Hartley Miller's Slap Shots July 31st, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009 03:45 AM
Although the baseball was good, and the organization excellent, the lack of competitiveness, in most Enbridge World Baseball Challenge games stuck out like a 70 inch TV in a 70 square foot room.Fans who pay significant money in any sport want to see high caliber athletes, top-notch entertainment with an element of drama that will keep them on the edge of their seat, in a competitive atmosphere. The dragged out WBC featured terrific pro baseball prospects; however, most games lacked “excitement” which pushed fans away from the ballpark.
A difference of three or more runs decided all 15 round robin contests with not one game resembling a walk off victory. The round robin standings were predictable (note my column from two weeks ago). There was just one significant upset, Germany defeated the USA 6-3, a result that did not affect playoff placement.
In the playoffs, only two of seven games were compelling. In fact, the 8-1 final victory for the Americans over the Germans punctuated the results with an exclamation mark.
The only one run contest of the entire tournament came in the hotly contested one-two playoff game with the USA scoring in the 2nd inning en route to a 1-0 triumph over Canada.
Yes, Germany, thanks to victories over Prince George (9-4), Team B.C. (8-1) and Team Canada (4-2), reached the final. The Germans deserved accolades for their success despite losing convincingly to all three of these opponents during the round robin. In the playoffs, Germany showed it has quality players. However, the Germans lack of pitching depth caught up to them in the championship game.
The USA, advertised as the pre-tournament favorites, did not disappoint. I am sure there will come a day when PG fans will look back and say, “I saw that major leaguer play here”.
Team Canada was solid, and a quality team, although timely hits in its final two games disappeared.
The play of B.C. and the host PG Westcana Electric Axemen was a tier below while the Bahamas looked like they belonged in the local Senior Men’s League.
In truth, the Bahamas brought a group of kids that other teams outscored 99-14 in their seven losses for an average of 14-2 per game. Nice guys, super sports, but not much more than recreation players.
The local Axemen believed they could be a top three team. That dream quickly ended and reality kicked in as the opposition outscored them 44-12 in four straight losses (10-4, 10-2, 15-2 and 9-4) regardless of a 2-0 start. At times, PG made great plays like a circus catch by second baseman Kalen Kirkpatrick in a 15-2 loss to Canada. However, key base running mistakes, crucial physical and mental errors, at vital times, and inconsistent relief pitching, were among the reasons the locals had trouble with the “big boys”.
Meanwhile, BC looked very good at times, yet the team’s three blowout losses by a combined 27-5 margin revealed an inconsistent level of play.
Meanwhile, BC looked very good at times, yet the team’s three blowout losses by a combined 27-5 margin revealed an inconsistent level of play.
The WBC organizing committee is planning to host this event in 2011. The committee’s objective is quite clear- build upon this year. Developing a higher caliber eight-team tournament is a realistic goal. Ideally, future participants could embrace teams such as the USA, Germany and Canada, a bolstered PG/BC host team and four others from a list that includes Cuba, Beijing Tigers, Chinese Taipei, Venezuela, Croatia, and the Reno Astros, all of whom expressed interest in participating this year but were forced to decline. Furthermore, the tournament should last six days and not 10. Round robin play within a four-team division, followed by the quarterfinals, semi-finals and a championship game is a suggested format.
This year's WBC attendance was much lower than I expected. Even the Canada-USA games attracted a ballpark figure of 2000. That would barely fill a third of CN Centre for a hockey game. The three Saturday playoff games and the Sunday final had less (anywhere from 500 to 1500).
Why such a low turnout for international competition?
The excessive sunshine may have been a factor, but I believe the lack of competition did not motivate fans to attend. Let's be blunt.
Four or five competitive games out of 22 do not reflect a great batting average. In addition, the tournament was excessively long and there was a substandard marketing plan with key segments of the local media alienated.
Nevertheless, Prince George is now on the baseball map, thanks in large part to the organizers, who can certainly take a bow for a job well done. However, in the future, to make a statement to the local fans, that this is the "real deal", it is imperative that the competitive balance of future tournaments increase to more than just three teams.
From the quote rack:
Terrell Owens wants Michael Vick to be “fully” reinstated by the NFL. T.O thinks that banishment should be reserved for really serious crimes. Like not passing him the ball.
Americans are evenly split over whether Michael Vick should be allowed to return to professional football. 30 percent say yes, 30 percent say no, and 40 percent say he should be allowed to return but only if he plays for the Detroit Lions.
The last surviving British World War I vet, Harry Patch, died at the age of 111. Apparently he had been heartbroken since that “nice young man” Tom Watson just missed winning the British Open.
Some pervert taped and released a video of ESPN's Erin Andrews undressing in her hotel room. I do suppose we can all be glad he didn't do the same thing to John Madden.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
The number of Internet users in China is now at 338 million – greater than the entire population of the United States. Every one of them is trying to find that video of Erin Andrews naked.
Prison inmates in New York City are suing the Department of Corrections for isolating them for up to 23 hours a day in their cells. The torturous part is that their TV’s only broadcast round-the-clock Knicks games.
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
A Japanese firm has invented a device that turns a dog's bark into words like I'm hungry, play with me and Help! Michael Vick is free.
Thieves in Australia have stolen 58 curling rocks from a truck. Police say it looked like an in the house job done by hacks.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
Bud Selig is pondering the reinstatement of Pete Rose. Rose has promised to stay away from dog fighting.
The Air Force discharged three North Dakota ballistic missile crewmembers who fell asleep while holding classified launch code devices. They had apparently been listening to a Nationals game.
Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian have called it quits----the Saints ordered Bush to turn in his extra meal ticket.
The town manager of Ft. Myers, Florida had this to say about being fired for marrying a porn star--'Why not? Hilary Clinton married one.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Acting on a tip, Connecticut authorities arrested several people on suspicion of running a canary fighting operation. Apparently, one of the bird's corner men was a stool pigeon.
Walter Cronkite’s pallbearers included Mike Wallace, Don Hewitt, and Andy Rooney. No wonder the funeral procession required a lot more than 60 minutes.
So the "cash for clunkers" program went into effect yesterday. Hey, that's the same thing the Mets call my season ticket plan.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York
The Tampa Bay Rays will give fans two tickets to an upcoming game if they undergo a prostate screening. This isn't unique. Toronto Maple Leafs fans are subjected to this procedure numerous times per season, but without getting the free ducats.Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix
Former NHL star Sergei Federov says a Michigan man swindled him out of $43 Million. The accused man was apparently a GM executive who says he simply sold him all his company stock.Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)
And in case you missed it:
The Tennessean has reported that Phil Mickelson and partners have put in a bid to purchase 105 Waffle House locations. Mickelson denies speculation his partners are named Favre and Favre.
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com
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Posted by: realitycheck on July 31 2009 9:59 AM
You must getting really soft in your old age. Why would you let the organizers of this tournament off the hook so easy. Wow, age really gets to all of us, doesn't it?
This tournament had great intentions. I am sure the organizers had high hopes and dreams for this tournament. However, at the end of the day, this tournament was a BIG FLOP. Realistically, it was only a 2 team tournament (Canada & USA) with Germany sneaking in as a fluke.
Why would I as a normal, every day regular working citizen pay $100 to $150 to watch the Bahamas? I am sure most people were thinking like me and decided not to fork out the dough to watch teams like the "Bad News Bahamas".
Lets hope that the tournament organizers work hard at attracting some quality teams. Then and only then will it be a success.