I hope Venezuela wins to prevent the specter of Kash Patel celebrating in the US locker room like a drunken frat boy.
Some excellent games, particularly the semifinals. Rather surprised at who is still standing- with all the great DR and Japanese stars in MLB, seems ti me that at least one of them should be in the final.
Am I the only one who sees PUR in the results and wonders “what is Purdue doing there?”
Venezuela has a really talented team. 9 of the 13 position players have been on All-Star rosters, with 29 appearances total. Of the other four, three have won the Gold Glove.
The pitching is a little thinner, but with what is essentially a bullpen game, Team USA faces a very tough opponent.
Going forward, I’d like to see the WBC restructured. The Pool rounds would still take place during spring training. In the WBC year, the all-star game would be replaced by the Quarters, Semis and Final. That would mean the teams in the final would only need to play three times mid-season and the whole thing could be done in a week.
The combined salary of the USA players is $383 million. Venezuela has the third highest at $191 million. It’s insane that neither team comes close to the Dodgers.
I suspect that for most U.S. fans, the best thing about the WBC is when their teams’ players don’t sustain injuries that cost them a large chunk of the season (like Jose Altuve) or an entire season (Edwin Diaz).
The only good thing I can say about the the tournament is that it’s a bit more of an actual competition than what the All-Star game has devolved into.
I guess it would be too much to ask for the U.S. team to actually go out on the field and congratulate the winners.
In keeping with the current mindset in our government, they should just claim that the game was rigged.
Good, good outcomes. It’s good to spread the trophy around as many teams as possible. And now it’s 4. Japan with three titles, and USA, Dominican and Venezuela each with one.
I saw a number of US players go on the field to congratulate the Venezuelan team after the initial celebration died down. It would be really weird for the whole team to do so - let the winners celebrate.
Won’t they be invited to the White House?
no, Trump stated he wants Venezuela to be 51st state so he can welcome them
Aren’t we up to 53 now?
After his appeal, Jurickson Profar’s PED suspension has been extended to a full 162 game season. This also makes him ineligible for the 2026 playoffs, should Atlanta reach the postseason.
ETA: This also means that he will forfeit the $15 million he was owed this season.
Oops.
Goood. That guy was always a cocky jerk.
Long time Mets announcer Howie Rose has announced his retirement after this season. He will only be doing home games this year. That’s not my team but I’ve always liked him as an announcer.
and now Guardian pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are being investigated for betting on individual PITCHES, not games. People will bet on anything!
Yeah, that’s been the allegation from the very beginning. You should go back and watch the pitches in question - first pitch of the game, and it’s 3 feet off the plate.
The Phillies have signed LHP Cristopher Sanchez to a 6-year extension. Contract details haven’t yet been released.
ETA: Cubs OF Seiya Suzuki will miss the season opener due to a mild knee ligament strain suffered during the WBC.
A minor trade but a good one for the Yankees I think. They had no room for Vivas and he’s out of options. For him they get a pitcher with some potential. Better than waiving him and getting nothing.