"Can't hurt us Canadians"
If you take anything out of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Ernie Whitt's words summed up the brawl, the team's attitude in the tournament, and a slice of Canada in general.
"It's Saturday night. It's 'Hockey Night in Canada.' Don Cherry can't wait to get on the air."
No matter where Canadians are, even in the valley of the desert that is Phoenix, hockey brings them back to Canada. Larry Walker uttered those words after Saturday's brawl. Canada didn't start the battle, but they weren't going to back down.
MLB Network play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian noted during the Canada-Italy game of the significant size advantage Canada would have over Team Italy if there was a a fight. Catcher Chris Robinson (5'11") was the only starter below 6 feet, and he proved his toughness in the tournament.
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Don Cherry couldn't resists mentioning the Canada-Mexico brawl during Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada (also seen as a NHL Network simulcast in the United States).
Cherry explained the idea of the run differential to Ron MacLean. Cherry heralded Jay Johnson's takedown of Mexico's Eduardo Arredondo after Arredondo threw a couple of punches and then ran off.
Ron MacLean had Walker saying, "Hey, it's Saturday night. We're just trying to get on Hockey Night in Canada. Don Cherry can't wait to show these highlights." I couldn't find that exact quote, but perhaps MacLean was paraphrasing Walker. In that vein, MacLean got it right.
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While the run differential was a part of some conversations, few noted that the run differential cost Canada advancement to the second round in 2006. The United States, Canada, and Mexico all were 2-1 (poor South Africa was 0-3). Mexico beat Canada 9-1 in its only loss and the -8 run differential meant Mexico advanced and Canada didn't.
After the Italy mercy rule game Friday night, Canada needed as many runs for the potential tiebreaker. Canada had every reason to be angry over 2006 and 2013, yet the Canadian players kept their cool. After all, Canada lost worse to Italy than Mexico lost to Canada, and the Canadian team kept its cool.
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Canada had a feeling that someone was going to get hit by a pitch in the 9th inning. Chris Robinson beat that to the punch by bunting for a hit. If Arnold Leon had hit Rene Tosoni with the first pitch, Tosoni wouldn't have been happy but he would have quietly taken his base.
Everyone in the park knew what Leon was trying to do with pitch #1, pitch #2, and pitch #3. Leon's aim couldn't have been that bad. Maybe the first two pitches were existential, reflecting Robinson taking a base in the 7th inning by pretending the pitch had hit his toe.
If Leon had hit Tosoni on the first pitch, there would not have been a brawl.
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The World Baseball Classic was smart in not handing out suspensions. Mexico started the brawl and their run ended after the game (officially eliminated later that night).
The biggest fear was a suspension for Cale Iorg, who threw a bottle into the crowd after that bottle hit pitching coach Denis Boucher. Iorg's reaction was somewhat understandable, but throwing something back into the stands didn't look professional.
As bad as Iorg had done at the plate, Jonathan Malo was Canada's only other option at a crucial defensive position.
Walker was another target of a ball thrown from the stands. Good thing he was wearing a helmet. Those fans that threw items at Canadians on the field should draw lifetime suspensions from ballparks.
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When Vancouver had the riots after Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, some noted that the rioters wrecked Canada's image of peace-loving people. This brawl probably does the same thing. Though Canadians fight plenty on the ice in hockey; the fact that they defended themselves on Saturday shows that they aren't looking for a fight, but are ready if a fight happens.
photo credit: World Baseball Classic/MLB Network
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