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WBC IGT: USA v MEX 3-16-06

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 08:15 PM

You know something, this could be Roger Clemens last ever start. 0-0 in the 2nd.

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 08:27 PM

Controversial call by ump robs Mexico of a home run off the foul pole. On the other hand, in order to avoid elimination Mexico needs to keep the game scoreless for 13 innings so oddly this benefits them.

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 08:32 PM

Mexico eliminates themselves by scoring a run. Now they have a chance keep USA out of the semis.

Rotblatt Mar 16 2006 08:41 PM

Why'd they take Perez out? Seemed like he was doing well.

Zvon Mar 16 2006 08:43 PM

Willets Point wrote: Mexico eliminates themselves by scoring a run. Now they have a chance keep USA out of the semis. interesting stuff. Clemens looks good. I will be surprized if the Rocket dont pitch this year after seeing him throw. Great catch there off A-Rods long drive. USA ties it on a sac fly. 1-1

Nymr83 Mar 16 2006 08:57 PM

Willets Point wrote: Mexico eliminates themselves by scoring a run. thats why this tournament is lame. i've enjoyed the quality of the play but the format is BULLSHIT double-elimination is a million times better than round-robin with lame tie-breakers.

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 09:20 PM

Clemens leaves the game, POSSIBLY FOR THE LAST TIME EVER!!!!

Zvon Mar 16 2006 10:02 PM

Nymr83 wrote: ="Willets Point"]Mexico eliminates themselves by scoring a run. thats why this tournament is lame. i've enjoyed the quality of the play but the format is BULLSHIT double-elimination is a million times better than round-robin with lame tie-breakers. I think this game shows that you have a good point there. Selig in the booth addresses the Bonds situation. There was no way they could have him in the booth and not talk about it. That would have been rediculous.

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 10:08 PM

Capt. Clutch called out on strikes.

TransMonk Mar 16 2006 10:12 PM

Selig is a boob. He spent a half inning not addressing the Bond's situation, or any other relevant question that was asked of him. He uses a lot of words to say absolutely nothing. But, hey, another attendance record...yada, yada, blah, blah, snore.

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 10:24 PM

Please don't let A-Rod be the hero. Pleasepleasepleaseplease.

ScarletKnight41 Mar 16 2006 10:29 PM

A-Rod merely walked. Johnny Damon is pinch running for him.

ScarletKnight41 Mar 16 2006 10:29 PM

Double Play! Mexico Wins!

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 10:30 PM

Holy Shit! Japan & Korea meet for the third time.

Zvon Mar 16 2006 10:31 PM

Willets Point wrote: Please don't let A-Rod be the hero. Pleasepleasepleaseplease. HA. Selig went into more "depth" that i would have expected- tho he didnt say anything new. There will be an investigation in regards to more than just this book and its allegations. The talk of MLB historical records and fan sentiments was interesting. DAMN! Mexico eliminates US.

Nymr83 Mar 16 2006 10:31 PM

ScarletKnight41 wrote: Double Play! Mexico Wins! No, Mexico "lost" when they SCORED, i still think this is very lame.

Zvon Mar 16 2006 10:33 PM

Nymr83 wrote: .........the format is BULLSHIT double-elimination is a million times better than round-robin with lame tie-breakers. Its just so unbaseballish the way it's set up.

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 10:34 PM

The announcers are trying to be apologists for the USA with the "short tournament" thing but the USA only had one convincing win and that was against South Africa. The question now is has the rest of the world caught up with the USA or was the USA just too disinterested. Or both. Odd to see Mexico's players celebrating. "Yay, we're spoilers!"

ScarletKnight41 Mar 16 2006 10:36 PM

MK will be disappointed that Team USA lost. Even though he rooted against Captain Intangibles when he was up at bat last Sunday.

Rotblatt Mar 16 2006 10:41 PM

Willets Point wrote: The announcers are trying to be apologists for the USA with the "short tournament" thing but the USA only had one convincing win and that was against South Africa. The question now is has the rest of the world caught up with the USA or was the USA just too disinterested. Or both. Odd to see Mexico's players celebrating. "Yay, we're spoilers!" Wow. I'm shocked. A fine game by Mexico. I was a little suprised at the Mexican team too, but the crowd seemed insanely into it and maybe they were reacting to that. Y'all see the Mexico team leading the fans in cheers? That was a great moment. Amazing. Can't wait for the Korea-Japan re-rematch. Assuming it will be televised this time . . . Keith, seriously, watch these games. I promise, you'll enjoy them. And Jesus but the fans have been intense. I really wish I'd taken time off and bought tickets to see some of these games . . .

