2009 MLB season discussion*

[Viq]

The Netherlands beat the DR dude...twice...

Did you watch those games? DR threw them away... seriously, DR lost on throwing errors.

[pohibaba]

I'm torn in today's WBC game; I want to see Team America win, but I also want to see the Giants' Jonathan Sanchez to do well too. Team America is winning 2-1 in the bottom of the 2nd right now for those who can't watch it.

[fren.]

ARod poses for a gay photoshoot.



Well..no not really, but seriously what the fuck is this.

http://men.style.com/slideshows/mens...uez/00003f.jpg

http://men.style.com/slideshows/mens...uez/00001f.jpg

DETAILS: Alex Rodriguez: DETAILS Article on men.style.com

His arms are bigger than I expected though, damn.

[Akiyama]

He loves himself clearly.

[fren.]

http://www.waswatching.com/archives/...eyes-thumb.jpg
http://men.style.com/slideshows/mens...ets/00003f.jpg

Same magazine.

[Akiyama]

Incoming double play.

[fren.]

Holy fuck, this is an awesome awesome game.

[Akiyama]

Holy fuck David Wright! Thank you Mets.

[Viq]

That USA vs. PR game was probably the best I've seen so far of the tournament. I hope the Brauntosaurus is healthy enough to play in the semi-finals in a few days.

[Cephius]

Can't get into the WBC at all. I know there are some exciting moments and all but come on, its hardly more than an exhibition for the US. Our best players aren't even there, and there are pitch counts and some guys get taken out in like the 4th inning. I'm sure its nice for the other countries who aren't in the Majors.... but the US is just kind of half-assing it and I can't watch an inning.

[Akiyama]

The US isn't half assing it. This does actually mean something to them, or else they wouldn't get as excited as they were. The way the WBC is laid out is pretty crappy in terms of days off and what not, but you can't say it doesn't mean anything at all.

[pohibaba]

The WBC isn't as great as playoff baseball, or even regular season baseball, but it's certainly better than spring training. That's why I watch it: it's serious baseball a month before the regular season starts.

[Akiyama]

Well of course to us it's not as great as Playoff baseball, but I'll disagree that it's not as good as regular season baseball..especially baseball before the midway or at the tail end when some games between some teams doesn't mean anything.

[Cephius]

The US isn't half assing it. This does actually mean something to them, or else they wouldn't get as excited as they were. The way the WBC is laid out is pretty crappy in terms of days off and what not, but you can't say it doesn't mean anything at all.

There's a difference between getting excited over one game (where there was a 9th inning game-winning hit - anyone gets excited about that) and having it taken seriously by the baseball community. If the US isn't half assing it, why isn't Albert Pujols there? Where is Johan Santana? Why did Jimmy Rollins get taken out in the 5th inning in a few of the games? Why is the stupid manager doing the electric slide in the 2nd inning? How am I supposed to take the games seriously as a fan?

It's because you can't go all in out in spring training. Pitchers have strict pitch counts, and regardless of the competitive nature of the WBC, they have a 162 game season to prepare for that matters more.

I'm sure it means a lot to the Korean fans and the Dominican fans, but it means nothing to me. If you just like seeing baseball before the actual season, that's fine, but I can't give it anything beyond that. It's a glorified All-Star game without half the all-stars.

Just to clarify, I'm sure the players care about it because of competitive nature and all that. But when some of the best players choose not to even go...

[Viq]

2006 Finals rematch tonight. Japan vs. Cuba in an elimination game. Winner gets the final semi-final spot. I wish it wasn't an 11:00PM EDT start, because I'd love to watch all of it.

[Soa]

I like the concept of the WBC, but the format is just plain retarded.

Take the first round, US would have had to have beaten Venezuela 2 times to win the pool, yet they only had to win 1 time against us. If you aren't going to do a pure round robin (which they should be doing) then whoever goes 2-0 should automatically win the pool, with the two 1-1 teams vying for 2nd place.

