Final thoughts on WBC

[wessa]

So Japan just won the World Baseball Classic. Here are my final thoughts on the classic. I guess it was ok. A little better than expected. But they definately need to improve the thing. I mean, if you think about it, Japan beat China, Chinese Tapei, Mexico, Korea (who beat Japan twice!!!) and Cuba. Is it fair to call them the champions? I mean the really high quality teams are USA, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Puerto Rico and Japan did not beat one of those teams. They are better off getting rid of a bunch of teams and having more games where the top teams play each other.

I do think Japan is a good team. I probably would have said this about any team who won.

[ThriftWhore]

I think, as everything in it's beginning stages, it was a little shaky. I feel that the umpiring was obviously favored towards USA. Without a doubt the United States got the best draw of any team and had the easiest schedule, and they had a big letdown not even getting to the semi's. Of course the timing of the event was way off, and it showed. The players in the carribean leagues(all the carribean teams in the classic), cuban leagues, and both of korea and japans leagues(not sure if it's just one over there or not) were all playing recently, so they were fresh while the US was rusty and you could tell. It could be put at the end of the season, But as is everything, there is room for improvement. I think in four years it could be even bigger, because damn everybody in the world can play baseball(minus S. Africa, and now they can develop for 4 years) and it could be huge.

[marrost]

I like the way Japan plays.

[bigmike]

i think it's a farce and nothing more than internation spring training.

[mikeford]

rules need revising. no more of this pitch count, slaughter rule and world cup of soccer bullshit.

everybody should play everybody else once and then they seed the top 8 teams and go tourney style.

[Brownpants06]

I thought it was boring. But I'm not a fan of baseball to begin with. Having it in march was a bad idea.

[wessa]

i do not understand how after the first round they took the top two teams from each division but then had the same teams play each other. For example, the US and Mexico were the top two in their division, and Korea and Japan were the top in their division. Yet in the next round, they were all in the same group. Why is Japan playing Korea again? Why is US playing mexico again?

Also, next time we must keep dontrelle willis off of the team

[mat1419]

plenty of things need revamping, but the international teams played top notch baseball, and if we could move this to right after the world series when everyone is used to playing, it could be a great thing.

[Emopunkthrice]

I just glad USA didn't go the semis.

[I am all talk]

plenty of things need revamping, but the international teams played top notch baseball, and if we could move this to right after the world series when everyone is used to playing, it could be a great thing.

The timing wasn't great but after the wolrd series would be worse. There are too many things for the winning team to be focused with (parades, interviews) and plus if you were just in a 7 game world series the last thing you want to do is play baseball. Plus all of the fans and players are exahusted. If they could have somehow played a little more coming in I think this is the best possible time. I think it got america excited for baseball again.

[Adeniz19]

i think the WBC is a good idea i just don't like the idea that the teams play each other only once. Baseball is made to be played in series. at least make it best out of 3 or something to advance. also instead of 4 brackets maybe they should of only did 2. i don't think it's right that a team like japan advances when their record was only 1-2 in the second round.

[Adeniz19]

yea if it was after the world series i don't think people would be as interested. i think its good that it's before the season to get fans excited about the season coming up. The MLB players just need to take this thing more seriously and not just look at it as a spring training type thing. they need to condition for it months before.

[bigmike]

i wouldn't have a problem with them taking 2 weeks in the middle of the season, and playing this instead of the all-star break. honestly, the all star break is ridiculous in baseball. and it wouldn't kill the season to drop a few games every once in a while for this. as long as this doesn't become an every year type thing, it'd be decent. if it was held every year it's lose it's luster, quick.

[mikeford]

if hockey can stop for 2 weeks to play the olympics, so can baseball.

[bigmike]

if hockey can stop for 2 weeks to play the olympics, so can baseball.
bingo.

[SoundTheAlarm]

If any saw the first and 10 today when woody had rules and changes i think all those would make the game better. I cant find the list.

[afterschoolnj12]

I didn't watch one game.

Maybe if Philly had a good team I'd pay attention to baseball a bit more.. but I'll watch the majors once they start up. I just couldn't get into the WBC.