Yancy Street Gang Mar 16 2006 10:44 PM

="Nymr83"] ="ScarletKnight41"]Double Play! Mexico Wins! No, Mexico "lost" when they SCORED, i still think this is very lame. I don't understand. If Mexico hadn't scored a run, how could they have advanced? Were they doomed from the start?

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 10:46 PM

I'm pulling for a Korea-Dominican Republic final. American sports fans have other priorities so there won't be outrage but this is pretty embarrasing to be eliminated this early as the host nation playing our national pastime.

Nymr83 Mar 16 2006 10:49 PM

]I don't understand. If Mexico hadn't scored a run, how could they have advanced? Were they doomed from the start? i believe that because of the ERA tie-breaker they have needed to add 12 or 13 scoreless innings to their total (and then win of course) so yes they were technically alive but in a very lame sort of way...if i were the manager i'd have ordered my hitters to stand in the box facing the stands and do allkinds of other dumb shit to make a point.

Rotblatt Mar 16 2006 10:51 PM

="Yancy Street Gang"]I don't understand. If Mexico hadn't scored a run, how could they have advanced? Were they doomed from the start? Given the tie-breaker rules (which is basically based on team ERA), they would have had to play 14 innings without allowing any runs, AND they would have had to win by 3 runs. So basically, a 14-inning game ending with a 3-run HR. Or put another way, there was no way they were advancing to Round 3.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 16 2006 10:51 PM

I enjoyed this, especially the closeup, once again, of a disconsolate Gayrod watching the other team celebrate.

Willets Point Mar 16 2006 10:52 PM

="Yancy Street Gang"] ="Nymr83"] ="ScarletKnight41"]Double Play! Mexico Wins! No, Mexico "lost" when they SCORED, i still think this is very lame. I don't understand. If Mexico hadn't scored a run, how could they have advanced? Were they doomed from the start? It has something to do with the Runs Allowed per 9 innings that is used as a tiebreaker. To advance tonight Mexico would have had to played 13 innings without allowing a run to get their RA/9 down. After the 13th then if Mexico scored and won they would advance. By scoring a run earlier in the game Mexico created a situation that they would either win in 9 innings (as they did) or have to allow the USA to score a run to tie it up to go to extra innings but then pushing their RA/9 back up again.

TransMonk Mar 16 2006 10:53 PM

I will be interested to see if the American players take getting ready for the tournament more seriously in '09. I don't think any of them expected this to be as competitive as it was, and if the WBC is played in March again next time, I wonder how many players (or even the team itself) takes much more time preparing. It could be similar to the USA basketball team, which is preparing NOW for the 2008 summer Olympics. Korea, Mexico and even Canada looked much more like machines than these individual cogs. Pundits keep whining about the timing of the game...well, if these guys want to win they may have to cut their 3 month vacation short and prepare better. In their defense, if this was played in November I don't see them losing.

Frayed Knot Mar 16 2006 10:56 PM

Part of the problem with the goofy tiebreakers was that this whole thing was partly run through the International Baseball body (whatever it's called - essentially it's baseball's equivelant to FIFA) ... and this body - like most whose function it is to organize sports for Olympic-like tourneys - is very European titlted which accounts for it's soccer-like tiebreaking procedures. I suspect Selig felt the need to go through this body in order to get all the various teams on board even though it probably would have been better off if MLB ran the whole deal and just thumbed their nose at the Euro-bureaucrats. But I suppose that being the 800-lb gorilla is one thing but it's best not to act like it in order to keep everyone happy. Hopefully they'll learn some stuff from this inagural outing and fix what needs doing before 2009 when they hope to do it again.

