World Baseball Classic & Mat Germain

BaseballBiz On Deck

Mat Germain – Baseball Analyst visits to talk about the World Baseball Classic

• A lot of heart and hustle from some of the younger teams
• Quick explanation of the 20 teams participating in the World Baseball Classic (WBC)
• Classic normally runs on a 3 year schedule
• WBC – comparison with the MLB All-Star game
• Canada’s & other countries showing some pride in a sport that is not normally at the height of popularity.
• Mark shows interest in star-studded Venezuela, Jose Altuve, Ronald Acuna Jr., Santander and extra seasoning with David Peralta & Salvador Perez
• Mat points to Italy’s pitcher, Joe LaSorsa and his enthusiasm and passion on the mound against the Netherlands. Getting out of a bases loaded inning
• Randy Arozarena & Will Smith – what happened with the fist pump
• Canada has a potent lineup and will face USA. Young pitcher, Mitch Bratt will be facing White Sox, Lance Lynn. Canadian team - Injuries & MIA included: Mike Sororka, James Paxton & Jameson Taillon.
• China takes a beating from Canada with a 22 to 2 score. Surely they could
• WBC fashion – Great Britain uniforms falling apart during the game
• Should the WBC be schedule d in the middle of the MLB season.
• Mat recommends that the MLB All-Star game take place at the beginning of the MLB season. Players would be healthy and ready to go.
• MiLB games will be played on MLB.tv – Shaky cameras
• Who is this Mitch Bratt pitching for Canada – Texas Rangers organization?
• Mat’s list of who to watch: Jordan Qsar, Osleivis Basabe, Vidal Brujan, Kyle Manzardo, Trevor Brigden, Joe LaSorsa. Top performance goes to Luke Raley
• Josh Lowe may be the biggest star in Rays Spring training camp
• Rays being sent down include: Colby White, Curtis Mead, Basabe, Greg Jones & Taj Bradley
• If they move Shane Baz to 60 day IL it will open a spot on the Ray’s Roster
• Rays not returning: David Peralta, Kevin Kiermaier, Mike Zunino,
• Watching the new rules in play on the pitch clock, larger bases, no shift and more
• Reduction of “Time on Your Feet” for players.
• Projections on Canada v USA game

Mat Germain can be found on Twitter @Mat_Germain_
BaseballBiz can be found on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts & @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter
Please like, follow and remark. Let us know your thoughts about the show. DM Mark on Twitter @TheBaseballBiz
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"