What The WBC Has Taught Me

I've watched a lot of these games. A lot more than any sane person should, that's for sure, and I have gleamed a few bits of information from this event that I'd like to share. Let it be known before we start this that I am a fan of the World Baseball Classic. Here goes:

• First, MLB sucks at marketing. They're pathetic. You've got to really want to watch these games to even find them. I've had a helluva time catching the gams that I've wanted to watch. I get the fact that they're launching the MLB network while this event is going on and are using the event to showcase said network, but if you want viewers, you put it on broadcast TV. Plus, do your due dilligence to get the common baseball fan interested in watching Japan play Korea - showcase Yu Darvish, juxtapose the Eastern and Western style of baseball, just sell the f'n thing!
  
• Lose the fringe teams. Watching the Netherlands beat the Dominican Republic twice was neat, really, it was -- but the Netherlands have little to no business being associated with this event. Same with Italy, South Africa, and any of the other teams that can't field a Major Leaguer without looking at the registry in Ellis Island.
  
• If you're not willing to lose the fringe teams, then change the format. Double Elimination is a really dull way to solve anything. It's not something the typical American sports fan can relate to. Just play a round of single elimination games, then a few 3-game series culminating to a big 5 game series for the title, we get that, plus, it cuts out a lot of the down time most of the MLB players were complaining about. In Spring Training, there are games everyday, if you're going to run this event during Spring Training, you've got to do better to accommodate the guys who are supposed to be getting ready to do their jobs.
• Pitching and Defense, dummy! That's what this game is. All those ridiculous new offensive stats with their silly abbreviations and nonsensical values are only applicable to rotary/fantasy baseball owners. They don't amount to a hill of beans between those two white lines and if the WBC has done nothing else, it's further reinforced my understanding of what it takes to win. The Domincan team played shit defense and were chewed up by quality pitching. Go home, gentlemen. Just last night, Venezula demonstrated why Bobby Abreu is out of New York and why Miguel Cabrerra is terribly overrated. They both have no use for that hunk of leather they carry on their non-dominant hand. Add to that, Carlos f'n Silva and his high sinkers. Tell Hugo Chavez I said hi.
  
• With that in mind, Team USA, you're on borrowed time. Derek Jeter can't cover any real estate between himself and the 2nd base bag and that fact almost put Puerto Rico in instead. David Wright bailed us out though (unlike that other 3rd baseman from NY) and we snuck in. Japan sends the boys back home tonight on ESPN courtesy of Dice-K himself, (who cares though, let's just hope for a high pitch count).