[Lefty Noob]

Good start for Team USA yesterday. Our guys beat the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game, 12-7. Chase Utley went 5-for-5 with a 2-run dinger, and Chipper Jones also hit a 2-run homer in the contest. The Rocket looked sharp, too. Clemens tossed a pair of scoreless innings. But Al Leiter... man, he surrendered four runs in the third. Was he really the best we could get to replace Sabathia?

Tomorrow, Team USA takes the field for real, hosting Mexico at Chase Field in Phoenix. Jake Peavy gets the start for the U.S. and will face Rodrigo Lopez. The game starts at 4:00pm EST / 2:00pm local time and will be televised on both ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Predictions?

[ThePundit]

Todd Jones was just on the radio here in NY and said how the USA is going approach who pitches. A pool of 5 will be used today. A different pool of 5 will be used for the next game and so on through the 1st 2 rounds.

Should the USA make the finals, the best pitchers will pitch.

According to Jones, the following will pitch today:

Jake Peavy
Todd Jones
Joe Nathan
Mike Timlin
Brad Lidge

( I think these are the ones he said...I'm writing this by memory so I might be off on one). Should be interesting. Game is on 4PM EST today on ESPN2.

[Lefty Noob]

That's a good approach - switch it up, keep everyone fresh. I like it. Plus, I like that lineup against the Mexican bats.

On a side note, I read where they're expecting at least 30,000 fans from south of the border to be there, ready and raring to go. So much for this being a "home" game!

[Lefty Noob]

Nice 2-0 win today. Home runs by Derrek Lee and Chipper Jones. Peavy, Timlin, Cordero, Dan Wheeler, Jones, Nathan and Lidge combined for a 4-hit shutout. No Mexican batters made it past first base, and the game was over in about 2 hours. Awesome.

I love what Peavy said after the game: "I've never had a better feeling in my life... It was the coolest thing I have ever done."

Next up for the U.S. is Team Canada, tomorrow a 4:00pm EST. I believe Dontrelle Willis gets the nod tomorrow with - get this - the Rocket going Friday against South Africa. Poor South Africa.

[ThePundit]

I have to admit, the atmosphere of the game was more exciting than I thought it woud be. Very workmanlike win today for the US.

[EmpireWF]

I've been very surprised and amazed at the atmosphere of the games I've seen today. Like Pundit, it's more exciting then I ever thought it would be. And to think, it's only going to get better.

[pete_b]

I have heard that this is the worst time for the WBC. But after seeing the attitude that the players have about the WBC I am beginning to think that this is actually better than spring training. I think its a refreshing way to gear up for a long grueling season. Plus its a great way to see some different pitching and get out of the same old fast ball, slider, fast ball, curve ball, fast ball rut.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Good start for Team USA yesterday. Our guys beat the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game, 12-7. Chase Utley went 5-for-5 with a 2-run dinger, and Chipper Jones also hit a 2-run homer in the contest. The Rocket looked sharp, too. Clemens tossed a pair of scoreless innings. But Al Leiter... man, he surrendered four runs in the third. Was he really the best we could get to replace Sabathia?

Tomorrow, Team USA takes the field for real, hosting Mexico at Chase Field in Phoenix. Jake Peavy gets the start for the U.S. and will face Rodrigo Lopez. The game starts at 4:00pm EST / 2:00pm local time and will be televised on both ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Predictions?

That's it Lefty, you keep us informed now man...I hereby dub you "Captain America" just for the series ...There you go my man...just for this series you have "Super Hero" status...do a good job and who knows...the sky is the limit...thanks for the update man... ...okay boys and girls...show the Captain his due respect on this post...he cap be addressed as Captain ...or Sir...or Mr. Captain Sir...or any combo befitting a superhero trying to serve the American way with his updates...and the watch continues. ...carry on Captain...Sir...

[Lefty Noob]

I'm definitely drinking the same Kool Aid that Pundit, Empire and pete_b are. The WBC has been a blast so far, and as good as it was to see Team USA get the job done against Mexico, that Dominican Republic - Venezuela game was just unreal!

Of course, this isn't the place to talking about that. This - Dominican v. Venezuela Thread - is.

So back to Team USA. What does everyone expect out of Canada? The Canadians beat South Africa 11-8 yesterday in a game that was way closer than it should've been. Anyone know who they'll be trotting out to the mound for today's game?

[Lefty Noob]

Come on, everybody. Canada 8, USA 6 in the 7th.

Put on your rally caps! Put on your rally caps! We can't afford to lose this one!

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Come on, everybody. Canada 8, USA 6 in the 7th.

Put on your rally caps! Put on your rally caps! We can't afford to lose this one!

Got my rally cap on Captain... I am with you on this...It goes on inside out right?...just don't want to jink them man...keep us updated

[Lefty Noob]

We lost, 8-6. Damn. Down 8-0, Varitek hits a 450-foot grand slam as part of a six-run 5th inning, but we don't pick up the slack. Utley gave one a ride in the 8th - would've been a three run shot, but it was caught. Now, inconceivably, the South Africa game on Friday is a must win. We lose that one and that's all she wrote for the Americans. I, for one, am just in shock.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

We lost, 8-6. Damn. Down 8-0, Varitek hits a 450-foot grand slam as part of a six-run 5th inning, but we don't pick up the slack. Utley gave one a ride in the 8th - would've been a three run shot, but it was caught. Now, inconceivably, the South Africa game on Friday is a must win. We lose that one and that's all she wrote for the Americans. I, for one, am just in shock.

...Hmmm...maybe I did not get my rally cap on in time?...Thanks for the recap

[ThePundit]

As Emily Latella (SNL character the late Gilda Radner used to play) used to say: "It just goes to show you..." (I bet Gotham remembers that)

...anything can happen in one game. Especially when you get a crummy pitching performance like the USA got from Willis today.

USA should beat South Africa but who knows? Maybe Clemens at 43 serves up a couple of batting practice pitches like he did to his son (forgot his name, something with a K). Then the US starts to grip their bats a little tighter and then before you know it, we here at GoTeamsGo start a new thread on "What's wrong with USA Baseball?"

[EmpireWF]

On ESPNews, they said to watch the Canada v. Mexico game to see what the point differential will be because it will affect the USA. Don't fully understand that but USA can't lose to South Africa...can they?