Is World Baseball Classic as fun as it looks??

ForeverRoyalKC · 02-01-2017, 08:16 PM

I have just gotten back into baseball over the past few years and never have given the WBC a look. I know it happens, but just didnt pay it any attention. However, after studying it now and looking at the rosters and the stars representing their own countries, it looks pretty fun on paper! Facing off against your own MLB teammates and then rejoining them for the MLB season? Looks like a hoot! Like I see in Pool D, the Royals pitcher, Joakim Soria is with Mexico and Royals catcher, Drew Butera is with Italy. That's got to be fun as teammates bearing down to help your country and try to get the best of the other just to come together in a few weeks! Is it as fun as your fantasy baseball mind sees it? Seems kinda like OOTP baseball come to life!

TheMaus2 · 02-01-2017, 09:31 PM

Yes. I hope the action is good in person. I've never seen a WBC game. This time, it us. I don't care what the pundits say: GO USA!!

robwondah · 02-01-2017, 11:39 PM

Although they're not in it, I started paying attention to the WBC when the Philippines were in the qualifier. Also, since the finals are in LA, I may try to catch a game. Just to be around the action.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thorpegiovanni · 02-02-2017, 11:34 AM

US have never really tried with their best players forward in the past for obvious reasons, but it is an interesting tournament.

ihatenames · 02-02-2017, 01:47 PM

I think it's a lot of fun. The best part about it is it exposes you to talent both MLB and otherwise that you may not have had a chance to see before. The tournament really proves there is some serious talent around the world. I love watching.

Westheim · 02-02-2017, 04:40 PM

I disapprove of the WBC, which disturbs spring training and provides merely additional opportunities for blow out elbows.

actionjackson · 02-02-2017, 09:13 PM

Love the WBC. Went to two games in the 2009 tournament in Toronto. The Canada/USA game on Saturday March 7th had an electric atmosphere and was a thrilling one run nailbiter right to the end. I've never enjoyed a game that my team lost (6-5) as much as that because the Rogers Centre was absolutely buzzing from the first pitch and even before. This was back in the days when attendance was around 10,000 to 15,000 for most regular season games. Not this game. It was a sellout and a portent of things to come in Toronto in 2015 and 2016. Toronto's a great baseball town (aside from the freakin' yahoos that throw crap on the field - they need to go!)...if you put a good team on the field, and that was a good team (well at least there were some good position players - pitching needs help - Ryan Dempster's going for us this year - Yay!) that unfortunately lost the only two games it played in that tournament. Second game was unfortunately a complete dud against Italy. Canada got hammered 7-2.

Our pitching has always been pretty bad and that's probably going to be our undoing again this time around. That and the fact that somehow we got stuck in a pool with the USA, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia (Jose Quintana anyone? With our luck, he'll start against us...Yeesh!). Anyone thinking of going, I would say go for it. It's a really cool baseball experience and you'll have a great time for sure.

TheMaus2 · 02-02-2017, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westheim

I disapprove of the WBC, which disturbs spring training and provides merely additional opportunities for blow out elbows.

I thought you didn't use spring training.

Westheim · 02-03-2017, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMaus2

I thought you didn't use spring training.

What do my OOTP preferences have to do with anything??

buckeye22 · 02-04-2017, 10:36 PM

It's a lot of fun in theory, and when you watch countries like Venezuela, Cuba, the DR, and Japan run out their best guys at every position it IS a lot of fun to see.

Just wish the American players had any sense of pride and we could see what a team full of the best of the best of the US could do. Also wish it wasn't being played during Spring Training before everyone is in shape. Not sure what the answer is there, but there's gotta be a better time.

gravin40 · 02-05-2017, 02:59 PM

I'm a huge fan of WBC. As for a better time to have it, diffently not during or after season. I think spring training time is fine. Players are playing games anyway.

