World Baseball Classic
Thu, Mar 2, 2006
by Geoff Young
I haven’t written much about the WBC, mainly because it always seemed so far away. But the tournament kicks off tonight in Tokyo with Korea vs Chinese Taipei (aka Taiwan or Republic of China). Also, my tickets for the semifinals and finals at Petco arrived yesterday, so that’s gotten me a little fired up about the whole thing.
I know some folks question the timing of the tournament, or the unusual eligibility rules (if you had a parent who was born there, you’re in), but I’m just psyched to see baseball in a big-league park in March, hopefully watching some players I wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to see. It’ll be like when the extremely short-lived Aztec Invitational christened Petco Park a couple years ago. You may recall that SDSU’s Rielly Embrey hit the first home run in park history during that tournament. Embrey is currently in the Padres organization, but who can say if he’ll ever get the opportunity to hit another homer at Petco Park. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see the name players out there representing their (or someone else’s) country, but I want to see some guy I’ve never even heard of have his moment in the proverbial sun.
Anyway.
Over at Fire Brand of the American League, Andrew Lipsett handicaps the WBC. Baseball America also is covering the event, and of course, you can find out all kinds of stuff at the official site. There are even a couple of blogs that are updated with considerable irregularity.
If anyone knows of other coverage of the event, please drop a note in the comments. I’m particularly interested in anything looking at the WBC from a non-North American perspective. What are the Japanese saying about it? The Dutch? The Australians?
Man, I love this time of year.
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March 2, 2006 at 7:58 am
I must admit, I did not think I would be very interested in the WBC. That was a month ago, when it was still football season.
Now, I’m planning on watching some games. I’ll be rooting for the U.S. (of course) and Netherlands (I’m Dutch). If you take a look at the rosters, some of the names are pretty intriguing. For instance, besides A. Jones, the Dutch team has Shea Hillenbrand, Danny Haren, Kirk Sarloos and David Aardsma . . .
Then if you go to look at the South African roster, a lot of the guys don’t even have their heights and weights listed. What’s up with that? I want to know who these people are!
March 2, 2006 at 8:00 am
Hey Geoff
You were talking about links. Here’s one to Dutch baseball, if anyone cares besides me:
http://www.honkbalsite.com/
March 2, 2006 at 8:03 am
Should have checked that website before I posted, it’s all in Dutch! Sorry about that guys, I got excited . . .
March 2, 2006 at 8:06 am
Former Pad Gene Kingsale is also on the Dutch team.
March 2, 2006 at 8:34 am
Nick: Do you read Dutch?
I used http://babelfish.altavista.com/ to translate some of the articles there.
Looks like Calvin Maduro is starting against Smoltz for the Netherland team.
March 2, 2006 at 8:42 am
I love this time of year too, March is a three pay-check month, we get our annual bonus in March, and a hefty tax return soon too.
As for the WBC, I’m very protective of my baseball interests this time of year, so I’m slightly curious, I want to get to April ASAP to start thing offically.
BTW, great day for all Aztec Alum who have painfully followed Aztec sports. The Aztecs won the Mountain West last night, and to all of us who watched them play at the Sports Arena or even Peterson Gym, it was a sweet moment.
March 2, 2006 at 8:43 am
Pictures from Korean WBC coverage:
http://tinyurl.com/hdgke. Look, it’s Ichiro in his Japan WBC uniform.
The Korean pitchers look like they are ready to strike out everybody as indicated with their hats.
March 2, 2006 at 8:54 am
Didi
Thanks for the translation link. I don’t read (or speak) Dutch, unfortunately.
On a more general note, I think I am interested in how some of these countries with less baseball experience perform.
I really am having a little trouble understanding why baseball is no longer an Olympic sport. There had to be some politics involved in the decision to remove it, b/c there are leagues on at least 4 continents. And it’s not like the U.S. was dominant.
March 2, 2006 at 9:02 am
I hear you, Nick. What’s with the Olympics? Maybe it didn’t draw as many audiences.
WBC from Japan:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sp.....Y20001.htm
I can’t wait to see how the team do. One of the pitcher, Matsuzaka, can’t wait to face A-Rod.
It could happen.
Unless A-Rod just changed his mind again and is now playing for Japan. Is he sure, he doesn’t have any Japanese blood in him?
March 2, 2006 at 9:08 am
BTW, I’ll contact my Norwiegian freind about the WBC. He plays in a baseball league there for a team called the Pretenders.
http://www.oslopretenders.com/
March 2, 2006 at 9:12 am
Way off topic:
Anyone know anything about this kid Staggs the Pads just signed from the Surf Dawgs? Anyone seen him pitch?
http://oursportscentral.com/se.....id=3275385
March 2, 2006 at 10:02 am
For anyone who has XM radio, tonight’s game is on XM 176 and starts at 7 p.m. PT.
March 2, 2006 at 10:13 am
Coincidentally, I just posted an interview with Beavers OF Dustin Delucchi this morning. He’s on the Italy team, along with Piazza. Dustin agreed to give us regular recaps of the games, so if you’re interested, I’ll be posting that on our site.
March 2, 2006 at 10:34 am
Today’s BP STAT OF THE DAY
Top 5 2006 NL Shortstops, by PECOTA Projected VORP
Player, Team, Projected VORP
Rafael Furcal, LAN, 33.8
Jimmy Rollins, PHI, 31.3
Edgar Renteria, ATL, 27.2
Jose Reyes, NYN, 24.4
Khalil Greene, SDN, 23.9
ps. I’m going to the USA vs Mexico WBC game next Tuesday (3/7) at “The Chase” (formerly “The BOB”) … then 3 Padres’ spring games (@ Mesa on 8th, and @ Peoria on 9th & 10th) … it’s a good time!
