International Baseball Ranking (by country/region)

[ROC~~]

This is what I think
#1 USA
#2 Dominica Republic
#3 Venezuela
#4 Japan
#5 Cuba
#6 Puerto Rico
#7 Mexico
#8 Canada
#9 South Korea
#10 Netherland (include players from Aruba & Dutch Antilles)
#11 Panama
#12 Taiwan (Republic of China)/Chinese Taipei
#13 Australia
#14 Nicaragua
#15 Colombia
#16 Italy (exclude American of Italian descent)

[quinnystar27]

Are we talking about World Baseball Classic Rankings or Baseball World Cup because the presence of MLB players and other Professional Players from NPB might change those rankings?
But I say according to World Baseball Classic:
1. Japan
2.DR
3.USA
4.Korea
5.Venezuela
6.Cuba
8.PR
9.Mexico
10.Australia

Now the reason cuba is so low is because i noticed that in this baseball world cup cuba had most of it's classic stars and couldnt beat US minor leaguers. Now just add another small questions, how many people thinks that there should just be one International baseball championship rather then have 2?
In my personnel opinon the world baseball classic should be the ultimate international competition was very popular compare the the baseball world cup

[mikemets]

Are we talking about World Baseball Classic Rankings or Baseball World Cup because the presence of MLB players and other Professional Players from NPB might change those rankings?
But I say according to World Baseball Classic:
1. Japan
2.DR
3.USA
4.Korea
5.Venezuela
6.Cuba
8.PR
9.Mexico
10.Australia

Now the reason cuba is so low is because i noticed that in this baseball world cup cuba had most of it's classic stars and couldnt beat US minor leaguers. Now just add another small questions, how many people thinks that there should just be one International baseball championship rather then have 2?
In my personnel opinon the world baseball classic should be the ultimate international competition was very popular compare the the baseball world cup

how could you have australia ranked above canada, really even mexico for that matter but there is noway australia is better than canada.

[Williamsburg2599]

This is what I think
#1 USA
#2 Dominica Republic
#3 Venezuela
#4 Japan
#5 Cuba
#6 Puerto Rico
#7 Mexico
#8 Canada
#9 South Korea
#10 Netherlands (include players from Aruba & Dutch Antilles)
#11 Panama
#12 Taiwan (Republic of China)/Chinese Taipei
#13 Australia
#14 Nicaragua
#15 Colombia
#16 Italy (exclude American of Italian descent)

Why Venezuela above Japan, Cuba, and Puerto Rico?

My top 25:

1. USA
2. Japan
3. Dominican Republic
4. Cuba
5. Puerto Rico
6. Venezuela
7. Canada
8. South Korea
9. Mexico
10. Netherlands (include players from Aruba & Dutch Antilles)
11. Panama
12. Taiwan (Republic of China)/Chinese Taipei
13. China
14. Nicaragua
15. Colombia
16. Australia
17. Italy (exclude American of Italian descent)
18. Israel (Including Jewish-American players)
19. South Africa
20. Germany
21. Spain
22. Ireland
23. Philippines
24. Thailand
25. UK
    
    
    
    
    
    The bottom 10 or so on my list is pretty loose, as I'm no expert in European baseball.
    

[brewcrew82]

San Marino? Besides that they're on there twice.

[Williamsburg2599]

San Marino? Besides that they're on there twice.

Fixed. Meant the lower one.

T & A San Marino plays in the Serie A1, the top level of professional baseball in Italy. It has frequently participated in the European Cup and won the championship in 2006.

I may have overrated them a tad, but as I said before, my knowledge of Baseball in Europe and some of the more obscure countries is limited.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

San Marino? Besides that they're on there twice.

San Marino plays in the Italian competition, so it can't be part of these lists IMO.

[Williamsburg2599]

San Marino plays in the Italian competition, so it can't be part of these lists IMO.

Ah ok. I've removed them then.

[BosoxOrioles69]

Why Venezuela above Japan, Cuba, and Puerto Rico?

