667 replies to this topic

[BobPhelan]

Eh, just doesn't mean anything to me. Not really sure why.

[SBTarheel]

We're not a power in soccer and probably never will be. At least not in our lifetimes.

 

Our hockey team is usually top 3 in the world.

 

We've established dominance in basketball.

 

However, the national baseball team in the WBC has been a disappointment. Our best finish was 4th place and our overall record in the tournament is 10-10.

 

Seeing how much the WC meant to the country and the players, I'd like to see that same kind of dedication put into the WBC, meaning we get the best players playing in the tournament.

 

America is where baseball was started. We should be the best.

 

What say you?

Awesome post, I was thinking about this the other day, and as one who didn't really care about Soccer, I can't understand for the life of me not so much why so many people did, but why so little cared about this when it was going on. 

 

People say they don't love Baseball, that's fine, but I don't see much love for Soccer in the US except the last two weeks. I suspect I'll see far more Baseball love on Facebook and Twitter than MLS results moving forward. 

 

Great thought, Sean. 

[Pedro Cerrano]

I remember our two starting pitchers in the last WBC were RA Dickey and Ryan Vogelsong.  That's pathetic.

[Oriole85]

Eh, just doesn't mean anything to me. Not really sure why.

Pretty much me as well. I just don't care. We have the best baseball in the world here. If the US wins, it's expected. I feel similarly in basketball. Part of the appeal with the WC is being able to dream.

 

I think it be a bit different if the best players were able to compete and without restrictions. That's what I like about hockey in the Olympics is how much it means to the players as well. I don't get the sense in baseball, it means as much.

 

Baseball just isn't the global game that soccer is.

[Oriole85]

A lot of forgettable names 

 

2006

Position  Uniform  Name  Bats  Throws  Height  Weight  Birthdate  Birthplace  2006 Team
IF  1 Michael Young  R  R  6'1"  190 October 19, 1976 Covina, CA Texas Rangers
IF  2 Derek Jeter  R  R  6'3"  195 June 26, 1974 Pequannock, NJ New York Yankees
OF  3 Ken Griffey Jr.  L  L  6'3"  220 November 21, 1969 Donora, PA Cincinnati Reds
OF  5 Matt Holliday  R  R  6'4"  235 January 15, 1980 Stillwater, OK Colorado Rockies
OF  6 Vernon Wells  R  R  6'1"  225 December 8, 1978 Shreveport, LA Toronto Blue Jays
OF  7 Jeff Francoeur  R  R  6'4"  220 January 8, 1984 Atlanta, GA Atlanta Braves
C  8 Michael Barrett  R  R  6'3"  210 October 22, 1976 Atlanta, GA Chicago Cubs
IF  10 Chipper Jones  S  R  6'4"  210 April 24, 1972 DeLand, FL Atlanta Braves
IF  13 Alex Rodriguez  R  R  6'3"  225 July 27, 1975 New York, NY New York Yankees
OF  18 Johnny Damon  L  L  6'2"  180 November 5, 1973 Fort Riley, KS New York Yankees
P  19 Al Leiter  L  L  6'3"  220 October 23, 1965 Toms River, NJ  retired, last played for New York Yankees
P  20 Huston Street  R  R  6'0"  185 August 2, 1983 Austin, TX Oakland Athletics
OF  21 Randy Winn  S  R  6'2"  195 June 9, 1974 Los Angeles, CA San Francisco Giants
P  22 Roger Clemens  R  R  6'4"  235 August 4, 1962 Dayton, OH Houston Astros
IF  23 Mark Teixeira  S  R  6'3"  220 April 11, 1980 Annapolis, MD Texas Rangers
C  24 Brian Schneider  L  R  6'1"  195 November 26, 1976 Jacksonville, FL Washington Nationals
IF  25 Derrek Lee  R  R  6'5"  245 September 6, 1975 Sacramento, CA Chicago Cubs
IF  26 Chase Utley  L  R  6'1"  185 December 17, 1978 Pasadena, CA Philadelphia Phillies
P  32 Chad Cordero  R  R  6'0"  200 March 18, 1982 Upland, CA Washington Nationals
C  33 Jason Varitek  S  R  6'2"  230 April 11, 1972 Rochester, MI Boston Red Sox
P  35 Dontrelle Willis  L  L  6'4"  240 January 12, 1982 Oakland, CA Florida Marlins
P  36 Joe Nathan  R  R  6'4"  220 November 22, 1974 Houston, TX Minnesota Twins
P  38 Gary Majewski  R  R  6'1"  215 February 26, 1980 Houston, TX Washington Nationals
P  39 Dan Wheeler  R  R  6'3"  220 December 10, 1977 Warwick, RI Houston Astros
P  40 Brian Fuentes  L  L  6'4"  220 August 9, 1975 Merced, CA Colorado Rockies
P  45 Jake Peavy  R  R  6'0"  180 May 31, 1981 Mobile, AL San Diego Padres
P  50 Mike Timlin  R  R  6'4"  210 March 10, 1966 Midland, TX Boston Red Sox
P  54 Brad Lidge  R  R  6'5"  210 December 23, 1976 Sacramento, CA Houston Astros
P  59 Todd Jones  L  R  6'3"  230 April 24, 1968 Marietta, GA Detroit Tigers
P  62 Scot Shields  R  R  6'1"  170 July 22, 1975 Fort Lauderdale, FL Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

