WBC: Pool B

South Korea

IBAF World Rank: 4

South Korea was the most dominate team in the 2009 tournament. They led all teams in RBIs, runs, and shutouts pitched. They cruised to the championship and were set to face arch intercontinental rival Japan in a winner take all game. The Koreans had previously beaten Japan 4-1 in the second round but the Japanese showed their resilience and squeaked out a 12-inning victory to win the championship. If South Korea wants to win this year they don’t have to improve on much, they put themselves in a great position to win it all last time and came very close to winning. They are always a contender in every international competition and there’s no reason why this one would be any different.

Kingdom of the Netherlands

IBAF World Rank: 7

All aboard the bandwagon now, I making a bold prediction that the Netherlands is going to make a huge splash in this year’s WBC. Let me rephrase that, a bigger splash. Last time they shocked the baseball world when they beat the Dominican Republic twice in the first round. They are also the all time leader in European Championships and finished fourth in the 2008 Olympics. The Netherlands may not have many big names on their roster, but they can flat out pitch against anyone. However, their biggest concern is whether their hitting manufacture runs and clutch up in big situations because their pitching will keep them in close ball games. I think the Netherlands recent success will give them the confidence that they can make a serious run at the title.

Australia

IBAF World Rank: 10

Australian players have been surging into the Major Leagues with 62 players currently under contract with professional clubs. As a team they have been very competitive but have failed to win any major championships. Australia has good pitching but their hitting isn’t developed enough to compete with the top ranked countries. They have participated in both WBCs but have failed to advance pass the first round in both. Unfortunately, they have drawn the toughest pool in the tournament and will have trouble advancing this year as well. Australia is a great baseball country with a strong future and they should be very competitive in the years to come.

Chinese Taipei

IBAF World Rank: 5

Chinese Taipei looks to improve upon their dismal performance in 2009 where they scored 1 run in two games and finished last in their group. They have a tough road because all four teams in pool B are ranked in the top 10 in the world. Taipei is very talented and if they find a way to advance out of the first round don’t be surprised if you see them playing in San Francisco.

Prediction:

South Korea 3-0

Netherlands  1-2

Australia         1-2

Chinese T.P.   1-2

Bold represents teams advancing.

-Blake Dale Lepire

WBC: Pool A

Japan

IBAF World Rank: 3

The key to Japan winning their third World Baseball Classic championship in a row is their pitching staff. Japan has a history of being very scrappy offensively and relies on manufacturing runs with their team speed. They always are fundamentally sound and extremely organized defensively, so the best way to beat them is by out powering them. The previous two WBCs their pitching has been incredible behind Disuke Matsuzaka and Yu Darvish, but their MLB careers have given major league hitters a chance to study their tendencies. The chance of them having the same success against the power oriented countries of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the US are much smaller because they no longer have the element of surprise. Regardless, Japan will be tough to beat and I hope the WBC is another coming out party for an unknown superstar.

China

IBAF World Rank: 18

Baseball has grown a lot in China the past decade. They have qualified for the WBC the past three times and their 2009 experience was highlighted with a win over Chinese Taipai who is currently ranked 5^th in the world. China does not have any big name baseball stars and only two of their players are listed over 200 pounds. It is very unlikely that they’ll be able to beat Japan or Cuba but it’s exciting to see a new country make big strides in baseball.

Cuba

IBAF World Rank: 1

Jose Abreu

Unfortunately because of Cuba’s current political state the fans will not get to watch Aroldis Chapman or Yoenis Cespedes wear their country’s name across their chest. Nevertheless their roster is still elite, especially first basemen Jose Abreu who has been tearing up Cuba’s National Series and has been considered the best hitter on the planet. Although many fans won’t be able to recognize the names on the Cuban roster, it is filled with players who could be stars in the Big Leagues. The key to Cuba winning the championship is their offense; if they perform to their capabilities there isn’t a pitching staff in the tournament that can hold them down. Look for violent swings in fastball counts.

Brazil

IBAF World Rank: 20

Brazil represents baseball’s growth in South America. Outside of Venezuela, Brazil is the only other South American team to earn a spot in the WBC. Yan Gomez was their first Major Leaguer when he debuted for the Blue Jays this year, proof that Brazil is growing as a baseball country. However, they will have trouble in this pool with every team because they are still a few years away from being able to make a big splash in the WBC.

Prediction:

Cuba:  3-0

Japan: 2-1

China:  1-2

Brazil:  0-3

Bold represents teams advancing.

