team USA

[Blackout]

impressive pitching by Peavy/Timlin/Cordero/Nathan/Lidge. 4 hit shut out

[efin98]

It was a team effort today, they came together rather well for a group that has only played together for only a few days at most...

[christian gentleman]

With the DR and Venezuela knocking the lights out with Colon and Santana on the mound, I'm a bit doubtful our guys have the bats to beat those guys. They will have to turn it up, way up. Canada will not be an easy win either. Well, should we be passionate about this? I think secretly we all are. It's a matter of pride. If we lose? Yeeeesh.

[Greerman29]

so what's up with the US team getting killed right now against Canada?

Anyone else watching this?

[Astro]

Grand Slam Jason Varitek off Cyr

8-6 now in the bottom of the 5th

[Shoeless]

Ernie Whitt is a genius! Switching starters at the last minute--what a move!


(Hey, notice how the U.S. manager is Toronto's other catcher fromthe 1980s? Go Blue Jays!)

[Rounding Home]

[QUOTE=Shoeless] Switching starters at the last minute--what a move!
QUOTE]

That's something La Russa would do. You dirty Canadians :mad: (Not to imply La Russa is Canadian, which would be an insult to all Canadians)

[efin98]

Ernie Whitt is a genius! Switching starters at the last minute--what a move!

It's not really a genious move, it's the mark of a good manager.

[christian gentleman]

what a depressing result last night. I can barely speak. what is going on? this team is not going to make it to the next round. which could save us some embarassment. go cuba.

[YOUgodofwalks]

USA can still move on, I just say go Canada, beat Mexico!

[Astro]

I'd like the US to do well, and Cuba to not make it out of the 1st round

[trosmok]

Yesterday was a great day in the WBC for me. Team Cuba won in a thrilling extra-inning duel over Panama that featured more hit batsmen than I think I've seen since Sal Maglie was pitching. Team USA made it interesting with Tek's grand slam, but how about the Canadian club? Stern ripped an inside the park round tripper, and I think he also had a triple. I was amazed at the crowd in Arizona giving the Americans the Bronx cheer, alternating with chants of U S A! when they finally showed some signs of life. Did anyone else want to just throw something at the tube when Chase Utley flipped his bat and raised his arms as he began his slo-mo trot on that warning track out? It was simply wonderful to see baseball again, even if it is merely a series of exhibitions, and I hope Cuba wins it all just to torque off those bureaucrats in D.C. that didn't want them to participate.

[wamby]

Did anyone else want to just throw something at the tube when Chase Utley flipped his bat and raised his arms as he began his slo-mo trot on that warning track out? .

That is baseball at its finest. The clip of that scene had me laughing pretty hard. Way to celebrate that out, Chase!!!!

[Greerman29]

Ok so if canada loses today to Mexico (which they already are) and the US beats South Africa, then everyone is tied at 2-1. How do they break the ties?

[Guerrero Mad Man 2715]

Well, if Canada allows 3+ runs to Mexico, which already happened and the USA beats South Africa, the USA will move on.

[aarond23]

The US just has to beat SA now regardless of who wins the Mexico/Canada game.

[Williamsburg2599]

If we dont make it to the next round, I'm done with US international sports,the olympics and now this.PSH.....

[Williamsburg2599]

there was something like 20-1 by vegas against canada to win against the US,what are the odds we lose to SA?(interesting fact from SC the other day:Ken Griffey made around twice of what the ENTIRE canadian team makes. He also had around 100 more HRs then the canadians.)

[wamby]

Ok so if canada loses today to Mexico (which they already are) and the US beats South Africa, then everyone is tied at 2-1. How do they break the ties?

There's a run differential formula.

[Evangelion]

I'm still baffled why Leiter was allowed to pitch for Team USA. :confused:

[lautrec]

I'm still baffled why Leiter was allowed to pitch for Team USA. :confused:

You don't have to look hard for that answer. Remember, these are basically spring training outings for these guys. They need to get their innings in. Also, when you are dealing with these guys (high priced, self important players), you have to manage with their egos in the front. Martinez told Leiter he would pitch after Dontrelle, so, Buck didn't have much choice.

Then you've got all the pitch count regulations, and that just throws it all out of whack. It's spring training, and often, in a spring training game, you run your guys out on a schedule, and let them get their work, regardless if they're getting killed.

[Shoeless]

Hey, Canada isn't out yet, and the US isn't in...all it'll take is for South Africa to pull off the biggest upset in the history of human competition, bigger than the Mike Tyson vs. Emmanuel Lewis bout, bigger than Jessica Simpson vs. Garry Kasparov a few years back, bigger than when the fat guy from "Analyze This" won Miss America...

[foxxx]

Buck Martinez=STUPID

If we dont have a set lineup by the time round 2 comes around (ie we keep switching players in and out like its the damn all star game) I will fly to where ever Buck Martinez is and punch him in the face


PS

Chipper Jones is hitting way better than A-Rod, he needs to start, but hey I'm a Braves fan

[christian gentleman]

Chipper Jones is hitting way better than A-Rod, he needs to start, but hey I'm a Braves fan[/QUOTE]




I think they're all pretty good at grounding out. No one is outstanding. Varitek should start.

[trosmok]

Ok so if canada loses today to Mexico (which they already are) and the US beats South Africa, then everyone is tied at 2-1. How do they break the ties?

In the event three teams from one pool wind up 2-1, the tie breaking rules are as complex as any formula imaginable. I'm not certain, but they first look at run differential if Wamby is correct, then head to head if that still is tied and if two teams are still dead even, then team BA, and if it is still tied (hard to fathom), they look at cumulative ERA. It looks like if USA wins they're in, but if South Africa pulls off the mighty big upset (Douglass over Tyson), things would get dicey, Canada would be out by fewest runs, and it would take another miracle for the exhibition tournament to follow the desired script.

Team Cuba has had the pitching, an awesome display of hitting (their team BA is around .375), and will showcase their international dominanace against the other advancing team in Pool C, Puerto Rico, tonight at 7:30. Wow, I would love to be at Hiram Bithorn Stadium for this one. Viva Cuba!:gt

[christian gentleman]

In the event three teams from one pool wind up 2-1, the tie breaking rules are as complex as any formula imaginable. I'm not certain, but they first look at run differential if Wamby is correct, then head to head if that still is tied and if two teams are still dead even, then team BA, and if it is still tied (hard to fathom), they look at cumulative ERA. It looks like if USA wins they're in, but if South Africa pulls off the mighty big upset (Douglass over Tyson), things would get dicey, Canada would be out by fewest runs, and it would take another miracle for the exhibition tournament to follow the desired script.

Team Cuba has had the pitching, an awesome display of hitting (their team BA is around .375), and will showcase their international dominanace against the other advancing team in Pool C, Puerto Rico, tonight at 7:30. Wow, I would love to be at Hiram Bithorn Stadium for this one. Viva Cuba!:gt

It would be great to be there. Go Cuba!

go cuba!

[SamtheBravesFan]

Okay, next phase!

vs. Japan
vs. Korea
vs. Mexico

What are the chances, now that the offense has seemed to tune up nicely? :)

[christian gentleman]

Is Barry Bonds joining team USA?

[Blackout]

Is Barry Bonds* joining team USA?

Buck Martinez says no



ps--you left out the asterisk next to his name, i put it in for you