MLB Showdown Obsession

 When you think North America, Mexico tends to be one of the big 3 countries you think of along with Canada and the United States. But while Canada and the USA get grouped together pretty much all the time in WBC pools, Mexico trades places year to year into the Central America dominant pools some years as well. In the inaugural WBC, they matched up with America and Canada (...and South Africa because they had nowhere else to go, I guess). Mexico debuted with a 2-0 loss to the Americans. They rebounded with a 10-4 beatdown of South Africa. With a final matchup with the 2-0 Canadiens looming, Mexico needed to win and win big to advance. Their 9-1 victory not only allowed them to win the pool via tiebreakers, but they beat Canada so bad that their RA/9 average was swelled and they went from 2-0 and ready to advance to eliminated. The second round saw Mexico drop back to back games; 2-1 to South Korea and 6-1 against Japan. At 0-2, they were once again in need of a big win to hopefull...

 Venezuela began the WBC with a tall order: facing off against the powerful Dominican Republic. After losing to them 11-5, they squared off against an Italy team that had just beaten up the Australians 10-0. They flipped the script for both teams and shut the Italians out 6-0. With advancement on the line, they dispatched Australia in a tight 2-0 win that allowed them to advance to round 2. Round 2 began with an unpleasant match with Cuba that saw Venezuela fall 7-2. Elimination was looming as they matched up next against the undefeated Puerto Rico. Venezuela shocked the American territory by winning 6-0, setting up a 4 way tie in pool 2 with all four teams being 1-1. It was win or go home for both Venezuela and the Dominican Republic in their rematch. It was a closer battle this time, but the DR still prevailed 2-1, sending Venezuela home. Johan Santana was still doing classic Johan Santana things in 2006. A great chart with lots of Strikeouts to pair with his blah 3 control. Bobb...

 The Tampa Bay Devil Rays never had a winning season. The moment they cut out the devil and just became the Rays is when they won a pennant and piled up some wins, but from 1998-2007 they always finished below .500 and most always in dead last in the AL East. It wasn't like they were tanking for draft picks, they just had a hard time figuring things out. One easy way to turn a franchise around is to bring in a new manager. The fresh perspective and philosophy can usually pay off in a season or two. At one point, the D-Rays brought in Lou Piniella, and while under his leadership they were able to finally finish in 4th place, but they just couldn't get over the hump. Piniella stepped away and Tampa Bay needed a new man at the helm. Enter Joe Maddon freshly hired from the Angels organization.  The team was still rebuilding when 2006 began. Most of the guys breaking spring camp wouldn't be around when the team finally started winning in 2008, but it allowed Maddon to find his m...