Red Sox Pick up OPB Machine - Ready for 06 World Series

[Ming]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
Sava, Ming, I thought you guys were Cubs fans. Real fans don't switch sides.

I'm a Chicago baseball fan, but I do love the Cubs far more and wish they could also win a World Series. But I started watching baseball LONG before inter league play, so rooting for both teams was never really a problem... I used to go to more Sox games than many people who "claimed" they were Sox fans

I follow both teams and watch as many games as possible live or on TV. If the two teams are playing each other, I will root for the Cubs.

I'm just happy that one of the Chicago teams has a won a World Series in my lifetime... I was starting to get worried that it wouldn't happen

[Lawrence of Arabia]

uh huh.

[Drake Tungsten]

Why are we talking about Major League Baseball when the World Baseball Classic is only a month away? I'm really excited about that, despite my best attempts not to be...

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think it'd be great if one of the smaller countries ended up whupping on the big boys and taking it. Though I guess the Cuba/Dominican Republic/USA/Japan fight will be pretty damned interesting.

[Drake Tungsten]

Puerto Rico should be tough. Venezuela as well.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It'd be great if China or Italy made some noise in the tourney!

I didn't realize the WBC was that big, though! 16 squads, though the US was obviously favored in picking the round robin groups .

Though it sucks that there are mandatory pitch counts because it is before spring training and MLB teams are scared .

[Drake Tungsten]

I didn't realize the WBC was that big, though! 16 squads, though the US was obviously favored in picking the round robin groups

Actually, I think Japan drew the easiest group. China is a joke and Taiwan & South Korea aren't much better.

Though it sucks that there are mandatory pitch counts because it is before spring training and MLB teams are scared

Agreed.

[Drake Tungsten]

What the hell is Japan thinking?!

http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t843

Ichiro is the only big name player? Matsui won't play? Most of the current and former Japanese MLB players are also not on the roster? Maybe they will be upset by China...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

I didn't realize the WBC was that big, though! 16 squads, though the US was obviously favored in picking the round robin groups

Actually, I think Japan drew the easiest group. China is a joke and Taiwan & South Korea aren't much better.

I think Korea is better than Mexico (but it's close). Not sure how good Canada is, but South Africa sounds horrible!

[Drake Tungsten]

South Africa will be horrible. Canada doesn't seem to have many studs, but they have some solid talent across the board. I don't know much about Mexico, so they could be worse than Korea. I didn't know Korea had 8 major-leaguers on the team until just now, so they went up in my book. Should have a chance to upset a disappointing Japanese team.

[Berzerker]

damn, I gotta pay more attention to all the winter deals

WSox got Javy? Yikes, they might have even better pitching. When he gets hot he throws vapor trails. This should be his first year with a good team, Montreal and Arizona dont exactly light up the basepath.

I heard about Damon to NYY, ouch. Isnt that treasonous? Who did Boston get for him?

[Drake Tungsten]

I've considered Damon a traitor ever since he left the Royals.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Damon was a UFA. He's always been a mercenary, so it was kind of funny to hear Boston yell and scream about him being a 'traitor', since that's how they got him from Oakland.

WSox got Javy? Yikes, they might have even better pitching. When he gets hot he throws vapor trails. This should be his first year with a good team, Montreal and Arizona dont exactly light up the basepath.

Did you forget that year with the Yankees? It wasn't pretty. In fact, I don't think that was a good movie by the White Sox at all.

[Arrian]

Javy's GARBAGE. Well, actually, he's not total garbage. He eats innings, in a mediocre way. As a 5th starter, hey, it's not bad. If you actually have to count on him in any way, though, I feel for ya. Who knows, though? Baseball's a funny game. Jose Contreras suddenly turned into Walter Johnson, so why can't Javy? It's unlikely, sure, but you never know...

One the WBC: piece of ****. I don't give a flying ****. Actually, no, wait, that's not true. I don't want any of the players to get hurt (any, but obviously especially the Yanks players). The pitch counts are actually too high - this is BEFORE spring training. There is a reason pitchers start really slow and ramp things up. Thank goodness most of the Yanks pulled out. Jeter, Damon and Arod are all still in AFAIK... if any of them get hurt I'm gonna be pissed.

I understand what they're trying to do with the WBC. I just happen to care much, much, much more about the championship season.

Also, I think the WBC, if it's to be held at all, should've been held directly following the World Series.

-Arrian

[Lawrence of Arabia]

WBC could be interesting, but only if they held it during the all star break once every four years, and if they eliminated a certain number of games that season. (give them like two weeks off to play WBC)