The World Baseball Classic is coming to Taipei Nov 15 - 19.
Chinese Taipei are the favourites against visiting nations Thailand, Phillipines and New Zealand. I am sure there are a few kiwi expats reading this so it would great to see you at a game or two.
To understand why NZ is there and how this world cup qualifier works then have a read of this great in depth article with a good Q & A section at the end.
I bet if you asked a random Australian to name one player on the team, they couldn’t.[/quote]
Grant Balfour’s pretty awesome the past few years.
But since MLB players were banned to participate in international games (except the MLB ran WBC, created after baseball was cancelled from the Olympics), the players for national teams were mostly minor league players so a lot less well known.
I bet if you asked a random Australian to name one player on the team, they couldn’t.[/quote]
Grant Balfour’s pretty awesome the past few years.
[/quote]
I had to look him up. Never heard of him.
A quick look through the sports section of a couple of Aust newspapers shows no mention of baseball in any form whatsoever. As a sport, it simply doesn’t register for Australians.
A quick look through the sports section of a couple of Aust newspapers shows no mention of baseball in any form whatsoever. As a sport, it simply doesn’t register for Australians.[/quote]
Even when it’s Australian’s knowledge in baseball that gave its national cricket team an edge over the rest of the common wealth?
A quick look through the sports section of a couple of Aust newspapers shows no mention of baseball in any form whatsoever. As a sport, it simply doesn’t register for Australians.[/quote]
Even when it’s Australian’s knowledge in baseball that gave its national cricket team an edge over the rest of the common wealth? [/quote]
Hardly think a reverse hand catch technique was the key to Aussie dominance in the 80’s. If the Kiwis make the semis I’ll try and make the Saturday game. Haka anyone?
[quote=“the bear”]
Hardly think a reverse hand catch technique was the key to Aussie dominance in the 80’s. If the Kiwis make the semis I’ll try and make the Saturday game. Haka anyone?[/quote]
If what Mike Young brought to the Australian cricket wasn’t useful, then there wouldn’t have created the position of “fielding coach”. And just the 80s? I think the baseball influence in cricket is still going on today. And it’s spreading to other countries such as South Africa (also a decent baseball power) and India.
[quote=“hansioux”][quote=“the bear”]
Hardly think a reverse hand catch technique was the key to Aussie dominance in the 80’s. If the Kiwis make the semis I’ll try and make the Saturday game. Haka anyone?[/quote]
If what Mike Young brought to the Australian cricket wasn’t useful, then there wouldn’t have created the position of “fielding coach”. And just the 80s? I think the baseball influence in cricket is still going on today. And it’s spreading to other countries such as South Africa (also a decent baseball power) and India.[/quote]
maybe but it was equally the demands of one day cricket that forced everyone to finesse a whole bunch of fielding techniques; granted a lot of the techniques came across from baseball.
[quote=“the bear”][quote=“hansioux”][quote=“the bear”]
Hardly think a reverse hand catch technique was the key to Aussie dominance in the 80’s. If the Kiwis make the semis I’ll try and make the Saturday game. Haka anyone?[/quote]
If what Mike Young brought to the Australian cricket wasn’t useful, then there wouldn’t have created the position of “fielding coach”. And just the 80s? I think the baseball influence in cricket is still going on today. And it’s spreading to other countries such as South Africa (also a decent baseball power) and India.[/quote]
maybe but it was equally the demands of one day cricket that forced everyone to finesse a whole bunch of fielding techniques; granted a lot of the techniques came across from baseball.[/quote]
The Australians were known as a great fielding side long before he joined as coach.
there is no reason cricket nations and baseball nations cannot do well in each sport.
for baseball you need hitters (which can be found in spades in cricket) and a few guys who can throw 90 mph to be a second tier country.
baseball has more minor league teams than any other sport, so if someone from a far away land swings a big stick or throws hard, they will take a chance on the potential. like this guy:
catch technique was the key to Aussie dominance in the 80’s. If the Kiwis make the semis I’ll try and make the Saturday game. Haka anyone?