World Baseball Classic Preview

This offseason feels longer than I remembered, maybe its because my Dodgers failed to make the playoffs and I am chomping at the bit to see how their spending spree pays off. Regardless, as baseball fans nothing is worse than the winter months watching the Sportscenter’s analysts constantly debate the significance of Tim Tebow, and the cause of the Lakers’ woes. Thankfully baseball fans are being rewarded for their patience with the 2013 World Baseball Classic precluding the regular season.  

Outside of soccer, you could make a case that baseball is the most globally competitive major sport. Hockey may be a close third but football is still strictly Americanized and basketball, while a lot of countries play it and may have one or two stars, is also dominated by America. In the World Baseball Classic there are eight countries that have a legitimate shot of winning the title. We all know about the talented countries in Asia and Latin America but Europe is also developing quickly.

This is a great event that baseball fan’s shouldn’t take for granted. Take note of each country’s approach to the game. Baseball’s lack of rules gives players opportunities to infuse their culture into their playing style. Ichiro’s assassin like precision and Cespedes’ violently powerful swing are just a couple examples of how borders create multiple interpretations that are extremely effective.

I can’t wait to see how far baseball has come on a global scale and it’s a shame we have to wait four year for such a great event.

Here’s the format 

The first round is pool play, there are four pools labeled A,B,C and D containing four teams each. Each team will play every team in their pool and the top two teams from will advance to the second round

Here are the pool alignments

                                 

Pool A

Japan

China

Cuba

Brazil

Pool B

Korea

Netherlands

Australia                    

Chinese Taipei          

Pool C

Venezuela

Puerto Rico

Dominican Republic

Spain

Pool D

USA

Mexico

Italy

Canada

In the second round top two teams from “Pool A” will join a pool with the top two teams from “Pool B” and the top teams from “Pool C” will play “Pool D.” Each new pool will play each other just like the first round and the top two teams from each pool will advance to the championship round.

The championship round will be held in San Francisco and will be single elimination.

In the next few entries I will give you my breakdown of each group and how I see the tournament unfolding. So stay tuned and you can visit web.worldbaseballclassic.com to research for yourself.

-Blake Dale Lepire

Top Ten: Best Starting Rotations of 2013

1. Detroit Tigers

Justin Verlander

1. Justin Verlander

2. Doug Fister

3. Anibal Sanchez

4. Max Scherzer

5. Rick Porcello/Drew Smyly

Breakdown: Detroit has a solid starter from top to bottom. Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball, so that always helps. Doug Fister wins game for the Tigers and Anibal Sanchez has been outstanding for the Tigers since joining the team at the trade deadline last year. Also, Max Scherzer was second in the league in strikeouts, so Scherzer is capable of dominating an opponent every fifth day. Rick Porcello had some productive years, but the Tigers rotation is better off with Smyly. Any series with Detroit is going to be difficult when you know you’re going to be facing 3 starting pitchers that are capable of shutting your offense down.

Tim Lincecum

2. San Francisco Giants

1. Matt Cain

2. Madison Bumgarner

3. Tim Lincecum

4. Ryan Vogelsong

5. Barry Zito

Breakdown: The defending World Series Champions have their rotation still in tact for the 2013 season. Cain, Bumgarner and Vogelsong are the best starting pitching trio in the game and they’re only going to get better. Zito had a surprisingly good season in 2012, so hopefully he’s figured everything out in San Francisco. The only thing that keeps this rotation out of the number 1 spot is the uncertainty surrounding Tim Lincecum. Is Lincecum going to bounce back or is he going to go through another subpar season similar to 2012? Lincecum controls the fate of this rotation, but on paper, the Giants have arguably the best starting rotation in baseball.

3. Washington Nationals

Gio Gonzalez

1. Stephen Strasburg

2. Gio Gonzalez

3. Jordan Zimmermann

4. Ross Detwiler

5. Dan Haren

Breakdown: A year removed from Tommy John Surgery, Stephen Strasburg should see an increase in innings and will make a bigger impact for the Nationals in 2013. Pending the Miami Clinic investigation regarding PED distribution, Gio Gonzalez has Cy Young Award candidate written all over him going into 2013. Jordan Zimmerman is the best starting pitcher no one knows about, and Ross Detwiler won 10 games for Washington in 2012. Dan Haren rounds out the back of the rotation for the Nationals, and if he can bounce back from a disappointing 2012 season with the Angels, Washington will have the best rotation in baseball.

