The USA and Venezuela were clearly the standout teams in the Toronto pool of the World Baseball Classic. Following Canada’s near upset of Team USA in the opening game, they went on to disappoint the hometown fans by losing their next game to Italy. Italy looked impressive in defeating Canada 6-2, but were no match for the Venezuelans in losing twice to them, 7-0 and 10-1.
Team USA and Venezuela split their two matchups, with the Americans winning a one-sided first meeting, 15-6, powered by four RBI each from unlikely hitting stars Chris Iannetta and Mark DeRosa. Venezuela won the pool’s finale, though, 5-3, on the strength of a surprisingly strong pitching performance from the man best known for being the wrong end of possibly the worst trade in New York Mets history, Victor Zambrano. The win for Venezuela made them the winner of the Toronto pool, although in a true double-elimination tournament the two would square off for one more game to decide the champion. But, that’s basically a moot point, as both teams earned a berth in the next round.
One myth that was debunked during our time north of the border was my prior impression that Canadians are much nicer than Americans. Not only did I find out that this is not true, I came away feeling that Toronto fans may actually be almost as obnoxious as their counterparts in Boston and New York.
Their primary targets were Adam Dunn, apparently for having the nerve to defend himself against completely undeserved criticism from Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi; Ted Lilly, because Toronto’s former manager, John Gibbons, was foolish enough to challenge the former Jays pitcher in the runway between the dugout and the clubhouse and came away from the confrontation with a bloody nose; Derek Jeter, due to the fact that he’s the captain of a franchise that’s clearly more successful than theirs; and Frank Catalanotto, because he was only good enough to make an Italy team that embarrassed Canada by knocking them out of the Classic. This, of course, doesn’t even include the obvious name-related insults hurled at Italian players Michael Costanzo and Andrea DeSantis.
On the other hand, Venezuelan fans—who, by the way, greatly out-numbered fans of Team USA—had a much better reason for booing Magglio Ordonez and Victoria Mata. Ordonez is a supporter of Hugo Chavez, and Mata—the country’s sports minister who threw out the first pitch prior to last Sunday’s game—is one of the unpopular Venezuelan president’s minions. It was interesting being there and getting to ask the opinions of these very proud people first-hand.
The Rogers Centre, although built prior to Major League Baseball’s wave of modern stadiums, was a pretty nice place to witness a game. Our seats were seventh row and just to the first base side of directly behind home plate, so I have to admit it would have been difficult to not be in awe considering that. One unique thing about the park that Smitty, DJ and I got a real kick out of were the vending machines that dispensed 20-year old packs of baseball cards, with the original gum still in them. We didn’t chew the gum, but I got a John Smoltz rookie card in the first pack that I bought.
While the USA-Canada game last Saturday was quite exciting, the most memorable World Baseball Classic action we witnessed was on television. On Tuesday night, on our way back to the hotel after Venezuela’s second victory over Italy, DJ and I stopped off at a bar to watch the final few innings of the elimination game between the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands.
During one of the Dutch team’s frequent celebrations—they even poured out of the dugout when Gene Kingsale, representing the potential winning run, went from first to third on Carlos Marmol’s throwing error—I noticed the name Meulens on the back of one of their jerseys. When I commented to DJ that it must be former Yankee Hensley Meulens, he didn’t know who that was. This was a little surprising considering that DJ’s knowledge of the game–despite his characterization by this site’s fearless leader as “a figment of the evil mind created when Smitty and Chas get together”– rivals that of almost anyone I know. Then, following the Netherlands’ exciting come-from-behind 11th inning victory, we opened the packs of cards we had purchased from the Rogers Centre vending machine earlier in the evening. One of DJ’s cards was none other than Curacao native Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens.
I find the concept of international baseball to be pretty exciting, but there are a number of factors preventing the Classic from truly rising to the level of a tournament to determine the champions of the world. That discussion, however, will have to wait for a later post.
I still don’t believe in DJ.. He needs to show himself.
A son of Meulens on the Netherlands is not out of the realm of possibility. Curacao is part of the Dutch Antilles.
