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MLB 2022: Playing Ball, But Is Anyone Still Watching?

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Cuba bounced backed with a 13-4 win over Panama to keep their hopes alive. They’re likely rooting for Taiwan to beat Italy this morning to help their chances.

As Kep said, the Czechs got the win and will face Japan tomorrow morning. Japan is up 8-4 on Korea right now with an unrelenting offense.
 
Japan finishes off Korea 13-4 and Taiwan gets a much needed 11-7 win over Italy/USA.

Taiwan Group
NED 2-0
TPE 1-1
ITA 1-1
CUB 1-2
PAN 1-2

Tokyo Group
JPN 2-0
AUS 1-0
CZE 1-0
KOR 0-2
CHN 0-2

China-Australia and Panama-Italy later tonight.
 
Japan is starting their top pitching prospect who throws 102mph.

Czechia’s starting pitcher tops out at 78 and didn’t have a winning record in the Czech Extraliga.

After 1, it’s 1-0 Czechia and Japan struck out twice.
 
I'm sure this is a dumb question by why doesn't the US win the WBC every time with Dream Team-level embarrassing scores? We are still by far the biggest producers of talent in the world, right?
 
Kepler said:
I'm sure this is a dumb question by why doesn't the US win the WBC every time with Dream Team-level embarrassing scores? We are still by far the biggest producers of talent in the world, right?
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cwn1M7J.jpg
 
Kepler said:
I'm sure this is a dumb question by why doesn't the US win the WBC every time with Dream Team-level embarrassing scores? We are still by far the biggest producers of talent in the world, right?
Click to expand...

Because it's spring training and players would rather be on the golf course.
 
Kepler said:
I don't get the meme. :-(
Click to expand...

From KnowYourMeme: "The template became popularized on TikTok in February 2023 and is often used to illustrate how one party, represented by Cage, is angry over some sort of slight while the other person, represented by Pascal, is thrilled by their situation, implying the scenario is playing out like they wanted. The scene is usually scored by "Make Your Own Music" by Mama Cass."

The US is the biggest producer of talent (US born players make up 70% of the MLB), but a combination of the depth of that talent combined with the WBC nationality rules, means the better US born talent gets picked through and dispersed to other teams. Would Freeman be a better pick for Team USA at first than Goldschmidt or Alonzo? Maybe, maybe not.
1
23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png
United States		1,05770.7%
2
23px-Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic.svg.png
Dominican Republic		17111.4%
3
23px-Flag_of_Venezuela.svg.png
Venezuela		1067.1%
4
23px-Flag_of_Cuba.svg.png
Cuba		332.2%
5
23px-Flag_of_Puerto_Rico.svg.png
Puerto Rico		281.9%
6
23px-Flag_of_Mexico.svg.png
Mexico		241.6%
7
23px-Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg.png
Canada		151%
8
23px-Flag_of_Colombia.svg.png
Colombia		130.9%
9
23px-Flag_of_Panama.svg.png
Panama		90.6%
10
23px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png
Japan		70.5%
11
23px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png
South Korea		60.4%
12
23px-Flag_of_Cura%C3%A7ao.svg.png
Cura?ao[SUP][a][/SUP]		50.3%
13
23px-Flag_of_Australia_%28converted%29.svg.png
Australia
23px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png
Germany		30.2%

Of the 70%, how many match the skill levels seen from non-US born players? 20%? So between the WBC nationality rules, spring training injuries, and the caps set on just how many players from each MLB team can be in the WBC, you're not going to see Team USA out here dominating.
 
With Taiwan beating Netherlands there’s a chance for the entire group to tie at 2-2 if Cuba beats Taiwan and Italy beats Netherlands.

Then it would go to a tiebreaker of runs allowed/defensive outs, then earned runs/defensive outs, then highest batting average.
 
Not going to lie, but I thought the US born number was much lower than 70% - like under 50%. Guess I assumed that most teams were like the Tigers and had a bunch of their best players are not American born.
 
unofan said:
Because it's spring training and players would rather be on the golf course.
Click to expand...

Right, sort of like basketball at the Olympics, I imagine it would come down more to who wants to play rather than who could play. At least with basketball there's a feeling you have to show up for one Olympics to get your one gold, but there doesn't seem to be any sort of urgency here.
 
I've never really found the WBC interesting. Since its spring training, I guess I don't care if guys go, as long as they are getting reps to be ready for the season. Similarly, I never cared about Olympic baseball. Probably part of the reason it no longer exists.

I'm not too concerned about injury. I mean, JT took a fastball to the face in a spring game. It happens.
 
Barring a big comeback by the Netherlands here in the 9th, the Taiwan group will come down to a five-way tiebreaker.

Despite having all but one data set they haven't run any what-if scenarios, but some quick math shows that it should be Cuba and Italy moving on if the current 7-1 score holds. Netherlands needs at least three runs here in the 9th to move on. Panama and Taiwan are eliminated unless this goes extras and there are some offensive explosions.
 
Italy/USA made it interesting putting the first two runners on, creating an oddly tense situation in a 7-1 game, but they end up getting three straight outs to take it.

Final pool standings from Taiwan:
Cuba 2-2, 15 RA, 108 outs, .138 RA/outs
Italy 2-2, 17 RA, 108 outs, .157
Netherlands 2-2, 19 RA, 102 outs, .186
Panama 2-2, 21 RA, 105 outs, .200
Taiwan 2-2, 31 RA, 105 outs, .295

Cuba will play the runner-up from the Tokyo group in the quarters. Italy gets Japan, who has already clinched. Taiwan gets relegated.

Over in Tokyo, the runner-up will likely be Australia. However, if Czechia beats Australia in regulation and both teams score four or more, Korea would move on.
 
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