2013 World Baseball Classic

[PLowry]

Here's the way the March 2013 WBC Contest will be run. Contest entries are due by the time of the first pitch of the first game in Pool A in Fukuoka or Pool B in Taichung. Entries must have a guess for the winning team and losing team, final scores, and attendance in all First Round games, where the two teams are already known for each game. Entries must have a guess for the winning team and losing team, final scores, and attendance in all Second Round and Championship Round games, where the teams are NOT already known for each game. Scoring will be twenty points for the winning team, twenty points for the losing team, a penalty point subtracted for the differential between actual and estimated runs for each of the two teams, and a penalty point subtracted for each thousand fans differential between actual and estimated attendance. Prize is the same as for the Fall 2012 WBC Qualifiers Contest.

[Rally Monkey]

Interesting: Team Italy is planning to slot in Alex Maestri to start against Team USA.

http://yakyubaka.com/2013/01/06/samu...anuary-5-2013/

I'm not sure if Maestri is Italy's number one pitcher or not. But if he is, wouldn't it make more sense to use him against a lower ranked team, like Canada, to try to ensure at least one win. I mean, I know they'll try to win every game. But they should be realistic.

[NewEnglandAmazins]

Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista pain-free and optimistic at Toronto tour stop

Bautista also proudly proclaimed his sprained left wrist pain-free and good to go for 2013.

The right fielder, who leads the majors in home runs since 2010, underwent season-ending surgery in August to repair a tendon injured on the follow-through of a swing in mid-July. He said he is hitting in a batting cage five times a week, but has yet to face live pitching.

“We’re just waiting on that because we’re not in the middle of the season,” he said. “If we were in the middle of the season, I’d probably be playing in games right now.”

Bautista would love to be playing in meaningful games in March as a member of the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, but the Jays have not yet given him clearance for the international competition.

“Obviously when you finish the season on the disabled list it’s natural for the organization to want to look after your best interests and your health and the team’s best interests,” he said. “I know everyone in the Dominican Republic wants me to play and I’m doing my best and I know the team is doing their best, too.”

If the Jays do allow Bautista to participate, the first four batters in the Dominican lineup could be identical to the top four that Jays manager John Gibbons will mark on his lineup card for opening day. Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera and Edwin Encarnacion are all expected to be named to the Domincan roster.

“If it was up to me I’d go, but it’s not my decision,” Bautista said. “If the team believes I would be better off just staying at spring training and getting ready for that, then I will do that, but it is my desire to participate.”

Source: http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseba...onto-tour-stop

[ddrapayo]

If I submit a preliminary predictions now, am I allowed to edit them at any point up until the deadline? Or will they immediately become final?

[Rally Monkey]

That story above about Joey Bats is the first I've heard that Melky Cabrera is likely to play.

[Rally Monkey]

Thought I'd update the latest roster news today. The latest additions are in italics. As always, my primary source is the excellent Baseball Continuum blog.

Australia
Ryan Rowland-Smith, LHP (FA)
Travis Blackley, LHP (Oakland)
Rich Thompson, RHP (Toronto)
Grant Balfour, RHP (Oakland)
Allan De San Miguel, C (Baltimore, AAA)
Luke Hughes, IF (FA)

Brazil
Andre Rienzo, RHP (Chi. White Sox)
Yan Gomes, 1B/3B/C (Cleveland)

