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Welcome to the World Baseball Classic. It's real baseball playing for some sort of prize! What is the World Baseball Classic? Since 2006, the International Baseball Federation decided to try and create their own version of the World Cup, where every 4 years they host a tournament and each country goes for the gold. Nice. Who's Playing? There's 16 teams divided into 4 pools: Pool A (playing in Seoul): South Korea Chinese Taipei / Taiwan Netherlands Israel Pool B (Playing in Tokyo): Japan Australia China Cuba Pool C (Playing at Marlins' Park): USA Colombia Canada Dominican Republic Pool D (Playing in Guadalajara): Mexico Italy Puerto Rico Venezuela Top 2 teams from each pool will advance. 2nd Round will take place at the Tokyo Dome and Petco Park. My guess will be that Pool A sends Korea and Netherlands, B sends Japan and China, C sends USA and DR, and D sends PR and Venezuela. The finals will be at Dodger Stadium. Who's Playing? A lot of people! There's a lot of major league stars playing like Giancarlo Stanton & Robinson Cano playing. There's also a bunch of NPB players, Cuban League players, minor leaguers, and independent league players. There's also retired players that are coming out to play. Remember Eric Gagne? He won the MVP once! He's 41 and is going to pitch for Canada! Where to Watch In the USA, MLB Network is covering every game. If you have MLB.tv, each game will be streamed from there. In Canada, Sportsnet is covering it. WBC Schedule The first game is Israel Vs South Korea on March 6th. It will be at 4:30am EST, so if you wanna watch, you're gonna have to get up super early! WBC Rosters Fun people to note: - Sam Fuld is playing for Israel - Bruce Chen is playing for China - John McClaren is managing China - Jair Jurrjens is playing for Netherlands - Ryan Rowland-Smith is playing for Australia - Yoelkis Cespedes (Yoenis' younger brother) is playing for Cuba - Ryan Dempster is playing for Canada. Actually, just look at Canada's roster. A lot of old dudes mixed in with minor leaguers. It's a cool makeup. - Drew Butera and Pat Venditte are playing for Italy Other stuff: - There's a DH, always. - Pitchcounts are enforced to protect pitchers' arms. Predictions: Japan so far has 2 victories. Dominican Republic is the defending champ, and Cuba / Korea have always played well each time. The USA has failed to finish above 4th so far, but this is probably the best team they've fielded. My guess is Japan, Netherlands, USA and Venezuela all make it to the finals. I predict Japan will be the USA in the finals, with Netherlands coming in 3rd, and Venezuela in 4th.
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# ? Feb 14, 2017 21:29 |
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# ? Jun 1, 2024 05:48 |
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I went and watched a couple of the qualifier games in Brooklyn last year and it was pretty great. I think Israel actually has a decent team and are in probably the weakest Pool, so maybe we'll get to see some ball past the first round? (Realistic me thinks Korea wipes the floor with everybody in A.) Team USA's rotation is a huge liability, but yeah, the roster is pretty good overall.
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# ? Feb 14, 2017 21:38 |
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Time to dust off the Netherlands hat I bought four years ago!
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# ? Feb 14, 2017 21:39 |
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So World Cup-style group play for the first two rounds, then single elimination for the final four teams? At first I didn't like single elimination in baseball. It's so different from a 7-game playoff series. But it's also exciting as gently caress. WBC owns. Also let's all root for no injuries so that MLB teams continue to allow stars to play in this thing.
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# ? Feb 14, 2017 22:05 |
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This is a super annoying time in Japan. The Japanese take this tournament super seriously. When they have won in the past I have had to endure months if not years of, "Japan is the best baseball country in the world" talk from my co-workers. so Boo Samurai Japan. They do have logos tho...
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# ? Feb 15, 2017 01:13 |
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Go Honkbal!
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# ? Feb 15, 2017 15:17 |
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I'm gonna root for america because I'm
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# ? Feb 15, 2017 17:26 |
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What's the over/under on Cuban defections? I love WBC. The excitement of World Cup but with a sport that's actually fun to watch.
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# ? Feb 15, 2017 17:29 |
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jabro posted:What's the over/under on Cuban defections? I dunno, but Yoenis' younger brother looks ripe for a defection. It's a shame defectors can't play. There's enough of them that they could probably form their own team if they wanted. Luigi Thirty posted:Go Honkbal! They actually have a decent team this year. Plus we might get some Wlad dingers too.
