3/8 - WBC: Canada (Loewen) @ U.S. (Willis) 3 PM CT on ESPN2

[da bears]

This is really frustrating. Chances are stupidly good now that we might not be going to the second round. Just pitiful.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Teixera is the worst player on this team. Unbelievable. Just, crap. We better beat South Africa.

 

Judging a player by one game is never a good idea. I think Tex's career speaks for itself.

[Omar]

Seriously USA Basketball, USA Hockey and now USA Baseball. What the hell?

 

I guess when teams are greatly pressured, they fail... but this one, thankfully isnt over.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Al Leiter is on the freaking team because American athletes are only loyal to the almighty dollar.

 

Leiter didn't play as horribly as Griffey, Wells, Teixeira, and Willis did. And Leiter sucked.

yeah but were are bonds, oswalt, berkman, etc. just like our dream team in hoops none of those guys cared enough to be there. leiter shouldn't have been on this team in his prime let alone now.

 

Well, Berkman has an excuse. He'd probably love to be healthy enough to play baseball full tilt right now. Bonds is a monster, but I'm not sure I'd put up with his crap if I was Buck Martinez. Oswalt - well...you've got a point.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Seriously USA Basketball, USA Hockey and now USA Baseball. What the hell?

 

I guess when teams are greatly pressured, they fail... but this one, thankfully isnt over.

 

There's not that much pressure on these guys. It certainly should effect the majority of our players, who've either played/play in big markets or have quite a bit of postseason success.

Edited March 9, 2006 by Meat&PotatoesMan

[illiniguy]

Al Leiter is on the freaking team because American athletes are only loyal to the almighty dollar.

 

Leiter didn't play as horribly as Griffey, Wells, Teixeira, and Willis did. And Leiter sucked.

yeah but were are bonds, oswalt, berkman, etc. just like our dream team in hoops none of those guys cared enough to be there. leiter shouldn't have been on this team in his prime let alone now.

 

Well, Berkman has an excuse. He'd probably love to be healthy enough to play baseball full tilt right now. Bonds is a monster, but I'm not sure I'd put up with his crap if I was Buck Martinez. Oswalt - well...you've got a point.

yeah buck is an idiot too. first off if you have to play tex he should dh. lee is the best fielder in the game at first. then we don't start our best player arod. are we trying to win or keep everyone happy? Chase Utley should be playing all the time with Young at some short. We need offense. plus wells really looked comfortable out there in right. Griffey batting third I get that if this is 95. But if it is we outta get joey belle to play right for us.

[SouthSideRyan]

Canada allowed a lot of runs to South Africa and us. If we beat shut down South Africa's offense, there's nothing to worry about. A Mexico win over SA and Canada would likely give the 1 and 2s to us and Mexico.

[da bears]

Teixera is the worst player on this team. Unbelievable. Just, crap. We better beat South Africa.

 

Judging a player by one game is never a good idea. I think Tex's career speaks for itself.

 

I'm judging him by his two games right now. True, his numbers during his career have been great. But I guess I should have said, from these past two games, Teixera is playing the worst.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Teixera is the worst player on this team. Unbelievable. Just, crap. We better beat South Africa.

 

Judging a player by one game is never a good idea. I think Tex's career speaks for itself.

 

He certainly didn't show up ready for the WBC.

[illiniguy]

Teixera is the worst player on this team. Unbelievable. Just, crap. We better beat South Africa.

 

Judging a player by one game is never a good idea. I think Tex's career speaks for itself.

 

He certainly didn't show up ready for the WBC.

its prolly because the games arent at the ball park in arlington.

[Omar]

I dont think it really matters... as long as U.S. makes it to the next round.

[illiniguy]

hopefully clemens gets his huge strikezone in this too.

[Balsa]

I agree that Buck is playing too much T-Ball. (everyone gets a turn)

 

I'm sorry, but there is no way you play Texiera over Lee, and there's no way that Griffey plays CF over Damon.

[Brian]

I agree that Buck is playing too much T-Ball. (everyone gets a turn)

 

I'm sorry, but there is no way you play Texiera over Lee, and there's no way that Griffey plays CF over Damon.

 

According to Sut, game 3 will be played by performance and not everybody plays. We shall see.

[Omar]

I agree that Buck is playing too much T-Ball. (everyone gets a turn)

 

I'm sorry, but there is no way you play Texiera over Lee, and there's no way that Griffey plays CF over Damon.

 

According to Sut, game 3 will be played by performance and not everybody plays. We shall see.

 

It doesnt matter if Tex or Lee are playing 1B... As long as they're both in the line-up. They're both gold glovers, so defense should not be a problem. But why should we complain? It's only benefitting the Cubs...

[Outshined_One]

People are still taking this thing seriously?

 

Wow. I knew it was a money grab and a worthless exhibition from the get-go. This is basically Spring Training; of course the players are showing up looking rusty and ill-prepared. Most of them didn't play much baseball during the offseason. It's a given that they would not play up to par.

[littleburr24]

Seriously USA Basketball, USA Hockey and now USA Baseball. What the hell?

 

USA Hockey was never a dominant force...

[Omar]

What I dont get is... Why do players hesitate from playing in the WBC? They're getting the same playing time they would if they stayed back at the Cactus/Grapefruit league.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What I dont get is... Why do players hesitate from playing in the WBC? They're getting the same playing time they would if they stayed back at the Cactus/Grapefruit league.

 

Different steroid testing? Not that any of those players have anything to hide, but the supplements or whatever that they have been taking that are perfectly fine by MLB standards may not be okay with the Olympic level testing the WBC uses.

[Fro]

If Mexico, Canada and the United States finish 2-1, the tie would be broken by fewest runs allowed per inning in competition involving only those three teams. In that case, the United States would advance if Mexico scores at least three earned runs against Canada on Thursday.

[Balsa]

People are still taking this thing seriously?

 

Yes.

[Brian]

There's really no reason not to take it seriously. There is a lot of fun baseball going on. Can the winning team really claim to have the best baseball in the world probably not, but anyone still nay-saying on this tournament isn't watching the games.

[SouthSideRyan]

People are still taking this thing seriously?

 

Wow. I knew it was a money grab and a worthless exhibition from the get-go. This is basically Spring Training; of course the players are showing up looking rusty and ill-prepared. Most of them didn't play much baseball during the offseason. It's a given that they would not play up to par.

 

I can't believe people still aren't taking it seriously. I was all for it when the idea was first floated, lost a lot of interest upon hearing names like Matt Holliday and Gary Majewski, and now can't get enough of it since the first game I watched a week ago.

[Omar]

http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/schedule/index.jsp?mc=television&sid=wbc

 

U.S. Vs. South Africa wont be televised until the NEXT day?? And at 2:00 AM CT on Saturday morning???

[SouthSideRyan]

Re: Tiebreakers:

 

Canada has allowed 14 runs through 2 games.

US has allowed 8 runs through 2 games.

South Africa has allowed 11 runs through 1 game.

Mexico has allowed 2 runs through 1 game.

 

It would seem to be a safe assumption that the US won't give up 6 runs to South Africa, so simply enough they beat South Africa they're in. In order to get the 1 seed from the pool(meaning next to nothing really) Mexico has beat Canada and allow 7 more runs than the US allows.(Without getting into the next tiebreakers, those being earned runs allowed, then batting average, then drawing of lots)

 

Other than the need for Al Leiter to pitch again tomorrow, I see no way the US misses the next round.