Canada
Andrew Albers, LHP (Minnesota AA)
Dustin Molleken, RHP (Nippon Ham)
Philippe Aumont, LHP (Phillies)
John Axford, RHP (Milwaukee)
Jim Henderson, RHP (Milwaukee)
Jesse Crain, RHP (Chi. White Sox)
Shawn Hill, RHP (Detroit AAA)
Chris Leroux, RHP (Pittsburgh)
Trystan Magnuson, RHP (Toronto AA)
Scott Mathieson, RHP (Yomiuri)
Russell Martin, C/SS (Pittsburgh)
Chris Robinson, C (Baltimore AAA)
Justin Morneau, 1B (Minnesota)
Joey Votto, 1B (Cincinnati)
Jimmy Van Ostrand, 1B (Washington AA)
Taylor Green, 2B (Milwaukee)
Pete Orr, 2B (Philadephia minors)
Brett Lawrie, Canada, 3B (Toronto)
Jonathan Malo, SS (FA)
Cale Iorg, SS (Detroit AAA)
Tim Smith, OF (Orioles minors)
Tyson Gillies, OF (Philadelphia AA)
Adam Loewen, OF (NY Mets AAA)
Michael Saunders, OF (Seattle)
Dropped: James Avery, RHP (Detroit AA)

Chinese Taipei
Chien-Ming Wang, RHP (FA)
Hong-Chih Kuo, LHP (FA)

China
Ray Chang, IF (Minnesota AAA)
Wei Wang, C

Cuba
Freddy Asiel Alvarez, RHP (Villa Clara, SNB)
Yulieski Gourriel, 3B (Sancti Spiritus, SNB)

Dominican Republic
Ervin Santana, RHP (Kansas City)
Edinson Volquez, RHP (San Diego)
Johnny Cueto, RHP (Cincinnati)
Pedro Strop, RHP (Baltimore)
Octavio Dotel, RHP (Detroit)
Wilin Rosario, C (Colorado)
Carlos Santana, C/1B (Cleveland)
Albert Pujols, 1B (LA Angels)
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B (Toronto)
Robinson Cano, 2B (Yankees)
Adrian Beltre, 3B (Texas)
Hanley Ramirez, 3B/SS (Toronto)
Jose Reyes, SS (Toronto)
Starling Marte, OF (Pittsburgh)
Carlos Gomez, CF (Milwaukee)
Nelson Cruz, OF (Texas)

Italy
Alex Maestri, RHP (Orix)
Jason Grilli, RHP (Pittsburgh)
Alex Liddi, 3B/LF/1B (Mariners)

Japan (6 of these players will be cut)
Masahiro Tanaka, P (Rakuten)
Toshiya Sugiuchi, LHP (Yomiuri)
Tetsuya Utsumi, LHP (Yomiuri)
Tetsuya Yamaguchi, LHP (Yomiuri).
Hirokazu Sawamura, RHP (Yomiuri)
Kenta Maeda, RHP (Hiroshima)
Atsushi Nomi, LHP (Hanshim)
Kazuhisa Makita, RHP (Seibu)
Tadashi Settsu, RHP (Softbank)
Kenji Otonari, LHP (Softbank)
Tetsuya Yamaguchi, LHP (Yomiuri)
Daisuke Yamai, RHP (Chunichi)
Takuya Asao, RHP (Chinichi)
Takeru Imamura, RHP (Hiroshima)
Hideaki Wakui, RHP (Seibu)
Masahiko Morifuku, LHP (Softbank)
Shinnosuke Abe, C (Yomiuri)
Ryoji Aikawa, C (Yakult)
Ginjiro Sumitani, C (Seibu)
Atsunori Inaba, 1B (Nippon Ham)
Yuichi Honda, 2B (Softbank)
Shuichi Murata 3B (Yomiuri)
Nobuhiro Matsuda 3B (Softbank)
Hayato Sakamoto, SS (Yomiuri)
Hirokazu Ibata, SS (Chunichi)
Takashi Toritani, SS (Hanshin)
Kazuo Matsui, SS/2B (Rakuten)
Hisayoshi Chono, OF (Yomiuri)
Yohei Oshima, OF (Chunichi)
Yoshio Itoi, OF (Nippon Ham)
Sho Nakata, OF/1B (Nippon Ham)
Seiichi Uchikawa, OF (Softbank)
Ryo Hijirisawa, OF (Rakuten)
Katsuya Kakunaka, OF(Lotte, NPB)
Dropped: Kazuki Yoshimi, RHP (Chunichi)

