for the one "Europe" slot at the 2020 Olympic Games.
How can the DR be beaten? Can't imagine it.
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.And someone asked who could beat the DR? Maybe the team of Cubans who ISN'T playing?
Minus the Caribbean players, The Netherlands is still probably Europe's strongest baseball nation...but the games against Italy and France would be closer.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...
That is silly. They've extended the lead to 13-1 in the 6th, which I guess counts against them in the tiebreaker.Now 11-0 Netherlands in the 4th. It's pretty silly that run differential isn't the tiebreaker, just runs against.
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).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...
I freaking love watching him play.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.
Did someone say Nelson Cruz? Humiliated?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.