Early trouble in Arizona

[pup]

USA down 2-0 in the top of the second inning. Don't really have details since this Cuba/Panama game won't end.

Could be a huge upset if Panama can pull it off. 6-6 top of 10.

[pup]

Just getting uglier. 7-0 top 4. Willis 2.2 IP 6H 5ER, Leiter .2 IP 3H 2ER and Majewski gave up hits to the first 3 hitters he faced.

Maybe this will get Team USA to stop treating this like Spring Training.

[pup]

First injury of the tourney. Matt Holliday just pulled up lame, allowing Adam Stern to hit an inside the park homer.

Actually he is going to stay in the game so obviously he just didn't want to run after the ball I guess.

This Adam Stern guy is raking so far. Why did the Red Sox trade for Crisp if they had this guy. I would take him right now over Crisp.

Now Holliday pulls up short going after a foul ball?????

Not very happy with Team USA's effort right now. They really look like they just want to get home.

[pup]

Pitching change. 8-2. Varitek up. Bases loaded. 2 outs.

[pup]

BOMB. 8-6.

[swerb]

Did we just get closed out in the 9th by Nathan Green? Who? A double A farmhand for the Tigers?

US basically needs to win or go home against South Africa, right?

[swerb]

I hate Canada. I'd rather lose to Iran.

[consigliere]

USA should still advance. If they win, they finish 2-1 in the Pool. If they win, and Canada wins, Canada and USA finish with 2 or more wins and both advance.

If Mexico beats Canada, there is a 3-way tie with 2-1 records. From what they said on the TV, ERA is the tie-breaker. And, that would mean we probably get in (currently, we have given up I believe 4 less runs). Only way I see us not getting in is if we lose (obviously) or we give up 5 or more runs to South Africa.

This WBC is great BTW. The Panama/Cubs game was great, and for as bas as the USA looked, the USA/Canada game was good. The thing that is pissing me off is everyone else is sticking with their starting position players all game, meanwhile, the USA has their guys playing half the game.

[pup]

Unfortunately, the only manager in this tourney with anything to lose is Buck Martinez. He has to get all of these guys their spring AB's. That does nothing to excuse the D-Train's performance today though.

If Mexico beats Canada, it comes down to earned runs allowed between all 3 teams. Assuming all runs have been earned thus far, Canada has given up 14, USA 8 and Mexico 6. Kind of crazy if Canada beats the US, goes 2-1, and does not advance. It is nice that Team USA is off tomorrow and gets to see what it needs to do on Friday!

[consigliere]

I may be mistaken, but I believe the tie-breaker is earned runs between the TIED teams. So, what the results from each team's game with South Africa would be thrown out the window.

Right now, the US has given up 8 runs against Mexico and Canada. Canada gave up 6 to the US, and Mexico 2 to the US. If Canada wins today, all we need to do is win tomorrow against South Africa. If Mexcio wins, as long as Mexico scores at least 3 runs in the win (would result in Canada giving up 9 runs total to US and Mexico), Mexico and US would advance.

Right now, the US is still in the drivers seat. Whoever loses the Mexico/Canada game is pretty much out of the tourney unless Mexico wins 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1.

[consigliere]

Just checked, and the scenario listed above is correct. Per ESPN (the sidenote in Crasnick's column):

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclas ... id=2360402

The US could be eliminated today if Mexico wins 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1.

[swerb]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall wherever Bud Selig is watching these games the next two days.

A USA 1st rd tank job would be catastrophic to his chances of getting American public support behind another one of these in 4 years.

[consigliere]

Isn't this WBC thing supposed to be an annual thing?

A US tank job in the 1st round would be an embarassment. Granted, the team sucks (Todd Jones? Al Leiter? Are you serious?).....but they have the easiest ride to the WBC Finals. Their pool of Canada, Mexico and South Africa is weak.....and in the next round (if they make it) they play Japan, Korea and either Mexico/Canada. Japan could be a problem....but they should get to the semis anyway as the top 2 teams advance again where we could play Japan again in the semis in a winner take all game.

The US is lucky that they don't play one Latin team until the Finals. So, they don't play Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba, Venezuela, and DR at all except for the lone team that makes the finals.

I must say, though, the second round should be awesome with the Pool of Venezuela, DR, Puerto Rico and Cuba (assuming no upsets occur in the next 2 days). Every game in that pool will be great, and the fans will be nuts in the stands.

[swerb]

I thought I heard they wanted to do it every 4 years, a la the World Cup. No plans have officially been made for a second one, I know that though.