Korea
Won Sam Jang, LHP (Samsung)
Hee Sang Yoon, RHP (SK)
Suk Min Yoon, RHP (KIA)
Jae Weong Seo, RHP (KIA)
Hee Soo Park, LHP (SK)
Seung Hwan Oh, RHP (Samsung)
Kyung Eun Noh, RHP (Doosan)
Tae Hyon Chong, RHP (Lotte, KBO)
Yong Chan Lee, RHP (Doosan)
Won Sang Yoo, RHP (LG)
Seung Lak Son, RHP (Nexen)
Won Jun Jang, RHP (Police)
Suk Min Yoon, RHP (KIA)
Min Ho Kang, C (Lotte, KBO)
Gap Young Jin, C (Samsung)
Seung Yeop Lee, 1B (Samsung)
Tae Kyun Kim, 1B (Hanwha)
Keun Woo Jung, 2B (SK)
Dae Ho Lee, 3B/SS (Orix)
Jung Ho Kang, SS (Nexen)
Sang Soo Kim, IF (Samsung)
Jung Choi, IF (SK)
Shi Heon Son, IF (Doosan)
Hyun Soo Kim, OF (Doosan)
Jun Woo Jeon, OF (Lotte, KBO)
Ah Seop Son, OF (Lotte, KBO)
Yong Kyu Lee, OF (KIA)
Jin Young Lee, OF (LG)
Dropped: Woo Chan Cha, LHP (Samsung)

Mexico
Jaime Garcia, LHP (St. Louis)
Yovani Gallardo, RHP (Milwaukee)
Marco Estrada, RHP (Milwaukee)
Alfredo Aceves, RHP (Boston)
Sergio Romo, RHP (San Francisco)
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B (LA Dodgers)
Luis Cruz, IF (LA Dodgers)
Edgar Gonzalez, IF (FA)

Netherlands
Andruw Jones, CF (Rakuten)
Roger Bernadina, OF (Washington)
Wladimr Balentien, OF (Yakult)

Puerto Rico
Javier Vazquez, RHP (FA)
Hector Santiago, RHP (Chi. White Sox)
Pedro Feliciano, LHP (NY Yankees)
Yadier Molina, C (St. Louis)
Martin Maldonado, C (Milwaukee)
Mike Aviles, SS (Cleveland)
Carlos Beltran, CF (St. Louis)
Angel Pagan, OF (San Francisco)

Spain
Francisco Figueroa, 2B (FA)
Engel Beltre, OF (Texas AA)
Gabe Suarez, OF (Laguna, LMB)

USA
Ryan Vogelsong, RHP (San Francisco)
Kris Medlen, RHP (Atlanta)
Craig Kimbrel, RHP (Atlanta)
Chris Perez, RHP (Cleveland)
Vinnie Pestano, RHP (Cleveland)
Joe Mauer, C (Minnesota)
Jonathan Lucroy, C (Milwaukee)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B (Boston)
Brandon Phillips, 2B (Cincinnati)
David Wright, 3B (NY Mets)
Troy Tulowitzki, SS (Colorado)
Shane Victorino, OF (Boston)
Ryan Braun, LF (Milwaukee)
Adam Jones, CF (Baltimore)
Giancarlo Stanton, RF (Miami)

Venezuela
Felix Hernandez, RHP (Seattle)
Carlos Zambrano, RHP (FA)
Anibal Sanchez, LHP (Detroit)
Felix Doubront, LHP (Boston)
Miguel Montero, C (Arizona)
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, 3B (Detroit)
Luis Jimenez, 1B (Toronto)
Pablo Sandoval, 3B (San Francisco)
Melvin Mora, 3B, OF, SS (FA)
Elvis Andrus, SS (Texas)
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS (Cleveland)
Martin Prado, IF, LF (Atlanta)
Carlos Gonzalez, OF (Colorado)

[NewEnglandAmazins]

Thought I'd update the latest roster news today. The latest additions are in italics. As always, my primary source is the excellent Baseball Continuum blog.

