World Baseball Classic

windeguy · #1 11-18-2008, 09:08 AM

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Looks like the DR has a very good chance this year.

Kyle · #2 11-19-2008, 11:31 AM

they had a good chance in 2006. they need pitching not all these hitters. how did Sammy "Steroid" Sosa get on the team

SKY · #3 11-19-2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle

they had a good chance in 2006. they need pitching not all these hitters. how did Sammy "Steroid" Sosa get on the team

Who said that Sosa was on the team, other than him. I doubt he can make the team.

Kyle · #4 11-20-2008, 07:30 AM

Though he’s not signed with a pro baseball team, Sammy Sosa says he wants to retire after wearing a jersey from a club outside the Major Leagues. Sosa has announced that he’ll end his stellar career after representing his native Dominican Republic in the 16-nation World Baseball Classic, beginning in March 2009. Formerly a Chicago Cubs star, Sosa hit his 600th home run last season while playing against Chicago for the Texas Rangers. He remains a free agent, but says he wants to experience the pride of playing for his native country before ending his career.

MLB.com

SKY · #5 11-20-2008, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle

Though he’s not signed with a pro baseball team, Sammy Sosa says he wants to retire after wearing a jersey from a club outside the Major Leagues. Sosa has announced that he’ll end his stellar career after representing his native Dominican Republic in the 16-nation World Baseball Classic, beginning in March 2009. Formerly a Chicago Cubs star, Sosa hit his 600th home run last season while playing against Chicago for the Texas Rangers. He remains a free agent, but says he wants to experience the pride of playing for his native country before ending his career.

MLB.com

Like I said in my post. Sosa says he will play, I have not heard any official with the DR baseball comment on this. At this time there is no roster, so no one really knows who will play. On his current merits he has no chance, but anything is possible.

Mr. Lu · #6 11-20-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKY

Who said that Sosa was on the team, other than him. I doubt he can make the team.

Sosa can't make this team. It will be packed with stars. Manny, Papi and Vlad said they all want to play and are looking for redemption after what happened last time around. Sammy could play, if they give him a pity spot, but I doubt that. His last season was pretty good for a man at the tail end of his career, but I think he should just go out with the little pride he has left.

He can now go back to kissing up to the elite of Dominican high class and getting laughed at by them. For all the money he has they still consider him an outsider ball player who used to shine shoes. No hair product can rid him of that "pelo malo."

Mr. Lu

Kyle · #7 11-21-2008, 07:12 AM

At this time there is no roster, so no one really knows who will play.

it seems we are talking apples and oranges here. you're right Sammy said he will play but he's not tied to any MLB team and the final word is left up to the DR baseball team. but why wouldn't he play ? he's healthier than say, "Big Sloppy"

he runs better than Vlad and can't be any worse than any other player on the team. check last year's DR teams stats. wasn't very pretty...

all MLB players in the Classic must get permission from MLB to play.

SKY · #8 11-21-2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle

At this time there is no roster, so no one really knows who will play.

it seems we are talking apples and oranges here. you're right Sammy said he will play but he's not tied to any MLB team and the final word is left up to the DR baseball team. but why wouldn't he play ? he's healthier than say, "Big Sloppy"

he runs better than Vlad and can't be any worse than any other player on the team. check last year's DR teams stats. wasn't very pretty...

all MLB players in the Classic must get permission from MLB to play.

No team in the ML wanted him, he is over the hill. If he was as good as Ortiz or Vlad he would have have a contract with a ML team.

Kyle · #9 11-21-2008, 11:23 AM

i don't think it's about good, it's about the steroids and cork bat...he's following in the footsteps of Jose, Mark, Barry, etc.
black-balled for life.....

Mr. Lu · #10 11-21-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle

i don't think it's about good, it's about the steroids and cork bat...he's following in the footsteps of Jose, Mark, Barry, etc.
black-balled for life.....

He hasn't been blackballed, he's just old. He's closing on forty I believe, so his age is a liability, especially at his price tag. He can't produce at the plate any more and his arm (though he never really had one) is shot. He can't run anymore and isn't the best locker room presence.

As for the comparison to "Papi" and Vlad. Vlad can hit that ball still and has a rocket launcher for an arm. And Papi has been hurt, but is always among the league leaders in doubles and runs well for his size.

This year's team will be STACKED, but not matter how much talent cohesion will be the true determinant. I mean look at the 2004 and 2008 USA Men's Olympic Team. Both had tremendous talent, but the 2008 squad came for revenge and basically embarrassed the competition. Though I surmise the WBC will be further proof that the US no longer dominates baseball, a strong showing by Japan or Korea could prove that Asia will be the next hotbed for baseball talent.

At least Americans still have American Football.....

Mr. Lu