Rotblatt Mar 16 2006 11:02 PM

="TransMonk"]I will be interested to see if the American players take getting ready for the tournament more seriously in '09. I don't think any of them expected this to be as competitive as it was, and if the WBC is played in March again next time, I wonder how many players (or even the team itself) takes much more time preparing. It could be similar to the USA basketball team, which is preparing NOW for the 2008 summer Olympics. Korea, Mexico and even Canada looked much more like machines than these individual cogs. Pundits keep whining about the timing of the game...well, if these guys want to win they may have to cut their 3 month vacation short and prepare better. In their defense, if this was played in November I don't see them losing. I dunno. The only team who was mid-season was Cuba. Granted, Cuba's playing pretty well, but all the other teams had more or less the same disadvantage. And if you look at the stat leaderboard, it's chock full of MLB players--Griffey, Chan Ho Park, Jae Seo, Beltre, Lee, Piniero, Santana, Peavey, Koo, Jeter, Larry, Ortiz, Bay . . . I mean, the MLB guys are dominating, just not necessarily the USA MLB players. I DO think some of it has to do with desire. The other teams wanted it more--which, incidentally, is what Oh had to say after Japan's loss to Korea.

metsmarathon Mar 16 2006 11:43 PM

i'm a little bummed that i hafta wait till '09 for the next go around of this wbc thingy. it was way cooler than i expected, and i was for it from the get go. otoh, i no longer have to root for arod, jeter, larry, and rocket all on teh same team (even tho i don't technically hate arod). so maybe it is better this way.

Nymr83 Mar 17 2006 12:07 AM

by the time the next one rolls around Chipper won't be asked to play, Clemens won't be pitching at all, and Damon won't be able to reach 2B from shallow CF with his throws. 2009 TEAM: C: Joe Mauer 1B: Derrek Lee 2B: Justin Upton 3B: David Wright SS: Derek Jeter LF: Jason Bay CF/RF: Brian Anderson/Lastings Milledge SP: Roy Oswalt, Ben Sheets, Mike Pelfrey

Centerfield Mar 17 2006 12:15 AM

I'm happy for Bob Davidson that the blown call didn't end up making any difference. That was a fun game. Clemens gets the loss in what might be his last game ever.

Frayed Knot Mar 17 2006 12:22 AM

Really, this may have been Clemens last game ever???? I hadn't heard that.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 17 2006 07:03 AM

By 2009, Jason Bay will still be a Canadian.

Nymr83 Mar 17 2006 07:07 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: By 2009, Jason Bay will still be a Canadian. whoops. i suppose he could become a citizen, but yeah i wasnt thinking

Rockin' Doc Mar 17 2006 07:23 AM

JD - "I enjoyed this, especially the closeup, once again, of a disconsolate Gayrod watching the other team celebrate." A sight I hope to see numerous times this season. The more he and Jeter have to console one another in the face of defeat the better.

MFS62 Mar 17 2006 07:45 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: I enjoyed this, especially the closeup, once again, of a disconsolate Gayrod watching the other team celebrate. I guess he isn't Mr. March. Those announcers were so in love with Jeter that I thought they were ready to check into a motel for a threesome. Later

Rotblatt Mar 17 2006 07:46 AM

It really is amazing. I mean, A-Rod is SUCH a good player, but he's always losing, even on good teams. My girlfriend honestly think he sucks. She only ends up watching him in big games and he never does particularly well, she's completely incredulous when I say something like, "A-Rod's the best player in baseball." Someone over at SoSH asked a key question: after the tournament, will the Chicago White Sox still be the World Champions?

Edgy DC Mar 17 2006 09:03 AM

The world championship as far as clubs is still distinct from the a tournament that crowns a nation world champion.

Rotblatt Mar 17 2006 09:29 AM

Edgy DC wrote: The world championship as far as clubs is still distinct from the a tournament that crowns a nation world champion. Yeah, I think it was more of a joke.

