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JakeSuds
15 years ago

Because Beltre wasn’t there.

Chris H.
15 years ago

Did the Dominican team have ANY players with grit, hustle and heart?

(I’m guessing no, since the grit/hustle/heart players tend to be short white middle infielders.)

matt
15 years ago

Craig, you’re looking at it all wrong.  By selfishly opting for surgery, A-Rod left the D.R. team in the lurch.  If A-Rod had manned up and played, the Dominicans would have easily won and Rodriguez would not have failed his (mother’s) homeland.

And Chris, if there was any doubt in your mind that “gritty” was a euphemism for “marginally-talented white guy,” that doubt should have been erased last night when the WBC broadcasters referred to Australia as “gritty” on at least five or six occasions.

Chris H.
15 years ago

Matt: Yeah, I would’ve noticed that if I were, y’know, watching any of the WBC games.  smile

Richard in Dallas
15 years ago

If you need any further support for the notion that the Yankees will have a better year without A-Rod, you need look no further back than the 2004 Texas Rangers.  That was the first year that Tom Hicks had to pay 9+million dollars a year to NOT have him around.  In an interview early in the season, he let it be known that he did not sign up (for $252 million) to play with a bunch of kids.  Well, when the Yankees and Rangers met for the first time that season, on May 21, at the Rangers, the kids he spoke of came to the park to win.  Immediately upon the recording of the final out of the Rangers 9-7 win over the Evil Empire, PA announcer Chuck Morgan (the BEST in the business) flooded the air of the Ballpark in Arlington with a recording of the Who’d “The Kids Are Alright”.  And so went the season series between the two……

TL
15 years ago

I love that argument though, but it only applies to the following year and not any year after that.

Whew, all the championships, division titles, wild card berths Seattle and Texas have collectively since each got rid of A-Rod. I can’t even count that high!

Richard in Dallas
15 years ago

TL – Those of us that have owners that have a small market mentality in the number 5 market have to take solace in the little victories.

Ron
15 years ago

Why can’t the Dutch get any love? They were missing their two best pitchers, and the best player in their history (Andruw Jones) wasn’t there. As bad as he’s been lately, Jones still would have outhit the entire Dutch roster.

The DR still had Ortiz, Reyes, Ramirez, Tatis, etc?

How about we just accept the fact that Europeans can play baseball, and the Dutch team is good. Funny, I didn’t hear the Canadians making a bunch of excuses. They just took thier defeat with grace and humility.