Cup of Coffee

March 8, 2017: World’s Greatest Baseball Classic

61 Comments

The WBC is underway.  I bit the bullet and got the full MLB package instead of the one team version.  Want to watch the Classic as well as listen to the radio  broadcasts in the car this season.

61 thoughts on “March 8, 2017: World’s Greatest Baseball Classic”

  1. PlayStation Vue has teased the MLB Network about four times this offseason, but it hasn't arrived. I have a feeling they're going to drop it in a few days before the season and act like the bees' knees, but that's only going to infuriate me more. This is the first WBC I've missed.

        1. Mmm, good call. Although the Wild have been seemingly less dominant since I've started watching, which makes sense in a cosmic way. I'm hoping this lucky run of MN sports streaming into my house will continue this summer with Twins games.

          1. The offensive drought has certainly been frustrating to watch. I don't know enough to critique anything specific, but mostly they don't seem to be passing as well, and end up turning over the puck in scenarios when they would previously be creating good scoring chances. Also it seems like a lot of opponents have just been clogging the area in front of the goal so no one can get in there to score?

            1. I'm no expert either, but this:

              Also it seems like a lot of opponents have just been clogging the area in front of the goal so no one can get in there to score?

              seems accurate. My sense watching the games is that they outskate the crap out of just about everyone and get good chances they just can't squeeze past the defenders/goalie. Very frustrating and very Minnesotan.

      1. I had MLB.tv for the nine years I was out of state. I guess I could do a one-team subscription to get the Diamondbacks or Mariners, but that seems a steep price to pay when I'd mostly just like the tournament.

        1. I was just wondering if you could watch for free, but I guess it looks like you have to have at least a one-team MLB.tv subscription or have a subscription that includes MLB Network.

  2. AMR, I thought that went very well. I hope the reading material is of interest, despite the fact that it's formatted incorrectly (I need to figure out how to print double-sided) and likely also folded improperly.

    1. I telegraphed from a distance that my reading material was not for handoff, but otherwise good.
      A quick glance looks like the material is good.

  3. Two recommendations sought:

    First, anybody have a good roofer in the Twin Cities?

    Second, what's a good recipe to enter into a chili cook-off?

    1. There was a time on the roofing thing... I think everyone I know now is no closer than Becker. That was my Grandpa's business. Novak and Sons Roofing: No Job Too Small.

      1. Novak and Sons Roofing: No Job Too Small

        There's a joke to be made there. Anyway, Becker probably is just a little too far away.

    2. I usually make chili with beans and chunks of meat, rather than ground beef. I don't have a written-down chili recipe, but I can at least try to write out kind of what I usually do. Spice measurements are approximate; I just add stuff in until it tastes like I want it to. This makes a lot of chili, so may want to reduce amounts as needed.

      Ingredients:
      2-3 pounds of meat, cubed (I've used pork shoulder/country ribs, beef for stew, or a mix. They all worked well)
      1 onion, diced
      1-2 tablespoons of minced garlic
      1 beer (pilsners or dark ales work well, anything too hoppy gets bitter)
      2 cans diced tomatoes
      2 cans stewed tomatoes
      3-4 cans dark red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
      Chili powder (maybe a couple teaspoons?)
      Cumin (a lot of this; couple tablespoons maybe?)
      Smoked paprika, cayenne, whatever you want to add spice. Amount depends on how spicy you want it.
      Cinnamon (maybe a half teaspoon?)

      Add salt and pepper to meat, then brown in large pot/dutch oven in batches to make sure it doesn't get too crowded. Remove each batch when it's nicely browned.
      Sauté onions until softened. If the meat is fatty enough, there will probably be enough fat in the bottom of the pan already, if not add some oil.
      When onions are softish, add garlic until fragrant.
      Season with salt and pepper.
      Add cumin and stir fast, until you smell the cumin but it isn't burnt.
      Pour in beer, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any of the brown bits.
      Stir in tomatoes and beans.
      Add other spices. Taste, and add more as needed.
      Simmer for at least an hour to hour-and-a-half, more would be better. I usually end up around 3-4 hours. It will thicken a bit as it cooks, especially if it's uncovered.
      Serve with diced onions, Fritos, corn bread, cheddar cheese, hot sauce, etc.

    3. This is the recipe I use for chili. I like it, not sure if it would win, place, or show in a cook-off, though. Many would argue it is more of a stew than it is chili.

      20 minutes prep time
      4-6 hours cooking time
      3-4 meal-sized servings

      3 cloves garlic, smashed
      1 tablespoon smoked paprika
      2 tablespoons chili powder
      1 tablespoon chipotle powder
      1 tablespoon cinnamon
      1 tablespoon 100% cocoa powder
      1 1/2 tablespoons sea salt
      2 teaspoons black pepper
      32 ounces diced tomatoes, canned—or 4 cups fresh, diced
      1 lb. stew meat
      2 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced into 2-inch chunks
      1 onion, diced into 2-inch pieces
      1 bell pepper, diced into 2-inch pieces

      In a bowl, mix the garlic, smoked paprika, chili powder, chipotle powder,
      cinnamon, cocoa powder, sea salt, and black pepper with the tomatoes.
      Place the bison, squash, onion, and bell pepper in the slow-cooker, and cover
      with the tomato mixture.

      Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

    4. Carne Adovada won't win you the prize because it's probably too different, but it's an excellent chili dish. This is also the cadillac of New Mexican cuisine, and a contender for best pork on the planet. I've just talked myself into making this for dinner tomorrow.

      This recipe ( http://mjskitchen.com/2015/01/new-mexico-carne-adovada-pork-in-red-chile/ ) is more to the traditional side of the spectrum. Essentially, you marinade pork chunks in red chili sauce and then slowly cook the meat until it's tender and falling apart. Serve with pinto beans and tortillas.

    1. I'd just like to point out that I would have been in if not for the tech glitch.

  5. I haven't followed the WBC until today, but if you were like me, here's the standings:
    Pool A:
    Israel 2-0 (Advance)
    Netherlands 2-0 (Advance)
    Korea 0-2 (Eliminated)
    [Taiwan] 0-2 (Eliminated)
    Two games left: ISR-NED and KOR-[Taiwan]. Looks like this pool will be a well-ordered set.
    Gotta be a huge surprise how Korea's been eliminated at home.

    Pool B:
    Japan 2-0
    Cuba 1-1
    Australia 0-1
    China 0-1
    Three games left: AUS-CHN, AUS-CUB, CHN-JAP
    Japan is not assured advancement because they could lose to China, and be tied with Cuba as well (and Australia goes 0-3).

    Pool C: Games Start Tomorrow
    Canada, Colombia, Dominican Rep., USA

    Pool D: Games Start Tomorrow
    Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela

    Top two teams each from Pools A and B advance to stage 2 against each other.
    Top two teams each from Pools C and D advance to stage 2 against each other.
    Proper organization would probably be stage 2 pool being A1, B1, C2, and D2, but that could require host countries playing elsewhere and excessive travel to or from east Asia.

    2. Not only Korea eliminated at home, but eliminated by Israel and the Netherlands. I would never have guessed that pool ordering.

    1. That's a good idea. I would imagine coming off a 103-loss season, sales for the first couple of months before the kids get out of school are probably very slow.

    2. Step 1: Claiming it will lead to more competitive teams, get beautiful new taxpayer-funded ballpark built.
      Step 2: Lose an average of 90 games every season during first seven years playing in that new ballpark.
      Step 3: ???
      Step 4: Offer tix to a month's worth of cold early season games for $3.33/game.

    1. Think they'll require ushers to check the ticket before letting people sit in the empty seats?

        1. It was maddening talking to the "ticket brokers" on the street last year. They of course wanted to sell me their best ticket and would stress views, etc. I would tell them "I want your worst ticket." The one you know you aren't going to sell. And I want it for $5.00 (or $10.00 if it was a good game). Telling them I was never going to sit in the seat assigned but will still have great seats was beyond what they wanted to consider (which of course blows up their economic model).

          If I thought I'd get to 10 games, I'd consider this because that's $10 per visit. Reality is I will get to one or two early games.

          1. thanks to the white sox sucking as bad as us lately, we've enjoyed several games from a few rows behind the batters circle for the stubhub minimum price. actually, we got a few of those free last year.

  9. I finally pulled the trigger on an Ergoprise S2S Dual Monitor standing workstation. I compared a lot of brands, but it was the only one I could identify that had enough range to cover my height when standing or my wife when sitting, and it's also the only one that meets the Human Factors and Ergonomics standards (because it offers that full adjustment range). Had to order a VESA mount adapter for one of my monitors, but hopefully I'm happy with how it works when it arrives and I get it all set up. I should probably use the interim time to clean off my desk...

  10. There was some discussion in last week's FMD (I think) about seeing Willie Nelson. Well he's going to be at Treasure Island Casino in Welch,, MN on June 9th. Tix are spendy ($60 and $80 before fees) and they go on sale Friday. You never know if this will be the last time to see Willie so I thought I'd put it out there.

    1. Hmmm, a 4 hour round trip drive + $60+ tickets + 10 week old. Does not look good.

      At least it's a Friday, tho.

  12. Why am I not surprised Trevor "Oh sure, we'll totally consider you being a starter again...." May gets the game against an all-star team?

    1. Hmm, maybe an end of the bench guy no one ever notices?

      *checks roster

      Hey Luc Mbah a Moute seemed like a decent dude.

      Otherwise, no.

    2. what's not to like about Jamal Crawford (other than his tats)? Or Mo Buckets? Or, really, DeAndre Jordan?

        1. and Blake Griffin. and JJ Redick. and Austin Rivers. and Doc Rivers. and . . .

  14. The best high school tournament in the nation began today with 3 incredible quarterfinal games. Luverne takes Hermantown to OT??? Wow? Guess we don't have any hockey fans around the basement huh?

    1. I was hoping Luverne would pull it out because Southern Central/Western Minnesota needs a hockey championship.

      1. I have an affinity for Luverne as well (my agency has a home out there). Disappointed that they didn't get the 'W' but a fun game nonetheless.

    1. What's so cool about that is that Buxton looks to me like he knows he has it all the way.

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