Tagged: World Baseball Classic

All-WBC Team

The World Baseball Classic has announced it’s all-WBC team today. Here is a look at the players who made the cut at each position.

C- Yadier Molina, Puerto Rico- .259 Avg, 2 runs, .286 OBP, SB .259 SLG, .545 OPS and 2.88 team ERA
1B- Edwin Encarnacion, Dominican Republic- .250 AVG, 6 RBI, 3 runs, .333 OBP, .286 SLG and .619 OPS
2B- Robinson Cano, Dominican Republic- World Baseball Classic MVP, .469 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 runs, .514 OBP, .781 SLG and 1.296 OPS

SS- Jose Reyes, Dominican Republic- .314 AVG, HR , 3 RBI, 7 runs, .351 OBP, .486 SLG and .837 OPS

3B- David Wright, United States of America- .438 AVG, 1 HR, tournament leading 10 RBI, 4 runs, .526 OBP, .750 SLG and 1.276 OPS

OF- Angel Pagan, Puerto Rico- .364 AVG, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases, .447 OBP, .485 SLG and .932 OPS

OF- Nelson Cruz, Dominican Republic- .303 AVG, 6 RBI, 3 runs, .324 OBP, .424 SLG and .748 OPS

OF- Michael Saunders, Canada- .727 AVG, HR, 7 RBI, 4 runs, .769 OBP, 1.273 SLG and 2.042 OPS

DH- Hirokazu Ibata, Japan- .556 AVG, 4 RBI, 6 runs, .652 OBP, .611 and 1.263 OPS

P- Kenta Maeda, Japan- 3 games started, 15 innings pitched, 2-1 record, 0.60 ERA, 18 strikeouts and 0.60 WHIP

P- Nelson Figueroa, Puerto Rico- 2 games started, 10 innings pitched, 2-0 record, 1.80 ERA, 3 strikeouts and 0.80 WHIP

P- Fernando Rodney, Dominican Republic- 8 games, 7 saves, 0.00 ERA, 7.1 innings, 8 strikeouts and 0.55 WHIP

I do not  have a problem with most of the players on this list. There is a couple of positions that I think could have gone to other players. Yadier Molina is a great catcher/game caller as shown from the team ERA of 2.88, but his offensive numbers in the tournament were not very stellar. Japan catcher Shinnosuke Abe (.261 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .292 OBP, .565 SLG and .857 OPS), USA’s catcher Joe Mauer (.424 AVG, 2 RBI, 4 runs, .538 OBP, .619 SLG and 1.158 OPS) and Canadian catcher Chris Robinson (.556 AVG, RBI, run, .600 OBP, .556 SLG and 1.156 OPS) all had better stats than Molina.

Jose Reyes had a great classic, but there was a couple other shortstops that could have taken this spot. Dutch shortstop Andrelton Simmons lead the WBC with 10 runs scored. He had a .333 AVG with 2 home runs and 6 RBI to go with the 10 runs scored. Puerto Rican shortstop Mike Aviles also had a very strong showing in the tournament. Aviles finished tied for 2nd with 9 RBI and had compiled a .323 AVG over 9 games in the tournament.

Dominican pitcher Samuel Deduno compiled 3 games started, 13 innings, 2-0 record, 0.69 ERA, 17 strikeouts and 1.23 WHIP. Those numbers are slightly better than Nelson Figueroa but other of these pitchers deserved a spot on the all-WBC team. The last player that played well enough to make the WBC team was Italian designated hitter Chris Colabello. Colabello batted .333, 2 home runs, 7 RBI in 5 tournament games.

WBC Championship Game: Puerto Rico vs Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has defeated  Puerto Rico 3-0 to win the WBC Championship. Edwin Encarnacion had a two run double scoring Jose Reyes and Robinson Cano after Puerto Rico intentionally walked Cano to face him. Erick Aybar had a two out RBI double scoring Alejandro De Aza in the fifth inning. Dominican starter Samuel Deduno pitched five scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Fernando Rodney saved his seventh of game of the tournament. The Dominican Republic’s bullpen combined to throw 20 2/3 scoreless innings over the last five game of the tournament. Puerto Rican reliever Hiram Burgos pitched 4 2/3 innings of one run ball with five strikeouts after coming in for starter Giancarlo Alvarado in the second. Puerto Rico was 0-11 with runners in scoring position.

This was sweet redemption for the Dominican Republic. In the 2006 tournament, the DR was eliminated by Cuba in the semifinals. The next WBC saw the DR get defeated by the Netherlands in the first round of the 2009 tournament.  Dominican Republic becomes the first team to win the WBC title with a perfect record in the tournament.  The Dominican Republic finally had a chance to show their dominance on the world stage.  All of the citizens of the DR are probably going crazy after this win tonight.

WBC Semifinal Score: Kingdom of the Netherlands vs Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has defeated the Netherlands 4-1. Wladmir Balentien had an RBI ground out to score Andrelton Simmons. Netherlands did not have a hit in the inning, but still got on the board first. Dominican left fielder Moises Sierra made a diving catch in the stands to get the last out of the first inning. Starter Edison Volquez pitched five innings of one run ball with five strikeouts for the Dominican Republic. Moises Sierra hit an RBI double and Jose Reyes hit an RBI single to put the DR up 2-1 in the fifth. The scoring did not stop there in the fifth inning. Jose Reyes scored on a wild pitch and Edwin Encarnacion hit an RBI single to increase the lead to three. Closer Fernando Rodney saved his 6th game of the tournament.

