US lineup is a joke compared to what they could field.
Also, no Jeter makes me sad. I know that first of all he's hurt, and secondly if they sent their best team he's probably not starting anyway, but my point is it makes me sad.
__________________ "I don't get why Richards looks like he's dying at the end of every shift, he doesn't do anything." -Crease
The US line-up is a joke and half the Pirates participating in this stupid thing weren't even born in the countries they're representing.
This tournament has a long ways to go before it's worth paying attention to.
__________________
“The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile, but that it is indifferent. If we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death, our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.” - Stanley Kubrick
The reason I cant take this seriously has nothing to do with the best American players not being there(other than Stanton and Braun. It is the fact that there is a pitch count limit. Makes it a sham imo.
The US line-up is a joke and half the Pirates participating in this stupid thing weren't even born in the countries they're representing.
This tournament has a long ways to go before it's worth paying attention to.
If by "half," you mean Grilli and Taillon, then yes, but Taillon is a dual citizen because of his parents, so that's not exactly illegitimate.
Serious international baseball is essentially being started from scratch, so I don't know what you're expecting. Germany and Italy's teams in IIHF competitions were loaded with naturalized Canadians until shortly after the turn of the century. It shouldn't be shocking that the Italian baseball team has a similar problem.
If by "half," you mean Grilli and Taillon, then yes, but Taillon is a dual citizen because of his parents, so that's not exactly illegitimate.
Serious international baseball is essentially being started from scratch, so I don't know what you're expecting. Germany and Italy's teams in IIHF competitions were loaded with naturalized Canadians until shortly after the turn of the century. It shouldn't be shocking that the Italian baseball team has a similar problem.
Also, Italy's citizenship laws are incredibly liberal. Basically anybody who can trace their ancestry back to Italy can get an Italian passport. It's lame that the organizers haven't required people to get the passport to play (Grilli can obviously afford to pay for somebody to do the paperwork) but ...hey, take it up with the Italians if you don't like a fifth-generation Italian-American playing for Italy.
Also, Italy's citizenship laws are incredibly liberal. Basically anybody who can trace their ancestry back to Italy can get an Italian passport. It's lame that the organizers haven't required people to get the passport to play (Grilli can obviously afford to pay for somebody to do the paperwork) but ...hey, take it up with the Italians if you don't like a fifth-generation Italian-American playing for Italy.
Not sure if you follow soccer, but Mario Balotelli had to wait for his 18th birthday to get his Italian citizenship even though he was born and raised there. Is it because he was born to Ghanaian immigrants?
Not sure if you follow soccer, but Mario Balotelli had to wait for his 18th birthday to get his Italian citizenship even though he was born and raised there. Is it because he was born to Ghanaian immigrants?
Yes (and also because he was adopted).
Most European countries follow jus sanguinis citizenship policies, basically citizenship by blood/descent. Immigrants and their children can become citizens, but often not at birth unless certain conditions apply (such as a prolonged period of legal residence). Stephan El Shaarawy has an Italian mother, so he was a citizen from birth.
Another good example is Ezequiel Schleotto, whose great-great-grandfather was from Liguria, so he holds an Italian passport and now plays for Italy.
Last edited by HabsByTheBay: 02-25-2013 at 05:29 AM.
Anyone know where to find full games for this tournament? I see on the main website they have fullgames for the qualifiers but nothing for the recent ones.
Do I just have to wait to watch them until they get uploaded on their website or am I out of luck and they won't put the main tournament there?
*Edit : Asking because I really like this tournament but don't have cable anymore. Most entertaining baseball IMO. The atmosphere is just awesome.
A real shocker. I know the Netherlands team is made up of players from Curaco but still.
Of the European countries The Netherlands is fairly legitimate since there are actually a good amount of mainland players on that roster.
Without going through the roster player by player the Antilles don't offer up that much and Curaçao is an island of only about 140,000 people. They're probably the best 'hope' of the sport ever grabbing any sort of foothold in Europe.