Venezuela
Felix Hernandez, RHP (Seattle)
Carlos Zambrano, RHP (FA)
Anibal Sanchez, LHP (Detroit)
Miguel Montero, C (Arizona)
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, 3B (Detroit)
Luis Jimenez, 1B (Toronto)
Pablo Sandoval, 3B (San Francisco)
Melvin Mora, 3B, OF, SS (FA)
Elvis Andrus, SS (Texas)
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS (Cleveland)
Martin Prado, IF, LF (Atlanta)
Carlos Gonzalez, OF (Colorado)
Melky Cabrera, OF (Toronto)

Melky is Dominican
http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?p...level='ALL'

Dae Ho Lee, 3B/SS (Orix)


Don't let his Ruthian body fool you, Lee Dae Ho is a wizard at Shortstop

[Richard]

I wonder if the PR roster will include any of the young talent like Correa, Lindor and Baez. It would be good for PR baseball.

[Rally Monkey]

Melky is Dominican
http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?p...level='ALL'

Duh. I knew that. Fixed.

[Rally Monkey]

Oh, and if it's not obvious, Lee is gonna DH in this tournament. I just noted above what positions he's played before.

[NewEnglandAmazins]

Oh, and if it's not obvious, Lee is gonna DH in this tournament. I just noted above what positions he's played before.

I couldn't help myself when I saw SS next to his name. btw, only 54 days to go!

[Rally Monkey]

Ryan Braun to play for Team USA.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

I've edited my roster list above.

[cutchemist42]

van der Hurk is not playing for the Netherlands because of his new Korean team and ST there.

[Rally Monkey]

van der Hurk is not playing for the Netherlands because of his new Korean team and ST there.

Vandenhurk is no star, to be sure. But he always posted really solid numbers in Triple A. And he's one of the few Dutch starters I can think of with major league experience. Jair Jurrjens fizzled out with the Brazes (he's a free agent now and probably won't pitch in the WBC if another team picks him up before spring training), and Shairon Martis has had an even harder time of it over the past few years. (He hasn't pitched in the minors since 2009.)

I said it before: The Netherlands will finish at the bottom of their pool.

UPDATE: Let me elaborate. Here's the Orange's pitching roster for the 2011 World Cup championship team:

David Bergman, P
Leon Boyd, P
Rob Cordemans, P
Diegomar Markwell, P
Shairon Martis, P
Orlando Yntema, P
Tom Stuifbergen, P
Juan Carlos Sulbaran, P
Berry van Driel, P
Arshwin Asjes, P

A lot of these guys are solid. Who can't love what Leon Boyd did in 2009 against the Dominicans? Or how J.C. Sulbaran pitched in that tournament? Or the performance Tom Stuifbergen put in in that final game of the first round? But Stuifbergen hasn't had much success in high-A ball since then, Leon's time in the Blue Jays organization is done, and Sulbaran--although part of the package that the Royals got in the Jonathan Broxton trade--doesn't look to be much more than an organizational pitcher.

Also, Alexander Smit is out of baseball and Loek van Mil's numbers haven't been great in Triple-A (although I keep reading that his stuff is really good).

I'm not saying that the Netherlands is a bad team. They're not. If they get Profar to play, they'll be particularly exciting to watch. It's just that playing against the professionals of Korea and Taiwan--who'll be training hard all winter--and a stable of MLB-caliber players pitching for Australia will be tough. Don't forget, a lot of the Aussies will be relatively sharp after playing in the ABL winter league. And the double-elimination format that benefitted the Dutch so much last time (they had the good fortune of facing an under-motivated Dominican team not once, but twice) is gone in this year's opening round. The Orange will be winless, I think.

[SDL]

Vandenhurk is no star, to be sure. But he always posted really solid numbers in Triple A. And he's one of the few Dutch starters I can think of with major league experience. Jair Jurrjens fizzled out with the Brazes (he's a free agent now and probably won't pitch in the WBC if another team picks him up before spring training), and Shairon Martis has had an even harder time of it over the past few years. (He hasn't pitched in the minors since 2009.)

