Garrett, Watson, and some LBs : Sporting News Mock for Browns
March 14, 2017Should the Browns pursue Kirk Cousins?
March 15, 2017I hope everyone is watching the World Baseball Classic. Drudging through March Spring Training baseball can be such a slog, but not so every fourth year. The excitement brought forth by playing for their country brings out the true spirit of competitive baseball. Even better, it is the ONLY time that professional players from Italy, the Netherlands, China, Korea, and Japan can demonstrate their capabilities against those from MLB. The entire event is wonderful and the 2017 edition has had no shortage of close games and dramatic finishes.
There are complaints about the tournament that continually arise. Some are worried about injuries (Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez injured his knee playing for Venezuela) though injuries can happen in Spring Training too (Jason Kipnis anyone?), and MLB teams have strict usage rules on the pitchers they lend out. Others complain about the gimmicky runners on first and second base to start innings 11 and beyond that has happened a whole grand total of once thus far (doesn’t belong in MLB but I’m not going to worry about it in an international tournament). Still others bemoan that the players are non-representative of the country on their uniform due to some rather lax rules. Team Israel has made it to the second round utilizing almost entirely American-born Jews. I’m not sure I understand why it is bad for the game or the tournament. People of Jewish faith seem to be rallying around that team throughout the United States and back in Israel.
Those complaints are missing the point. The WBC has embraced multi-culturism to the fullest degree. There are bat flips, dog piles, chanting fans, drums, flags flying, and more throughout each contest. Having half of the Round 1 games in Miami has also allowed many of the Carribean island fans to travel to add an extra element of fervor. Due to the other half of the games being in Asia, baseball fans in America have had games on when they wake and games on at night. It has been wonderful.
On Tuesday night, a true treat was watching Puerto Rico take on the Dominican Republic. The Ricans had never defeated the Dominicans in the WBC. In fact, no one had defeated the Dominicans since 2009. Both of those changed as Puerto Rico won, 3-1. It was a game filled with intensity and highlight plays including a play at the plate in the first inning.
https://twitter.com/Bedalyz/status/841879267533283328
Plenty of flair was happening at this game as Javi Baez even went no-look with the tag.
The throw AND celebration beat the runner to the bag! #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/YYqvo3BKIn
— Cut4 (@Cut4) March 15, 2017
Ken Rosenthal had a great piece on the joy of the tournament. Please read the whole thing but his closing captures why the WBC is needed.
Tradition is both baseball’s biggest advantage and greatest burden; players routinely celebrate big plays in football and basketball, and hardly anyone blinks. Maybe the lesson of the WBC is that we need to recalibrate our standards, for fan behavior, for player behavior, for the way we view the sport.
Less judging. More acceptance. More joy.
The Dominican fans have been the most raucous thus far. They were loud for Canada and Nelson Cruz had high praise for them after the game against the United States. I haven’t seen a statement from him yet after Tuesday, but both sides seemed to top anything outside October baseball in decibals.
“Thursday was loud,” said Cruz, referring to the Dominican’s opening game against Canada. “But today was unreal.” (in reference to the game against the United States)
Carlos Rondon also noted that the WBC has all of the emotions flowing through him.
Rondon to join Team Venezuela for the second round of the World Baseball Classic .
“I feel it’s going to be intense for me, and exciting, too,” said Rondon, the former Cubs’ closer. “I feel like the adrenaline is going to be like playing in the World Series.”
Rather than continue to type why you should be watching the WBC, I’m going to just show you.
Israelis are learning just how complicated baseball rules can be.
American Jews can't get enough of Team Israel. In Israel, people are trying to figure out the rules of baseball. https://t.co/k7jxFlSBaC pic.twitter.com/kSh5k4Z4AJ
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) March 14, 2017
Lots of ways to show spirit for one’s country including with golden plantains. Yes, a player keeps it in his pants for good luck.
https://twitter.com/GustanDeportes/status/841712385161351172
Kippahs are worn during Israeli anthem.
Team Israel sporting Kippahs during the rendering of Israel's National Anthem at @WBCBaseball @mlb #AmYisroelChai pic.twitter.com/azz3wl3VDb
— Boo Boo Media (@askbooboo) March 8, 2017
Lindor!!!
.@Lindor12BC is great at Major League Baseball.
UPDATE: @Lindor12BC is also great during #WBC2017. https://t.co/vHBPJVqQbz pic.twitter.com/kKDm51xV1b
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2017
Machado!!!
Don’t test Manny. #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/wEJwbDwucn
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 9, 2017
Seems like every game had a late inning rally.
Down 9-5 in the 9th? Just go and score 5 runs.
Never count Team Italy out. https://t.co/jZBYWkZvsl #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/L2E2P05MNa
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 10, 2017
Fans enjoy it.
BREAK IT OPEN. After a go-ahead sac fly, Tetsuto Yamada homers for the second time of the game to give Japan an 8-5 lead. #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/uZh1yRxSqM
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 14, 2017
Miggy helping punch a ticket with a 9th inning bomb to tie Italy.
