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Anybody else watching or planning on watching the Classic?

Italy beat Mexico today in a thriller.

And Cuba is about to lose to the Netherlands at the time of this posting.

In my opinion, this year's edition is much better than the previous.

Hup Holland!

Wasn't Cuba supposed to win it all?

Is it single elimination? Never really kept up with how it's structured

I saw an add for this today while at Superior Grill. Is this some kind thing of leading in to the Olympics or what? It's USA vs Mex tonight at 8pm

(03-08-2013 04:59 PM)blazerwkr Wrote:  I saw an add for this today while at Superior Grill. Is this some kind thing of leading in to the Olympics or what? It's USA vs Mex tonight at 8pm

Baseball is not an olympic sport

MLB started the World Baseball Classic to try and build global appeal of baseball (it seems to be working as Italy is now 2-0 and will most likely advance to the next round). The overall goal is for the WBC to become what the world cup is to soccer...

Yes, the WBC does have a role to get baseball back into the olympics but I think that is a moot point since wrestling is now competing against baseball.

The format is round robin for round 1 with 4 pools. Round 2 is a modified double elimination tournament (if you win the first two games then you advance, otherwise double elimination for second spot). Round 3 is the semis and finals which is single elimination.

Cuba was supposed to be the best team internationally. They are not out yet but need to win two games to advance.

The Dutch go on to the semis. Cuba is out!

Netherlands Kingdom 7, Cuba 6

http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/wbc/...&mode=wrap

Did any of you see the fight that broke out between Canada and a Latin team? The fighting spread out all along the first base sideline.

Well we suck, out of the tournament before the semis. For this tournament to ever be taken seriously then team USA needs to field its best players and not worry about "players getting at bats and innings to satisfy their teams" as Joe Torre kept claiming. If you sign up to play then it is to win. That is what every other team set out to do. They did not worry about players getting playing time.

Many of the other nation's players are MLB players during the regular MLB season. It is similar to the way some NBA players play for their "home nation" foreign teams in Olympic BB.

If the WBC is dependent upon US TV following, then they must find a way to salve our national feelings and keep Team USA in the competition - regardless of the rules. Is Team USA representative of our best American players, or is it only the best who would take the time to play?

(03-16-2013 11:33 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  If the WBC is dependent upon US TV following, then they must find a way to salve our national feelings and keep Team USA in the competition - regardless of the rules.

If that's the case then they should just shut it down. That would defeat the whole purpose of having a worldwide tournament

(03-17-2013 10:42 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 11:33 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  If the WBC is dependent upon US TV following, then they must find a way to salve our national feelings and keep Team USA in the competition - regardless of the rules.

If that's the case then they should just shut it down. That would defeat the whole purpose of having a worldwide tournament

Sorry - I forgot to use my "blue font".