WBC Game Thread

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I know it's Australia va Taiwan but am I the only one watching?

[Cubswin11]

I know it's Australia va Taiwan but am I the only one watching?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-im_CKn9PPI8/T0dtSJ0lUFI/AAAAAAAAAzY/0vIyQ9SYpt4/s1600/abe-simpson-gif.gif

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Netherlands is a fun team to watch! Simmons, Bogaerts and Schoop! Did I mention Pawelek? Hope they take their group!

[mul21]

Why is every other dude on the Brazil team Asian?

[Guest]

For those wondering who we should root for to defect, here are Ben Badler's top Cubans:

 

Jose Abreu, 1b, Cuba: Abreu is the most dangerous hitter in Cuba. The MVP in Cuba during the 2010-11 season, Abreu has tremendous righthanded raw power from his extra large frame (6-foot-3, 260 pounds) and the patience to take his walks. At 26, Abreu is making his Classic debut after missing the cut in 2009.

 

Erisbel Arruebarruena, Cuba: Don't worry if you can't pronounce his name. Arruebarruena is the same age as Jose Iglesias and Adeiny Hechavarria and cut from a similar cloth as a slick-fielding shortstop. The 6-foot, 22-year-old righthanded hitter batted .320/.367/.520 in 306 at-bats last year in Cuba, although he's a free-swinger without great power, so there are questions on how his hitting would translate against big league arms.

 

Alfredo Despaigne, of, Cuba: At 5-foot-9, 215 pounds, Despaigne doesn't have a classic left fielder's frame, but the 26-year-old has been an offensive monster in Cuba and on the country's national team for years. Despaigne won back-to-back MVP awards in Cuba in 2008-09 and 2009-10, then won his third MVP last year by setting the single-season home run record in Cuba with 36.

 

Yulieski Gourriel, 3b, Cuba: Gourriel has been one of Cuba's brightest stars since he won back-to-back MVP awards in Serie Nacional at age 20 and 21. Now 27, Gourriel has represented Cuba at nearly every tournament that Cuba's top national team has attended, including the last two Olympics and WBCs. He's arguably the most complete player in Cuba, with the ability to hit for average and power, with an athletic frame and quality defense at the hot corner.

 

Badler was asked who is better between Abreu and Soler and he said Abreu.

[Cubswin11]

What was the context of the question? Better right now (he's 4-5 years older than Soler)? Or better prospect/higher mlb ceiling?

[Guest]

What was the context of the question? Better right now (he's 4-5 years older than Soler)? Or better prospect/higher mlb ceiling?

 

The question was straight up, "Abreu or Soler?" so I have no idea what the context was but I'm sure Badler didn't just mean right now because that would be a silly question and response.

[Cubswin11]

Is he going to defect anytime soon?

[Cubswin11]

Up by 2 with no outs in the 6th is an interesting time to have Cuba's single season HR record holder attempt a sac bunt. Kevin Towers and the D'backs are probably loving it though.

[Guest]

Is he going to defect anytime soon?

 

Who knows? These guys aren't going to announce to everyone when they are going to defect.

 

It was a surprise when Chapman was able to successfully defect.

[Guest]

Up by 2 with no outs in the 6th is an interesting time to have Cuba's single season HR record holder attempt a sac bunt. Kevin Towers and the D'backs are probably loving it though.

 

I was going to say something about Despaigne trying to bunt too. Really dumb. I also love how the PBP guys kept propping up the manager and saying how this shows how much Cuba wants to win this game.

 

Abreu looked good in the at bat right before Despaigne. Loved that swing.

[davell]

Is he going to defect anytime soon?

Well, thats not exactly something they'll announce. I think Abreu is the best player down there, but considering his size and position, its not likely we'd have an interest in him anyway. Not sure if he can still play OF or not.

Edited March 3, 2013 by davell

[Cubswin11]

Up by 2 with no outs in the 6th is an interesting time to have Cuba's single season HR record holder attempt a sac bunt. Kevin Towers and the D'backs are probably loving it though.

 

I was going to say something about Despaigne trying to bunt too. Really dumb. I also love how the PBP guys kept propping up the manager and saying how this shows how much Cuba wants to win this game.

 

Abreu looked good in the at bat right before Despaigne. Loved that swing.

Ha, yeah. Meatballery at its finest there. I agree Abreu has a good looking swing, definitely seems like he would be a legit MLB prospect.

[Guest]

Is he going to defect anytime soon?

Well, thats not exactly something they'll announce. I think Abreu is the best player down there, but considering his size and position, its not likely we'd have an interest in him anyway. Not sure if he can still play OF or not.

 

Sign him and trade one of Rizzo or Abreu for pitching. :-)

[Guest]

Yikes, Brazil got screwed on that double - the guy who looks like Soriano clearly hit first.

[Guest]

Not sure who stayed up for Taiwan-Netherlands but Yao-Lin Wang started and struggled massively with his control for Taiwan. His final line was: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.

