http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/deadspin.com.png http://deadspin.com/tag/world baseball classic http://deadspin.com/tag/world baseball classic

Sir Sidney Ponson, in the midst of leading the Dutch Honkball team to the quarterfinals of the WBC, tested positive for Phentermine, a stimulant and appetite suppressant. He's also the reason we invented Deadspin widescreen. [AP] More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5303350&view=rss&microfeed=true

Ichiro Suzuki drives in the game-winning RBI as Japan wins the WBC again. Why do we call it the "World Series" when Japan is the only country that's good at this game? [MLB] More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5181964&view=rss&microfeed=true

If you play for the Braves and you're going to be at war with a city, it might as well be a Canadian one. On the whole, Chipper Jones would rather be in Atlanta. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5174143&view=rss&microfeed=true

David Wright's two-run single fuels three-run rally as U.S. beats Puerto Rico 6-5 to advance to semifinals. Any other self-governing unincorporated territories want to mess with us? [NBC Sports] More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5173358&view=rss&microfeed=true

Thank to the Little League mercy rule, the United States was spared nine full innings against a country that we literally own, but cannot beat in baseball. Just wait until Tommy Lasorda hears about this. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5170285&view=rss&microfeed=true

The cuddly Dutch honkballers lost to Venezuela, 3-1, in this afternoon's edition of the World Small Sample Size Bingo Tournament, which means the Netherlands' Cinderella run may soon come to a close. Dank God. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5170136&view=rss&microfeed=true

The Dominican Republic, a team stacked from top to bottom with MLB talent, will not make it out of the first round of the World Baseball Classic because they couldn't handle the puny Netherlands. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5167979&view=rss&microfeed=true

Much head scratching over Italy's defeat of Canada in the World Baseball Classic on Monday. How could such a thing happen? Easy. It was pretty much just a glorified MLB spring training game. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5167239&view=rss&microfeed=true

The Netherlands gets three off Edinson Volquez in the first and make it hold up (Sidney Ponson!) to upset the D.R. juggernaut in the WBC. Naturally, I blame A Rod. [ESPN; Canada/US liveblog here] More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5166108&view=rss&microfeed=true

For those who think that Tommy Lasorda should pack up his follow-the-flag, I-love-the-good-ole-USA act and ship off to a nice assisted living community, here's more evidence to have him sent away. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5165837&view=rss&microfeed=true

The World Baseball Classic has begun! Too bad you were asleep and missed the whole thing. [MLB.com] More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5164859&view=rss&microfeed=true

Alex Rodriguez is having a bang up year in 2009. The latest calamity? A bone cyst that may force him to bail on Team D.R. at the World Baseball Classic. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5164308&view=rss&microfeed=true

Byung-Hyun Kim lost his passport, so he won't be able to play in the World Baseball Classic. Did they try looking in the right-field bleachers at Yankee Stadium? [Korea Times] More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5154152&view=rss&microfeed=true

Sammy Sosa is now 40 years old. And despite hitting a serviceable 21 homers and 92 RBI in limited action in 2007, he didn't play last year, and he probably won't play in 2009, either. Especially when he thinks that teams should be chasing him. These are the misunderstandings that occur when times get tough and you're forced to lay off your translator. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5118405&view=rss&microfeed=true

Yesterday, perpetual retiree Roger Clemens was in Houston to receive his National League Championship Ring. As usual, Clemens was asked about his plans for this season, whether he'll retire, whether he'll play, who he would play for, so on, ad nauseum. But then the conversation took a bizarre, and rather queasy, turn. Clemens was asked about the World Baseball Classic, specifically about the different fan communities from all across the globe. His response involved, uh, a discussion of why he was unable to get his dry cleaning in a prompt fashion. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=165198&view=rss&microfeed=true

In case there was any doubt left as to the success of the World Baseball Classic, the number's closed the case: Lots of people made lots of money off this thing. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=162146&view=rss&microfeed=true

Not that they would have ever hosted the World Baseball Classic at Shea or anything — too many rats — but we're very envious of anyone who went to the WBC Final in San Diego last night. On television, it looks like endless fun, and in person, it seems endlessly entertaining. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=161977&view=rss&microfeed=true

Japan beat Cuba 10-6 last night to win the inaugural World Baseball Classic, a tournament that — save for the Jay Mariottis of the world — was an unmitigated success for everyone involved, save for maybe Al Leiter and Buck Martinez. Japan's victory assures even more players to migrate over to the major leagues from Asia, which is the good news; it also makes it extremely likely that Bobby Valentine is going to be all over our television screens for the next month. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=161838&view=rss&microfeed=true

The wailing and gnashing of teeth, the rending of garments, is upon us: The United States has been eliminated from the World Baseball Classic. The team finished 3-3 for the tourney, and some people are screaming that Team USA was a "debacle" and that it's a shame that the "world has passed the country that invented the game." More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=161221&view=rss&microfeed=true

As usual, we had trouble sleeping the night before the NCAA tournament started, so we revved up our MLB.tv last night and watched both World Baseball Classic games. They were, both, amazing. The second game was the one most important to Americans, with Korea winning an extremely tense 2-1 game, leaving the USA needing only a win tonight over Mexico to advance to the semifinals. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=160900&view=rss&microfeed=true

Amidst all the "The WBC Is So Much Better Than We Thought!" stories, the performance of Team USA continues to be blasted by anyone with a laptop. As much fun as it might be to see A-Rod lose, we can't quite get behind the "they're spoiled athletes!" maxim that people are always applying to national basketball and hockey teams. Hey, it's baseball; sometimes you just lose. Doesn't mean you suck. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=160692&view=rss&microfeed=true