 

2009

Position  Uniform  Name  Bats  Throws  Height  Weight  Birthdate  Birthplace  Organization
IF  1 Jimmy Rollins  S  R  5' 8"  175 lb. November 27, 1978 Oakland, CA Philadelphia Phillies
IF  2 Derek Jeter  R  R  6' 3"  195 lb. June 26, 1974 Pequannock, NJ New York Yankees
IF  4 David Wright  R  R  6' 0"  208 lb. December 20, 1982 Norfolk, VA New York Mets
IF  6 Brian Roberts*  B  R  5' 9"  170 lb. October 9, 1977 Durham, NC Baltimore Orioles
IF  7 Mark DeRosa  R  R  6' 1"  205 lb. February 26, 1975 Passaic, NJ Cleveland Indians
IF  10 Chipper Jones*  S  R  6' 4"  210 lb. April 24, 1972 DeLand, FL Atlanta Braves
IF  15 Dustin Pedroia*  R  R  5' 9"  180 lb. August 17, 1983 Woodland, CA Boston Red Sox
C  16 Brian McCann  L  R  6' 3"  230 lb. February 20, 1984 Athens, GA Atlanta Braves
OF  17 Adam Dunn  L  R  6' 6"  275 lb. November 9, 1979 Houston, TX Washington Nationals
OF  18 Ryan Braun  R  R  6' 1"  200 lb. November 17, 1983 Mission Hills, CA Milwaukee Brewers
IF  21 Kevin Youkilis  R  R  6' 1"  220 lb. March 15, 1979 Cincinnati, OH Boston Red Sox
P  22 Jake Peavy  R  R  6' 1"  195 lb. May 31, 1981 Mobile, AL San Diego Padres
P  23 J.J. Putz  R  R  6' 5"  250 lb. February 22, 1977 Trenton, MI New York Mets
C  26 Chris Iannetta  R  R  6' 0"  225 lb. April 8, 1983 Providence, RI Colorado Rockies
OF  28 Curtis Granderson  L  R  6' 1"  185 lb. March 16, 1981 Blue Island, IL Detroit Tigers
P  31 Brad Ziegler  R  R  6' 4"  205 lb. October 10, 1979 Pratt, KS Oakland Athletics
P  33 Ted Lilly  L  L  6' 1"  190 lb. January 4, 1976 Torrance, CA Chicago Cubs
P  34 John Grabow  L  L  6' 2"  205 lb. November 4, 1978 Arcadia, CA Pittsburgh Pirates
P  37 Matt Thornton  L  L  6' 6"  235 lb. September 15, 1976 Three Rivers, MI Chicago White Sox
P  38 Joel Hanrahan  R  R  6' 4"  250 lb. October 6, 1981 Des Moines, IA Washington Nationals
P  39 J.P. Howell  L  L  6' 0"  175 lb. April 25, 1983 Modesto, CA Tampa Bay Rays
P  42 LaTroy Hawkins  R  R  6' 5"  215 lb. December 21, 1972 Gary, IN Houston Astros
P  44 Roy Oswalt  R  R  6' 0"  185 lb. August 29, 1977 Kosciusko, MS Houston Astros
P  46 Jeremy Guthrie  R  R  6' 1"  195 lb. April 8, 1979 Roseburg, OR Baltimore Orioles
OF  50 Shane Victorino  S  R  5' 9"  180 lb. November 30, 1980 Wailuku, HI Philadelphia Phillies
P  51 Jonathan Broxton  R  R  6' 4"  290 lb. June 16, 1984 Augusta, GA Los Angeles Dodgers
P  52 Heath Bell  R  R  6' 3"  240 lb. September 29, 1977 Oceanside, CA San Diego Padres
P  62 Scot Shields  R  R  6' 1"  180 lb. July 22, 1975 Fort Lauderdale, FL Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
IF  Evan Longoria*  R  R  6' 2"  210 lb. October, 1985 Downey, CA Tampa Bay Rays

