[Lefty Noob]

Here it is, the last chance for Team USA. Down 2-1, 9th inning, U.S. hasn't had a hit or a baserunner since the 5th inning. Griffey just struck out. One down. RALLY CAPS! RALLY CAPS!

[Lefty Noob]

Chipper Jones walks. One on, one out, A-Rod up.

[Lefty Noob]

Rodriguez walks. Damon comes in to pinch run. Jones goes to second. Now its up to Vernon Wells...

[Lefty Noob]

Wells hits into a double play. Mexico wins, and the U.S. is eliminated. Damn.

[MVB]

Now everyone gets to go back to spring training where they belong!

[EmpireWF]

I'm trying to figure out how the American line-up could only score 1 run off Mexico.

[MVB]

Well, the US players JUST started playing.... The Mexicans are already half-way through their regular season. The Mexicans were ready and on fire... The USA team should still be in spring training....

[xdavidwattsx]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Wells hits into a double play. Mexico wins, and the U.S. is eliminated. Damn.

I'm really happy they lost. Seriously.

A) It kills ratings for the WBC which hopefully kills the WBC
B) Players belong in spring training

[Wizard of Os]

A moment of silence, please, for dearly departed Team USA.

( )

Okay, now you can scream.

Let's have no more excuses, no more confusion and please no more about how the players should be at spring training. (Why? So Ken Griffey Jr. can contribute one at-bat against some single-A dude the Brewers want a look at?)

Hopefully, the USA's sports fans can shed some americocentrism and ratings will not die. Hopefully, American baseball fans can still appreciate great baseball. Hopefully, American baseball fans will pay some homage to some fantastic squads. And anybody who would miss for, say the Hawks-Pistons game, should rethink priorities.

A final with the multitalented Dominican guys against the red-hot Koreans will make for a brilliant do-or-die game, i'm sure.

This is an excellent idea with an outstanding level of international competition, so please don't allow yourself to be spoiled with American international sporting success and watch. It will be, i'm sure, baseball at its most beautiful.

Cheers.

[xdavidwattsx]

There won't be anyone watching this thing but the baseball die hards. Don't kid yourself, American egos are immeasurable. Nobody cares about the Dominicans, South Koreans, Cubans, etc.

Besides, I've been anti WBC since before it started. Death to Selig and the WBC.

[Lefty Noob]

Well, I'm not going to stop watching it. It is INFINITELY more exciting than spring training ball. I too would like to see a Dominican - Korea finals. Man, would that ever be an intense game. Long live the WBC!

[legend]

I think the WBC is a great idea, just needs some tweaking. Now, let's get to figuring out where we lost this game. First, Clemens should not have gone out for his last inning. Second, why would you pitch to Cantu with a base open and Vinny Castilla on deck early in the game. Michael Young tries to bunt a ball in the dirt but lets a fastball down the middle go without offering at it and the guy gets picked off second! But did anyone notice the last inning move by Buck Martinez? He has Chipper Jones on second as the tying run, and A-Rod on first. And incredibly, he pinch runs Johnny Damon for A-Rod. That had to be one of the dumbest things I have ever seen.You put the faster man behind the slower man? A-Rod is a great baserunner and is alot faster than Chipper Jones. But, as the announcers said, Buck was in a no-win situation. If the US won, they were supposed to-if they lost, it was the manager's fault. A thankless job, but he made some big mistakes.

[ThePundit]

Now, that the USA is out, does anyone really care? This is why if you get a key player hurt, it stings a lot harder than if he got hurt playing for your team - a la Johnny Damon.

[Wizard of Os]

Cheers Mr. Watts (and everyone),

Yes, i remember you were not among the WBC faithful from the go. For me, it's unfortunate not only that Team USA got bounced but that the yanks just won't go for an international competition like the Rugby, Cricket and Soccer World Cups; in these fan interest is mostly maintained in, say, Italy when Italia is eliminated from Cup contention. BBC TV sports doesn't take too much of a hit when the rugby final comes down to the All-Blacks and the second finest team in the world that year, be they British or no.

As for "death to the WBC and Selig!" Well, i agree with you 100% on 50% of that...

[EmpireWF]

The WBC has been a pretty nice success safe for a few rules here and there that will be ironed out and fixed once the next Classic rolls around.

People will watch a Championship game that features the Dominican or Cuba. The DR because they're loaded with superstars who the nation love. Cuba because they are the World Baseball Champs from the previous olympics...can anyone beat them?