[Other Sport] World Baseball Classic & Major League Baseball 2023

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 9, 2023

With Spring Training in full swing, and the World Baseball Classic having started, now is the time to get excited about the season ahead, & a summer full of games.

My Padres have done some serious business this off season - but how have your teams done, & what do you expect from them this year?

Undoubtedly, the likes of Houston, Philly, NY, SD, and LA will be fighting it out at the top...but will we see anyone else make a surprise run for the pennant?

Absolutely buzzing for opening weekend.

As for the WBC, Ive just watched a dominant display from Japan over China, winning 8-1. Ohtani obviously the star of the Sho

in the Tokyo Dome, with 41,000 fans filling the stands today.
Great performances from Holland & Australia too yesterday - but all eyes here will be on Great Britain vs USA on Saturday night / Sunday morning. Not expecting much tbh, but you never know!

If anyone is interested in the WBC, BT Sport will be showing some live games I believe, and MLB.com will be streaming some games free (as per Japan v China just now) Theres also free radio commentary on MLB.com aswell....Italy currently playing Cuba.

See you at the ballpark!

PTC Gull · Mar 9, 2023

Having watched the Braves crush the Mets in a Spring Training game last week, with only 2 of a predicted starting roster playing, I am quietly confident that the Braves will win another Divisional title and have a good chance of getting to the World Series again.
Go Braves

Mt.Fuji · Mar 9, 2023

I have a very mixed feeling on WBC. Baseball is quite popular here in Japan, and it's good that sports can entertain people here. However, baseball is an enemy seen from football fans like me. I mean, Japan is traditionally "baseball country", and most kids used to choose baseball, not football at all. Till about 30 years ago, Japan didn't have professional football clubs at all and Japan had never been qualified to FIFA World Cup for long. About 30 years ago, Japanese professional football league named J-League started with only 10 clubs. The number of J-League clubs keeps increasing and it has become 60 clubs now. Japanese football keep improving and growing. As a result, Japan have been qualified to 7 consecutive FIFA World Cups from 1998 to 2022, having reached the knockout stages four times. In the most recent FIFA World Cup (2022 Qatar), Japan defeated Germany and Spain. I'm veeeery happy for it, but still, some kids are choosing baseball. That said, in recent years, kids are choosing football more than baseball. So, I feel football has finally become the number 1 sport here in Japan.

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 9, 2023

Mt.Fuji said:
I have a very mixed feeling on WBC. Baseball is quite popular here in Japan, and it's good that sports can entertain people here. However, baseball is an enemy seen from football fans like me. I mean, Japan is traditionally "baseball country", and most kids used to choose baseball, not football at all. Till about 30 years ago, Japan didn't have professional football clubs at all and Japan had never been qualified to FIFA World Cup for long. About 30 years ago, Japanese professional football league named J-League started with only 10 clubs. The number of J-League clubs keeps increasing and it has become 60 clubs now. Japanese football keep improving and growing. As a result, Japan have been qualified to 7 consecutive FIFA World Cups from 1998 to 2022, having reached the knockout stages four times. In the most recent FIFA World Cup (2022 Qatar), Japan defeated Germany and Spain. I'm veeeery happy for it, but still, some kids are choosing baseball. That said, in recent years, kids are choosing football more than baseball. So, I feel football has finally become the number 1 sport here in Japan.

Visiting Japan is on my bucket-list - and getting to a baseball game there is a must. Looking at the fans today in Tokyo they are still OBSESSED with the game - and the atmosphere (compared to a US ballpark) was more like a football stadium, with constant singing & chanting throughout the 9 innings.
What an amazing country to visit, & watch pro sport...whichever sport it is!

BTW - Welcome to NSC!

Badger · Mar 9, 2023

I'm quietly confident about the Jays making another push for the playoffs this season. I still haven't got over the SHAMBLES of thowing away an 8-1 lead to lose the Wildcard series last year.

Mt.Fuji · Mar 9, 2023

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Visiting Japan is on my bucket-list - and getting to a baseball game there is a must. Looking at the fans today in Tokyo they are still OBSESSED with the game - and the atmosphere (compared to a US ballpark) was more like a football stadium, with constant singing & chanting throughout the 9 innings.
What an amazing country to visit, & watch pro sport...whichever sport it is!

BTW - Welcome to NSC!

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate baseball and baseball is still very popular here and many are obsessed with baseball. Baseball is a big culture here in Japan, so visiting a baseball stadium to see a baseball game will be a fun experience for people from abroad too. However, I want to see Japan win FIFA World Cup before I die and I think more kids will need to choose football instead of baseball. For the goal, WBC making baseball more popular in Japan is not a good thing

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 10, 2023

Badger said:
I'm quietly confident about the Jays making another push for the playoffs this season. I still haven't got over the SHAMBLES of thowing away an 8-1 lead to lose the Wildcard series last year.

Yep, I can see them being up there this year for sure. With the likes of Vlad, Bichette, Springer etc, it would be a surprise if they didn't take step forward this season.
And from a personal POV I hope they do - the Jays were the first team we saw live back in 2005, & Ive liked them (& the Maple Leafs) ever since...such a great city too.