Centerfield Mar 17 2006 10:33 AM

USA LOSES AS JETER FAILS TO DO EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO WIN By Centerfield CPF News ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Roger Clemens was looking for a much better finish to his brilliant career. Instead, the Rocket Man choked yet again in a big spot, taking the loss as Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to pitch a three-hitter to lead Mexico past the Rocket and Team USA 2-1 on Thursday night, eliminating the Americans from the inaugural World Baseball Classic and putting Japan in the semifinals. Clemens pitched well (for a choker) Thursday night, but the bats couldn’t get the job done for the United States. A lineup loaded with All-Stars such as Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Ken Griffey Jr. managed just three hits against the gritty Mexican pitchers. Despite the poor offensive showing, the consensus in Anaheim was that this loss rested squarely on the shoulders of Derek Jeter. “Derek usually does everything it takes to win,” Team USA manager Buck Martinez said. “Tonight, he didn’t play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. It’s a shame...you see what can happen.” Despite batting .450 in the World Baseball Classic, Jeter’s TTRM (Things That Really Matter) numbers took a huge nosedive during this tournament. Jeter was 0 for 11 in Little Things that Constitute the Difference Between Winning and Losing, batted .043 in At-Bats that Really Matter and failed to record a single Important Nuance that Doesn’t Show Up in the Box Score. “I knew it was going to be tough,” said Jeter. “The other countries play a high level of baseball and, you know, we have A-Rod.” “With my heart and my determination, I can usually will my team to victory by simply refusing to lose. Tonight, I don’t know, I just didn't feel very adamant.” Jeter added that he wished he could have given Clemens a better finale. “I wish we could have ended his career on a better note. I’ll try to make it up to him next time he retires.” When it was over, Clemens talked about his final outing. "They were tough. And when they started hitting the ball, there were no other objects around the mound for me to hurl at them. I’m not happy we lost, but since we only scored one run and since I wasn’t actually on the mound when the go-ahead run scored, I think people should blame my teammates and not me.” Asked about his retirement, Clemens responded, “For me, right now, it's goodbye." The game was not without controversy. Mexico took a 1-0 lead off Clemens in the third on a leadoff double by Mario Valenzuela and a two-out single by Jorge Cantu. But it wasn't that simple. A television replay showed Valenzuela's fly ball hit the right field foul pole at least 10 feet off the ground and bounced back onto the field. However, first base umpire Bob Davidson didn't see it that way, and Valenzuela wound up at second. It was Davidson, umpiring behind the plate, who ruled that Japan's Tsuyoshi Nishioka left third base early in the eighth inning Sunday to negate a sacrifice fly that would have snapped a 3-3 tie in a game Team USA won. Asked about the call afterwards, an irritated Davidson responded, “Why are you asking me about these calls? Ask Buck...he’s the one who tells me what to say.” With the United States loss, Japan, which has already lost twice to Korea in the Classic, faces its archrival in Saturday's second semifinal game in San Diego, with the Dominican Republic meeting Cuba in the daytime opener. The winners play Monday for the championship.

HahnSolo Mar 17 2006 10:44 AM

]“The other countries play a high level of baseball and, you know, we have A-Rod.” Brilliance.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 17 2006 10:44 AM

BoC!

Rotblatt Mar 17 2006 10:45 AM

I really DID laugh out loud. Hilarious! You forgot the all-important fist-pump statistic, however--Jeter was 0-12 in that category.

ScarletKnight41 Mar 17 2006 10:45 AM

]Asked about the call afterwards, an irritated Davidson responded, “Why are you asking me about these calls? Ask Buck...he’s the one who tells me what to say.” Brilliant. Friggin' brilliant.

Yancy Street Gang Mar 17 2006 10:46 AM

Very good. This was my favorite line: ]“With my heart and my determination, I can usually will my team to victory by simply refusing to lose. Tonight, I don’t know, I just didn't feel very adamant.”

Willets Point Mar 17 2006 10:47 AM

My favorite line: ]Jeter added that he wished he could have given Clemens a better finale. “I wish we could have ended his career on a better note. I’ll try to make it up to him next time he retires.” Centerfield is my favorite sports writer.

Edgy DC Mar 17 2006 10:56 AM

One really wonders what is going on with Davidson.

metsmarathon Mar 17 2006 03:40 PM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: By 2009, Jason Bay will still be a Canadian. he will after the invasion...

Nymr83 Mar 17 2006 03:48 PM

metsmarathon wrote: ="Johnny Dickshot"]By 2009, Jason Bay will still be a Canadian. he will after the invasion... those plans were supposed to be kept secret! damn nosy media and big mouthed aides...

MFS62 Mar 17 2006 03:55 PM

I think you were too kind. Great stuff. Later

Edgy DC Mar 17 2006 03:59 PM

Jeter on A-Rod: "How Long Will This Load Hold Me Back from the Victories That Are My Destiny?"

Yancy Street Gang Mar 17 2006 06:31 PM

Meanwhile, a guy who played on only one major league game, and was recently in the spotlight, has had a long successful baseball career: http://ultimatemets.com/profile.php?PlayerCode=0193&tabno=7

Edgy DC Mar 17 2006 09:04 PM

That's just fantastic. This was the Metliest World Baseball Classic ever.