MLB fans pessimistic over Team Canada's chances of progressing far in World Baseball Classic 2023 - "This gives me Maple Fever"

Freddie Freeman and Team Canada are all set to hit the ground running at the World Baseball Classic 2023. The roster was announced, and except for a handful of ball players, the team doesn't look like a stacked group when compared to the rosters of the other nations.Particularly after doing poorly in the 2017 Classic, Freeman and O'Neill will be hungry to contribute in a major way for Canada. In the three games Canada played in that year's tournament, Freeman batted .182 and Tyler O'Neill batted .091.Talkin’ Baseball@TalkinBaseball_Freddie Freeman leads a solid Team Canada65965Freddie Freeman leads a solid Team Canada https://t.co/asKbxVLPqX&quot;Freddie Freeman leads a solid Team Canada&quot; - TalkinBaseball_The Canadian squad has a problem with the depth of their pitchers. A sixth pitcher has only recently pitched in the winter Australian Baseball League, while five pitchers in the squad did not play professional baseball in 2022.After the announcement of the roster and lavish claims that the likes of Freeman, O'Neill, and Bo Naylor would be leading a &quot;Solid Team Canada,&quot; many MLB fans were put off by those claims. The rest of the players on the roster looked nowhere near ready to compete against some of the best baseball-playing nations.Biggio Revenge szn@Kieran_k2@TalkinBaseball_ That ain’t great@TalkinBaseball_ That ain’t great&quot;That ain't great&quot; - Kieran_k2Spenser@spnsrl@TalkinBaseball_ I know exactly 3 of those players, and one has been out of the majors for years5@TalkinBaseball_ I know exactly 3 of those players, and one has been out of the majors for yearsNo Cryin In Baseball@nocryinbball@TalkinBaseball_ Yeah. I mean, that’s a very average team1@TalkinBaseball_ Yeah. I mean, that’s a very average teamBreton Sibley@BrettSibley11@TalkinBaseball_ I’m Canadian and I even think calling them a “solid” team is a bit of an overstatement2@TalkinBaseball_ I’m Canadian and I even think calling them a “solid” team is a bit of an overstatementRyan@rtunney32@TalkinBaseball_ This gives me Maple Fever1@TalkinBaseball_ This gives me Maple Fever&quot;This gives me Maple Fever&quot; - rtunney32Colin@ColinsCornerUF@TalkinBaseball_ Where is the “solid” here lol@TalkinBaseball_ Where is the “solid” here lolDU RAG ICEMAN@RealRyanMilli@TalkinBaseball_ No Votto is nonsense@TalkinBaseball_ No Votto is nonsenseSeeing Naylor make his tournament debut will be interesting because his brother Josh represented Team Canada in the WBC '17. The power-hitting catcher is listed as the 64th best prospect by MLB Pipeline, and he has a great chance to leave a lasting impression if he performs well in the Classic.Jimmy@OnlyMetsFans@TalkinBaseball_ You don’t need to be nice about every team. This team stinks.@TalkinBaseball_ You don’t need to be nice about every team. This team stinks.Mac's Card Shack@MacsCardShack@TalkinBaseball_ Define Solid@TalkinBaseball_ Define Solid$@shaneaviles_@TalkinBaseball_ Ts it horrible@TalkinBaseball_ Ts it horribleTeam Canada's chances even with Freddie Freeman are slimTeam Canada will be in Pool C alongside Team USA, Mexico, Colombia, and Great Britain. It's fair to say that they are going to have a tough time against the United States and Mexico, given how full-proof their rosters are, involving some of the biggest stars from Major League Baseball.Two players on Canada's 2023 roster, Adam Loewen of the Baltimore Orioles and Scott Mathieson of the former Philadelphia Phillies, took part in the competition's first year in 2006 as members of their respective teams. The Rogers Centre in Toronto served as the site for some of the 2009 competitions.MLB Network@MLBNetwork&quot;We will have a lot of fun, hopefully we can win some ball games... It's a fun tournament.&quot;@FreddieFreeman5 is ready to lead Team Canada, even against some of his Dodgers teammates. @Dodgers | @baseballcanada | #WorldBaseballClassic14025&quot;We will have a lot of fun, hopefully we can win some ball games... It's a fun tournament.&quot;@FreddieFreeman5 is ready to lead Team Canada, even against some of his Dodgers teammates. 😂@Dodgers | @baseballcanada | #WorldBaseballClassic https://t.co/JLMHGhqWr5&quot;We will have a lot of fun, hopefully we can win some ball games... It's a fun tournament&quot;&quot;FreddieFreeman5 is ready to lead Team Canada, even against some of his Dodgers teammates&quot; - MLBNetworkThe WBC started in 2006, continued as a 16-team competition in 2009, 2013, and 2017, and increased to 20 teams for the competition that will take place next month. Due to COVID-19, the Classic was postponed from its initial date. Canada has not advanced past the first round in any of the previous five competitions.

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