Mexico will host a HR Derby before WBC # 2

[Cubano100%]

The Mexicans are planning to organize a HR derby at the Zocalo Olympic stadium. Four Mexicans will compete against 4 foreigners. I guess only players from the South Africa, Australia, Cuba and Mexico will compete. I think every team should send the same number of players instead of having four Mexicans. Anyways, I like the idea.

[Unit312J]

???

Is this the stadium where the games are going to played? Is this the same stadium that is surrounded by the race track? I thought it had a different name.

[Rally Monkey]

The Mexicans are planning to organize a HR derby at the Zocalo Olympic stadium. Four Mexicans will compete against 4 foreigners. I guess only players from the South Africa, Australia, Cuba and Mexico will compete. I think every team should send the same number of players instead of having four Mexicans. Anyways, I like the idea.

Do you mean Estadio Olímpico Universitario? Where did you hear this?

Is this the stadium where the games are going to played? Is this the same stadium that is surrounded by the race track? I thought it had a different name.

It does. It's called Foro Sol:

[Cubano100%]

http://www.prensa-latina.org/article...8C6136A2AF4%7D)

[Rally Monkey]

http://www.prensa-latina.org/article...8C6136A2AF4%7D)

Ah, thanks. Here's what the article says:

The Organizing Committee for the Mexican pool of World Baseball Classic in 2009 will organize a promotional home run derby to take place in the Zocalo [Mexico City's famous huge open-air Plaza de la Constitución located in the heart of the federal district]. The derby will feature four Mexican players and four foreigners.

Alejandro Hutt, president of the organizing committee of the baseball fair in Mexico, Prensa Latina said today that the show will take place on October 18 and 19 of this year.

....

In group B Qualifier II World Classic will compete eight to 12 March next year at the Foro Sol, in this capital, selected from Cuba, the runner-up in 2006, Australia, South Africa and Mexico.

Hutt explained that organizers are preparing a list of several active players with high batting power, to invite to Mexico City for the derby.

[Unit312J]

tickets

Any of these articles have info on when/where I can get tickets for those games in Mexico City.....

[Rally Monkey]

Any of these articles have info on when/where I can get tickets for those games in Mexico City.....

No. Nothing.

[Rally Monkey]

Here's a link to an English language version of that press release:

http://www.periodico26.cu/english/sports/baseball-classic051808.html

This is what it says:

The organizing committee of the Mexican division of the World Baseball Classic of 2009 is organizing a homerun festival in Zocalo as part of the promotion for next year's baseball classic with 4 Mexican players and four of their foreign counterparts.

Alejandro Hutt, President of the Organizing Committee of the Mexico division said that the festival will be held on October 18th and 19th.

The Constitution Plaza in Mexico City is outdoors with an area of 230 by 192 meters.

Group B of the 2nd World Classic to be held from March 8th to the 12th in the Sol Forum in Mexico City includes, Cuba, sub World Baseball Classic of 2006, Australia, South Africa and Mexico.

Hutt explained that they are preparing a list of several active power batters to participate in the homerun festival.

[Rally Monkey]

For anyone still interested in this, here's an update on the home run derby that Mexico City will hold in its central Zocalo as a warm-up to hosting the first round of the World Baseball Classic. It'll take place on Sunday, October 19:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/mexico/entries/2008/05/08/

This press release (in Spanish) has more details:

http://www.diariodemexico.com.mx/?module=displaystory&story_id=44231&format=print

Here's a crude translation:

There will be baseball in the Zocalo

Flavio Abed, director general of Tourism Services of the Government of Mexico City, announced that 18 and October 19 will take place on Derby home run in the Zocalo capital, as part of events to be held towards the first round of the World Baseball Classic, to be held in Mexico City in 2009.

He commented that "we will have the participation of 8 players, among which are Vinicio Castilla, Adrian Gonzalez, Jorge Cantu and fourth Mexican player defined as well as 4 foreigners: a Cuban, a Venezuelan, a Puerto Rican and Dominican." The Mexican Federation of Baseball (FMB) will be responsible for overseeing the assembly of diamond synthetic grass in the Zocalo plaza, which will have bleachers to accommodate 10 thousand people, along with the company sponsoring ALHUVA Entertainment and the Institute of Sport Federal District (IDDF).

He said that "we still do not know how it will distribute tickets, will surely be through a contest or any specific call."

On the orientation of the field, Flavio Abed mentioned that the home will be in the corner closest to Pino Suarez, and that mesh will be installed to protect buildings pelotazos possible.

"The work to mount the baseball field would begin about 4 or 5 days before the event. On Saturday 18 would take out a small derby league baseball, and Sunday was made the Derby home run. "

Abed ignored the investment necessary to make this event, but clarified that the Government of Mexico City not contribute public funds. The objective of the event is to promote the World Baseball Classic, which will be held in March 2009 in Mexico City.

And here's a link to a conceptual drawing of the temporary stadium for the festival:

http://www.acrosa.com/news1.html

[quinnystar27]

venezuela also plans to host some games with latin american countries before the classic to get the players ready. Also they will host a derby. However saying they are going is not enough with the problems the organizers have with venezuelan players.