Showing posts with label 2009 World Baseball Classic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009 World Baseball Classic. Show all posts

Monday, March 16, 2009

Ivan Rodriguez to sign with the Astros


MLB.com reports that catcher Ivan Rodriguez will sign with the Astros pending a physical exam after the World Baseball Classic. "Pudge" is currently batting .600 for the Puerto Rican team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The Astros have been auditioning many of their prospects in hopes of solidifying the catching position after the departure of Brad Ausmus to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston was one of the few teams able to offer Rodriguez their number one catching position. Hopefully durability is not an issue, as Rodriguez will be entering his 19th Major League season. His recent performance at the WBC hopefully indicates that Pudge is poised to have a strong 2009 season after batting .219 during the last two of months of 2008 with the Yankees.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Marmol Implodes as Netherlands Wins In Extra Innings

Carlos Marmol, you might have to relocate after surrendering two runs during the 11th innings to a Netherlands team that fielded just three players with Major League experience. Grossly overmatched at the plate, the Netherlands squad struck out 14 times going into the 11th inning. After the Dominican Republic scored a run in the top of the 11th inning, Marmol was summoned to close the game. Game, set, match, right? Not for the Dominicans in the 2009 World Baseball Classic!

Immediately after taking the mound, Marmol gave up a leadoff double to pinch-hitter Sidney de Jong, who hit the first extra base hit for the Netherlands in this year's Classic. After getting Curt Smith to ground out, Marmol then allowed a bloop single to former Oriole Eugene Kingsale which scored de Jong. With the speedy Kingsale on first base, Marmol wildly threw the ball away from first baseman Willie Aybar to advance Kingsale all the way to third base. Looking visibly shaken by the error, he regained his composure long enough to strike out Sharlon Schoop. After intentionally walking Randall Simon, Marmol ran Yurendell de Caster to a 2-2 count, when de Caster hit a one hopper to Aybar that went off of his glove, allowing Kingsale to score.

In a match of David and Goliath proportions, the Netherlands proved they weren't a fluke, winning not once, but twice over the star studded Dominican Republic. The dejected look in the dugout of the Dominican team said it all, as the Netherlands team ran wildly over the field celebrating their unlikely victory. The Netherlands will play Puerto Rico on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the next round of the World Baseball Classic.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Corporate Sponsors on Uniforms at the World Baseball Classic

"Now batting, #7 sponsored by Best Buy, Ivan Rodriguez." It's not exactly how it went down during the opening day of the World Baseball Classic, but Best Buy patches were rather conspicuous on the uniforms sleeves of the Puerto Rican team in their game against Panama. While uniform sponsorship is prevalent during winter ball, one has not seen sponsors on uniforms during spring play. If this trend passes with little fanfare during this year's World Baseball Classic, how soon will we begin to see uniform sponsorship in Minor or Major League Baseball?
While the foreign countries may be used to having sponsors on their uniforms during league play, I am curious as to how the Americans will react to seeing their favorite players play under the logo of a major corporation. Is the Puerto Rican team ahead of the curve regarding opportunities to generate advertising revenue, or are they tainting the game by having sponsors on their uniforms?