This was my first (but not last) WBC game of 2013. As a
baseball fan, I enjoy watching the WBC, but understand all the trappings and
shortcomings of the event. The timing, the lack of motivation for American
athletes, the health concerns of Major League front offices, and the apathy of
American baseball fans all contribute to the lack of gravity to the overall
event. But it's baseball, in March, and I love seeing players represent their
countries and play baseball on a professional stage.
This matchup was really no contest, as the Netherlands had a
team with several current, former, or near-ready MLB talent in Andruw Jones (ATL, LAD, CWS, NYY),
Xander Bogaerts (BOS), Jonathan Schoop (BAL), Roger Bernadina (WSH) and - my favorite - Andrelton
Simmons (ATL). Schoop homered in this one, Simmons displayed great range at short, and
the Netherlands looked fairly solid overall.
The Aussies, on the other hand, looked terribly overmatched,
like a minor league team trying to keep up with its major league counterpart. I’ve
watched some Australian baseball over the past couple winters, and the talent
level discrepancy is better masked there when they are playing amongst
themselves, rather than talent from other countries.
The most noticeable thing from this game, however, was the
crowd. Rather, the lack of one. Without exaggeration, there were maybe 150 people in the stands in Taiwan
for this one. Its just sad to see an empty stadium like that for an international
competition. If the WBC is to succeed, they can’t go on hosting events where
the crowds aren’t. Granted, the Netherlands v. Australia matchup isn’t the
Yankees v. the Dodgers, but if the event were held in a more baseball friendly
locale, we could at least get 1,000 fans in the stands. Right?
Final Score: Netherlands 4 Australia 1
Netherlands advances in Pool B.
2013 WBC Innings Count: 9
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