02-01-2017, 08:16 PM	#1
ForeverRoyalKC All Star Starter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Hop, skip and a jump from Pomme De Terre Lake, MO. Posts: 1,226	Is World Baseball Classic as fun as it looks?? I have just gotten back into baseball over the past few years and never have given the WBC a look. I know it happens, but just didnt pay it any attention. However, after studying it now and looking at the rosters and the stars representing their own countries, it looks pretty fun on paper! Facing off against your own MLB teammates and then rejoining them for the MLB season? Looks like a hoot! Like I see in Pool D, the Royals pitcher, Joakim Soria is with Mexico and Royals catcher, Drew Butera is with Italy. That's got to be fun as teammates bearing down to help your country and try to get the best of the other just to come together in a few weeks! Is it as fun as your fantasy baseball mind sees it? Seems kinda like OOTP baseball come to life!

02-01-2017, 09:31 PM	#2
TheMaus2 All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The OOTP Forums. Always. Posts: 1,951	Yes. I hope the action is good in person. I've never seen a WBC game. This time, it us. I don't care what the pundits say: GO USA!! __________________ I write a monthly newsletter on the Food Baseball Association. I also listen to music no one's ever heard of in hopes of looking cool and alternative.

02-02-2017, 11:34 AM	#4
thorpegiovanni All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 550	US have never really tried with their best players forward in the past for obvious reasons, but it is an interesting tournament. __________________

02-02-2017, 01:47 PM	#5
ihatenames Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,534	I think it's a lot of fun. The best part about it is it exposes you to talent both MLB and otherwise that you may not have had a chance to see before. The tournament really proves there is some serious talent around the world. I love watching. __________________ New Album coming soon!

02-02-2017, 04:40 PM	#6
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 14,216	I disapprove of the WBC, which disturbs spring training and provides merely additional opportunities for blow out elbows. __________________ Portland Raccoons, 96 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 * 2061 * 2071 * 2073 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.

02-01-2017, 11:39 PM	#3
robwondah Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 287	Although they're not in it, I started paying attention to the WBC when the Philippines were in the qualifier. Also, since the finals are in LA, I may try to catch a game. Just to be around the action. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02-02-2017, 09:13 PM	#7
actionjackson Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 6,179	Love the WBC. Went to two games in the 2009 tournament in Toronto. The Canada/USA game on Saturday March 7th had an electric atmosphere and was a thrilling one run nailbiter right to the end. I've never enjoyed a game that my team lost (6-5) as much as that because the Rogers Centre was absolutely buzzing from the first pitch and even before. This was back in the days when attendance was around 10,000 to 15,000 for most regular season games. Not this game. It was a sellout and a portent of things to come in Toronto in 2015 and 2016. Toronto's a great baseball town (aside from the freakin' yahoos that throw crap on the field - they need to go!)...if you put a good team on the field, and that was a good team (well at least there were some good position players - pitching needs help - Ryan Dempster's going for us this year - Yay!) that unfortunately lost the only two games it played in that tournament. Second game was unfortunately a complete dud against Italy. Canada got hammered 7-2. Our pitching has always been pretty bad and that's probably going to be our undoing again this time around. That and the fact that somehow we got stuck in a pool with the USA, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia (Jose Quintana anyone? With our luck, he'll start against us...Yeesh!). Anyone thinking of going, I would say go for it. It's a really cool baseball experience and you'll have a great time for sure.

02-04-2017, 10:36 PM	#10
buckeye22 Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 322	It's a lot of fun in theory, and when you watch countries like Venezuela, Cuba, the DR, and Japan run out their best guys at every position it IS a lot of fun to see. Just wish the American players had any sense of pride and we could see what a team full of the best of the best of the US could do. Also wish it wasn't being played during Spring Training before everyone is in shape. Not sure what the answer is there, but there's gotta be a better time.

02-05-2017, 02:59 PM	#11
gravin40 Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 11	I'm a huge fan of WBC. As for a better time to have it, diffently not during or after season. I think spring training time is fine. Players are playing games anyway.