2006 World Baseball Classic: Thumbs up, Thumbs down, or Thumbs in the middle? - Page 2

Terpripken · 03-21-2006, 08:08 AM

Big thumbs up.

As others have mentioned, there are some kinks to work out. But...watching Japan celebrate last night was cool. Cuba showed alot of class as well. Some guys were even posing for pictures with Ichiro. I went to all the 1st round games on Orlando. The Dominican Republic/Venezuala game was the best game I have ever attended.

CBL-Commish · 03-21-2006, 08:10 AM

Thumbs up.

What about making the tournament all in one location, and doing it over about a week and a half right around the all-star break? Playing almost every day with no travel would minimize the time the MLB season would have to be on hiatus. Everyone would be in top shape, no pitch counts, but you'd also be rewarding teams for depth - your top starter couldn't start more than a few games with ~8 games/10 days.

I think you might even be able to get the MLBPA and Bud to agree with this short disruption of the schedule.

swampdragon · 03-21-2006, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBL-Commish

Thumbs up.

What about making the tournament all in one location, and doing it over about a week and a half right around the all-star break? Playing almost every day with no travel would minimize the time the MLB season would have to be on hiatus. Everyone would be in top shape, no pitch counts, but you'd also be rewarding teams for depth - your top starter couldn't start more than a few games with ~8 games/10 days.

I think you might even be able to get the MLBPA and Bud to agree with this short disruption of the schedule.

The owners would never agree to a shortened season. I guess they could live with the disruption if they still got 162 games in. This isn't going to be any good until they figure out a way to play real baseball instead of spring training baseball with it. That would be one way. I just don't know how long a season the players want to deal with.

His Own Bad Self · 03-21-2006, 10:00 AM

Don't most of the Caribbean/Latin American leagues take place during the MLB and Japanese off-seasons? I remember someone saying last night on the radio that the Cuban league schedule was altered to account for the WBC.

The point is that it may not be possible to schedule the WBC at a time that's convenient for every league globally. From a purely MLB standpoint, I don't see a problem with the early March scheduling - I agree with those who say that there's no greater chance of being hurt in the WBC than there is in spring training.

Overall, a thumbs up. I agree that there should be some kind of preliminary round/qualifying matches to determine who gets to play and who doesn't. I would have been happy with twelve teams instead of sixteen (removing Italy, South Africa, and two others - say, Panama and China or Australia), and two pools of six teams each.

I listened to and watched the game as much as I could last night, and was as entertained by it as I normally am for an MLB playoff game. I liked watching and hearing about guys I've never seen or heard of before. Matsuzaka (an easy pick as the tournament MVP) was especially fun to watch.

kingcharlesxii · 03-21-2006, 10:24 AM

Thumbs up for the tournament, thumbs down for the timing and ESPN.

The tournament was great but it was marred by a few things:

1) Pitch counts took a lot of excitement out of a starter dominating. If it's going to be like that if it's during spring training, let's move it to some other time.

2) It was really hard for me to catch a game. The earlier round games were all on at 1PM or so, when I'm at work.

3) ESPN hardly seemed to care about actually showing the games. Last night really angered me by pre-empting the first inning for overtime of an NIT game.

Craig S. · 03-21-2006, 10:35 AM

My only complaint is that any playoff matchups shouldn't be single-elimination. Any team can beat another in one game, and I think doing a 2-out-of-3 or 3-of-5 would allow for a better measure of the superior team.

I know this single-elimination makes for more exciting games, but I don't think it always rewards the better team.

darkhorse · 03-21-2006, 11:34 AM

In related news, MLB will no longer refer to its championship as the "World" Series.

Bobby Valentine told the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111

Dark Horse · 03-21-2006, 12:40 PM

The WBC was okay. i voted middle-up.

Its still unnecessary. i'm not sure any White Sox fan "would give up the World Series Championship" for the United States winning the WBC. i'm an Astros fan and i wouldn't give back the team's World Series appearance for it. It's not like i only i want to see Japan League baseball because Japan won. Or that i believe that ALL the best players are from Japan. It's like Olympic Basketball or All Star games, in general. They are exhibitions. i still say we'll see how important people think these games were when a star player loses a season or a career in one of these games.

They played hard, the games were good, and i watched because it was baseball. (i'm glad to hear spring training games on the radio.) But the hype goes along with it... (Well everything is hyped now, i guess i'll never get used to that.) "Be There For Your Country" Ummm... they weren't fighting over land or property or civil rights... they weren't trying to free hostages. They were playing baseball.

And the rules they have regarding pitchers is gimmicky.

And the announcers were annoying.