Well, it probably won't come as much solace to the Paul DePodestas of the world, but for one week, anyway, the stat nerds have been vindicated; the much maligned Hee Seop Choi is beating the piss out of the world's pitchers. Last night he hit a three-run homer off Team USA's Dan Wheeler — wait ... Dan Wheeler is on that team? — that secured a 7-3 victory for Korea. It was the U.S.' second loss in the World Baseball Classic — Korea is the only undefeated team — and they need a win tomorrow against Mexico (and a little help) to advance. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=160340&view=rss&microfeed=true

We fairly certain you weren't watching it — because it was, inexplicably, programmed opposite the release of the bracket yesterday — but Team USA beat Japan in the World Baseball Classic 4-3 on a game-winning hit by Alex Rodriguez, of all people. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=160083&view=rss&microfeed=true

The Japanese are just so far ahead of us in their ability to turn seemingly innocent things into something naughty. First Hello Kitty, and now this. Our national pasttime has become a theme for their undergarments. I have some baseball glove conditioning oil, and I'm willing to help break it in. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=159837&view=rss&microfeed=true

One of the anti-Castro protesters at the WBC has posted his first-hand account of the incident here. This guy had a sign that said "BASEBALL PLAYERS YES, TYRANTS NO" that he held up to the Cuban baseball players about an hour before the game. He says the sign drew a chuckle and a thumbs-up from one of the players. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=159834&view=rss&microfeed=true

Another reason Deadspin readers are the best readers in the world: They file video reports from major events. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=159447&view=rss&microfeed=true

You know, that has to really suck. You skip work to head to a baseball game — no, a World Baseball Classic game — and you're ready to cheer on all your favorite stars. Derek Jeter. Ken Griffey. Dontrelle Willis. Even, if you have enough beers, Alex Rodriguez. It's a great day at the ballpark. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=159371&view=rss&microfeed=true

We're half an hour away from USA baseball's second game in the World Baseball Classic, facing Jason Bay and some other Canadians. (We're really enjoying the Cuba-Panama game that's on right, now, by the way.) We're fully aware that seeing Alex Rodriguez in a United States uniform makes most of you consider rooting for Canada, by the way; sorry about that. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=159241&view=rss&microfeed=true

We've never imagined the Yankees' front office as rebel types, but there's a first time for everything, we suppose. On Saturday, some brave soul in the Legends Field ticket office posted a sign in the main concourse of their spring training complex in Tampa, apologizing to fans for the absence of Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter at spring training games due to their participation in the World Baseball Classic. When Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig heard about this, he blew a fuse. Selig, apparently, instructed his minions to remove the sign the following day. No one messes with the WBC, Selig's pet project. NO ONE. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=158493&view=rss&microfeed=true

A loyal reader (to whom I am quite grateful) sent in an excellent recap of the Day 1 games from the World Baseball Classic. If you're anything like me, you're one of the people who claimed to be excited about the World Baseball Classic, but then didn't actually make any real effort to watch it. Here's a little bit of what you missed: More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=158415&view=rss&microfeed=true

Tonight, the World Baseball Classic finally kicks off with Korea taking on Chinese Taipei in the Tokyo Dome. First pitch is at 9:30 ET, but unless you have ESPN Deportes, you'll have to wait until 1:30 a.m. to watch a tape-delay on ESPN2. (Right afterwards, Japan plays China on ESPN2 live, if you happen to not be able to sleep for whatever reason, Belushi.) More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=158077&view=rss&microfeed=true

Well, not really. But regardless of how it plays out, that's what most people will think. Everybody seems to just HATE this guy. Yesterday, Alex Rodriguez spoke openly about his decision to play for America in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, mostly because, well, he was born here. He didn't want to upset the Dominicans, but yet, somehow will most likely do just that. Because that's what he does. A-Rod speaks or smiles or shows up some place and people yell at him. It's pretty amazing that this guy—arguably the best player in the game—just pisses people off so much. I, for one, get a little annoyed by his four-times-daily teeth flossing. That's why I hate him. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=156022&view=rss&microfeed=true

We've had a difficult time figuring out the right way to make ourselves appropriately excited about the upcoming World Baseball Classic — and those freaky ads with the flags superimposed on players' faces didn't help much — but the gang at Game Four have come up with a helpful trick: Brackets! More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=152968&view=rss&microfeed=true

Baseball blog Talking Baseball brings up a point about the World Baseball Classic we hadn't heard much about: The tournament is going to have a mercy rule. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=151234&view=rss&microfeed=true

Sometimes we wonder if the sports world has some of the same problems that the government has deciphering chatter: Doesn't anybody speak Arabic around here? Or Spanish? More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=150672&view=rss&microfeed=true

Rinnnnggggg! More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=149777&view=rss&microfeed=true

Honestly, we're starting to get a little embarrassed to even post about this, but hey, we're here, this is our job, this is what we do ... it's time for another Alex Rodriguez in the World Baseball Classic post. (We've covered this, let's see, here, here and here.) More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=149234&view=rss&microfeed=true

Baseball Think Factory (via Baseball Musings) reports that endless external to-and-fro, Yankees lipstick model Alex Rodriguez has finally decided to play for the United States in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=146456&view=rss&microfeed=true

In typical finger-on-the-pulse fashion, MLB.com promotes the World Baseball Classic, encouraging readers to tap into the electric current of excitement by showing us ... a picture of two pasty white guys. To be fair, the guy on the left has a pretty sweater vest that is packing much funk. More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=145484&view=rss&microfeed=true

Well, after much careful deliberation — that is to say: More »
]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=143587&view=rss&microfeed=true