Also there is no reason they can't cut the tournament down to under 2 weeks instead of nearly 3, and also start it a week or so later. Having 3 day gaps between games is pointless and a waste of time. The US is at an automatic disadvantage since they don't have winter ball like the Latin teams, and since they start their spring training a few weeks later than the other teams. A slightly later start will help them be in better shape and cut down on injuries a bit.

I've been enjoying it so far, I just hope they make some changes for the next one to make it more fair and fun to watch.

[Akiyama]

Oh, no. I agree that the concept is nice, but it's handled poorly. I completely agree. I think part of the reason with them trying to stretch it as much as they can is so they can get it nearer to the baseball season. Even Chipper said it was retarded that they had to stay in Canada for like a week even if they only had to play three games.

Also, yeah I know that the other big names in the game aren't going to this, but they have to be mindful of injury, especially when Santana had that elbow tightness, and Pujols is coming off of offseason surgery, isn't he? The money clubs are playing them to play ball trumps their country in this case, just because this isn't a "huge" event right now. I don't think it's so much as them not caring as much as it is just precautionary. I do think the players care obviously, and some fans care (the US Fans not so much), but I do know where you're coming from. I just didn't like that someone can make a blanket statement like "the US Players don't really care" or anything. Especially for guys like Adam Dunn where he's never been on a competative club at all, so this is like his playoffs/World Series. You've got other guys on the team as well that feel that way; like Brian Roberts who was a late call-in.

Also, as far as the Rollins thing.. they had been doing that with Jeter early in the WBC as well, and one of those moves actually sparked a big rally, so let's not poo poo the move.

So yeah. I completely agree that the WBC has been handled poorly, the timing of things is bad (going into the weekend with the NCAA Tourney? Are you mad?!) but players do care in my opinion.

[fren.]

There's a difference between getting excited over one game (where there was a 9th inning game-winning hit - anyone gets excited about that) and having it taken seriously by the baseball community. If the US isn't half assing it, why isn't Albert Pujols there? Where is Johan Santana? Why did Jimmy Rollins get taken out in the 5th inning in a few of the games? Why is the stupid manager doing the electric slide in the 2nd inning? How am I supposed to take the games seriously as a fan?

It's because you can't go all in out in spring training. Pitchers have strict pitch counts, and regardless of the competitive nature of the WBC, they have a 162 game season to prepare for that matters more.

I'm sure it means a lot to the Korean fans and the Dominican fans, but it means nothing to me. If you just like seeing baseball before the actual season, that's fine, but I can't give it anything beyond that. It's a glorified All-Star game without half the all-stars.

Just to clarify, I'm sure the players care about it because of competitive nature and all that. But when some of the best players choose not to even go...

What does Pujols and Santana have to do with the US anyhow? That team is still stacked regardless if some of the premier players didn't show up. Hell, you had Jeter and Rollins taking turns riding the bench.

I'd say facing elite comp from around the globe is a better tune up than playing a few innings against garbage in ST.

[Cephius]

What does Pujols and Santana have to do with the US anyhow? That team is still stacked regardless if some of the premier players didn't show up. Hell, you had Jeter and Rollins taking turns riding the bench.

I'd say facing elite comp from around the globe is a better tune up than playing a few innings against garbage in ST.

I don't know, maybe because they're arguably the best hitter/pitcher on the planet? If the WBC is to be taken seriously, then the best players should be playing in it. That's my opinion, anyway.

[Viq]

I don't know, maybe because they're arguably the best hitter/pitcher on the planet? If the WBC is to be taken seriously, then the best players should be playing in it. That's my opinion, anyway.

They can't force people to play in the WBC, though. If someone doesn't want to, then there's not much that the team can do about it. Not having the absolute best player at every single position doesn't mean that it shouldn't be taken seriously, though. The USA "Redeem Team" was taken pretty seriously last year in the Olympics, but is Chris Bosch really a better Forward than Kevin Garnett? The teams are never going to be perfect, but I think rosters are less of an issue than tournament format and timing when it comes to things holding the WBC back.