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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

BASEBALL

America announces WBC interest list

Sports Jan. 10, 2009 - 01:04PM JST ( 4 )

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4 Comments

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pathatJan. 10, 2009 - 11:23PM JST

The provisional roster for the U.S. team is pretty impressive. Now let's continue to improve it and have the players show up for training in shape and win the title. There will be no more lucky breaks for Japan. All the other countries, and not just the U.S., will be ready to play this time, and Japan won't get any gifts this time to get out of the second round, let alone win the WBC.
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unklesamJan. 13, 2009 - 05:01PM JST

"In the inaugural Classic in 2006, the U.S. team loaded with All-Stars failed to reach the semifinals"

Yes but so did many other teams that were "loaded" with pro's and all-stars. This is exactly the problem with the WBC tournement. Players with pro contracts have little incentive to go out and risk injury during spring training like conditions. And as long as the format remains this way, the US team will suffer. Its best for team America to send s large group of college kids or minor leaguers... let those players go out and try to showcase their talents, and maybe get noticed enough to land an MLB contract. Thats exactly what the succesful teams at the first WBC did. Just check the rosters of Japan, Cuba, Korea... the teams that went all out were obviously doing so for pro contracts ! No mystery here.

"Japan beat Cuba for the title."

Japan also lost to the USA and Korea ... twice ! Lets hope the organizers of this event re-tool the format to single elimination. Japan should have been sent home early.
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Hotbox08Jan. 13, 2009 - 05:30PM JST

I'm really looking forward to this tournament. I just hope they get some competent umpires this time, that won't be budged by some Dead Presidents.
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Hotbox08Jan. 13, 2009 - 05:47PM JST

Lets hope the organizers of this event re-tool the format to single elimination.

There's an even better solution to that: Pool all teams into one single pool and let them play each other at least once. So, if there are 16 teams, they each play 15 games. The best overall record wins. If there is a tie, base it on best RSF vs. RSA ratio. That would be absolutely fair. End of story.