World Baseball Classic Schedule

[Bored 0]

I can't find any official rosters yet. Reportedly Barry Bonds will play for the U.S. I'll believe that when I see it. Buck Martinez will be the U.S. manager. Yippee. The likes of the Hernandez brothers and Jose Contreras won't be playing for Cubs for obvious reasons.

 

Pool A: Tokyo, Japan

Date Local time EST Match-up Stadium

Fri. March 3 12:00 pm 10:00 pm (Thu) Korea v Chinese Taipei Tokyo Dome

Fri. March 3 7:00 pm 5am Japan v China Tokyo Dome

Sat. March 4 12:00 pm 10:00 pm (Fri) Korea v China Tokyo Dome

Sat. March 4 7:00 pm 5am Japan v Chinese Taipei Tokyo Dome

Sun. March 5 12:00 pm 10:00 pm (Sat) Chinese Taipei v China Tokyo Dome

Sun. March 5 7:00 pm 5am Japan v Korea Tokyo Dome

 

 

ticket info >Pool B: Phoenix, Arizona

Date Local time EST Match-up Stadium

Tues. March 7 2:00 pm 4:00 pm USA v Mexico Chase Field

Tues. March 7 7:00 pm 9:00 pm Canada v South Africa Scottsdale Stadium

Wed. March 8 2:00 pm 4:00 pm USA v Canada Chase Field

Wed. March 8 7:00 pm 9:00 pm Mexico v South Africa Scottsdale Stadium

Thurs. March 9 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Canada v Mexico Chase Field

Fri. March 10 1:00 pm 3:00 pm USA v South Africa Scottsdale Stadium

 

 

ticket info >Pool C: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Date Local time EST Match-up Stadium

Tues. March 7 2:00 pm 1:00 pm Puerto Rico v Panama Hiram Bithorn

Wed. March 8 2:00 pm 1:00 pm Puerto Rico v Netherlands Hiram Bithorn

Wed. March 8 8:00 pm 7:00 pm Cuba v Panama Hiram Bithorn

Thurs. March 9 8:00 pm 7:00 pm Cuba v Netherlands Hiram Bithorn

Fri. March 10 2:00 pm 1:00 pm Panama v Netherlands Hiram Bithorn

Fri. March 10 8:00 pm 7:00 pm Puerto Rico v Cuba Hiram Bithorn

 

 

ticket info >Pool D: Orlando, Florida

Date Local time EST Match-up Stadium

Tues. March 7 1:00 pm 1:00 pm Dominican Republic v Venezuela Cracker Jack Stadium (Disney)

Tues. March 7 7:00 pm 7:00 pm Australia v Italy Cracker Jack Stadium (Disney)

Wed. March 8 7:00 pm 7:00 pm Venezuela v Italy Cracker Jack Stadium (Disney)

Thurs. March 9 1:00 pm 1:00 pm Dominican Republic v Italy Cracker Jack Stadium (Disney)

Thurs. March 9 7:00 pm 7:00 pm Venezuela v Australia Cracker Jack Stadium (Disney)

Fri. March 10 7:00 pm 7:00 pm DominicanRepublicvAustralia Cracker Jack Stadium (Disney)

 

 

Round 2

 

ticket info >Pool 1: Anaheim, California

Date Local time EST Match-up Stadium

Sun. March 12 1:00 pm 4:00 pm Pool A Runner-up v Pool B Runner-up Angel Stadium

Sun. March 12 8:00 pm 11:00 pm Pool A Winner v Pool B Winner Angel Stadium

Mon. March 13 7:00 pm 10:00 pm Pool A Winner v Pool B Runner-up Angel Stadium

Tues. March 14 4:00 pm 7:00 pm Pool B Winner v Pool A Runner-up Angel Stadium

Wed. March 15 7:00 pm 10:00 pm Pool A Winner v Pool A Runner-up Angel Stadium

Thurs. March 16 4.30:00 pm 7:30:00 pm Pool B Winner v Pool BRunner-up Angel Stadium

 

 

ticket info >Pool 2: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Date Local time EST Match-up Stadium

Sun. March 12 2:00 pm 1:00 pm Pool C Winner v Pool D Runner-up Hiram Bithorn

Sun. March 12 9:00 pm 8:00 pm Pool D Winner v Pool C Runner-up Hiram Bithorn

Mon. March 13 2:00 pm 1:00 pm Pool D Winner v Pool C Winner Hiram Bithorn

Mon. March 13 8:00 pm 7:00 pm Pool D Runner-up v Pool C Runner-up Hiram Bithorn

Tues. March 14 8:00 pm 7:00 pm Pool D Winner v Pool D Runner-up Hiram Bithorn

Wed. March 15 8:00 pm 7:00 pm Pool C Winner v Pool C Runner-up Hiram Bithorn

 

 

Finals

 

ticket info >San Diego, California

Date Local time EST Match-up Stadium

Sat. March 18 12:00 pm 3:00 pm Pool 2 Winner v Pool 2 Runner-up PETCO Park

Sat. March 18 7:00 pm 10:00 pm Pool 1 Winner v .Pool 1 Runner-up PETCO Park

Mon. March 20 6:00 pm 9:00 pm SF 1 Winner v SF 2 Winner PETCO Park

[razazteca 0]

So who is going to win the true world series.....Japan, Cuba, or Dominican Republic?

[Bored 0]

Okay here's a link to what I have to assume is a list as to who has agreed to participate but not actual rosters as there are like 50 U.S. players listed and then some countries with less than five.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/rost...content=country

 

Al Leiter has agreed to participate. USA! USA! USA!

[The Czech Republic 0]

Is Al Leiter older than any of the countries in this?

[the max 0]

So is Andruw Jones going to play every team by himself?