Clayton Kershaw

4. LA Dodgers

1. Clayton Kershaw

2. Zack Greinke

3. Chad Billingsley

4. Josh Beckett

5. Hyun-Jin Ryu

Breakdown: The Dodgers brought in Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu during the offseason, are both pitchers are vital for the Dodgers’ success. Kershaw will be dominant yet again in 2013, and, in my opinion, should win the National League Cy Young Award. Billingsley is coming off an arm injury, so it is unknown how good he will be for the Dodgers. Josh Beckett was outstanding for LA after coming over from Boston, and if Greinke performs well, the Dodgers will possess a rotation just as formidable as San Francisco’s.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

David Price

1. David Price

2. Jeremy Hellickson

3. Matt Moore

4. Alex Cobb

5. Jeff Niemann

Breakdown: Although the Rays lost James Shields and Wade Davis, Tampa Bay still has the reigning Cy Young Award winner in David Price. Hellickson, Moore, and Cobb all won at least 10 games last year for the Rays, so with the inclusion of Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay will have a very deep and formidable starting rotation for 2013.

C.C. Sabathia

6. NY Yankees

1. C.C. Sabathia

2. Huroki Kuroda

3. Andy Petitte

4. Ivan Nova

5. Phil Hughes

Breakdown: The Yankees return 3 veteran starters in Sabathia, Kuroda, and Petitte who have all had success over their careers. Nova is inconsistent, but when he is on his game, he can dominate any American League lineup. Hughes has been successful for the Yankees over the years, but his issue is staying healthy. If New York wants to compete with Tampa Bay for the best rotation in the AL East, Nova and Hughes will have to step up and stay healthy in 2013.

7. Toronto Blue Jays

R.A. Dickey

1. R.A. Dickey

2. Josh Johnson

3. Mark Buerhle

4. Brandon Morrow

5. Ricky Romero

Breakdown: The Blue Jays starting rotation underwent a complete makeover over the offseason, and boy was it a drastic makeover. The Blue Jays now have the 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner in R.A . Dickey, who will continue to have success even in the AL East. They also acquired Josh Johnson, a legitimate ace when healthy, and Mark Buerhle, who will give the Toronto a crafty lefty that will eat up innings. Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero are the only starters returning, and they should have better seasons now that the pressure of being the top 2 starters is gone. Toronto has a well-rounded rotation going into 2013, and should be a major strength for the Blue Jays.

Chris Carpenter

8. St. Louis Cardinals

1. Adam Wainwright

2. Chris Carpenter

3. Jake Westbrook

4. Lance Lynn

5. Jaime Garcia

6. Shelby Miller

Breakdown: Assuming Chris Carpenter doesn’t miss the 2013 season, the Cardinals have one of the most experienced pitching staffs in the National League. Lance Lynn was the Cardinals best pitcher in 2012, and should improve after one year of experience under his belt. Wainwright and Westbrook are both coming off solid 2012 seasons, and should continue to stabilize the Cardinals rotation.  Everything comes down to health for the Cardinals; if Carpenter and Jaime Garcia can stay healthy, St. Louis will be in contention for another postseason berth.

9. Texas Rangers 

Yu Darvish

1. Matt Harrison

2. Yu Darvish

3. Derek Holland

4. Alexi Ogando

5. Colby Lewis

Breakdown: Harrison, Darvish, and Holland are the 3 pitchers who will carry the load in the 2013 season. Ogando is erratic at times, but if he can limit the walks, Ogando will be a dangerous number 4 starter. Getting Colby Lewis back from Tommy John Surgery is huge for the Rangers. Lewis will complete the Rangers rotation and will make Texas contenders in the AL West yet again.

Jarrod Parker

10. Oakland A's

1. Brian Anderson

2. Bartolo Colon

3. Jarrod Parker

4. Tommy Milone

5. A.J. Griffin

Breakdown: The A’s 2012 season was fueled by pitching and timely hitting, and Oakland seems to have all of its starting pitching returning for this season. Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone, and A.J. Griffin are 3 of the best young starting pitchers in the game and Brian Anderson will continue to improve coming back from Tommy John Surgery. The only question mark is Bartolo Colon; how will he perform after testing positive for PEDs? Even with the speculation surrounding Colon, Oakland still possesses a young and talented starting rotation. 

-Hayden Carter