Canada Routs Mexico in Basebrawl at WBC

Wow, that was a fun game!  The flu stricken Canadians entered this afternoon's matchup versus Mexico having been thoroughly embarrassed yesterday; losing by ten runs to Italy who was led by Chris Cooper and Brian Sweeney.  Justin Morneau politely declined to shake hands with a tv guy before the game because he didn't want to pass the flu bug on - how very "Canadian"!

The game started with Canada racking up five straight base hits to start the game, and the good guys opened up a 4-0 lead in the first inning.  The pitching which had been so bad against the Italian "Stallions" looked like it was in trouble again, as Canadian pitcher Albers couldn't seem to do anything right himself, giving up four consecutive hits in the third inning.  I got my car warmed up to drive down to Arizona to help pitch but thought better of it after Canada escaped the inning up 4-3.  It could have been much worse if not for a play at the plate where the Mexican player was gunned down from center field, and unsuccessfully railroaded the catcher Robinson, similar to Mark McGwire's unsuccessful railroading of Pat Borders during the 1992 ALCS.  The Mexican player never actually got tagged, but after the play he just went back to the dugout dejected without trying to touch the plate, while Robinson just pumped his fist and ran out to the mound without tagging the baserunner.  Fortunately the runner was called out for leaving the basebath while he was sitting in the dugout.  Hanging onto the ball after getting hit was even more impressive by Robinson considering the fact that he had just been "squared" about a minute before, taking a foul tip directly to the privates.

Some clutch hitting by Canadian heroes Justin Morneau and "Above Average" Mike Saunders had the canucks up 9-3 heading to the ninth inning.  Morneau even tweeted from the bench to "#FinishThis", during the game - how awesome is that?!  A bunt single to lead off the ninth cheesed off Luis Cruz who visually called for the baseball version of a mob hit by instructing the Mexican pitcher to bean Canadian batter Rene Tosoni.  After two pitches thrown inside to Tosoni - the second of which made it clear that he was intentionally being thrown at - the Canadian outfielder made a step towards the mound to express his discontent.  Of course, to the Mexican pitcher this step was clearly perceived as a challenge and with the respect of Luis Cruz on the line (and the pride of a nation at stake) the next pitch was thrown directly at Tosoni's back, and a bench clearing brawl ensued.  Several punches were thrown and many of the Mexican players looked furious, which I really cannot comprehend since they were the ones who started the whole situation.  One Mexican player began swinging his fists in a comical fashion (see animation below) before being slung to the ground and pummeled by one of the Canadians.  The Mexican fans also got in on the act of embarrassing themselves by throwing water bottles and baseballs at the Canadian players and coaches.  I can only hope that the Mexican pitcher and catcher got sneezed on a few times during the brawl so that they will pick up the flu as well.

The Mexican player flailed his arms similar to Bart Simpson

Said Larry Walker of Mexican pitcher Alfredo Aceves during the brawl, "I had ahold of him and I think I saw Satan in his eyes."  The game resumed and sadly we did not get to see John Axford drill anyone in the back with a 94 mph fastball - that would have been really great to see.  Canada wins in a laugher 10-3 and must face the rival Americans on Sunday in a do-or-die matchup with the winner advancing to the next round.  With the loss, Team Mexico is eliminated from the WBC.