 

18-year old Jen-Ho Tseng, the biggest Taiawanese amateur free agent this summer pitched for Taiwan in th 7th and also struggled with his control: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K. Quality of stuff looked good, I can see why he wants a big bonus to sign with an MLB squadron (small sample size alert). He was working low to mid-90s.

[Guest]

18-year old Jen-Ho Tseng, the biggest Taiawanese amateur free agent this uncorking summer pitched for Taiwan in th 7th and also struggled with his control: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K. Quality of stuff looked good, I can see why he wants a big bonus to sign with an MLB squadron (small sample size alert). He was working low to mid-90s.

Why does this paragraph strike me as a google translation of a Taiwanese writeup? :)

[Guest]

18-year old Jen-Ho Tseng, the biggest Taiawanese amateur free agent this uncorking summer pitched for Taiwan in th 7th and also struggled with his control: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K. Quality of stuff looked good, I can see why he wants a big bonus to sign with an MLB squadron (small sample size alert). He was working low to mid-90s.

Why does this paragraph strike me as a google translation of a Taiwanese writeup? :)

 

Heh - because my quality of writing apparently sucks at 6 AM on the weekend.

 

ETA: Not sure where uncorking came from.

[Cubswin11]

Not sure who stayed up for Taiwan-Netherlands but Yao-Lin Wang started and struggled massively with his control for Taiwan. His final line was: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.

 

18-year old Jen-Ho Tseng, the biggest Taiawanese amateur free agent this summer pitched for Taiwan in th 7th and also struggled with his control: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K. Quality of stuff looked good, I can see why he wants a big bonus to sign with an MLB squadron (small sample size alert). He was working low to mid-90s.

As for the control thing, during the Cubs/Brazil game they mentioned Asian teams/leagues use a slightly smaller ball than the one used during the WBC (which is the same ball MLB uses) so that could explain why they had some difficulty with control.

[Guest]

Not sure who stayed up for Taiwan-Netherlands but Yao-Lin Wang started and struggled massively with his control for Taiwan. His final line was: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.

 

18-year old Jen-Ho Tseng, the biggest Taiawanese amateur free agent this summer pitched for Taiwan in th 7th and also struggled with his control: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K. Quality of stuff looked good, I can see why he wants a big bonus to sign with an MLB squadron (small sample size alert). He was working low to mid-90s.

As for the control thing, during the Cubs/Brazil game they mentioned Asian teams/leagues use a slightly smaller ball than the one used during the WBC (which is the same ball MLB uses) so that could explain why they had some difficulty with control.

 

That might explain Tseng but Wang has pitched in the U.S. minor leagues for two years now.

 

Wang pitched well in the fall qualifying games.

[Sammy Sofa]

On the Cubs' Facebook page after they posted about Rizzo hitting a HR for Team Italy:

 

Josh Kerr - I wish I could watch the wbc but its on the communist MLB network and I refuse to pay extra to watch

 

The [expletive]?

[Guest]

Up by 2 with no outs in the 6th is an interesting time to have Cuba's single season HR record holder attempt a sac bunt. Kevin Towers and the D'backs are probably loving it though.

 

I was going to say something about Despaigne trying to bunt too. Really dumb. I also love how the PBP guys kept propping up the manager and saying how this shows how much Cuba wants to win this game.

 

Abreu looked good in the at bat right before Despaigne. Loved that swing.

Ha, yeah. Meatballery at its finest there. I agree Abreu has a good looking swing, definitely seems like he would be a legit MLB prospect.

 

 

Abreu would be at least 27 or 28 by the time all is said and done, between defecting and establishing residency, etc., right?

 

I guess he could jump right into the bigs like Cespedes.

[Guest]

Up by 2 with no outs in the 6th is an interesting time to have Cuba's single season HR record holder attempt a sac bunt. Kevin Towers and the D'backs are probably loving it though.

 

I was going to say something about Despaigne trying to bunt too. Really dumb. I also love how the PBP guys kept propping up the manager and saying how this shows how much Cuba wants to win this game.

 

Abreu looked good in the at bat right before Despaigne. Loved that swing.

Ha, yeah. Meatballery at its finest there. I agree Abreu has a good looking swing, definitely seems like he would be a legit MLB prospect.

 

 

Abreu would be at least 27 or 28 by the time all is said and done, between defecting and establishing residency, etc., right?

 

I guess he could jump right into the bigs like Cespedes.

 

He's big league ready, moreso than Cespedes was.

[Cubswin11]

Rizzo hit a HR off the scoreboard against the A's today for Italy in an exhibition game

[wvcbxl]

On the Cubs' Facebook page after they posted about Rizzo hitting a HR for Team Italy:

 

Josh Kerr - I wish I could watch the wbc but its on the communist MLB network and I refuse to pay extra to watch

 

The [expletive]?

 

That is so unintentionally funny ... :lol: