Mar 11, 2009

Fear the Dutch

Holy Shit!

The Netherlands just beat the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. AGAIN! The Dominicans get eliminated and don't make it out of the first round of the WBC. Cra-zee!

This is a team that is Double-A talent, at best, and they beat a baseball team with a roster filled with major MLB stars like David Ortiz, Robinson Cano, Miguel Tejada, Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes and Pedro Martinez.

That's some pretty impressive talent. As opposed to the names on the Dutch team. Rick VandenHurk, Berry Van Driel, Michael van Kampen (well that's certainly three ways to use "van" in your last name), Sidney de Jong and Michael Duursma. One of their coaches was named Ben Thijssen. Really? Thijssen? Can I buy another vowel?

This is the little team that could. And the Americans are going to have to play this team at least once during the next round. Like I said, fear the Dutch. Austin Powers' father may have been right about them.



I don't know if I really like the concept of the World Baseball Classic. Especially for those players who might get hurt playing competitive games when they should be playing meaningless Spring Training games. But damn if I ain't hooked!

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Note: Remember to play the Bug-Eyed Trivia Challenge every day. All the heavy underdogs are doing it.

21 comments:

hello haha narf said...

is it wrong that reading this all i could think of was my free trip to the pirates spring training?
yeah, it was.
sorry.

Verdant Earl said...

Becky - just remember. It is the Pirates, after all. Not like you are going to see the Yankees or anything. ;)

Barlinnie said...

Sweet Jay-sus, those crafty Dutch have their sticky fingers in a whole lot of pies.

Not to mention the odd dyke or two..

Michelle said...

I got nothing!!!

Well I have things, but the World Baseball Classic? Hmm, I got nothing except perhaps:

HAPPY HUMP DAY TO YOU!!!

Verdant Earl said...

Jimmy - Very nice.

Michelle - backatcha!

hello haha narf said...

i have no desire to go to the yankees spring training. unless they sponsored the trip. like the buccos are doing for me. so suck it!

Heff said...

It's probably STILL not enough to make me watch baseball. Sorry.

Candy's daily Dandy said...

Could this be contributed to the post steroid culture in the MLB??
Or the Dutch boys want it more and play with more heart.

Winter Olympics 1980-Lake Placid-You know what I'm saying???

Verdant Earl said...

Becky - I kid because I love. The Pirates are a great team for finding talent that they can't afford when it comes down to the trade deadline. I'm looking forward to Ryan Doumit in pinstripes one of these years. ;)

Heff - Hey, if you aren't a fan then you aren't a fan. What can you do?

Seals said...

I want a "Nederlands" t-shirt. :)

limpy99 said...

Personally, I'm rooting for the Republic of South Africa. Or at least I was before they got eliminated 14-3.

Slyde said...

blah blah blah baseball blah blah blah

Elise said...

B.E. Earl! How are you? I have lots to read on your blog. Months to catch up on...

Right, now you're going to think I'm stupid but I didn't think baseball was that big or that important...

Am I wrong? xx

Ookami Snow said...

That was a pretty good game last night. I figured once the Dominican Republic scored in the extra innings it was all over, but the orange hats pulled though.

The World Baseball Classic is the right amount of baseball, it only lasts for a month, and only happens every three years. MLB should take note.

Kidding.

Or am I?

Verdant Earl said...

Candy - more likely that it was only two games and that is an awfully small sample size for determining who the best baseball team is.

ajooja - they would look good on Halloween with those black and orange colors.

Limpy - Those kids never had a chance. Kind of like The Netherlands. Huh?

Slyde - It's about that time. Get used to baseball posts here.

Elise - Heya! How can you own opinion be wrong? You still blogging?

Ookami - sacrilege!!!

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen any of it, but do the dutch still play in wooden clogs?

Verdant Earl said...

2abes - you should have seen them take out the SS on a routine double play. And you thought spikes hurt?

Mrs. Hall said...

I realize I am a few days behind here, but um, I shared your sucess with the bourban bacon adventure with Mr. Hall. He might give it a try :) congrats!!

I can say that for a few days after I read through the recipe, I was really confused about the part where, after letting the bacon/grease soak in the alcohol for 4-6 hours at room temp, you freeze it and then strain out the fat.

I just couldn't shake the image of the whole thing looking like jello mold with marshmellows (the bourbon being the jello-the drops of fat being the marshmellows). And further, how the hell do you strain that?? I mean, it would be all jello/ice slushy!

Then, yesterday, Mr. Hall let me know that the booze does not freeze.

d'oh!!!

looks like I am learning all sorts of things thanks to the blogosphere!

ok have a good day :)

Mrs. Hall

Verdant Earl said...

Holly - not in your standard home freezer it won't. Let me know if Mr. Hall gives it a go.

Faiqa said...

Buwahahaha!! Without playing it, as soon as I saw this clip, I thought, "There are two things I can't stand in this world..." That is one of my favorite lines, EVER.

And, "What you know about my father's where..abouts?"

Oh, oh, and "If you have an issue, here's a tissue."

The movie is...er, gold.

Verdant Earl said...

Faiqa - Michael Caine was more than brilliant in that one.