But it was still good baseball. i'll watch it when it comes on again.

darkhorse · 03-21-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

i'm not sure any White Sox fan "would give up the MLB Series Championship" for the United States winning the WBC. i'm an Astros fan and i wouldn't give back the team's MLB Series appearance for it.

Glad to be of assistance.

UngratefulDead · 03-21-2006, 12:52 PM

I voted thumbs up, but I should have put thumbs in the middle or thumbs leaning up because of the awful tournament set-up. A lot of the individual games were really great though.

Hotblack Desiato · 03-21-2006, 12:54 PM

It's a great concept and it seemed to play well in the foreign countries. But it was just horribly conceived. Mexico eliminating themselves by scoring a run? I still don't understand how that works. Korea beats Japan 2 out of 3 times but since Japan won the last one, they move on? Hardly any games broadcast live on channels that the average American can get? I didn't even get to watch a single game until last Sunday. And of course there's that All-American umpiring crew.

Naturally there are going to be growing pains but they have a lot to work on before the next tourney. I think it's going to need some pretty significant changes before it really gains popularity and credibility.

BrewedCrew · 03-21-2006, 01:15 PM

thumbs down

selig is a idiot

Sublimity · 03-21-2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrewedCrew

thumbs down

selig is a idiot

Nice analysis.

theasfl · 03-21-2006, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terpripken

Big thumbs up.

As others have mentioned, there are some kinks to work out. But...watching Japan celebrate last night was cool. Cuba showed alot of class as well. Some guys were even posing for pictures with Ichiro. I went to all the 1st round games on Orlando. The Dominican Republic/Venezuala game was the best game I have ever attended.

were you wearing a Threshers hat and jeans at the Australia/Italy game?

CBL-Commish · 03-21-2006, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Its still unnecessary. i'm not sure any White Sox fan "would give up the World Series Championship" for the United States winning the WBC. i'm an Astros fan and i wouldn't give back the team's World Series appearance for it. It's not like i only i want to see Japan League baseball because Japan won. Or that i believe that ALL the best players are from Japan. It's like Olympic Basketball or All Star games, in general. They are exhibitions. i still say we'll see how important people think these games were when a star player loses a season or a career in one of these games.

I don't think the Olympics are an exhibition - they're the championship of international basketball (as opposed to league basketball).

The World Cup is the biggest tournament in sports and it's largely the same format as the WBC - national teams playing for the international championship of the sport. Nobody thinks all the best soccer players are from France if France wins the World Cup. Nobody (or very few people) change what leagues they watch because of the World Cup. The World Cup doesn't drop in stature when a star player injures himself during the tournament. It's just that Brazil or Germany or whoever produced the best national soccer team in the world that year.

The WBC is just getting nearly all of the best players in the world on one stage to compete for their countries.

BrewedCrew · 03-21-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublimity

Nice analysis.

most people wouldnt like Selig if he tried to take away your hometown team

ihatenames · 03-21-2006, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingcharlesxii

1) Pitch counts took a lot of excitement out of a starter dominating. If it's going to be like that if it's during spring training, let's move it to some other time.

It certainly made the no-hitter exciting.

His Own Bad Self · 03-21-2006, 02:15 PM

Tiebreaker rules - why don't they just use margin of victory on one or more levels? I know they borrowed from previously established international rules, but the rules as they are don't make a lot of sense.

His Own Bad Self · 03-21-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBL-Commish

I don't think the Olympics are an exhibition - they're the championship of international basketball (as opposed to league basketball).

Nitpicking - I thought that most countries consider the World Championships to be higher in status than the Olympics as far as hoops goes. I could be wrong...

Sublimity · 03-21-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrewedCrew

most people wouldnt like Selig if he tried to take away your hometown team

I'm still failing to grasp the connection between any of that and the WBC.

View Poll Results: How do you grade the 2006 WBC?
Thumbs Up	45	51.72%
Thumbs in the middle, leaning towards thumbs up	22	25.29%
Thumbs in the middle	4	4.60%
Thumbs in the middle, leaning towards thumbs down	6	6.90%
Thumbs down	10	11.49%
Voters: 87. You may not vote on this poll

03-21-2006, 08:10 AM	#22
CBL-Commish All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,999	Thumbs up. What about making the tournament all in one location, and doing it over about a week and a half right around the all-star break? Playing almost every day with no travel would minimize the time the MLB season would have to be on hiatus. Everyone would be in top shape, no pitch counts, but you'd also be rewarding teams for depth - your top starter couldn't start more than a few games with ~8 games/10 days. I think you might even be able to get the MLBPA and Bud to agree with this short disruption of the schedule. __________________ For the best in O's news: Orioles' Hangout.com

03-21-2006, 10:24 AM	#25
kingcharlesxii Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,731	Thumbs up for the tournament, thumbs down for the timing and ESPN. The tournament was great but it was marred by a few things: 1) Pitch counts took a lot of excitement out of a starter dominating. If it's going to be like that if it's during spring training, let's move it to some other time. 2) It was really hard for me to catch a game. The earlier round games were all on at 1PM or so, when I'm at work. 3) ESPN hardly seemed to care about actually showing the games. Last night really angered me by pre-empting the first inning for overtime of an NIT game. __________________ Formerly in the OTBA - Stockholm Royal Squirrels of Sweden OOTP Grand League Champion 2015

03-21-2006, 11:34 AM	#27
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	In related news, MLB will no longer refer to its championship as the "World" Series. Bobby Valentine told the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111 __________________ "The Human Torch was denied a bank loan."

