The XXXVI Senior (baseball) World Cup

[argh1]

As Canada & the United States failed to attend the Americas WC quailfier in Columbia in October due to threats against the teams. The WC has expanded from 16 to 18 teams . A special qualifier will be held April 3-13 in Bradenton Fla.
Teams from Canada, The States, Italy, Nigeria, Czech Republic and the 2nd Qualifier from Oceania will play for the additional spots.
It is nice to see that Canada & The States get a second chance. Also why was the tourney in Columbia allowed to take place after teams withdrew after the Departments' of Foriegn Affairs told both teams not to attend due to death & kidnapping threats??
The XXXVI World Cup is Sept. 3-17 in Holland.
I, personally wouldn't mind television of this event but the chances are like the proverbial snowball in hell!

[argh1]

Well, Italy, Nigeria,& Guam declined invitations to this special Qualifying Tournament. So it's just USA, Czech Republic,& Canada playing each other 4 times with the top two moving onto the World Cup of Baseball. With the tourney now being April 9-12
So the chances are looking good for Canada. But nothing is a gimme in sports.
If there are any others out there that enjoy international ball I urge all to contact our sports networks including CBC to show Canada's games at the worlds.(if we do make it) That we do want to see our National Team's efforts. If RSN can show 206(?) MLB games this year. I'm sure they may be able to make room for a handle of MNT games in early September?
No MLB will never release players for this tourney so minor leaguers only ....well except for Japan & Cuba

Canada's roster for special Q event in pdf. (http://66.241.210.162/files/2005WorldCupQualifierTeamRoster.pdf)

[Sigma]

I remember watching some baseball games when I was in the Czech Republic... talk about a fringe sport. ;)

[RJB]

I believe that there is going to be a baseball World Cup either in March of '06 or March of '07. Should be interesting to see how it turns out, because they're going to be using pro players.

[Breakwood]

does anyone have a website for this tournament?

[BC supporter]

I don't believe there is a dedicated website for this tournament. It's only 6 games in Bradenton, Flordia, April 9-11. Participating: Canada, Czech Republic, US. Each team plays four games, with the top two team win-loss records advancing to the World Cup.

Saturday, April 9th
11:00am USA @ Czech Republic
2:30pm Canada @ USA

Sunday, April 10th
11:00am Canada @ Czech Republic
2:30pm USA @ Canada

Monday, April 11th
11:00am Czech Republic @ Canada
2:30pm Czech Republic @ USA

Tuesday, April 12th - Make-up/Rain Day

[DoyleG]

Looking at players on the team that play for Canadian Independent League teams

Edmonton Cracker Cats (NL): Stubby Clapp, Reggie Rivard
Calgary Vipers (NL): Greg Morrison
Winnipeg Goldeyes (NL): Steve Murray, Maxime Poulin
Quebec Capitales (Can-Am): Lee Delfino, Benoit Emond, Olivier Lepine

[argh1]

Canada won it's first game 9-4 against USA, impressive.
There's a game tracker site avialable here:

http://www.usabaseball.com/w_cup_schedule.html

[DoyleG]

Beat the Czech Rep. 11-0 and lost to the US 11-8.

[BC supporter]

Good to see Canada advance to the World Cup in September. Predictable, certainly, but still nice, as was noting that Stubby Clapp played well. BTW, argh1, thanks for posting the game tracker URL -- it proved a pretty useful site for following the tournament.

[argh1]

If sombody could remember to bump this thread around Hallowe'en to remind me of the WC of Baseball......I'd appreciate it.

[ray]

Just a note to those interested in international baseball:
MLB is going to try its own version of the international game next March with the World Baseball Classic. Sixteen teams are to be involved and since this is MLB-sanctioned, Canada's best might indeed be available. It should be very interesting to see how Canada stacks up against teams like the Dominican Republic or Japan.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1115849414739&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064

Toronto Star
Canada set for Baseball Classic
Starting lineup easy to pencil in for March event
U.S., Asia and Latin America to host games

There won't be a whole lot of debate when it comes to naming this Canadian dream team.

Canada will be one of the 16 countries at next March's best-on-best tournament to be called the World Baseball Classic, an event unveiled by Major League Baseball and the players' association yesterday.

As long as they're healthy and interested in playing, the core of Canada's roster is fairly obvious: Justin Morneau at first base; Peter Orr at second; Corey Koskie at third; Larry Walker, Jason Bay and Matt Stairs in the outfield; Rich Harden, Erik Bedard and Jeff Francis in the starting rotation; and Paul Quantrill, Rheal Cormier, Ryan Dempster and Eric Gagne in the bullpen.

"When you think about the core of our team, you don't need rocket science to figure it out," said Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada's director of national teams. "The five or six final roster spots will require some more vigilance and debate on who belongs, but otherwise it's pretty obvious."

But plenty of work remains before the national teams can begin taking shape — yesterday's announcement was short on details, with officials promising the who, where, when and how in July. They did say it will last four rounds, at various sites in the United States, Asia and Latin America.

The teams are likely to be split into four groups, with the top two in each group moving on to the next round. Four semifinalists would emerge, with the winners facing off for world supremacy.

Each country's governing body for baseball is expected to run its entry, which would put Baseball Canada in charge of the national team. Major league officials are also expected to have some input, as it will be their players on the field and their owners absorbing the risk of injury. Specific rules are likely to be put in place on the use of pitchers.

"There are concerns with the pitchers, no question," said Milwaukee Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash.

[argh1]

It will be good to see Canada's best against the worlds best.
Classic is the name eh? Couldn't get the IBAF to give up the World Cup eh?
Will international power house Cuba get invited to a tourney in The States? Is it possible to have an international tournament without Cuba?
During spring training too....I'm all for it....here's hoping that MLB doesn't make it as contrived as the NHL did with the hockey World Cup.