I said it before: The Netherlands will finish at the bottom of their pool.

UPDATE: Let me elaborate. Here's the Orange's pitching roster for the 2011 World Cup championship team:

David Bergman, P
Leon Boyd, P
Rob Cordemans, P
Diegomar Markwell, P
Shairon Martis, P
Orlando Yntema, P
Tom Stuifbergen, P
Juan Carlos Sulbaran, P
Berry van Driel, P
Arshwin Asjes, P

A lot of these guys are solid. Who can't love what Leon Boyd did in 2009 against the Dominicans? Or how J.C. Sulbaran pitched in that tournament? Or the performance Tom Stuifbergen put in in that final game of the first round? But Stuifbergen hasn't had much success in high-A ball since then, Leon's time in the Blue Jays organization is done, and Sulbaran--although part of the package that the Royals got in the Jonathan Broxton trade--doesn't look to be much more than an organizational pitcher.

Also, Alexander Smit is out of baseball and Loek van Mil's numbers haven't been great in Triple-A (although I keep reading that his stuff is really good).

I'm not saying that the Netherlands is a bad team. They're not. If they get Profar to play, they'll be particularly exciting to watch. It's just that playing against the professionals of Korea and Taiwan--who'll be training hard all winter--and a stable of MLB-caliber players pitching for Australia will be tough. Don't forget, a lot of the Aussies will be relatively sharp after playing in the ABL winter league. And the double-elimination format that benefitted the Dutch so much last time (they had the good fortune of facing an under-motivated Dominican team not once, but twice) is gone in this year's opening round. The Orange will be winless, I think.

Winless?????

[Rally Monkey]

In today's Continuum: Tulo's probably in. Melky's probably out. And if you follow the links, there's an Andrew McCutcheon sighting.

http://baseballcontinuum.com/2013/01...of-jan-9-2013/

[Rally Monkey]

That was fast. McCutcheon is a no-go. And Jonathan Lucroy, C (Brewers) confirms that he's a go for Team USA.

http://baseballcontinuum.com/2013/01...f-jan-10-2013/

Although I haven't seen him play much, Lucroy's a really good young catcher. With Joe Mauer already committed to play, looks like Team USA has its two catchers. So those of you who were hoping that Buster Posey would agree to play will be disappointed. Unless, of course, Mauer's slotted in as a DH or Team USA goes with three catchers. (It didn't last time.)

[Rally Monkey]

More today from the Continuum, with some big-name commitments: Adam Jones is in for Team USA. And so is Nelson Cruz for the RD.

http://baseballcontinuum.com/2013/01...f-jan-11-2013/

Oh, and reports now are saying that "provisional" 28-man rosters will be due on Wednesday, January 16.

UPDATE: The rosters that will be announced on Thursday will have to have a minimum of 24 players.

[bluesky5]

2013 Jerseys and Caps

wbcfinals.png

[PLowry]

Here is my entry in the Spring 2013 WBC Contest:

FIRST ROUND

Pool A in the Yahoo! Dome, Fukuoka, Japan

Japan 12 Brazil 3 before 20,000 fans
Cuba 7 Brazil 2 before 10,000 fans
Japan 16 China 0 before 12,000 fans
Cuba 12 China 0 before 8000 fans
Brazil 8 China 0 before 8000 fans
Japan 5 Cuba 3 before 24,000 fans
Final Records --- Japan 3-0; Cuba 2-1; Brazil 1-2; China 0-3
JAPAN AND CUBA ADVANCE

Pool B in Intercontinental Stadium, Taichung, Taiwan

South Korea 12 Netherlands 3 before 5000 fans
Taiwan 6 Australia 4 before 18,000 fans
South Korea 14 Australia 1 before 5000 fans
Taiwan 5 Netherlands 18,000 fans
Australia 7 Netherlands 2 before 5000 fans
South Korea 10 Taiwan 6 before 22,000 fans
Records --- South Korea 3-0; Taiwan 2-1; Australia 1-2; Netherlands 0-3
SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN ADVANCE

