2023 World Baseball Classic

[Déjà Bru]

I am really looking forward to this. It is the first one since I retired, so I will be able to follow the action closely this time.

[mytreds]

Zzzzzzzzzz

[thehef]

I am now more-interested in this than I've ever been, simply because of the looking at the bracket Bru posted. Not that there's anything specific in it that piqued my interest, but I just like brackets

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

I'm really hoping for an Israel-USA matchup somewhere along the way, in truth, but unless Israel gets fortunate enough, that probably won't happen, of course. Those are my two favorite countries in the whole world, you see, folks. Just so you know. CD out.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by mytreds

Zzzzzzzzzz

Same.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by mytreds

Zzzzzzzzzz

Originally Posted by Westheim

Same.

Dullards! Slumberers! I will eat your popcorn for you! ()
Here, this was yours, mmmm, quite tasty:

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by thehef

I am now more-interested in this than I've ever been, simply because of the looking at the bracket Bru posted. Not that there's anything specific in it that piqued my interest, but I just like brackets

That's the betting instinct in you, coming out. Try to suppress it.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Clovidequano Dovatha

I'm really hoping for an Israel-USA matchup somewhere along the way, in truth, but unless Israel gets fortunate enough, that probably won't happen, of course. Those are my two favorite countries in the whole world, you see, folks. Just so you know. CD out.

Wow, there is some stiff competition for Israel in Pool D. My question is, what are they doing in there? It would seem that they would be in Pool A and Cuba in Pool D, but perhaps officials wished to mix things up a bit.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

That's the betting instinct in you, coming out. Try to suppress it.

Haha! But no. I never bet real money. $50 per year for the football pick'em pool, $10 for my cousin's annual March Madness pool, and I'll buy a few squares this Sunday... That's about it

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

I believe Israel can get into the next round. I mean, they've knocked off better teams before, after all. If they do advance, I'd think Molina's bunch might have a good shot to advance with them, somehow.

Pool C might be USA and Colombia, with Mexico probably in play as well. Of course, I could be wrong, you know.

Pool B, probably Japan and either Czech Republic or South Korea to advance. Don't think the Australians have enough at this time to make a serious run.

Pool A, Cuba and Netherlands will most likely advance. But I wouldn't count out Taiwan or Italy, I think, just yet. Panama, I don't really know enough about here, however, at the current time.

I'll post more thoughts later, I'm sure, once we have a better picture of things here, folks. In the meantime, I'm going to be rooting hard for Israel and America, in any case, and especially Israel, for sure. CD out.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by thehef

Haha! But no. I never bet real money. $50 per year for the football pick'em pool, $10 for my cousin's annual March Madness pool, and I'll buy a few squares this Sunday... That's about it

Good fellow.

Hey, Westheim! Your interest may perk up a bit once informed, or reminded, that your idol Pete Alonso is likely to be a member of Team USA. According to this as yet unofficial list, he may be joining these other familiar names in the tournament:

Which MLB players are in the 2023 World Baseball Classic?

There will be plenty of familiar names and faces playing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. That includes two of baseball’s biggest stars, who are teammates in MLB but opponents in the WBC.

The Los Angeles Angels duo of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani will participate. Ohtani, a two-way sensation on the mound and at the plate, will play for Japan in his WBC debut. Trout, a three-time MVP, will serve as captain of the United States.

Team USA, the defending WBC champs, have plenty of star power on the roster. That includes Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and many more. Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper had committed to play for the U.S. but will miss the tournament after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Team USA will be managed by former major leaguer Mark DeRosa. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. will serve as hitting coach and five-time World Series winner Andy Pettitte as pitching coach.

The Dominican Republic has a star-studded team featuring Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners), Jose Ramirez (Cleveland Guardians), Juan Soto (San Diego Padres), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays), Sandy Alcantara (Miami Marlins), Manny Machado (San Diego Padres), Rafael Devers (Boston Red Sox) and others.

Puerto Rico features Carlos Correa (Minnesota Twins), Francisco Lindor (New York Mets), Edwin Diaz (New York Mets), Marcus Stroman (Chicago Cubs) and other MLB players.

Trey Mancini of the Chicago Cubs and Brandon Nimmo of the New York Mets will play for Italy, which is being managed by former MLB star Mike Piazza.

The Chicago White Sox duo of Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada will play for Cuba, St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman will take the field for Korea, San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson joins Israel and San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish teams up with Ohtani for Japan.

Final rosters to be announced on Thursday.

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

This is also a big year for Israel, seeing as it's the 75th year since they rejoined the family of actual nations in this world of ours back in 1948. If the USA doesn't win, I really would like to see Israel win it all, for whatever it's worth. Would be really something to see, if and whenever possible, for sure, in my mind. CD out.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Clovidequano Dovatha

This is also a big year for Israel, seeing as it's the 75th year since they rejoined the family of actual nations in this world of ours back in 1948. If the USA doesn't win, I really would like to see Israel win it all, for whatever it's worth. Would be really something to see, if and whenever possible, for sure, in my mind. CD out.

Well, this is one reason why I post here, to build interest for myself and causes to root for. The intrepid Israelis are now on my list of teams to follow, thanks.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Good fellow.

I've got a buddy who literally lost a large house over gambling. So even if I wasn't a cheap b@$t^rd I could always reflect on that before getting nutty... As a 20-something, I would bring a few hundred to Vegas every once in awhile and be ok losing it. By the time I hit my 30's (and now in my 50's), it's "let's belly up to the bar and see how long I can make this twenty last in video blackjack... and see how many free beers I can get while slow-playing."

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by thehef

I've got a buddy who literally lost a large house over gambling. So even if I wasn't a cheap b@$t^rd I could always reflect on that before getting nutty... As a 20-something, I would bring a few hundred to Vegas every once in awhile and be ok losing it. By the time I hit my 30's (and now in my 50's), it's "let's belly up to the bar and see how long I can make this twenty last in video blackjack... and see how many free beers I can get while slow-playing."

I had a Staff Sergeant come to me, and asked how he could explain to his fiance that he was 14k into the bookies. He made about 30k a year.

It worked out..his re-enlistment bonus as a meteorologist JUST covered his debt. He came clean, and it was all good. Pretty scary for him though...these guys weren't playing.

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

Yes, I'm definitely rooting for the Israelites and the Americans here a very great deal, to be honest. Looks like the Israelites would only potentially meet the Americans in the quarterfinals, and not later than that, though. At least from what I can tell well enough now, that is. CD out.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Dullards! Slumberers! I will eat your popcorn for you! ()
Here, this was yours, mmmm, quite tasty:

One set of qualifiers was played like 90 minutes from my den and I didn't go there, either.

[CONN CHRIS]

I actually watched a few qualifying games and was pretty surprised at how good Great Britain and the Czech Republic were. Especially the Czechs who fielded largely home-grown talent.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

I actually watched a few qualifying games and was pretty surprised at how good Great Britain and the Czech Republic were. Especially the Czechs who fielded largely home-grown talent.

Apparently, this tournament has expanded from 16 to 20 teams, with all 16 participants in the 2017 WBC granted automatic berths. I wasn't aware of it happening in September and October but this is how the Czech Republic, Great Britain, and Nicaragua made it for the first time and Panama returned for the first time since 2009:




Close but no cigar: Brazil and Spain.

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Close but no cigar: Brazil and Spain.

If I recall correctly, Spain had quite a few MLB prospects with wink-wink-nod connections to Spain. GB had a few as well I think. The Czechs, I believe, were a little unique in that the team was all homegrown players.