Right. I confirmed that it was Meulens himself. He’s on the coaching staff. He’s also the hitting coach for Fresno, the Giants’ AAA team and runs the Dutch Antilles Baseball Academy.
DJ will have to remain a mystery for now.
Alright, I just can’t keep it a secret anymore. I’ve got to unburden myself. DJ stands for Derek Jeter!!! This was Smitty’s way of paying tribute to his new hero without having to admit it.
Helmet sticker!!!!!!
Chas – I will deal with you later… 🙂
Helmet Sticker for that ??? Did Chas actually slip you a $20 or did he pick up a Bobby Orr shirt for you in Toronto? Either way, it looks like Casey is handing out Helmet Stickers out faster then they were handing out the answers to the music history course at Florida State.
Does this mean the Helmet Stickers are going to be put on probation??
Why? Because you disagree with one? Yeah – that makes sense.
Cmon Smitty, that was pretty funny. If you had said the same thing about me and Dustin Pedroia or Kevin Youkilis, I wouldn’t have disputed your helmet sticker. Although, we probably wouldn’t have made up a friend with the initials DP or KY.
I know.
Wah! Wah! Wah!
Disputing helmet stickers has got to be as dishonorable as pining for one. 🙂
I was actually kidding.. My apologies for not putting a smile at the end of my comment.. It was funny. Not as funny though as me calling the real DJ, Derek for the rest of his life. You bringing up the use of DP and KY makes me glad we had separate hotel rooms.. 🙂
As for disagreeing.. Geez Wally, I thought it was okay to disagree on here. 🙂
Why is it a reflection on me that the parents of Red Sox players have sick minds?
Chas – I love the idea of the World Classic. But it seems like a distraction with Spring Training going on. Ever any talk about doing this a little earlier? I think starting it second week of February (after Super Bowl) might be more enticing to the American audience.
Everyone seems to think the timing isn’t good, but it’s the only possible time. I’m pretty sure there’s no way they would do it earlier. I do think there has to be a better way, but no one’s come up with it yet. I’m working on that, though.
The Dutch Antilles Baseball Academy – one of the former players from the summer collegiate team I work with came through the Academy. Gino has even commented on the site a couple of times.
By the way, Smitty, I don’t think your comparison of Casey to Wally was warranted. He didn’t chide you for disagreeing. It was for suggesting such a drastic measure as putting helmet stickers on probation because you disagreed. In fact, I think he just didn’t get that you were making a joke in reference to your Florida State comparison. So, in fact, maybe the comparison was warranted. 🙂
Yeah – I found the measures a tad over the top. I got the Fla. State reference. But I was trying to remember the last time I distributed a helmet sticker, and none came to mind. Is anyone keeping track of helmet stickers? I hope not.
Back to the Fla. St. reference – it is an amusing comment with some degree of originality. But given the situation it seemed so…so…contrived? Yeah that’s it contrived. It’s almost like Smitty has a piece of paper in his George Costanza-size wallet. And on that he scrawls these nifty little statements in anticipation of using them on the Pine. It’s like he’s got an itchy trigger finger and can’t wait to use ’em. Like he’s thinking – Chas got a Helmet Sticker! No fair – I gotta get one. And then breaks out the paper thinking here’s a good one. 🙂
A helmet sticker comment has gotta be spontaneous. Right? It’s like you can’t set out to make a play that gets you on the highlight reel – it just happens within the flow of the game. 🙂
Now that I’ve read this whole thread, I’m not sure which bothers me more – having people think Chas and Smitty made me up, or having people think I am Derek Jeter. If I was going to model myself after anyone, it would be the best baseball player in the world, Wheaton College’s own Chris Donorfia. Italy in 2013!
HE’S ALIVE!!!!!!!
HE SPEAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who said I’m a “he”? Have you ever seen Donorfia?
Oh boy! I guess I made the classic mistake of assuming – and we all know what that does.
But wait Smitty and Chas keep using masculine pronouns when referring to you.
🙂
Chas – I am not sure of which I should be more insulted about . The fact that Casey referred to me as George Constanza, that I would actually have a wallet George Constanza – like or the fact that I have some notebook/list of statements ready to go.. 🙂
George Constanza was a Yankees fan.. Now it is on ..:-)