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Let's hope that last game was atypical and that Canada can hang with the big boys. Canada v Cuba starts at 4:30 AM Eastern. The Red and White will see another lefthanded starting pitcher, no doubt. But will that same pitcher be able to come back on 2 days rest for a potential semi-final matchup against Canada?
Canada's Olympic Baseball Dream: Game 6, vs Cuba | 23 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Paul S - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 05:51 AM EDT (#40650) #
I just tuned in an inning ago, and Gonzalez seems like a lefty El Duque. You don't know why you're not hitting him, you just can't.

Justin Morneau, I pine for you!
_Brian W - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:01 AM EDT (#40651) #
The offense certainly seems to be the weakness of Canada. The announcers keep bringing up the team batting average of .218 coming into the game. Considering the teams we've played, that's horrible.

Dickson left a few pitches up and Cuba usually took advantage of it. It's 4-0 Cuba right now (after 5 and a half).

On the plus side, Japan has just scored 3 in the seventh to tie Taiwan. A Japanese win would clinch a playoff spot for Canada.
_Paul S - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:25 AM EDT (#40652) #
Now, this guy seems like Contreras on a bad day.
_Paul S - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:28 AM EDT (#40653) #
HELL YEAH!

I've never felt national pride when watching baseball before. It's... weird.
_Brian W - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:29 AM EDT (#40654) #
There's the offense! Good to see Calgary represented well :)
_Paul S - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:32 AM EDT (#40655) #
DUCEY TIME!
_Brian W - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:35 AM EDT (#40656) #
That has to be the first time Ducey has been referred to as "a Canadian baseball legend".
_Brian W - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:43 AM EDT (#40657) #
And Canada is through to the medal round with the 4-3 tenth inning win by Japan.
_Paul S - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:44 AM EDT (#40658) #
I was thinking the same thing, Brian.

He was part of the record for most HRs in a game, though. He was also the PTBNL traded for himself. And, that's about it. ST. KITTS REPREZENT!
_Paul S - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 06:50 AM EDT (#40659) #
That pitch was FILTHY. Enriquez is good.
_Brian W - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 07:04 AM EDT (#40660) #
I keep forgetting about the Netherlands. We haven't quite clinched the medal round berth yet. A Netherlands loss to Australia would move Canada through.
_GregJP - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 07:19 AM EDT (#40661) #
Warreb Sawkiw is an illiterate moronic hack. He has to be that bad to make Vic Rauter sound professional. Just because you played professional baseball doesn't mean you should be announcing it. (see Pat Tabler and Joe Carter)
_GregJP - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 07:23 AM EDT (#40662) #
The only way Canada doesn't make it is a 3 way tie between Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. (we have the tiebreaker over Netherlands if it as a two way tie) If it is 3 way, each team will be 1-1, so it will come down to runs against (next tiebreker) Canada is in good shape in terms of runs against unless they are blown out by Australia.
_GregJP - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 07:26 AM EDT (#40663) #
I'm just wondering whose brilliant idea it was to have a starting lineup of almost all left handed hitters. They have no chance against any decent lefty starter.
_Brian W - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 07:33 AM EDT (#40664) #
I believe the all-lefty lineups are a result of not having a whole lot of right handed talent available. I'm not sure what right-handed hitters were available that were left behind, but I don't recall there being very much.

On the plus side, the Cubans don't have any lefty relievers, so we just need to be patient and get the starter out early.

I never thought I would stay up all night to watch a Canadian baseball team, but at least Canada made it interesting. Now it's 5:30 and time for me to get some sleep :)
_Paul S - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 07:33 AM EDT (#40665) #
Sawkiw seemed perfectly exceptional to me.
_G.T. - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 09:05 AM EDT (#40666) #
I believe the all-lefty lineups are a result of not having a whole lot of right handed talent available

Anyone know if on the whole, percentage-wise, we've got significantly more left-handed batters than the US? Our potential World Cup roster would have the same "problem" -- Walker, Stairs, Koskie, Morneau... Terry Puhl was a lefty... is Jason Bay the exception that proves the rule?

I've heard it said often that left-handed golfers are much more prevalent in Canada than they are in the U.S. (Mike Weir being the obvious example), with the explanation being that so many Canadians have a hockey background, as left-handed shooters. Is this also a defining characteristic for us, as a baseball nation?

As for Sawkiw, I've been pleasantly surprised, though I'm not sure if that's just a case of low expectations. Ditto for Vic Rauter.
_Mosely - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 01:32 PM EDT (#40667) #
As for Sawkiw, I've been pleasantly surprised, though I'm not sure if that's just a case of low expectations. Ditto for Vic Rauter.

Sawkiw has definitely improved. He's a little more collected, his points seem to make more sense, and he doesn't do that weird perpetual smile and head shake thing any more. I don't mind him so much any more. You have to admit that the guy is a good looking man.
_Donkit R.K. - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#40668) #
Speaking of awful announcers... I watched a little bit fo the Expos on the Score last night and nearly vomitted. Who are those guys?
_GregJP - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 04:07 PM EDT (#40669) #
You guys must have REALLY low expectations to think Rauter and Salkiw are decent. Salkiw can't speak for more than 15sec without saying something that makes my jaw drop.
I happened to catch Vin Scully a couple of nights ago and the guy is like 75 years old, works alone, and announces circles around 99% of the guys out there. Joe Morgan is also totally brutal.
I think Darren Fletcher was doing colour on the Score telecasts last time I saw one, but I'm not sure who the other guy is.
As far as Warren being a good looking guy, I sincerely hope that you are of the female persuasion.

Right now I think Canada is 50/50 for the bronze, which would probably be appropriate based on the talent level of the competing teams.
_Magpie - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 07:41 PM EDT (#40670) #
so many Canadians have a hockey background, as left-handed shooters

Which I always thought was bogus. "Left handed" shooter in hockey is someone who holds the stick with their right hand and vice versa. The left-handed people I know tend to be "right handed" hockey players.

As a hockey player, I shot "left-handed." I held my goalie stick in my right hand, so go figure. I throw right, I bat right, I play golf right, I write right. When I carry the puck with one hand on the stick, it's the right hand, but that makes me left-handed in hockey?
_Rob - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 07:57 PM EDT (#40671) #
You guys must have REALLY low expectations to think Rauter and Salkiw are decent.

Yeah, no kidding.

Ever hear of the phrase "If you said you were at that party, you weren't really there"?
robertdudek - Sunday, August 22 2004 @ 11:51 AM EDT (#40672) #
People hold hockey sticks with both hands. A lefthanded shooter is one whose stick goes out to his/her left - same as in baseball.
Canada's Olympic Baseball Dream: Game 6, vs Cuba | 23 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.