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# ? Feb 15, 2017 17:57 |
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As always, I will be rooting for my main men, the Detroit Venezuelas.
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# ? Feb 15, 2017 18:02 |
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i am pretty sure the requirement for making it onto Team Italy is to have a name that ends in a vowel
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# ? Feb 16, 2017 05:19 |
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drat Taipei is thumping Japan.
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# ? Feb 28, 2017 13:38 |
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who is john mclaren
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# ? Feb 28, 2017 13:52 |
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Honkbal represent. I've been rooting for the Netherlands since Greg Halman played for them in '09. Although I do also adore the Hyphen so I'll likely be cheering for Aus as well. I wonder if there will be another WBC since baseball is coming back to the Olympics.
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# ? Mar 1, 2017 06:42 |
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Cueto won't pitch in the first round, as he only reported to Giants camp today. He's been in the D.R. caring for his dad, who is pretty sick He'll join the Dominican team if they advance to the second round. Josh Harrison replaces Matt Carpenter (back tightness) for Team USA.
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# ? Mar 4, 2017 18:45 |
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Abel Wingnut posted:who is john mclaren He coached the Mariners for a year and a half.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 06:55 |
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go America also Honkbal.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 08:06 |
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I'm awake for this. It better be good.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 09:53 |
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what kind of maniac is awake this late watching baseball?? go korea
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 10:39 |
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Israel scores first with a bases loaded walk.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 11:10 |
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Finally, I'll be able to root for Korea, the land of esports.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 11:37 |
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Folks, Korea is famous for their LOL play - but the only LOL in Korea today is them being shut down by Jason Marquis.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 11:46 |
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korea's leadoff hitter has an epic leg kick
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 11:47 |
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I hecka want an arm sleeve that says ISRAEL on it
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 13:35 |
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 13:38 |
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I just explained the sacrifice fly rule to my aunt-in-law in Korean. Go Israel
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 13:46 |
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Just woke up and there's live baseball to watch, that's cool. Guess I'm wearing my Team Israel hat today. EDIT: Ike Davis first to third on a single Inspector_666 fucked around with this message at 14:35 on Mar 6, 2017 |
# ? Mar 6, 2017 14:25 |
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Israel vs Korea has been a competently played game and that's a shame because I wanted CHAOS
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 14:44 |
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Zeid strikes out Lee with his 49th pitch of the game. The count limits sure add some drama.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 14:54 |
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Holy poo poo, what an upset.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 15:12 |
Chinese Taipei, lets do it!
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 17:41 |
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I went to sleep around the 5th inning but Korea gave that one away. Chang pitched sooo cautiously when Israel got a runner on. Three walks in the 2nd, including a RBBI? Israel's best hitter is a rule 5 guy who got released by the A's. Make them hit the ball.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 19:44 |
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I can't believe Korea got clowned by Jason Marquis of all pitchers.
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# ? Mar 6, 2017 19:52 |
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Looks like MLB is uploading games to Youtube after they're over. No need to stay up all night if you don't wanna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ikB_kkye-M
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# ? Mar 7, 2017 00:25 |
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New Concept Hole posted:Israel vs Korea has been a competently played game and that's a shame because I wanted CHAOS I wouldnt call 13 walks and 2 HBPs competently played
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# ? Mar 7, 2017 03:47 |
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Care Bear Stairs posted:I wouldnt call 13 walks and 2 HBPs competently played That's too competently played compared to the chaos of 13 runs, or 13 home runs, or 13 errors.
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# ? Mar 7, 2017 04:00 |
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team israel's mascot is the "mensch on the bench"
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# ? Mar 7, 2017 04:01 |
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Wait, what's this deal about the dudes from Taiwan boycotting the tournament?
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# ? Mar 7, 2017 04:03 |
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Hu is at DH for Taipei. Who? Yes, Hu? No, Who??? HU, GODDAMNIT.
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# ? Mar 7, 2017 04:07 |
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# ? Jun 1, 2024 05:48 |
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lol what the gently caress is this insne techno klezmer music
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# ? Mar 7, 2017 04:07 |