We take a break from the Hot Stove Coverage to take a look at the other huge story this offseason around the MLB. Where else are you going to get WBC '09 coverage on a snappy/witty blog with three out of four writers striking (48 straight days since a Jon/Andrew/Brandon post at this point). John Lackey announced last night that he would be one of the hurlers going for team USA in the WBC this time around, and he'll be rocking the Red/White/Blue starting on March 7 against the Canadians at Andrew's Rogers Centre.
After the US played a rough WBC in 2006, finishing 3-3 while watching the Japanese win the tournament, Lackey and his 12-5/3.75 numbers from 2008 will try and bolster our country to the finals in at Dodger Stadium on March 23. Commenting on the decision, Lackey said, "I'm real pumped about it. It's going to be real good." The positive aspect for the Angels is that Lackey has already started to get into baseball shape so that he can be ready for the March 7 opener if called upon. Too bad for Lack, he'll have to team up with Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Jon Lester for the US. Garbage. I wonder how Lack and Lester will get along in the clubhouse. Probably fine, because fans like me are the only ones who remember past games and hate guys so much. Right?
The Americans are locked into "Pool C", which opens up with six games (double elimination) north of the boarder in Toronto. The pool includes us, Canada, Italy, and (gulp) Venezuela. Maybe it sounds worse than it is going to be, but the Canadians are out to surprise again. Last classic, the Canadians were in Pool C (which featured the Canucks, the Americans, Mexico, and South Africa). America's hat beat South Africa, and the followed that up with a huge upset against the United States. However, a loss to Mexico left Canada as the odd team out in a three way tie. Matt Stairs is angry about it, and ready to come back and represent for Canada again, "It will probably be a holiday in Canada," Stairs said referring to this season's second chance starting against the US on March 7. I'm most worried about Venezuela being in our pool, with Italy being the real outsider. So, with just two spots advancing, it is going to be a knock down drag out in the first round of play for Pool C.
The other pools look like, A: China/Chinese Taipei/Japan/Korea, B: Australia/ Cuba/Mexico/South Africa, and D: Dominican/Netherlands/Panama/Puerto Rico. With the pool winners and the pool runner ups jumping into round 2, I'm going to throw out my predictions all the way through the WBC. Advancing from Pool A, I have China and Japan, while my Pool B picks are Australia and Cuba. Pool C, I'm calling the US and Venezuela, and Pool D is going to be a fun battle seeing the Dominican (without Vlad, by the way) and Puerto Rico (?) getting through. The double elimination of the second round breaks down into Pool 1 (China, Japan, Aussies, and Cuba) and Pool 2 (US, Venezuela, Dominican, and Puerto). From Pool 1, I'm taking Japan and a surprise Aussie club, and I'm grabbing the Dominican and the US from Pool 2 just to be proud of my home country. The semi-finals become a single elimination battle with my predictions seeing the Dominican taking on Australia and the US taking on Japan. I know this may sound crazy, but I'm putting the DR and the US in the final championship game at Dodger Stadium on March 23. DR vs. US. Hm. I know who would win that one, but I'm going to be a patriotic stud and pick our half-cool/half-douche squad for their first WBC title. A semifinal battle against Japan would define this country's baseball abilities, and I would call in sick to watch it if I had to. But, a WBC title on Lackey's resume would be pretty cool, eh?
I don't know if this point has come across or not, but I like the WBC. I'm not sure how many people reading this blog (0) are against the WBC (which, would also be 0 based on readership), but I wouldn't know why you would be against it. I have always wanted baseball to become like European soccer in its excitement and supportership (word?), and I think the every three years WBC really takes the sport in a step in the right direction. Now, if only I could figure out how to get people singing my made up songs at the Halo games:
Sung to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman":
"Kurt Suzuki,
Is a slant eyed catching bitch.
And the rest of the A's are mighty gay,
'Cause their pitchers cannot pitch."
Sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells":
"Chone Figgins, Chone Figgins,
Dear God, get a hit.
Although a shitty lead off man,
We love your 3 bag mit."
Sung to the tune of "Jingle Bell Rock":
"Vladdy G, Vladdy G, swing at that pitch.
Who cares if it is ball 4?
Just hit jacks, and make yourself rich,
Who could ask for more?
Torii Hunter, Torii Hunter, brings back sure-thing jacks.
Drives a Bentley, swings bats gently,
Big Game Hunter always gives his max.
Howie K, Erick A, double play dudes,
Robbie Q's on the bench.
Scioscia and Guillen had a couple of feuds,
Kendry's causing a stench."
Sorry about the Christmas themed songs, but this is the consequence of the time of year.
I'm done.
0 comments:
Post a Comment