 

2013

Position  Uniform  Name  Bats  Throws  Height  Weight  Birthdate  Birthplace  Organization

P  41 Jeremy Affeldt  L  L  6' 4"  230 lb. June 6, 1979 Phoenix, AZ San Francisco Giants
P  21 Heath Bell  R  R  6' 3"  240 lb. September 29, 1977 Oceanside, CA Arizona Diamondbacks
P  33 Mitchell Boggs  R  R  6' 4"  215 lb. February 15, 1984 Dalton, GA St. Louis Cardinals
P  40 Steve Cishek  R  R  6' 6"  215 lb. June 18, 1986 Falmouth, MA Miami Marlins
P  Tim Collins  L  L  5' 7"  165 lb. August 21, 1989 Worcester, MA Kansas City Royals
P  Ross Detwiler  R  L  6' 5"  190 lb. March 6, 1986 St. Louis, MO Washington Nationals
P  43 R.A. Dickey  R  R  6' 2"  215 lb. October 29, 1974 Nashville, TN Toronto Blue Jays
P  47 Gio Gonzalez  R  L  6' 0"  200 lb. September 19, 1985 Hialeah, FL Washington Nationals
P  57 Luke Gregerson  L  R  6' 3"  200 lb. May 14, 1984 Park Ridge, IL San Diego Padres
P  26 David Hernandez  R  R  6' 2"  230 lb. May 13, 1985 Sacramento, CA Arizona Diamondbacks
P  45 Derek Holland  B  L  6' 2"  195 lb. October 9, 1986 Newark, OH Texas Rangers
P  46 Craig Kimbrel  R  R  5' 11"  205 lb. May 28, 1988 Huntsville, AL Atlanta Braves
P  15 Glen Perkins  L  L  6' 0"  205 lb. March 2, 1983 St. Paul, MN Minnesota Twins
P  52 Vinnie Pestano  R  R  6' 0"  200 lb. February 20, 1985 Newport Beach, CA Cleveland Indians
P  32 Ryan Vogelsong  R  R  6' 4"  215 lb. July 22, 1977 Charlotte, NC San Francisco Giants
C  J.P. Arencibia  R  R  6' 0"  205 lb. January 5, 1986 Miami, FL Toronto Blue Jays
C  Jonathan Lucroy  R  R  6' 0"  195 lb. June 13, 1986 Eustis, FL Milwaukee Brewers
C  7 Joe Mauer  L  R  6' 5"  230 lb. April 19, 1983 St. Paul, MN Minnesota Twins
IF  Willie Bloomquist  R  R  5' 11"  185 lb. November 27, 1977 Bremerton, WA Arizona Diamondbacks
IF  35 Eric Hosmer  L  L  6' 4"  215 lb. October 24, 1989 South Miami, FL Kansas City Royals
IF  4 Brandon Phillips  R  R  6' 0"  200 lb. June 28, 1981 Raleigh, NC Cincinnati Reds
IF  11 Jimmy Rollins  S  R  5' 8"  175 lb. November 27, 1978 Oakland, CA Philadelphia Phillies
IF  5 David Wright  R  R  6' 0"  208 lb. December 20, 1982 Norfolk, VA New York Mets
IF  12 Ben Zobrist  B  R  6' 3"  210 lb. May 26, 1981 Eureka, IL Tampa Bay Rays
OF  8 Ryan Braun  R  R  6' 1"  200 lb. November 17, 1983 Mission Hills, CA Milwaukee Brewers
OF  10 Adam Jones  B  R  6' 3"  225 lb. August 1, 1985 San Diego, CA Baltimore Orioles
OF  27 Giancarlo Stanton  R  R  6' 5"  245 lb. November 8, 1989 Panorama City, CA Miami Marlins
OF  50 Shane Victorino  S  R  5' 9"  180 lb. November 30, 1980 Wailuku, HI Boston Red Sox

[Oriole85]

I seem to recall especially in the case of pitchers, how in many cases, people don't want their players on the team. For example, if Kevin Gausman was selected to the next WBC and without restrictions, would anyone be in favor of it?