03-21-2006, 12:40 PM	#28
Dark Horse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas! Posts: 2,633	The WBC was okay. i voted middle-up. Its still unnecessary. i'm not sure any White Sox fan "would give up the World Series Championship" for the United States winning the WBC. i'm an Astros fan and i wouldn't give back the team's World Series appearance for it. It's not like i only i want to see Japan League baseball because Japan won. Or that i believe that ALL the best players are from Japan. It's like Olympic Basketball or All Star games, in general. They are exhibitions. i still say we'll see how important people think these games were when a star player loses a season or a career in one of these games. They played hard, the games were good, and i watched because it was baseball. (i'm glad to hear spring training games on the radio.) But the hype goes along with it... (Well everything is hyped now, i guess i'll never get used to that.) "Be There For Your Country" Ummm... they weren't fighting over land or property or civil rights... they weren't trying to free hostages. They were playing baseball. And the rules they have regarding pitchers is gimmicky. And the announcers were annoying. But it was still good baseball. i'll watch it when it comes on again. __________________ A Justafan Fan LBA Geo Bahn Rock Hounds fan of the ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE

03-21-2006, 08:08 AM	#21
Terpripken All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Safety Harbor, FL Posts: 1,525	Big thumbs up. As others have mentioned, there are some kinks to work out. But...watching Japan celebrate last night was cool. Cuba showed alot of class as well. Some guys were even posing for pictures with Ichiro. I went to all the 1st round games on Orlando. The Dominican Republic/Venezuala game was the best game I have ever attended.

03-21-2006, 10:00 AM	#24
His Own Bad Self All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,221	Don't most of the Caribbean/Latin American leagues take place during the MLB and Japanese off-seasons? I remember someone saying last night on the radio that the Cuban league schedule was altered to account for the WBC. The point is that it may not be possible to schedule the WBC at a time that's convenient for every league globally. From a purely MLB standpoint, I don't see a problem with the early March scheduling - I agree with those who say that there's no greater chance of being hurt in the WBC than there is in spring training. Overall, a thumbs up. I agree that there should be some kind of preliminary round/qualifying matches to determine who gets to play and who doesn't. I would have been happy with twelve teams instead of sixteen (removing Italy, South Africa, and two others - say, Panama and China or Australia), and two pools of six teams each. I listened to and watched the game as much as I could last night, and was as entertained by it as I normally am for an MLB playoff game. I liked watching and hearing about guys I've never seen or heard of before. Matsuzaka (an easy pick as the tournament MVP) was especially fun to watch.

03-21-2006, 10:35 AM	#26
Craig S. Minors (Double A) Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 114	My only complaint is that any playoff matchups shouldn't be single-elimination. Any team can beat another in one game, and I think doing a 2-out-of-3 or 3-of-5 would allow for a better measure of the superior team. I know this single-elimination makes for more exciting games, but I don't think it always rewards the better team.

03-21-2006, 12:52 PM	#30
UngratefulDead Banned Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,415	I voted thumbs up, but I should have put thumbs in the middle or thumbs leaning up because of the awful tournament set-up. A lot of the individual games were really great though.

03-21-2006, 12:54 PM	#31
Hotblack Desiato Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 323	It's a great concept and it seemed to play well in the foreign countries. But it was just horribly conceived. Mexico eliminating themselves by scoring a run? I still don't understand how that works. Korea beats Japan 2 out of 3 times but since Japan won the last one, they move on? Hardly any games broadcast live on channels that the average American can get? I didn't even get to watch a single game until last Sunday. And of course there's that All-American umpiring crew. Naturally there are going to be growing pains but they have a lot to work on before the next tourney. I think it's going to need some pretty significant changes before it really gains popularity and credibility.

03-21-2006, 01:15 PM	#32
BrewedCrew Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 414	thumbs down selig is a idiot __________________

03-21-2006, 02:15 PM	#38
His Own Bad Self All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,221	Tiebreaker rules - why don't they just use margin of victory on one or more levels? I know they borrowed from previously established international rules, but the rules as they are don't make a lot of sense.