Friday, March 10, 2006

World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic is in full swing. All four pools have started playing. Pool One has already produced two teams to advance to the next round: Japan and Korea. Mexico of Pool B has advanced to round 2. USA will play South Africa today and will have to win to advance to play Mexico (who they beat 2-0), Japan, and Korea. Puerto Rico is doing very well.They beat Panama 2-1 in their first game and then they smashed the Netherlands (who the heck was on the Netherlands team and how did they assign players?) 8-3. Needless to say with their 2-0 record in round 1, they advance to round 2. Puerto Rico is looking really sharp, they have great defense and strong offense- a very good combination. Puerto Rico is a dominant force, and play Cuba tonight. They beat Cuba, and Cuba goes home. Puerto Rico will also square off with the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols(Dominica) and Yadier Molina (Puerto Rico of course) will face off in round two. Dominica has a strong team, they defeated Venezuela 11-5 their first game. The stakes are higher and things are getting much more exciting. I will be cheering for Team USA to kick butt, and watching avidly Puerto Rico as they take on Cuba. When Puerto Rico plays Dominica, I will cheer Pujols on good saves and hits, but ultimately I will root for the home of my ancestors; Puerto Rico. Third (or second-depends on how you look at it) generation Puerto Rican in the states. My grandfather was born in Newy York, NY a month after his family imigrated there in 1930. So my family hasn't been here that long. This is my mothers side. Dad's side? Don't know much, just that they have been in St. Louis for some time- definately longer than my mom's family has been in the states. So Go Team USA!! Go Puerto Rico!!

8 comments:

gimlet said...

Am currently watching the Puerto Ricans beating up on the Cubans 8-1 in the top of the 5th, ha ha! That's what you get, Castro!

Got to see a smidgen of the USA vs SA game at the PT office. Should have stayed there instead of going back and having a lousy end of the day at work.

Speaking of the Netherlands, they managed a no-hitter against Panama. Yeah, neither country is known as a baseball powerhouse, but hey.

froggiegirl said...

Does Puerto Rico and the USA ever play each other? Who do you root for then?

JBear1982 said...

Puerto Rico might play USA if they both advance to the semifinals- both teams have decent chances of doing so. Puerto Rico has the better record right now w/ 3-0. Umm, I am going to say I would root for Puerto Rico b/c Molina is playing for them, and there are no Cardinals on USA. Plus the fact that I'm Puerto Rican makes me want to root for Puerto Rico that much more.

gimlet said...

So if Puerto Rico ever invaded the US, whose side would you be on, then, huh? Huh????

JBear1982 said...

One, Puerto Rico has no where near the man power the states has, and two, the US is a protectorate of Puerto Rico, invading the states would be like biting the hand that feeds you. Silly boy!

Merc Man said...

I read somewhere that there are more Puerto Ricans living in New York City than in San Juan. If I remember correctly, there are three distinct political groups in PR: those favoring statehood, those wanting independence, and another group wanting to preserve the status quo.
Weren't one of the gangs in West Side Story Puerto Rican?

gimlet said...

Hmmm, so they've ALREADY invaded New York City! I'm a little curious as to why they'd want the Pond Scum Mets, but owell.

About all I know about PR is that import drag racing is huge there, especially Mazda rotaries. In fact, I think the grudge matches are typically rotaries vs pistons, as opposed to the traditional Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge here in the US.

JBear1982 said...

The Sharks were Puerto Rican. My parents claim that West Side Story is their story. Dad, the gringo, (a Jet) marring Mom, Puerto Rican ( a shark). So where do I fit in? New York is a very popular area for Puerto Ricans. Mi bisabuela and her family moved to Queens when they left Puerto Rico. Mom lived in Spanish Harlem for a year. Very dangerous part of NYC.