**Official World Baseball Classic Thread**

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: skim milk
why is WBC so unpopular?

the stadium is so empty
I found it to be quite enjoyable in 2005/06

The pool being played in San Diego seems to be much more popular than the one in Miami. Let's face it, professional baseball in Miami just isn't popular, whether it's the Marlins or the WBC.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

oh man i just got back from the Korea vs. Japan game. My HEAD HURTS. SOOO LOOOUUUD. I was admist that insane crowd of chanters+thundersticks. Great fun . After the first inning, it was essentially a pitching duel.

 

[dbk]

Yeah great game. I love how Johjima got thrown out of the game.
Darvish was pretty nasty though.
Thankfully, his young nerves helped Korea out in the 1st inning.
Bum Ho Lee going from 0-2 to drawing the walk in the 8th was so intense.
I don't know how he took those two pitches.
He's so good even though he has a face "no mother would want" :laugh:
I would say he and Kim Tae Kyun are the MVPs so far.
Bong Jung Keun was shaky at times but got saved by some key double plays.
Chang Yong Lim is absolutely filthy as the closer.

lol

 

[DanTMWTMP]

oh man, the jumbrotron cameramen kept on showing these two half-naked korean dudes w/ "???" written on their backs. Damn... hahaha, that really sucks. SOO bad. (to those that don't know, that's the equivalent to a white dude calling a black dude the N word, except in Korean to a Japanese).

Darvish, after the first inning was extremely nasty w/ k after k after k. And ya, the first 2 innings, Darvish seemed very very off. My friend and I thought he was just very young and nervous; but he settled down a lot after that; throwing his usual insanities.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

pretty neat article regarding Japan vs. Korea:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne...09&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

And when US beat Puerto Rico on the big screen, the section I was in went into a Frenzy (most of us were really disappointed when it showed 5-3 after 8 on the big screen) . As much as we are Korean by blood, we still live in the US (most of us being US citizens). There were minor chants of USA in the stands as well.

 

[BeauJangles]

Dan -- I'm pretty jealous!

The WBC has been fantastic this year and it gives me high hopes for the future of the event. Like many other Americans, I felt like Team USA has lacked any passion about playing and hearing Chipper Jones whine about the schedule isn't exactly awe-inspiring. To see everyone go absolutely ape-shit when Wright knocked in those runs made me feel proud that those guys are out there wearing the jersey.

I think the next few iterations of the WBC will bring all sorts of tweaks. I have a feeling that the pitch counts will be raised / eventually eliminated, which would be good for the event. I also think that there might be less down-time between games and, hopefully, an expansion of teams interested in playing. I think (and hope) that by the time I'm my father's age, the WBC will be a big deal and, hopefully, we can start seeing some other countries host the final rounds.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Ya, I felt pretty bad after reading the article about Chipper Jones' comment, considering what a big deal the WBC is in Asia and in Los Angeles (large Japanese community in little Tokyo and Lomita, and of course, hordes of Koreans in LA). Of course, all that negativity went away after I saw the millionaire-Major Leagers in the US team go insane after Wright drives in two runs

I do feel that in 2006, it was much more of a success. I'm not sure why it was emptier this time around (tickets were sold out in 2006 when I went to Petco Park to watch the games). Maybe just general poor economy? I hope so. With baseball being taken out of the Olympics (which I believe to be a major insult to international sports, because baseball IS a MAJOR International sport goddamn it), the WBC is the only international event to look forward to in regards to baseball.

I'm trying to see if I can get off of work for the 2nd-straight day to nab a parking spot so I can watch tonight's Cuba vs. Japan game. I love watching desperation elimination games.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Ya, I felt pretty bad after reading the article about Chipper Jones' comment, considering what a big deal the WBC is in Asia and in Los Angeles (large Japanese community in little Tokyo and Lomita, and of course, hordes of Koreans in LA). Of course, all that negativity went away after I saw the millionaire-Major Leagers in the US team go insane after Wright drives in two runs

I do feel that in 2006, it was much more of a success. I'm not sure why it was emptier this time around (tickets were sold out in 2006 when I went to Petco Park to watch the games). Maybe just general poor economy? I hope so. With baseball being taken out of the Olympics (which I believe to be a major insult to international sports, because baseball IS a MAJOR International sport goddamn it), the WBC is the only international event to look forward to in regards to baseball.

I'm trying to see if I can get off of work for the 2nd-straight day to nab a parking spot so I can watch tonight's Cuba vs. Japan game. I love watching desperation elimination games.

Good luck!

Japan vs. Cuba has a good chance of being absolutely epic. Neither team wants to go home and both teams have long legacies to defend.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
oh man, the jumbrotron cameramen kept on showing these two half-naked korean dudes w/ "???" written on their backs. Damn... hahaha, that really sucks. SOO bad. (to those that don't know, that's the equivalent to a white dude calling a black dude the N word, except in Korean to a Japanese).