The Dominican Republic has advanced to the finals of the WBC. This is the first time the DR has made it to the finals of the tournament. Dominican Republic will face Puerto Rico in the finals in the third meeting between the two nations.

WBC Semifinals Score: Puerto Rico vs Japan

Puerto Rico has advanced to the finals of the WBC defeating the 2-time defending champ Japan 3-1. Puerto Rican starter Mario Santiago pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings of two hit ball. Santiago had to leave the game with forearm tightness in the fifth inning. The Puerto Rican pitching staff combined to give up one run with seven strikeouts. Mike Aviles had a two out RBI single to score Irving Falu in the first inning. Alex Rios hit a two run home run in the seventh inning to extend the lead to three. Japanese starter Kenta  Maeda pitched  five innings of one run ball. Designated hitter Hirokazu Ibata had an RBI single to score Japan’s only run of the game. For the first time in the World Baseball Classic  history, Japan will not win the tournament.

World Baseball Classic Score: Puerto Rico vs Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic defeats Puerto Rico 2-0. Dominican starter Wandy Rodriguez pitched six scoreless innings of two hit ball. Catcher Carlos Santana hit a solo home run and Francisco Pena had an RBI single to score the two runs for the DR. Closer Fernando Rodney saved his 5th game of the tournament. Puerto Rico had chances to score in this game. In the first four innings they had the leadoff man on base to start each inning. The Dominican Republic will face the Netherlands on Monday and Puerto Rico will face Japan on Sunday in the semifinals.

World Baseball Score: Puerto Rico vs United States

Puerto Rico has defeated the United States 4-3. Starter Nelson Figeroua pitched six scorless innings of two hit ball for Puerto Rico. Andy Gonzalez hit a two run double in the 6th inning in what turned out to be the difference in the game. Reliever J.C. Romero pitched 1 1/3 innings to record the save for Puerto Rico. The USA made a game of it in the later innings. Joe Mauer hit a triple and was batted in by Giancarlo Stanton in the 7th. Ryan Braun hit an RBI double and Ben Zobrist drew a bases loaded walk in the 8th to cut the lead to one. USA scored too little too late in this game. Puerto Rico has advanced to the semifinals of the WBC and the United States has been eliminated from the tournament.

World Baseball Classic Score: Dominican Republic vs United States

The Dominican Republic has defeated the USA 3-1. Hanley Ramirez hit a solo home run to start the scoring for the DR in the 2nd inning. Pinch hitter Erick Aybar hit the go-ahead single and Jose Reyes adding an RBI in the 9th inning. Four Dominican Republic relievers (Herrera, Dotel, Strop and Rodney) combined to threw five scoreless innings of one hit ball. Eric Hosmer had a bases loaded walk to score USA’s only run of the game in the 1st inning. Relievers Luke Gregerson, Tim Collins and Steve Cishek combined three scoreless innings of one hit ball. The Dominican Republic has advanced to the semifinals of the WBC in San Francisco. The United States will play Puerto Rico tomorrow at 7 pm ET to decide which team will get the last spot in the semifinals.

World Baseball Classic Score: Italy vs Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico defeats Italy 4-3. Puerto Rico had a three run rally in the 8th inning to pull ahead of Italy. Mike Aviles started the scoring with an RBI and Luis Figueroa hit a sac fly a batter later to tie the game at three. 3B/1b Andy Gonzalez hit the go ahead RBI single after Figueroa’s sac fly. Puerto Rican reliever Hiram Burgos pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Italian first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit a bases clearing double in the 5th and was on base three times during the game. Italy has been eliminated from the World Baseball Classic and Puerto Rico still have a chance to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.

World Baseball Classic Scores: Puerto Rico vs United States

The United States defeats Puerto Rico 7-1 in each team’s first game of the second round. USA starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez threw five innings of three hit ball in his first start of the tournament. David Wright had five RBIs and Joe Mauer was on base four times with an RBI. Puerto Rican outfielder Eddie Rosario had a two hit night and Angel Pagan got an RBI ground out to help Puerto Rico avoid the shutout. The USA will play the Dominican Republic  on Thursday night at 7 pm ET and Puerto Rico will face Italy on Wednesday night at 7 pm ET.

World Baseball Classic Score: Italy vs Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic defeats Italy 5-4 in their first game in the second round. The DR got on the board in second inning on a solo home run by Shortstop Jose Reyes and got another home run by Robinson Cano to cut the lead in half in the 5th. In the 7th inning the DR scored three runs to take the lead. First baseman Edwin Encarnacion walked with the bases loaded, Hanley Ramirez hit a sac fly and Nelson Cruz had a broken bat single to bat in the go ahead run in the 7th. Italy scored all four in the first inning. Third baseman Alex Liddi hit a sac fly and designated hitter Chris Colabello hit a three run home run. Italian starter Tiago Da Silva pitched 5 1/3 innings of two run ball. This was very enjoyable game to watch and Italy almost pulled an epic upset on the DR. The Dominican Republic didn’t give up and fought back from four runs down to win the game