2017 World Baseball Classic Preview
The World Baseball Classic is here now and I can finally exhale as this is one of the more favorite things I enjoy about baseball. Personally I love watching international baseball that when the first edition of this tournament came in 2006, I was all aboard. The best part is that its only growing into something bigger and it could become something really big sooner rather than later. Since its inception, we have seen the United States disappoint as the best finish they have had was in 2009, where they lost 9-4 to the eventual champion that year, Japan in the Semi-Finals. The World Baseball Classic has seen Japan win two titles (2006, 2009) and a Dominican Republic squad that went undefeated en route to winning the 2013 edition. There have also been a lot of exciting moments this tournament has produced like the Netherlands upsetting the Dominican Republic in a group play game in 2009 that eliminated the Dominicans from even making it out of the first round. Or when Australia nearly defeated the Cubans. Heck even some of the teams surprisingly making it out of the first round like Italy or Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) were exciting to watch. I can go on and on about how great this tournament is, but the one thing it lacks is exposure and how well it is marketed to people in the United States. If it can get big in the United States, then it could become one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Of course it will never be as big as the World Cup, but it could be as huge as probably the Rugby World Cup.
With all that being said, its time to preview each of the groups.
Group A: South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Netherlands, Israel
South Korea is undoubtedly the favorite here, but believe it or not this isn’t an easy group for them. The Netherlands should give them a run for their money as they have talent (though they are players from some of the islands like Aruba and Curacao) and could make another run to the semi-finals. Chinese Taipei made the second round in 2013, however it has been said they don’t have the same type of talent like they had in 2013 in this edition. Israel is participating in their first World Baseball Classic and are of course huge underdogs, but they do have a lot of Americans who have Jewish heritage playing in the Majors and Minors that could possibly lead them to upsetting either the Netherlands or South Korea and could very well beat Chinese Taipei.
Prediction by place of finish (first two advance to second round): South Korea, Netherlands, Israel, Chinese Taipei
Group B: Japan, Australia, China, Cuba
This is a group that will be pretty easy for both Japan and Cuba, but it is a toss up as to who will actually win the group. Japan probably is the best team in this group as they have proven talent from the Nippon League (second best league in the world behind the Major Leagues) and will have a major leaguer (Nori Aoki) to help out. Cuba is not quite as strong as they used to be because of so many defections, but they still are talented especially with the likes of Alfredo Despaigne, their top hitter. Australia will have a lot players who have experience in the Majors and Minors to help them out as this is probably the best roster they have produced, but they are clearly not quite as good as Japan or Cuba (however if they do upset, don’t be too surprised). China, even with career minor leaguer Ray Chang (born in the United States) and former Major League pitcher, Bruce Chen (born in Panama), they are still trying to expose the sport to their country in order to make it more popular, however, they are still not talented enough to even win a game in this tournament.
Prediction: Japan, Cuba, Australia, China
Group C: United States, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic
It might be debatable, but in my opinion, this is the group of death. The United States is looking to finally win a championship as this is their best roster they have put out there yet (Team USA Preview coming out later this week). However, if the United States is going to succeed they have to overcome the likes of the other three nations in this group. The reigning champions, the Dominican Republic, is another favorite to win the title as they put out a roster that is probably even better than the 2013 one and they will have a lot of thunder in their lineup. To put it lightly, they are scary good. It will be likely that the Dominican Republic-USA game will decide who wins the group. That being said though, they can’t take either Colombia or Canada lightly. Colombia will be tough to beat as they have a very strong rotation with the likes of Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran, both aces for their respective clubs (Quintana with the White Sox and Teheran with the Braves). Canada will have some major league players on their roster including some others who are coming out of retirement to play (Ryan Dempster and Eric Gagne). This group maybe the hardest to predict.
Prediction: United States, Dominican Republic, Canada, Colombia
Group D: Mexico, Italy, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
This group is also arguably the group of death and also very hard to predict. Mexico has probably put out its most talented roster for this tournament as they will be led by probably the best rotation out of any team in this World Baseball Classic and veteran slugger Adrian Gonzalez. Puerto Rico is another favorite to win this tournament as they are even younger and more talented than the last edition with the likes of Carlos Correa, Javier Baez, and Francisco Lindor. Venezuela is another powerhouse team that unluckily are stuck in a very deep group of teams. On offense, they are stacked with players like Jose Altuve and Victor Martinez, but they lack a deep pitching staff which could hurt them. Italy will be filled with American players of Italian descent, but this team is not quite as strong as their last one which made it into the second round as they had slugger Anthony Rizzo on their squad, but not this time around. However, the Italians could still upset.
Prediction: Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Italy
Second round predictions
Pool E: South Korea, Netherlands, Japan, Cuba
If this is the pool that I envision happening then this is going to be a fun one to watch. That being said I think both Japan and South Korea will come out of this pool with Japan winning it. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubans win this pool.
Pool F: United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico
This pool is an even better one than Pool E. There will be no easy game for anyone and each has a great chance of making out of it. That being said though, the United States and Dominican Republic will make out of it, with USA winning it. Puerto Rico has a great chance, but I just don’t see them making it out. If they were in the other pool, then no doubt about it.
Semi-Final predictions
USA over South Korea
Dominican Republic over Japan
USA should be able to beat South Korea, but South Korea has shown in recent history that they probably won’t go down without a fight. The Dominican Republic-Japan game will probably be one of the best in the history of this tournament, but I feel like with such a superstar lineup the Dominicans will put out on the field, the Japanese probably won’t be able to hold them at bay.
Finals Predictions
USA over Dominican Republic
This will finally be the year the Americans finally win the trophy and I think this will be the best game ever played in the tournament as it will be closely played and emotions will run high (similar to game seven of last year’s World Series). However, I just feel like with the roster and the talent the United States will throw out there on the field, they should be the champions. If the Dominican Republic repeats, that should come as no shock either.
I really think this could be the best inception of this tournament yet (yes, I realize it’s very young still). However, I feel like this is the most overall talented World Baseball Classic so far and we could see some of the best performances in terms of individual and by the outcomes of games. If this edition of this tournament proves to be exciting, it could really help the future of the World Baseball Classic.
