Guide to the World Baseball Classic

[Brock Beauchamp]

The WBC is around the corner. Our friends at Fish On First put together this outstanding guide to the Classic.

The ultimate fan guide to the World Baseball Classic - Miami Marlins Guides & Resources - Fish On First

FISHONFIRST.COM

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Here is everything you need to know heading into the sixth edition of baseball's biggest international tournament.

 

[Derwood]

[javy knows my name]

38 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Yes , and I really like how all the Czechia players are like full-time construction workers who also play baseball

[Derwood]

[Bertz]

Sure Logan Webb is pitching great in a hugely important game, but are we all just agreeing to forget what he did to that kid on the dirtbike?

[Stratos]

Wow that 3B for Canada really blew those throws.

At some point this game is going to be a spanking for USA.  PCA just missed another HR.

[Stratos]

I feel like California should just have its own team

[JHBulls]

Japan have been eliminated and the USA are suddenly favourites. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

37 minutes ago, JHBulls said:

Japan have been eliminated and the USA are suddenly favourites. 

think these gentlemen might disagree

[BKHoo]

Is our right fielder now HURT??!!!!

[Sammy Sofa]

 

[javy knows my name]

This game would be better with more offense but it's been really just the same. Great D and our pitching is just insane

[Derwood]

TERRIBLE third strike call for the win. 

[Irrelevant Dude]

That pitch wasn't even close.

[PackLandVA]

Disappointing way to end a game with a win.

[javy knows my name]

Yikes. The ump was basically perfect tonight but that was a terrible miss, and it feels a little gross

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

2 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

That pitch wasn't even close.

Brutal

[Stratos]

Maybe ump thought the breaking ball clipped the zone.

Pitching on both teams was sick.

[Irrelevant Dude]

3 minutes ago, javy knows my name said:

and it feels a little gross

Sure does.

[JHBulls]

IMO, Baseball umpires are the worst in the world in any sport. There is not a single game that I watch where there aren’t a lot of horsefeathers calls. And it seems to be every umpire, even the “best” ones. 
 

That call to end the Semi Final is disgusting. 

[Gjfificifjdej]

26 minutes ago, JHBulls said:

IMO, Baseball umpires are the worst in the world in any sport. There is not a single game that I watch where there aren’t a lot of horsefeathers calls. And it seems to be every umpire, even the “best” ones. 
 

That call to end the Semi Final is disgusting. 

No doubt, its genuinely mind boggling how awful umpires are at what they do professionally. 

[bukie]

1 hour ago, javy knows my name said:

Yikes. The ump was basically perfect tonight but that was a terrible miss, and it feels a little gross

That ump was Eric Gregg reincarnated. Strike zone extended 6 inches outside and down, and 3 inches up and in. Hitters didn't stand a chance.

[javy knows my name]

15 hours ago, bukie said:

That ump was Eric Gregg reincarnated. Strike zone extended 6 inches outside and down, and 3 inches up and in. Hitters didn't stand a chance.

Hmm. My eyesight might not be great. Ironically. I was 100% sure the 8th inning actually said ninth until the broadcasters said otherwise 

[bukie]

4 minutes ago, javy knows my name said:

Hmm. My eyesight might not be great. Ironically. I was 100% sure the 8th inning actually said ninth until the broadcasters said otherwise 

Seven extra strikes, which overall I suppose is fine, but they're bunched into the late innings. Maybe the moment got to the guy. Some of those at the top of the zone seemed high from the TV angle, though:

[Jason Ross]

16 hours ago, JHBulls said:

IMO, Baseball umpires are the worst in the world in any sport. There is not a single game that I watch where there aren’t a lot of horsefeathers calls. And it seems to be every umpire, even the “best” ones. 
 

That call to end the Semi Final is disgusting. 

So, that call to end the game was really bad. I'm going to start there. I also think some of these guys get a little too high on their own supply with the way they kick people out and grandstand (not last night, but we all have examples). 

However, I think we're being far too harsh. Let's remember, umpires are making more minute to minute calls than anyone. We're talking 250+ pitches every game for a home plate umpire. Add in check swings. And fiddly rules. With pitches that baffle the mind in how fast they are, and how fast they move, and how much they move. With catchers who are actively attempting to trick them every time. 

We have technology to fix that terrible call at the end of the game (and in four years we should at least have the ABS challenge in place and a few years of refinement). And that umpire missed that one. Badly. But I don't agree they're the worst; they just have more calls than anyone else. And they're doing a nearly impossible job. And yet some of them only miss one or two calls. In fact, the % of correct calls have been going up for years. 

I don't think they're nearly as bad as this post makes it out to be. And we're getting better and closer to using that tech to fix these bad calls.