2017 World Baseball Classic [Part 4]
Now for the neighbors of the USA!
Canadaaaaaaa has been in all 4 WBCs, with decreasing results. The initial competition saw them win 2 games in the first round and just barely miss the cut to advance...then they didn't win any games the next time up, having to qualify for the 2013 battle where they only won one game and were eliminated yet again early. 2017 was yet another shutout against Canada, where the Americans, Dominicans and Colombians overpowered them to a combined 21-3.
Freeman is a fantastic option, with a glorious 10 on-base, solid chart, perfect +1 defense at first base and nice third base coverage. You got options with Freddie.
Only 3 players on Canada that put in work in the big leagues in 2017, and Albers is an example of why there weren't more. Andrew lacks the length to justify that poor control.
Pivetta has the same innings issue, but with the added bonus of even worse control. Look elsewhere from Canada to fill out your rotation.
...And then there's Mexico.
Ho boy, what a mess 2017 was for those guys. They kicked off the competition with a 10-9 loss to Italy that saw them blow a 4 run lead in the bottom of the 9th. Then they were victimized like everyone else in their pool by Puerto Rico.
Now, the other 3 pools in the WBC had nice, clean standings. Someone swept their way to victory with a 3-0 record. Then there was the runner up going 2-1 to also advance. The two losers in each bracket went 1-2 and 0-3. Easy to rank them...Pool D however had to be different. Puerto Rico went 3-0 and easily advanced...but in the final game, Mexico threw a monkey wrench into the works by beating Venezuela 11-9. So instead of someone advancing with Puerto Rico with a 2-1 record, Italy, Mexico and Venezuela all tied with a 1-2 record. Don't worry though, there are tie breakers...but only 2 teams get to play a tie-breaker...someone has to get cut.
Previous rules would state run differential determines who is out. Thus, Mexico (-4 RD) wins, or at least gets to play Italy (-6) while Venezuela (-12) is definitely out.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuut...rules were changed in 2017, in no small part because of a most memorable altercation in a previous tournament that saw Mexico and Canada in a brawl on American soil all because Canada was trying to run up the score late in case they needed the run differential in a tie breaker (They didn't. Both teams were eliminated after round 1)
Instead, the tie-breaking was determined by runs allowed (vs the other tied teams), and while Mexico allowed fewer runs, they also played fewer innings and thus the RA average screwed them over. General confusion (the previously mentioned 9th inning failure against Italy; if no outs were recorded, does it count for the inning total when determining the RA average?) coupled with certain calculation errors led to Mexico thinking they were somewhat safe when in reality they were out. Venezuela, who had the aforementioned last place RD, ended up winning the tie-breaker game vs Italy while Mexico cried foul and filed an unsuccessful protest.
Now, the other 3 pools in the WBC had nice, clean standings. Someone swept their way to victory with a 3-0 record. Then there was the runner up going 2-1 to also advance. The two losers in each bracket went 1-2 and 0-3. Easy to rank them...Pool D however had to be different. Puerto Rico went 3-0 and easily advanced...but in the final game, Mexico threw a monkey wrench into the works by beating Venezuela 11-9. So instead of someone advancing with Puerto Rico with a 2-1 record, Italy, Mexico and Venezuela all tied with a 1-2 record. Don't worry though, there are tie breakers...but only 2 teams get to play a tie-breaker...someone has to get cut.
Previous rules would state run differential determines who is out. Thus, Mexico (-4 RD) wins, or at least gets to play Italy (-6) while Venezuela (-12) is definitely out.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuut...rules were changed in 2017, in no small part because of a most memorable altercation in a previous tournament that saw Mexico and Canada in a brawl on American soil all because Canada was trying to run up the score late in case they needed the run differential in a tie breaker (They didn't. Both teams were eliminated after round 1)
Instead, the tie-breaking was determined by runs allowed (vs the other tied teams), and while Mexico allowed fewer runs, they also played fewer innings and thus the RA average screwed them over. General confusion (the previously mentioned 9th inning failure against Italy; if no outs were recorded, does it count for the inning total when determining the RA average?) coupled with certain calculation errors led to Mexico thinking they were somewhat safe when in reality they were out. Venezuela, who had the aforementioned last place RD, ended up winning the tie-breaker game vs Italy while Mexico cried foul and filed an unsuccessful protest.
The man who could cut you with his eyes (see previous brawl clip) still proves to be a respectable option at closer. While I shy away from closers who give up doubles, the rest of his chart and control are more befitting of his price tag.
Decent, but only 5 inning means you can do better.
Gallegos isn't bad, you just won't see him in many successful bullpens either. Maybe if he had 2 innings, a higher control or strikeouts or no doubles. As is, you can pass.
Adrian Gonzalez is a very misleading name. With the Padres years, you're getting a solid player. Other than that, avoid.
Ho-hum. Pitchers with control of 3 and 17+ baserunners are a dime a dozen.
Not a lot of variety on the chart with just a 7 for on-base means he's a safe pass.
The Orioles logo for a pitcher should be your first sign. One look at his chart and you'll agree that even 10pt is overpaying. You should get an extra 100pt for your budget if you put that in your bullpen.
Good control, nice chart, solid strikeout totals...but I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want Osuna for personal reasons...
Good strikeout chart and no doubles. If you wanna take a chance with a control of 2, I'd understand.
There are better control 4 pitchers out there.
Control of 6 with no doubles means I'll give you a look for my bullpen even with 16+ baserunners. Just a look because that price tag makes me concerned.
It's an ok chart. I'm not ok with that control.
On-base of 5 and slow, but just 10pt for a guy who can go deep at 14+ means he might find a place as the final player on a roster.