March 2, 2006 at 10:55 am
Jonathan, what would the URL of your site be?
March 2, 2006 at 11:12 am
Sorry, I thought it showed up under my name.
It’s http://www.pdxbeavers.com
March 2, 2006 at 11:31 am
Jonathan: Excellent! I didn’t realize Dellucchi was on the team. I look forward to his reports.
March 2, 2006 at 12:12 pm
I didn’t have time to think of a better question, but I got this in over at a chat this morning @ BP …
LynchMob (Corvallis, OR): Will Cesar Carillo pitch in a major league All-Star game before 2012?
Kevin Goldstein: I’d estimate the chances of that at 13.832% That said, I’d bet he wins 15 games in a season by then. Maybe twice, even.
… hmmm, I like it!
A couple other interesting Qs & As …
walter (poway, ca): if you were putting together a team, who would you rather have: stephen drew or kahlil greene?
Kevin Goldstein: Stephen Drew by a pretty wide margin. Greene is a fine player and it’s not an insult to him, but Drew could be that rare middle infielder who hits in the middle of a lineup.
JRMayne (Modesto): Brandon Wood and Howie Kendrick: How good, how soon?
Kevin Goldstein: Very Good, very soon. Wood could force his way in the the 3B job by mid-season, and Kendrick at some point should make his major league debut. I think both will be entrenched in the lineup by 2007, and both will be stars. Kendrick has the ability to put up a Tony Gwynn like streak of batting titles.
March 2, 2006 at 6:07 pm
A Nady sighting … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/re.....mp;prov=ap
March 2, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Some interesting comments about former home-boy Sean Burroughs … http://www.minorleagueball.com.....commenttop = Is There Any Hope for Sean Burroughs?
BTW, Sickles will be posting his Padres Top 20 Prospects tomorrow (Friday, 3/3/06) @ http://www.minorleagueball.com/ … should be interesting.
March 2, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Nady went 4-for-4 with 6 RBI for the mets today
March 2, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Shameless plug:
There’s a post up at “Friar Faithful.”
There’s gonna be more, too. I swear.
March 2, 2006 at 8:18 pm
I saw that… I’m not Sickles’ biggest fan but it will be interesting to see how he ranks Barfield (though I think a buddy who has his book already told me). Remember, he basically said Barfield was done when I interviewed him last May…
March 2, 2006 at 8:41 pm
Korea leads Chinese Taipei, 2-0, with 1 out in the 6th. Hee Seop Choi just flied out.
March 2, 2006 at 9:06 pm
Have they announced the attendance? Looks like a sparse but vocal crowd.
Pretty good game so far, it makes me want to see more Asian baseball.
March 2, 2006 at 9:16 pm
Chan Ho Park starts the seventh.
March 2, 2006 at 9:19 pm
According to the radio guys, he’s dialed up a couple of fastballs at 94 mph.
March 2, 2006 at 9:33 pm
Wow, Chan Ho looked awesome. We should tell him everyone he faces in the regular season is Chinese, he’s blowing these guys away.
That fish store song has replaced the Corky’s jingle as my new favorite.
March 2, 2006 at 9:37 pm
You can watch the game? Cool. Park retired all six batters he faced, fanning two. The announcers are raving about his breaking ball.
March 2, 2006 at 9:42 pm
Yeah it’s on Channel 4. Chan Ho is DEALING. Maybe he’s our new 7th inning guy? His breaking ball dropped like 3 feet and it looked like a slider, it wasn’t an over the top curve.
March 2, 2006 at 9:45 pm
My mistake, he’s still in there to work the ninth.
March 2, 2006 at 9:57 pm
Great diving stop by Korea shortstop to end the game and seal the win. Park gets the save: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO.
March 3, 2006 at 9:32 am
Here’s what Sickels has to say about Padres’ prospects …
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Cesar Carrillo, RHP, Grade A-
George Kottaras, C, B+
Josh Barfield, 2B, B
Chase Headley, 3B, B
Clay Hensley, RHP, B
Ben Johnson, OF, B-
Nick Hundley, C, B-
Paul McAnulty, 1B-OF, C+
Cesar Ramos, LHP, C+
Ernesto Frieri, RHP, C+
Geoff Vandel, LHP, C+
Josh Geer, RHP, C+
Neil Jamison, RHP, C+
John Madden, RHP, C+
Freddy Guzman, OF, C
Kenny Baugh, RHP, C
Jared Wells, RHP, C
Leonel Rosales, RHP, C
Matt Bush, SS, C
Kyle Blanks, 1B, C
Similar to the Pirates system, in the sense that this organization could look very good a year from now if some of the C+/C guys make progress.
I love Carrillo. Kottaras has been a favorite since before everyone knew about him. Barfield is an outside candidate for Rookie of the Year. I also think that Ben Johnson is a rookie sleeper who could end up being a very effective power hitter.
Some of the Grade C guys could move up very quickly. Jared Wells has a good arm and is highly-rated by Baseball America, but I’m not sold on him just yet. His track record is erratic and I’m not wild about his component ratios. Speedster Freddy Guzman missed all of 2005 with Tommy John surgery. His speed is impressive, but I have doubts about his bat. Reliever Leo Rosales could advance rapidly if he adjust well to Double-A.
Matt Bush. . .too young and athletic to give up on, but right now he’s more Matt Halloran than Khalil Greene.
March 3, 2006 at 11:35 am
Interesting. Off the top of my head, Ramos, Wells, and Blanks seem too low.
March 3, 2006 at 3:18 pm
Boy, if Hensley is just a B after the way he pitched last year, I’m even more excited about Kottaras and Carrillo now.