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 10, 2023

They may only be warm up games, but Team GB losing to the Spring Training squads of Milwaukee & KC (8-2 & 8-1 respectively), does not bode well for the opening games of the WBC this weekend vs USA & Canada

Will be cheering on the team regardless though!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/baseball/64880237

Simster · Mar 10, 2023

Mt.Fuji said:
I have a very mixed feeling on WBC. Baseball is quite popular here in Japan, and it's good that sports can entertain people here. However, baseball is an enemy seen from football fans like me. I mean, Japan is traditionally "baseball country", and most kids used to choose baseball, not football at all. Till about 30 years ago, Japan didn't have professional football clubs at all and Japan had never been qualified to FIFA World Cup for long. About 30 years ago, Japanese professional football league named J-League started with only 10 clubs. The number of J-League clubs keeps increasing and it has become 60 clubs now. Japanese football keep improving and growing. As a result, Japan have been qualified to 7 consecutive FIFA World Cups from 1998 to 2022, having reached the knockout stages four times. In the most recent FIFA World Cup (2022 Qatar), Japan defeated Germany and Spain. I'm veeeery happy for it, but still, some kids are choosing baseball. That said, in recent years, kids are choosing football more than baseball. So, I feel football has finally become the number 1 sport here in Japan.

As someone who likes baseball, football (and a ton of other sports), I don't really see why there isn't room for all of them.

Baseball is a great game. Of course it is, we invented it.

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 10, 2023

Simster said:
As someone who likes baseball, football (and a ton of other sports), I don't really see why there isn't room for all of them.

Baseball is a great game. Of course it is, we invented it.

Funny you mention that as ive been reading a bit about the early days of the game over here - and found this page about the time we were "World Champions" in 1938, & the replica jersey produced to commemorate it.

https://hypebeast.com/2011/2/nick-s...8-world-champion-british-baseball-team-jersey

Maybe we should be wearing the jersey from that era as good luck this year!

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 10, 2023

Fantastic game between Japan & Korea going on right now - radio commentary available on mlb.com

BBassic · Mar 10, 2023

Been thinking about getting into baseball recently, I've no clue how to follow it though beyond checking the scores online.

Any tips?

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 10, 2023

BBassic said:
Been thinking about getting into baseball recently, I've no clue how to follow it though beyond checking the scores online.

Any tips?

If you have BT Sport, they show lots of MLB games. The MLB website will occasionally have a free live game as well, so always worth checking on there.
The BBC will be showing the London Series again this year too. Im not a tech person, but Im sure someone here will be able to give you a heads up on how and where to also stream games if you dont have access on TV.

How to get into the game though? I only got into it properly last year after a few years of liking it from afar. Use the MLB website to check out all the teams, decide who you want to support, and then take a look at all the highlight reels & game recaps they archive on there. It'll give you a good idea of how it all works / rules etc - and they also have a sub section on there with short films / documentaries covering all sorts of things to do with the game. You'll pick it up in no time.

Its also worth getting along to a local game during the summer as well - it will help give you a better understanding for sure...and its also a great way to chill out for a couple of hours. If you're based down here, Brighton play at Waterhall next to the Rugby Club....I will post the 2023 fixtures below.

I've been a big NFL fan for almost 40 years, but I look forward to the baseball more than that now - such a great game.

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 10, 2023

Klaas · Mar 10, 2023

Quite a few people have asked on here how well known Mitoma is in Japan. This is the guy people get excited by.

BBassic · Mar 10, 2023

Fignon's Ponytail said:
If you have BT Sport, they show lots of MLB games. The MLB website will occasionally have a free live game as well, so always worth checking on there.
The BBC will be showing the London Series again this year too. Im not a tech person, but Im sure someone here will be able to give you a heads up on how and where to also stream games if you dont have access on TV.

How to get into the game though? I only got into it properly last year after a few years of liking it from afar. Use the MLB website to check out all the teams, decide who you want to support, and then take a look at all the highlight reels & game recaps they archive on there. It'll give you a good idea of how it all works / rules etc - and they also have a sub section on there with short films / documentaries covering all sorts of things to do with the game. You'll pick it up in no time.

Its also worth getting along to a local game during the summer as well - it will help give you a better understanding for sure...and its also a great way to chill out for a couple of hours. If you're based down here, Brighton play at Waterhall next to the Rugby Club....I will post the 2023 fixtures below.

I've been a big NFL fan for almost 40 years, but I look forward to the baseball more than that now - such a great game.

Amazing, thank you!

I picked up Out of The Park Baseball on Steam a little while ago during a sale (I was told it's Football Manager but baseball) so will actually play that too - that'll help out with rules and the like.

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 10, 2023

BBassic said:
Amazing, thank you!

I picked up Out of The Park Baseball on Steam a little while ago during a sale (I was told it's Football Manager but baseball) so will actually play that too - that'll help out with rules and the like.

No worries! I have a game on my phone called Baseball 9 that I downloaded. Probably the best thing I've used to pick up the rules and nuances of the game tbh!
Watch baseball movies as well - great way to get into the sport.

Fignon's Ponytail · Mar 10, 2023

Klaas said:
Quite a few people have asked on here how well known Mitoma is in Japan. This is the guy people get excited by.

Not just in Japan...one of my favourite players! Got a soft spot for the Angels, and he is the main reason. By far the best player in the world right now

Brovion · Mar 10, 2023

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Funny you mention that as ive been reading a bit about the early days of the game over here - and found this page about the time we were "World Champions" in 1938, & the replica jersey produced to commemorate it.

https://hypebeast.com/2011/2/nick-s...8-world-champion-british-baseball-team-jersey

View attachment 158122

Maybe we should be wearing the jersey from that era as good luck this year!

Blimey, I did not know that. Makes losing at Belo Horizonte in the 1950 World Cup a bit more palatable!

Just on those Brighton fixtures, are there two teams then? Brewers and Jets? If so why is that?

Klaas · Mar 10, 2023

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Not just in Japan...one of my favourite players! Got a soft spot for the Angels, and he is the main reason. By far the best player in the world right now

I'm afraid I don't follow him at all (only baseball I do take a passing interest in is the fortunes of Hiroshima Carp) but there is no way you could not know who he is here.
Is he as good as Ichiro was?

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