Pool C in Estadio Hiram Bithorn, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Dominican 7 Venezuela 6 before 12,000 fans
Puerto Rico 14 Spain 3 before 19,600 fans
Dominican 11 Spain 0 before 6000 fans
Venezuela 4 Puerto Rico 3 before 19,600 fans
Venezuela 12 Spain 2 before 6000 fans
Dominican 8 Puerto Rico 6 before 19, 600 fans
Records --- Dominican 3-0; Venezuela 2-1; Puerto Rico 1-2; Spain 0-3
DOMINICAN AND VENEZUELA ADVANCE

Pool D in Chase Field, Phoenix; and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, Arizona

Mexico 14 Italy 2 before 8000 fans
Canada 15 Italy 1 before 8000 fans
United States 6 Mexico 5 before 30,000 fans
Canada 8 Mexico 4 before 8000 fans
United States 12 Italy 1 before 20,000 fans
United States 7 Canada 3 before 30,000 fans
Records --- United States 3-0; Canada 2-1; Mexico 1-2; Italy 0-3
UNITED STATES AND CANADA ADVANCE

SECOND ROUND

Pool 1 in the Big Egg Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

South Korea 4 Cuba 3 before 20,000 fans
Japan 9 Taiwan 4 before 35,000 fans
Cuba 8 Taiwan 3 before 15,000 fans
South Korea 2 Japan 1 before 40,000 fans
Japan 6 Cuba 2 before 30,000 fans
Japan 8 South Korea 6 before 40,000 fans
Records --- Japan 3-1; South Korea 2-1; Cuba 1-2; Taiwan 0-2
JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA ADVANCE

Pool 2 in Marlins Park, Miami, Florida

Canada 7 Venezuela 5 before 7000 fans
Dominican 8 United States 5 before 20,000 fans
United States 5 Venezuela 3 before 18,000 fans
Dominican 5 Canada 3 before 6000 fans
United States 10 Canada 6 before 18,000 fans
Dominican 4 United States 3 before 20,000 fans
Records --- Dominican 3-0; United States 2-2; Canada 1-2; Venezuela 0-2
DOMINICAN AND UNITED STATES ADVANCE

SEMI-FINALS in AT&T Park, San Francisco, California

United States 7 Japan 3 before 42,000 fans
Dominican 4 South Korea 2 before 42,000 fans

FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE GAME in AT&T Park, San Francisco, California

Dominican 3 United States 2 before 42,000 fans

[ddrapayo]

Pool A
Japan 16 Brazil 1, Attendance: 37,562
Cuba 15 Brazil 2, Attendance: 13,500
Japan 13 China 1, Attendance: 37,562
Cuba 17 China 1, Attendance: 16,500
Brazil 4 China 2, Attendance: 9,500
Japan 6 Cuba 4, Attendance: 37,562
Standings (for purposes of advancing teams to next round)
1. Japan (3-0)
2. Cuba (2-1)
3. Brazil (1-2)
4. China (0-3)
Pool B
Chinese Taipei 9 Australia 1, Attendance 16,001
South Korea 8 Netherlands 4, Attendance 8,500
Chinese Taipei 6 Netherlands 2, Attendance 16,001
South Korea 6 Australia 4, Attendance 9,100
Netherlands 4 Australia 3, Attendance 8,800
South Korea 5 Chinese Taipei 4, Attendance 16,001
Standings (for purposes of advancing teams to next round)
1. South Korea (3-0)
2. Chinese Taipei (2-1)
3. Netherlands (1-2)
4. Australia (0-3)
Pool C
Dominican Republic 5 Venezuela 3, Attendance: 11,111
Puerto Rico 13 Spain 3, Attendance: 18,999
Dominican Republic 12 Spain 1, Attendance: 11,111
Puerto Rico 7 Venezuela 6, Attendance: 18,999
Venezuela 12 Spain 4, Attendance: 9,111
Dominican Republic 9 Puerto Rico 2, Attendance: 18,999
Standings:
1. Dominican Republic (3-0)
2. Puerto Rico (2-1)
3. Venezuela (1-2)
4. Spain (0-3)