My top 23:

1. USA
2. Japan
3. Dominican Republic
4. Cuba
5. Puerto Rico
6. Venezuela
7. Canada
8. South Korea
9. Mexico
10. Netherlands (include players from Aruba & Dutch Antilles)
11. Panama
12. Taiwan (Republic of China)/Chinese Taipei
13. Nicaragua
14. Colombia
15. Australia
16. Italy (exclude American of Italian descent)
17. Israel (Including Jewish-American players)
18. South Africa
19. Germany
20. Spain
21. Ireland
22. Philippines
23. Thailand
    
    
    
    
    
    The bottom 10 or so on my list is pretty loose, as I'm no expert in European baseball.
    

how can South Korea be lower than Canada? You guys are definately underestimating the Asian teams. Plus, if Matsui, Wang have participated in WBC, Japan would've been best no doubt and Taiwan would have been solid.

My top 10 national baseball teams

1. USA
2. JAPAN
3. CUBA
4. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
5. PUERTO RICO
6. VENEZUELA
7. SOUTH KOREA
8. MEXICO
9. CANADA
10. TAIWAN

[Agente Libre]

Are you guys ranking baseball-playing countries or those countries' respective national teams? In either case, I don't understand how Cuba can be #6 or how Puerto Rico can be repeatedly ranked higher than Venezuela. The latter might have made sense in the '80s or '90s, but not today.

[Williamsburg2599]

Are you guys ranking baseball-playing countries or those countries' respective national teams? In either case, I don't understand how Cuba can be #6 or how Puerto Rico can be repeatedly ranked higher than Venezuela. The latter might have made sense in the '80s or '90s, but not today.

I was ranking by talent from that country, not their national teams. I'm not sure how everyone is doing it.

[NewEnglandAmazins]

Why Venezuela above Japan, Cuba, and Puerto Rico?

My top 23:

1. USA
2. Japan
3. Dominican Republic
4. Cuba
5. Puerto Rico
6. Venezuela
7. Canada
8. South Korea
9. Mexico
10. Netherlands (include players from Aruba & Dutch Antilles)
11. Panama
12. Taiwan (Republic of China)/Chinese Taipei
13. Nicaragua
14. Colombia
15. Australia
16. Italy (exclude American of Italian descent)
17. Israel (Including Jewish-American players)
18. South Africa
19. Germany
20. Spain
21. Ireland
22. Philippines
23. Thailand
    
    
    
    
    
    The bottom 10 or so on my list is pretty loose, as I'm no expert in European baseball.
    

Did you forget about China? They should at least be ranked ahead of The Philippines and Thailand. Also, I think Venezuela should be ranked higher than Puerto Rico.

[Williamsburg2599]

Did you forget about China? They should at least be ranked ahead of The Philippines and Thailand. Also, I think Venezuela should be ranked higher than Puerto Rico.

I forgot about China. I was on the fence between PR and Ven., but I've lookeed it over and changed it.

[Tetsuwan]

1. USA
2. Japan
3. Dominican Republic, Venezuela
5. Puerto Rico
6. Cuba
7. Canada, Mexico, Panama
10. Australia, Holland, South Korea, Taiwan
14. Italy, Nicaragua
16. Colombia, Brazil
18. Spain, UK, South Africa, China
22. Jamaica, Virgin Islands, Ecuador, Germany
25. Russia, Sweden, France, Czech Republic
29. Ukraine, Crotia, Argentina, Bahamas
33. Thailand

[Agente Libre]

Wow ... Japan ahead of Cuba and the Dom. Rep.? And Puerto Rico ahead of Cuba?

[NewEnglandAmazins]

1. USA
2. Japan
3. Dominican Republic, Venezuela
5. Puerto Rico
6. Cuba
7. Canada, Mexico, Panama
10. Australia, Holland, South Korea, Taiwan
14. Italy, Nicaragua
16. Colombia, Brazil
18. Spain, UK, South Africa, China
22. Jamaica, Virgin Islands, Ecuador, Germany
25. Russia, Sweden, France, Czech Republic
29. Ukraine, Crotia, Argentina, Bahamas
33. Thailand

Brazil and Jamaica in the Top 25? What criteria do you use to rank these nations?

