WBC Predictions!

[Andruw]

Round 1

A
KOREA
JAPAN
Taiwan
China
B
USA
MEXICO
Canada
South-Africa
C
PUERTO RICO
NETHERLANDS
Cuba
Panama
D
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
VENEZUELA
Italy
Australia

Round 2
A
USA
KOREA
Mexico
Japan

B
VENEZUELA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Puerto Rico
Netherlands

Semifinals
USA - Korea
VENEZUELA - D.R.
Final
USA - VENEZUELA

WINNER: VENEZUELA

[DownUnderDodger]

I believe Gagne declined his participation for Team Canada

He is either hedging his bets or basing his decision on his fitness. His initial reaction to the WBC was that he was not in favour and would not be interested, then he made a statement that he was in favour of it and would participate.

[Cubano100%]

POOL A:
Japan will advance easily
Korea will also advance, but only after a thrilling game with Chinese Taipei

Pool B:
USA
Canada

Canada will defeat Mexico when Eric Bedard throws a 4 inning gem, then is taken out (due to Pitch count) to be replaced by Adam Loewen, Jesse Crain and Eric Gagne, in that order.

Pool C:
Puerto Rico
Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of only a small handful of Countries to beat Cuba in international play.... and now they have Andrew Jones. The game will be heavily contested, but the Dutch will shock the world. Afterwards, Fidel Castro announces that the entire Baseball team should defect, because they sure won't be welcome back in Cuba after losing to Dutch capitalists.

Pool D:
Dominican
Venezuela

However, Australia gives a spirited showing, almost upsetting Venezuela and beating Italy.


more predictions soon.

That would be fine with me. I hope he sends the young guys instead of the veterans. The young guys will have a better chance to make it to the Big Leagues. I just want to see a USA vs Cuba game. There have been a few empty benches in the past between the two. I am sure the whole thing with Cuba has added more wood to the fire.

[Gamingboy]

Gamingboy: He's not currently on the roster, but depending on how he's doing, he might be put in at the last minute.

federations were required to submit provisional rosters of up to 60 players by yesterday, 17 january.
those whose names do not appear on the provisional rosters are not eligible to play.

Check out Canada's provisional roster http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldc...ory?id=2294633

[west coast orange and black]

Gamingboy: He's not currently on the roster, but depending on how he's doing, he might be put in at the last minute.

federations were required to submit provisional rosters of up to 60 players by yesterday, 17 january.
those whose names do not appear on the provisional rosters are not eligible to play.

[Gamingboy]

I believe Gagne declined his participation for Team Canada

Ehh, I read that he was going to be a last minute decision. He's not currently on the roster, but depending on how he's doing, he might be put in at the last minute.


Anyway, back to my predictions:

Pool E (Pools A+B winners and runner ups)
The USA and Japan will advance to the semifinal against each other.

Pool F (C+D):
Venezuela and the DR advance to semifinal.


SEMIFINALS:

USA V. JAPAN:
The game will be filled with controversy. After the USA won the game between the two in Pool E, in which Barry Bonds hit a 5th inning home, Sadaharu Oh called Bonds' home run hitting "Unnatural". Needless to say, nobody is sure whether that is a compliment..... or a steroid accusation. Controversy also erupts during the game, when a Ichiro borderline home run is called foul in the 9th. That would be the final threat to the USA. Final score: USA 6, Japan 5.

Venezuela vs. DR:
The DR wins when Alex Rodriguez, arriving late from the USA game, hits a game winning home run... O wait... that can't be right.... It's actually Papi.



COming soon: USA v. DR, AKA: THE CLASH OF THE TITANS

[west coast orange and black]

round 1

a: japan + korea

b: canada + usa

c: cuba + puerto rico

d: australia + dominican republic

[PopTop]

I predict that due to all of the ridiculous politcs and grandstanding of egos, I will not watch or listen to one minute of this little exhibition.

[Licey Fan]

Mexico and Canada have the chance to knock off the US. Canada's starting pitching can be a nightmare and the Mexicans will play for pride against the US. I expect the US-Mexico affair espically in Phoenix a city with a high latino population to be very entertaining espically in the stands.

To add more spice to it... Mexico took the US out of the 2004 olympics... Now Team USA payed them back for the 2008 olympics... This year's qualifier was also played in Phoenix

[Jake83]

Mexico and Canada have the chance to knock off the US. Canada's starting pitching can be a nightmare and the Mexicans will play for pride against the US. I expect the US-Mexico affair espically in Phoenix a city with a high latino population to be very entertaining espically in the stands.

[Licey Fan]

I predict A-Rod will play for Team U.S.A.

Yeah, I saw that coming

[Agente Libre]

I predict A-Rod will play for Team U.S.A.

[Licey Fan]

I believe Gagne declined his participation for Team Canada

[Gamingboy]

POOL A:
Japan will advance easily
Korea will also advance, but only after a thrilling game with Chinese Taipei

Pool B:
USA
Canada

Canada will defeat Mexico when Eric Bedard throws a 4 inning gem, then is taken out (due to Pitch count) to be replaced by Adam Loewen, Jesse Crain and Eric Gagne, in that order.

Pool C:
Puerto Rico
Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of only a small handful of Countries to beat Cuba in international play.... and now they have Andrew Jones. The game will be heavily contested, but the Dutch will shock the world. Afterwards, Fidel Castro announces that the entire Baseball team should defect, because they sure won't be welcome back in Cuba after losing to Dutch capitalists.

Pool D:
Dominican
Venezuela

However, Australia gives a spirited showing, almost upsetting Venezuela and beating Italy.


more predictions soon.

[DownUnderDodger]

Dont' underestimate Australia in pool D,they got a silver medal in last Olympics,i remember Australia-Italy in the last Olympics,they have a very good team with reliable pitchers.

Good to see a vote of confidence in our guys. Must point out that the Olympics are a far cry from the WBC with MLB player bolstered teams, although our team will have a number of players who have MLB/Minor League experience, and if the pitching roster can hold up may cause some surprises. I do believe Australia has a far more realistic chance than Italy.