Pool D

Mexico 14 Italy 0, Attendance: 4,300

Canada 7 Italy 4, Attendance: 2,900

United States 8 Mexico 6, Attendance: 23,000

Mexico 11 Canada 6, Attendance: 13,400

United States 18 Italy 0, Attendance: 21,000

United States 9 Canada 2, Attendance: 21,500

Standings:

1. United States (3-0)
2. Mexico (2-1)
3. Canada (1-2)
4. Italy (0-3)
Pool 1:
Game 1 (A-runner up vs. B winner) Cuba 8 South Korea 4, Attendance 19,500
Game 2 (A-winner vs. B runnerup) Japan 9 Chinese Taipei 3, Attendance 42,999
Game 3 (Game 2 Loser vs. Game 1 Loser) Chinese Taipei 8 South Korea 4, Attendance 21,900
Game 4 (Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner) Japan 8 Cuba 5, Attendance: 42,999
Game 5 (Game 4 Loser vs. Game 3 winner) Cuba 8 Chinese Taipei 2, Attendance: 20,000
Game 6 (Game 5 winner vs. Game 4 winner) Japan 4 Cuba 2 Attendance: 42,999

Pool 2
Game 1 (C runner up vs. D winner) Puerto Rico 8 United States 3 Attendance: 23,000
Game 2 (C winner vs. D runner up) Dominican Republic 9 Mexico 1 Attendance: 9,500
Game 3 (Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser) United States 6 Mexico 2 Attendance: 23,000
Game 4 (Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner) Dominican Republic 6 Puerto Rico 3 Attendance: 9,800
Game 5 (Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser) Puerto Rico 7 United States 1 Attendance: 21,000
Game 6 (Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner) Dominican Republic 11 Puerto Rico 2 Attendance: 7,800

Semifinals
Semifinal 1 (2 runner up vs. 1 winner) Japan 14 Puerto Rico 5 Attendance: 7,000
Semifinal 2 (2 winner vs. 1 runnerup) Dominican Republic 8 Cuba 7 Attendance: 8,000

Final: Dominican Republic 5 Japan 3 Attendance: 13,500


BONUS POINTS (Doesn't really get me bonus points, but I'm doing it anyway)

2016 (for 2017) qualifying groups will feature the four last place teams in 2013, the second and third place teams from last fall (since the winner went to the WBC) and four new teams - Sweden, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Argentina. France, Czech Republic, Nicaragua, and Thailand will not participate as they finished last in qualifying. Each group will feature a last place finisher, two middle finishers, and a new qualifier, though not necessarily from the same group as before.

Group A (letters/numbers of groups may be different, I have no way of guessing that) at Beijing's Olympic baseball stadium (I forget the name)

China
Philippines
Israel
Hong Kong

Group B (somewhere in Australia, possibly wherever they played baseball at the Olympics in 2000)

Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
Pakistan

Group C (in Rod Carew Stadium, Panama)

Spain
Panama
Colombia
Argentina

Group D (in Germany or Italy)

Italy
Germany
Great Britain
Sweden

[cutchemist42]

https://twitter.com/ShiDavidi/status/290217547628957696

[Rally Monkey]

Lots of big roster news today. Team Canada has announced 23 of its 28 players. (Not including Joey Votto, who's still expected to play.) Mike Trout announced that he's out for Team USA, but Giancarlo (Mike) Stanton has said he's in.

As always, the Continuum has all the details. I'll update my roster list above.

http://baseballcontinuum.com

[brewcrew82]

Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz to play for Dominican Republic in World Baseball Classic

Giancarlo Stanton will play for Team USA in World Baseball Classic, Mike Trout will not

[brewcrew82]

Apologies Rally Monkey. I didn't realised you covered the Stanton and Trout story already.