In the end, being mercy ruled was probably the best thing that happened to the US.
As we've seen already in the tournament, merely losing a game you are expected to win does not serve as a wake up call (see Republic, Dominican). However, having that game called after 7+ innings because you are losing by too many runs? You can't blame that on luck, a cold streak, or an off night.
Instead, you realize that if you want to keep playing, you're going to have to show up. Granted, it's usually advisable to show up before the bottom of the ninth inning, but better late than never, right? Certainly better for the WBC: drama tends to sell, and what's better drama than a walk off win in the 9th inning?
Does this fix the WBC? No. Will it make a difference in how many people tune in for the semis and final? Unlikely.
Was it more fun than anything spring training had to offer? Yes. That's certainly not what MLB was hoping for when they rammed this tournament down everyone's throat, but even so, this means it's turned out 1000% better than most of good old Bud's ideas.
Well any good from the win over PR was lost the next game.....why on earth play in a rain storm just for seeding!?!?! As if the US playing Japan or, who is it, Korea?, will make any difference.
ReplyDeleteA game like the "seeding" one against Venezuela is when the US should have used the Mercy Rule. They could have gone down by 10 runs in the first and put everyone out of their misery! What a mess!! I too used to say the WBC was better than spring training; but at least at a spring training game no one would have been forced to sit through that weather!!!
Money..Money...Money. Congress should put a 90% tax on all the jerks who let them play!!!