[Pedro Cerrano]

The pitchers on that 2013 team were pathetic.  This is a country that has/had (at the time) Clayton Kershaw, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, CC Sabathia, Jon Lester, Jake Peavy, David Price, Adam Wainwright....well you get the idea.

 

If teams don't want risking their pitchers getting injured at this thing, then it's simply not worth having, IMO.

[NewMarketSean]

Has a pitcher been seriously injured at the WBC yet? I seem to remember someone getting hurt, but can't remember who it was.

 

Baseball is much more of a global sport than it was 20 years ago and it will only continue to grow. The WBC can be a big part of that...and getting the best players to participate goes a long way to helping do that.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Sports on Earth: The exciting future of Cuba's National team

http://www.sportsone...alize-relations

[BSLChrisStoner]

NY Post: Picking USA WBC 2017 Dream Team - If Players Go

http://nypost.com/20...-if-players-go/

[Mike in STL]

NY Post: Picking USA WBC 2017 Dream Team - If Players Go

http://nypost.com/20...-if-players-go/

I might be in the minority here, but I would rather see a team of amateurs make up the U.S. squad. 

 

I love watching the WBC. But the brand of baseball the MLB guys play is no fun if you are trying to win. It makes little sense if you are trying to win to yank Clayton Kershaw after three perfect innings. 

 

So, just go with college players, or teams top prospects who might benefit from more ABs or innings than they are getting at ST. 

[BSLChrisStoner]

Love the concept of the WBC.  Haven't loved the execution, but the games have still been fun.

I want to see the best possible teams.  I'd like to see MLB shut down for 2-3 weeks every 4 years around the All-Star break and do it then...  with rosters large enough that the pro teams aren't worried about over use of their players.

[Mike in STL]

Love the concept of the WBC.  Haven't loved the execution, but the games have still been fun.

I want to see the best possible teams.  I'd like to see MLB shut down for 2-3 weeks every 4 years around the All-Star break and do it then...  with rosters large enough that the pro teams aren't worried about over use of their players.

Similar to the NHL on Olympic years. I'm for it. NBA, NHL have no problem with their players treating these as games that count and going all in.

 

MLB though. If Kershaw blew out his elbow in the thing...If a freak injury bit Bryce Harper...that would be the end of it. Teams are so worried about inning counts, pitch counts, routines, rotations.

 

It's an interesting question. Would you rather see games where Kershaw goes three, the Scherzer goes three, then the bullpens finish. Next day you get a combo of say Price, Greinke. (Let's face it. No one wants to see R.A.Dickey and Ryan Voglesong again). Or would you rather see, say, Hunter Harvey go 6, 7, or more. Treat it like it matters where an injury isn't going to ruin a major leagues teams season.

 

MLB will treat the WBC like an exhibition if they don't use, for lack of better terms, expendable players. (Probably not the right word, but you get my drift).

[Chris B]

Manny Machado will play for the Dominican Republic in WBC 2017 per ESPN Deportes.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Manny Machado will play for the Dominican Republic in WBC 2017 per ESPN Deportes.

 

Hmm. I get honoring your families ancestory....  but I can't help but find it odd when someone who has been born and raised in America, plays for someone outside of the US.

 

The Dominican Republic will be strong as always.

I'll be rooting against Manny next Spring...

[BSLChrisStoner]

MASN: Jones, Machado and Schoop will leave Orioles for WBC
http://www.masnsport...es-for-wbc.html

[NewMarketSean]

Machado playing for the DR is a total douche move, IMO.

Maybe after the election this becomes a little more understandable, but still, he announced this back in April.

The USA has totally underperformed in the WBC so far, I want to see them AT LEAST make the final so I want to see the best players playing for their HOME countries.

I mean this is the freaking country where baseball was invented.

[DJ MC]

Did you have a problem when Mike Piazza played for Italy?

[DJ MC]

Just to expand on that a bit, the best thing for the WBC is to have the best players playing. Especially the ones who actually want to participate.

 

Machado could represent the US, who already would have two other third basemen to possibly choose from in Bryant and Arenado. He starts for the DR team, making them better, allowing one of those two to represent the US, making the event better overall.

[NewMarketSean]

Did you have a problem when Mike Piazza played for Italy?

 

I don't really remember him doing that but yeah, I kinda do. Same thing when Rizzo played for Italy, too. 

 

That said, playing for Italy is different than playing for the DR. 

 

I understand the heritage -- but the DR is loaded with players who were actually born in the country.