7 Ks through 2 1/3. WOW!

…is their MLB team still on the hook for their salary?

by the Cub pitchers today. Good for Koyie too.

between NED and DOM.

No, those aren’t 2 people’s names.

Check it out on the MLB network.

Has anyone heard the WGN radio commercials for the coming season?

They are awesome. WGN does great commercials in general maybe the funniest all time was back in I think 1999 for NU football with the late Randy Walker singing “All 6 home games are at home”

I REALLY wish dish network had MLB network. I want to watch the WBC.

If they all stay healthy we have a sick pitching staff. If our middle relief can be even just above average, this team is going to win a lot of games because of great pitching.

It was like someone opened up a big can of worf-ass or something. And I’m not just talking about the bad case of Hawkiarrhea – things were going south well before the game started with all the Bradley hating and baiting going on. And a lot of it from folks that don’t normally post like that. I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come for the regular season…

I am rooting for The Netherlands

The WBC is a success

…for bringing a Cub reliver in to close the game.

Go DUTCH

THE NETHERLANDS DID IT

What a story!!!!

Thats like the US losing in basketball back in 04

Kerry pitched a scoreless inning today. I am afraid this is likely to scar Marmol.

….did Gregg just score?

…just, wow.

I hope he T-Voed that DR/Netherlands game

Once again, the good Dr. Crawdad, who insists Cub fans are obsessed with his team. proves that, at least he is obsessed with the Cubs, if not all Soxie fans.

Linky.

I’m real happy that he is back with the team, but now I’m worried that this thing will stick in his head.

Let’s just blame their offense :)

I would rather have him lose a game in the WBC than lose one in postseason.

These are the very reason we watch sports, and put so much effort into a team or sport we love and dedicate so much time and effort to it.

I see so many showing concern to Marmol (and with good reason), pointing to a few plays and/or players on DR for the loss, and almost looking for a way to credit the loss instead of acknowledging the win by NED. Where is the credit to the pitching that handcuffed DR all night, and did so against PR for all but one inning as well?

NED could have easily hung their heads after giving up one run in the 11th, packed their bags, and watched the rest of the WBC from their home. Instead, they went out in the bottom half of the inning, and won the game.

Sure, the loss goes to Marmol, but this is one of those times, where instead of looking at who the loss went to, NED deserves to be praised (even if only for one week of spectacular pitching) for what they have done so far in the WBC against all odds.

A pitching staff led by Cordemans, Stuifbergen and Ponson have shut down an explosive cast of MLB All-Stars between the teams representing PR and DR respectfully. I love seeing that. It shows that the talent worldwide has really stepped up over the past few years, and (unlike American fans, myself included) have taken this tourney a lot more serious than expected.

Honestly, who would have thought that NED would be heading to Miami with two victories over DR? Did anyone think after round one NED would have a team ERA of 1.61 or a team BA of .137 yet moving on? And that would be even lower of an ERA without Michiel van Kanpen and his 27.00 ERA. Talk about living on the arms of a young pitching staff. DR had many chances to score runs, yet was denied by the pitching of NED repeatedly for the better part of 20 total innings of baseball between the two teams.

And how cool is it seeing Bert Blyleven jumping around like a kid again, and seeing him coaching. I believe he is a broadcaster for the Twins (if I am wrong, please correct me) and I would love to see him get into coaching in MLB, maybe similar to Ryno working with the youngsters at AA or AAA level.

Games like this one have changed my views on the WBC. Last go round, the WBC was not as exciting, and was a lot more predictable, this time, there have been some great games, and I am enjoying it. I love upsets like last night, and I look forward to seeing NED continue on in the tourney.

So, yes I am concerned after seeing how Marmol looked last night, and want him to get to Mesa ASAP to have Lou erase that memory, but at the same time, I want to show praise for NED instead of hanging Marmol for this loss. Even Lee Smith, Bruce Sutter, Trevor Hoffman, Goose Gossage, et al blew a save or 50 in their careers. It happens. Before I jump out the window, in fear of our closer, I remind myself that it happens, we have Gregg who can fill that role just fine IMO (if Marmol stumbles), and that NED deserves credit instead of focusing on Marmol or Aybar only.

I tip my hat to those kids, pitching for NED, who showed no concern for the big names they were facing, as they continued to get out after out.

(just my two cents, end rant )