caulfield12

He couldn't predict that the chemistry would be so terrible...to the point where half the team had to be cast aside. And Soto/Lindor still don't mesh well together at all. And now Lindor also lost Edwin Diaz. Both stars want to lead...but Lindor was already the man for that franchise. Having watched the closeness of all those national WBC teams in recent days...it could just be personality conflicts, it also could be based on PR vs. DR and not being from the same "tribe." Remember all the White Sox personality conflicts between the Cubans, other Latin players like Jimenez, and TA was by himself pretty much...vis a vis some of the white players on those 2022-23 teams (Graveman/Kelly/Steak & Potatoes) and then Kimbrel was on an island by himself too???

Shay Whitcomb and Jahmai Jones are two examples there...along with Stuart Fairchild. Having watched all of the Asian pool games pretty closely, the biggest difference was on the pitching front. The Asian teams had very few dynamic arms coming out of the bullpen. Japan, for example, used Itoh in relief and had Sugano on their roster as well. Ohtani Imai Sasaki Imanaga Senga and Darvish were all unavailable...and that made all the difference pitching to Wilyer Abreu and with a 5-2 lead when Yamamoto was removed after 4. Compare to the US team that had Jeff Hoffman still in reserve at game's end on Sunday night...even Speier or Joe Ryan were better options than anyone Japan had. I think the Japanese manager deferred to his veterans too much...Kondoh over Sato, and leaving one of the best young fireballing closers in the NPB off the final roster.

https://www.forbes.com/mlb-valuations/list/#tab:overall 2019 the Sox were 16th at $2 billion (Forbes). Right behind were the Padres #17 at $1.95. The Sox have somehow gone backwards during this time period when the S&P was growing like gangbusters. Now, SD is all the way up to #10 and $3.1 billion...and expected to soon fetch $3.2-3.5 billion when the team is sold to one of five (one "hidden" bid) bidders in the next month or so. What's really incredible is finishing behind two teams housed in minor league facilities in TB and Sacramento. Or finishing behind the Twins Royals and Guardians. Ofc all three have had playoff teams as late as 2023 or since, but it's almost inexplicable for Chicago to be so far behind three small/er market cities.

Sorry misreading that as Miami of OH. Winner: St. Louis It’s hard to think of another first- and second-round host city that got a better draw. Ticket prices in St. Louis could be the highest of any first weekend site. Not only is St. Louis hosting Missouri for at least one game and is just a four-hour drive away from Indianapolis and all its Purdue fans, but both Iowa State and Kentucky are playing in the city. Iowa State fans routinely flood Kansas City for the Big 12 tournament and will assuredly be in St. Louis in large numbers. Kentucky fans also always travel well, and Lexington is just five hours away and Louisville is less than four. espn.com Illinois also got screwed having to rely on Duke fans in SC to cheer against UNC...but thankfully no Caleb Wilson.

You always cheer for your "first country" over your secondary ones unless you don't have an opportunity to play for Team USA. Then all bets are off. Have a sneaking suspicion that Venezuela and USA are fated to meet right now. Ofc Team Italy has been written off since the very beginning, so it's somehow perfect that a guy in Michael Lorenzen who became one of the first FA pitchers to sign with Colorado in years now is pitching with Italy's fate on the line. https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/world-baseball-classic-news-roman-anthony-details-unbelievable-experience-joining-team-usa

Why wouldn't you prefer Cal Raleigh hitting late lhb vs rhp if there wasn't another reason to keep W.Smith in? He has faster pop times as well...but Miller takes way too long to deliver ball to throw out Rodriguez anyway. Also RH starter in Severino. Manager Mark DeRosa has opted to shake things up, removing catcher Cal Raleigh and third baseman Alex Bregman from the starting lineup. (Also started playing PCA over Buxton.)

Big reason Smith was in late over Raleigh.

ABS ABS ABS no longer about brakes Granted don't like Tatis getting a hit there against his teammate, but dramatic ending the game deserved.

Pitch was clearly low on GameDay...would have been Tatis first and third.

The World Baseball Classic semifinal between Italy and Venezuela on Monday night will feature starting pitchers Michael Lorenzen (Rockies) for Italy and Keider Montero (Tigers) for Venezuela...

one more inning to get to Mason Miller turned into a dominant relief pitching and defensive battle in this one... Dominguez on against heart of order whitlock or hoffman for bot 8?

how is this game not great for the sport of baseball? Ofc Julio Rodriguez was fortunate there not to have a broken wrist on the hbp from Skenes. Tatis absolutely flying down the 1B line there...should have been on third, though. Great play by Henderson, too. Just couldn't make an accurate throw. Witt Jr. can play a little ball.

Well, it all depends on how long Fedde lasts. Are they playing to win in 2026, or more concerned with protecting their prospects? I think everyone knows the answer. They'll probably go to Cannon or Sandlin. Even if Schultz actually was 100% ready...you still don't sacrifice a year of control of a potential ToR starter ... not for a franchise that historically never goes for Tier 1 FA pitchers.

Thank god Junior Caminero was traded by the Guardians...

seems they were skeptical about Miami's season despite their inclusion due to a weak schedule big conference teams simply refused to play them...even at home guess it's not that far off from first two rounds at home for ncaaw all about selling more tickets/generating more excitement and enthusiasm

Well, you know Schultz will be held back at least until May to claim another year... McDougal will probably be at BIRM. Wouldn't be surprised if he started his career in the big league pen later in the summer. Sandlin might be one of the first replacements with all those guys coming back from TJS.

Otoh, Walker Buehler went from a Top 5 pitcher in mlb to being on the verge of his last chance to hang on.

A's fans are like where is this version of Luis Severino during the regular season?

https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1rso4ga/netflixs_exclusive_wbc_deal_in_japan_reportedly/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi26p_Rj6OTAxURmSYFHctHDvsQFnoECAoQAg&usg=AOvVaw3tswjFdTxcQ4VqRsqIOPfp Should have given the stream away for free with Netflix and other ads mixed in. Backfired doubly because Japan missed out on semis and finals for first time ever. Japanese manager Ibata not surprisingly resigned already.

Cholowsky 389 Gasparino 375

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=635877 Gasparino .435 Cholowsky .344

Isn't it more "miraculous" by Sox historical standards to lose that many games over a three year period? Sox Team Record (1901-2025): 9654-9714 That's pretty much the textbook definition of "mired in mediocrity," but the team still could be at least two years away from that. "Miraculous" is Curt Cignetti at Indiana 1980 Olympic Hockey team Hoosiers "The Rookie" Jim Morris story "Searching for Sugarman" Rodriguez story

delete site really "sticky" on mobile toggling back and forth between vpn

https://global.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48185225/mlb-2026-wbc-world-baseball-classic-japan-future-stars Much bigger fan of Takahashi than Itoh...and, of course, Sato.

www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D0fvVXs7JH6I&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjU6-KFiqGTAxXgmmoFHUHRFTIQFnoECBUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2Sh_uJC4t0x8QcUgFQHjJD Francisco Cervelli: “Leading Italy with Culture, Passion, and Baseball Pride" 4:19 min interview https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2026/03/12/francisco-cervelli-pirates-world-baseball-classic-team-italy-manager/stories/202603120075&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjA9P3jiqGTAxWOkmoFHZUPMcQQFnoECAUQAg&usg=AOvVaw2avWI3oxh9fEGzs1HB5Lx3