Darvish, after the first inning was extremely nasty w/ k after k after k. And ya, the first 2 innings, Darvish seemed very very off. My friend and I thought he was just very young and nervous; but he settled down a lot after that; throwing his usual insanities.

hahahhah

i'm going to take my entire family to a korea game this weekend

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Ya, I felt pretty bad after reading the article about Chipper Jones' comment, considering what a big deal the WBC is in Asia and in Los Angeles (large Japanese community in little Tokyo and Lomita, and of course, hordes of Koreans in LA). Of course, all that negativity went away after I saw the millionaire-Major Leagers in the US team go insane after Wright drives in two runs

I do feel that in 2006, it was much more of a success. I'm not sure why it was emptier this time around (tickets were sold out in 2006 when I went to Petco Park to watch the games). Maybe just general poor economy? I hope so. With baseball being taken out of the Olympics (which I believe to be a major insult to international sports, because baseball IS a MAJOR International sport goddamn it), the WBC is the only international event to look forward to in regards to baseball.

I'm trying to see if I can get off of work for the 2nd-straight day to nab a parking spot so I can watch tonight's Cuba vs. Japan game. I love watching desperation elimination games.

what did chipper jones say?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Ya, I felt pretty bad after reading the article about Chipper Jones' comment, considering what a big deal the WBC is in Asia and in Los Angeles (large Japanese community in little Tokyo and Lomita, and of course, hordes of Koreans in LA). Of course, all that negativity went away after I saw the millionaire-Major Leagers in the US team go insane after Wright drives in two runs

I do feel that in 2006, it was much more of a success. I'm not sure why it was emptier this time around (tickets were sold out in 2006 when I went to Petco Park to watch the games). Maybe just general poor economy? I hope so. With baseball being taken out of the Olympics (which I believe to be a major insult to international sports, because baseball IS a MAJOR International sport goddamn it), the WBC is the only international event to look forward to in regards to baseball.

I'm trying to see if I can get off of work for the 2nd-straight day to nab a parking spot so I can watch tonight's Cuba vs. Japan game. I love watching desperation elimination games.

what did chipper jones say?

He was whining that there are too many days off. I'm thinking he was making excuses about being 0-10 with 6 strikeouts. He was the only US starters to not have any hits, according to the stats on WBC's site. He does lead the team in strikeouts, though.

His comments are even more amusing when you think that the US team is 4th in AVG, sitting at .300 now.

 

[raystorm]

Why are they playing in that weather? I cringed when I saw Wright hobbling after fouling a ball on his foot. (Noooooooooooo...don't be huuuurt Daaaavvee!)

 

[iamwiz82]

The first inning looked like they were playing in a monsoon.

Iannetta had a pretty sneaky play, I liked it. He was definitely safe, though.

 

[Random Variable]

Well, that was ugly.

Why is Guthrie even playing for the U.S.?

 

[iamwiz82]

OMFG, that ball was foul.

EDIT: The zoomed shot shows it was fair, lol. Lucky one, team USA!

 

[Random Variable]

They should have put me at first base. Yes, I would suck, but not any more than Dunn.

 

[iamwiz82]

lol

Youkilis could have had both arms amputated and still made some of those plays

 

[DanTMWTMP]

*slaps forehead* Is Venezuela the real deal now? damn it..

Now I have a dilemma. If Korea wins tomorrow, then it's Korea vs USA. phok...

 

[dbk]

Isn't Daisuke pitching tomorrow? BLEH

 

[JS80]

WTF ANYONE'S ESPN CRAP OUT JUST NOW?!!

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Final FOUR at Dodgers Stadium!! I just got back from Japan vs. Korea. Japan displayed what good, small-baseball offense is about and just grinded down Korea in the seeding game.

I just bought tickets for the game on Saturday at Dodger's stadium! (It's going to rain on Sunday.. and I have to drive back to SD to work on Monday, so I won't be going on Sunday nor Monday's game..boo , bring the finals back to Petco!! ).

Korea vs Venezuela, Saturday 9pm EST
Japan vs USA, Sunday 8pm EST.

:Q :Q :Q

 

[Jschmuck2]

Going to the games on Sunday and Monday =)

 

[dbk]

it's better that Korea plays Venezuela. Now I can just concentrate on rooting for USA against Japan

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: dbk
it's better that Korea plays Venezuela. Now I can just concentrate on rooting for USA against Japan

hahaha ya. I wanted Korea to lose the seed game so they won't have to face USA. And, I going to dodgers stadium on Sunday is hell for me; especially driving directly back to SD. At least, I'm bumming at friend's place on Saturday night before I drive back.

 

[Dacalo]

WTF, ESPN has wrestling on instead of the game, what the hell is going on?