Good thing Canada likely sucks.

If we had all our superstars on the roster it might be different. Nobody here cares about this tournament, which sorta sucks because on one hand it could be pretty cool. On the other, this thing doesnt stand a chance because people who matter here just ignore it.

Harper, Trout, Donaldson, Bryant, Seager, and Betts are all better than the position starters on the roster. Similarly the pitching talent that sits this tournament out is staggering. Kershaw, Sale, Arrietta, Syndergaard, DeGrom, Bumgarner, Strasberg, Price, etc.etc.

It reminds me of when USA Basketball went through its drought in the early '00's, except with this tournament the US has never had any success that could result in a drop-off

These tiny countries have no business beating 'Merica, but at this point the US would be 0-2 were it not for a wild passed ball/strikeout/run scored last night. Im trying hard not to care like everybody else, but its sorta pathetic the way we cop out of this event.

Dallasag02 said:

---

If we had all our superstars on the roster it might be different. Nobody here cares about this tournament, which sorta sucks because on one hand it could be pretty cool. On the other, this thing doesnt stand a chance because people who matter here just ignore it.

Harper, Trout, Donaldson, Bryant, Seager, and Betts are all better than the position starters on the roster. Similarly the pitching talent that sits this tournament out is staggering. Kershaw, Sale, Arrietta, Syndergaard, DeGrom, Bumgarner, Strasberg, Price, etc.etc.

It reminds me of when USA Basketball went through its drought in the early '00's, except with this tournament the US has never had any success that could result in a drop-off

These tiny countries have no business beating 'Merica, but at this point the US would be 0-2 were it not for a wild passed ball/strikeout/run scored last night. Im trying hard not to care like everybody else, but its sorta pathetic the way we cop out of this event.

---

Size of country has nothing to do with it. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela are factories of elite players which happen to play in MLB.

They have talent too, and I would argue that they are more passionate about the game than here in the States. Baseball is life in Dominican Republic and very important in Puerto Rico.

Obviously, but we still have better talent. It just doesnt bother to play.

Dallasag02 said:

---

Obviously, but we still have better talent. It just doesnt bother to play.

---

It's a shame because this is the United States' past time. It's unfortunate that elite American players don't bother to participate.

I really hate DR. Machado and Bautista have always been hothead punks in my opinion (oh and Machado is from friggin Florida). Cruz, Colon, Volquez have all been popped for PEDs. Familia is awaiting a decision on domestic violence (how does a suspension not apply to the WBC too?).

Hate that team!

I don't how to say this and I'm not sure it makes sense but both the issue of elite American players playing and excitement for the WBC classic stems from the international players affinity to playing international competitions.

Think it has a lot to do with soccer. Yeah soccer players play in their own leagues but the biggest games and stages are the international tournies like World Cup, Olympics, and all those other cups they play for.

We just don't have that here in baseball. It's a new concept. The biggest stage and what really matters to our players and fans is MLB. Not that it doesn't for international players but coming from countries where soccer is king I think they are prewired for their passion for international play.

Cruz. The Buckner of Texas baseball

Cheo said:

---

Dallasag02 said:

---

Obviously, but we still have better talent. It just doesnt bother to play.

---

It's a shame because this is the United States' past time. It's unfortunate that elite American players don't bother to participate.

---

Exactly. And puts more strain on our big arms like Stro Dog. Price Kershaw etc should all be playing . I hate that they don't all play for the US

Ag_07 said:

---

I don't how to say this and I'm not sure it makes sense but both the issue of elite American players playing and excitement for the WBC classic stems from the international players affinity to playing international competitions.

Think it has a lot to do with soccer. Yeah soccer players play in their own leagues but the biggest games and stages are the international tournies like World Cup, Olympics, and all those other cups they play for.

We just don't have that here in baseball. It's a new concept. The biggest stage and what really matters to our players and fans is MLB. Not that it doesn't for international players but coming from countries where soccer is king I think they are prewired for their passion for international play.

---

Honestly, it's just that American fans don't care about international baseball. Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Cuba don't care about soccer; Baseball is #1 in these places, even though soccer and basketball have grown in popularity.

Coming from a Puerto Rican, there is this pride that cannot be explained. We get emotional and passionate when we see our island perform well in international competition. It must have been really dusty in my place when we won our first ever Olympic gold medal, thanks to Monica Puig.

Columbia ties it with HR in bottom of 8th

I think US should be rooting for DR

I'm kinda enjoying the WBC. Games are good and I love the passion by the teams and players and fans.

C'mon Columbia!! (I don't even care about the implications for the US)

Team USA is fooked

Best case is play in game vs Dominican on Monday if Columbia wins

Columbia team looked like a bunch of idiots. He was clearly out.

Nice play. He WAS out.

txag614 said:

---

Columbia team looked like a bunch of idiots. He was clearly out.

---

Pablo Escobar will make the umps pay

Is the announcer blind? He clearly tagged him.

DR has 9 lives

Colombian women are hotter than DR women. On another topic, the horn is annoying!!

Catch the ball catcher!! Its in your job title!!

My fav part of this game was when Rodney gave up the game tying HR and then did his showboat arrow routine after escaping the inning and got called out by the announcers. What a tool.

Crawford has been playin well, i could've seen them giving Arenado the night off at 3B though (good thing they didn't, he just hit a 3 run bomb)..

Breg will play in this game I bet

CorpsAg11 said:

---

After winning last night, Mexico was celebrating as if they'd advanced.

Turns out, they missed the play-in game by 0.01 runs allowed per inning. Eliminated.

---

I feel for them







NOT.

so the manager for Venezuela is playing in an elimination game...and he has Altuve sitting on the bench. What?

Odor is a clutch mother****er.

Lol Odor looked like a total idiot bat flipping and trotting to 1B..... for a single