[Fuznut88]

USA, Cuba, and Japan is top. The rest can be decided on many possible ways. Simply because those 3 have a good established league

[BolaNgBasebol]

I think UK should be a bit higher than the Philippines and Thailand same goes to China who is probably miles ahead of the two Southeast Asian countries, who probably could be ranked around the 30-40 spot.

[Tetsuwan]

Brazil and Jamaica in the Top 25?

Why not? Brazil is pretty tough team to beat in international baseball games. They ranked 7th place in 2003 WC.
Jamaica has produced some good players like Chilly Davis, Devon White etc.

[ROC~~]

Williamsburg2599:Why Venezuela above Japan, Cuba, and Puerto Rico?

Judge by talent from Venezuela, for ex. Bobby Abreu, Johan Santana, Kelvim Escobar...etc, I think Venezuela is difinitly the #3 baseball nation of the globe!

BosoxOrioles69's:You guys are definately underestimating the Asian teams. Plus, if Wang have participated in WBC..... Taiwan would have been solid.

There is only ONE WANG from Taiwan, most pitcher from CPBL (Taiwan pro baseball league) can't even pitch a ball travel more than 140 KM, and they got no BALL CONTROL ABILITY at all! And almost all CPBL's hitters can't hit anything that is travel more than 145KM! CPBL (or Taiwan baseball) is WAY OVERATED! CPBL in fact is about the same as minor 1A or minor advance 1A!

[NewEnglandAmazins]

Why not? Brazil is pretty tough team to beat in international baseball games. They ranked 7th place in 2003 WC.
Jamaica has produced some good players like Chilly Davis, Devon White etc.

Perhaps Brasil is as good as some mid-tier European teams, but aside from the 2003 BWC and 2007 Pan-Am games what other exposure do they have? Aren't France, Germany and the Czech Republic equal or better? As for Jamaica, can you name any other players from their Island? Can you find any information Jamaican baseball leagues or baseball related news from Jamaica?

[Tetsuwan]

Perhaps Brasil is as good as some mid-tier European teams, but aside from the 2003 BWC and 2007 Pan-Am games what other exposure do they have? Aren't France, Germany and the Czech Republic equal or better? As for Jamaica, can you name any other players from their Island? Can you find any information Jamaican baseball leagues or baseball related news from Jamaica?

You should keep in mind Brasil belongs to America Continent which include USA, Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Panama, DR, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua etc.
To qualify in WC, Brasil needs to be in best 6 teams in that Continent. So Brasil rarely has opportunity to show their competence in international competition just because they are in the strongest continent in terms of Baseball.
In 2003 WC, Brasil lost to Cuba by 4-3 at quarter final and finally got 7th place by beating South Korea by 8-3. I think they are just that good.

[NewEnglandAmazins]

You should keep in mind Brasil belongs to America Continent which include USA, Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Panama, DR, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua etc.
To qualify in WC, Brasil needs to be in best 6 teams in that Continent. So Brasil rarely has opportunity to show their competence in international competition just because they are in the strongest continent in terms of Baseball.
In 2003 WC, Brasil lost to Cuba by 4-3 at quarter final and finally got 7th place by beating South Korea by 8-3.

Ok, I see your point about Brasil. But what about Jamaica?

[Tetsuwan]

Ok, I see your point about Brasil. But what about Jamaica?

Frankly speaking, I am not familiar with Jamaican baseball.
But I believe producing players like Chilly Davis and Devon White means a lot.

[NewEnglandAmazins]

Frankly speaking, I am not familiar with Jamaican baseball.
But I believe producing players like Chilly Davis and Devon White means a lot.

I believe Chili and Devo were not a product of Jamaican baseball, but developed their skills elsewhere.

Even though baseball is rarely played in Jamaica and is not considered a "mainstream" sport Jamaica has produces a few players that have made a name Major League baseball in the USA. Those include 3-time all star Devon White who was a member of the 3 world championship teams (the 1992 and 1993 Toronto Blue Jays and the 1997 Florida Marlins) and New York Yankees Chili Davis who was a member of the 1998 and 1999championship team.

Source: http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/spo...ball_box.shtml

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...seball_players
BB Almanac: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play...hp?loc=Jamaica