.@MiguelCabrera has the clutch gene. https://t.co/4XogF8sJrt #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/9r7ztbN7gp
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 14, 2017
Let’s not deny Italy a highlight of their own with a spin-cycle double play.
Spin move! https://t.co/hxKQhXvc7X #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/gLfhMszP7E
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 14, 2017
Team Israel is not impressed.
https://twitter.com/Deportiva_VE/status/839827153353068544
WBC is pro-bat flip.
More impressive, the distance or the #batflip? https://t.co/K0zgumyFfH #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/o0jTAHofcr
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2017
Respect the Dominicans and their exuberance.
The difference for DR. #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/n80frYK7GV
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2017
You think these guys care? Seems like they care.
Play of the game?! https://t.co/vl350PnYLX #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/FvzuiXfk7i
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2017
Yeah, I’d adjust my cup after that one too.
Sho Nakata, put the team on your back. https://t.co/PLPOp6nJEX #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/ok3xDU1bvC
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2017
I believe Terry Francona found his Jason Kipnis injury replacement.
Game 1: LF
Game 2: DH
Game 3: RHPBTW, Weiqiang Meng is a CATCHER. #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/hhgsIxdGZB
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 10, 2017
Did I mention the WBC was pro-bat flip? Even better, it is so pro-bat flip that it is only a single if you hit the ball off the wall.
The guy who punched Bautista in the face just did this on a ball off the top of the wall (it was a single) pic.twitter.com/l54H99Qm2z
— Brendan Emmett (@BrendanEmmett) March 14, 2017
20 Comments
Sounds like all the excitement of World Cup Soccer but with scoring?
Replace soccer with baseball and minimize the amount of European countries participating. Really, a grand event.
Are there baseball hooligans?
You missed the part about limiting the amount of European countries.
Note: I haven’t seen any fan violence reported.
It probably just comes down to a bandwidth issue for most people, Michael. I care much more about the Indians this year but can’t justify watching more than a couple regular season games and following along casually through the great work you and others do on this site.
In that larger context, the World Baseball Classic seems like a fun, competitive exhibition but there’s no way I’ll ever regard it as an event worth spending scarce time/attention to. Also, since it is a relatively new phenomenon, I think many people lack a ‘schema’ for why it should be considered meaningful sporting event. That said, glad you and others seem to be enjoying it
And also imagine that all of those great soccer players playing in America, being household names and recognizable to the common fan. USA is an afterthought in Soccer, but has the Top League in Baseball.
Perhaps…though the World Cup has, over many decades, become woven into the rhythms of the global community. Don’t know that an event like baseball, which is still a niche sport internationally, can even achieve a fraction of the world’s attention
Depends what you consider “the world” — overall in the World? of course not, we’re not being silly.
But, in the countries that are participating? Absolutely. I doubt Netherlands or Italy as they will be niche there but in the Asian countries and North American for sure. Heard it is big in Venezuela too.
No worries. Mostly just wanted to highlight the event here. It has been quite amazing this year and the organizers deserve much praise for pushing all things “fun” with it. The placement of the rounds, the lax umpiring on celebrations, the understanding of all sides that they should just let their emotions run wild. It has been fantastic.
In a larger context, many baseball fans were downplaying the WBC in the lead up, but man, once it began I think most have come over to the “WBC needs to be here” side.
I thought the most horrible hooliganism (shooting your own goalie down in the streets) was perpetrated in South American countries?
That is a bit beyond hooligans, no? There was just a bunch of rioting in the stands at a Brazilian soccer match though – duly noted.
Yes, SA countries are known for it as well. Again, I haven’t seen any reported fan violence. Much love in the baseball fan community.
Well there is good hooliganism, and horrifying hooliganism. Some silly hooliganism would be welcome.
What have you been watching/paying attention to over the last week or so?
Sure, things in the sports world get a little crazy tomorrow, but this is a pretty dead period. There’s only so many hours one can devote to studying potential Browns fourth round picks.
You both propped up my work here and tore it down at the same time. Well done.
(completely kidding – just found it humorous)
Sports wise? Mostly been paying attention to the Cavs, and the flurry of news around the Browns trades last week (I agree with you and have avoided the usual draft chatter). I plan to watch every Cavs playoff game this spring so am sort of saving up time right now that I can justify spending later on. That’s how I was with the Indians playoff run last year as well – got totally absorbed in every October/November game in a way I simply could never do April through September. Love that there are purists who can invest in a whole season like that (as well as a niche event like the WBC) but I just can’t do it anymore
Thanks for this. We tend to look down our noses at this “meaningless” event, but for the rest of the baseball world it has a lot of meaning – as well as for the players involved from those countries.
You’re welcome. Also, love the comments from some of the Americans who skipped. Mike Trout is kicking himself – says he’s all-in on the next go-round if they’ll have him (for one).
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