[Bored 0]

So is Andruw Jones going to play every team by himself?

In a sense since the rest of The Netherlands will be a bunch of nobodies.

 

I just noticed Alex Rodriguez is listed at the bottom of the list not assigned to a country. I'm thrilled Rich Harden didn't sign up for Canada as didn't want him getting another injury.

 

Here's a breakdown by position of who signed up for the U.S. team (including A-Rod):

 

Catchers - Michael Barrett, Joe Mauer, Brian Schneider, Jason Varitek

 

First Basemen - Derrek Lee, Mark Teixeira

 

Second Basemen - Craig Biggio, Chase Utley

 

Third Basemen - Eric Chavez, Chipper Jones, Alex Rodriguez?, David Wright

 

Shortstops - Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins, Michael Young

 

Outfielders - Lance Berkman, Barry Bonds, Carl Crawford, Johnny Damon, Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr, Juan Pierre, Vernon Wells

 

Starting Pitchers - Mark Buehrle, Roger Clemens, Roy Halladay, Al Leiter, Jake Peavy, Andy Pettite, C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, John Smoltz, Dontrelle Willis, Barry Zito

 

Relief Pitchers - Chad Cordero, Brian Fuentes, Eddie Guardado, Jason Isringhausen, Todd Jones, Brad Lidge, B.J. Ryan, Huston Street, Billy Wagner

 

I no idea what the number of players will be on the roster.

Edited December 6, 2005 by Bored

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Rosters are 27 players apiece. They play three games, take a week off, play three more, another week, and then two for the championship. Quite honestly, I don't know how you can possibly overwork a player under those conditions.

 

The Netherlands team could also include Sidney Ponson!

 

I'm not entirely thrilled with the format, but it should be interesting to watch.

[the max 0]

It may be the last team Ponson plays on for quite some time.

[the pinjockey 0]

Utley better get some love and be the starting 2B for USA.

 

Will they need more than 6-8 pitchers? You'll only need 3 starters and I can't imagine them using the All-Star style everyone pitches an inning format so they should only need 3-4 relievers.

[Vern Gagne 0]

So is Andruw Jones going to play every team by himself?

 

 

[Richard 0]

So how many Cubans will defect this time?

[Guest]

I'm thinking 2 or 3, but only if they make it to the finals in San Diego.

[geniusMoment 0]

Hopefully Griffey and Dunn do not make the team. This is stupid, and if either one is hurt I will consider jamming Bud Selig's body into a wood chipper.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Yes, the difference between 5th and 6th in the standings.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Honestly, what's the difference in odds that a player hurts himself here, or in Spring Training? People are making too much fuss over it.

[jwpeer 0]

The Dominican Republic is going to slaughter everyone, including the u.s.

[the max 0]

Clearly the Netherlands are the team to beat. I mean, Andruw Jones was obviously the best player on the Braves last year and look at what they did!

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Netherlands are going to be a better team than that. They have a professional league and there are a boatload of players they can utilize that aren't presently in MLB.

 

If this were a full season, the US would win easily. They're deep at every position. The Dominican Republic has a nice lineup, but their third starter is Jorge Sosa. Puerto Rico had just two pitchers even make starts in MLB last season. Compare that to the potential US rotation. But that doesn't matter when a team will not need more than three starters.

 

For me, the most interesting aspect is seeing the best players from outside MLB, particularly the Japanese and Cuban teams. I'm dreading that USA/South Africa matchup though. I really hope this tournament has a mercy rule.

[Bored 0]

They mentioned in the press conference that there will be mercy rule but didn't get into specifics. That's the thing I was wondering though is I imagine the tickets to the U.S. games aren't going to be cheap there could be some mighty pissed off fans if they end a game early. The U.S./South Africa match-up will the equivalent of the orignal Dream Team vs. Angola in '92 but maybe worse.

[jwpeer 0]

Johan Santana + Pedro Martinez in a tournament style setup = all you need pitching wise. This isn't a season, you only need a 3-man rotation, and you only have to win 3/4 of the games to advance.

 

 

Really.

 

 

 

 

I too want to see some of the other foreign players, we could see some breakout Chinese Taiwan or South African players in this tournament. You just never know. The exposure will be awesome.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Juan Pierre is from the United States? Didn't know that.

 

Four catchers seems like alot.

 

What is Al Leiter doing on the team?

 

Maybe he didn't want to play, but Joe Nathan should be on the team.

 

Certainly over Al Leiter and Todd Jones.

 

Anyone turn down a chance to play in the tournament.

 

I'm glad to see so many All-Star calibers players in the tournament.

[Guest]

Juan Pierre is from Alabama.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Johan Santana + Pedro Martinez in a tournament style setup = all you need pitching wise. This isn't a season, you only need a 3-man rotation, and you only have to win 3/4 of the games to advance.

 

Santana's from Venezuela.

 

And Verne, I don't think that just because a player has volunteered that he'll be on the team. I doubt we'll see Leiter.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

To add, there's simply no way a team can run away with this tournament. It is theoretically possible to go 2-1 in the first round and be eliminated. And in fact, the US and DR can not meet until the semifinals.

[KingPK 0]

So who is airing these games in the US anyway? Are we going to be able to see most of the tournament games, or will we only get the Round 2 games in Anaheim and the finals? I'm actually pretty interested in how this will turn out.

[Bored 0]

For some odd reason I can't quote right now, but in regards to Vern's post that is a list of who signed up, not the final roster. They're obviously not going to a have a 42 man roster. Al said it will be 27 man rosters which is probably 7 more players than they need considering how short the tournament is. Obvioulsy Al Leiter ain't going to make the cut. Joe Nathan isn't on there because he didn't sign up. TRAITOR TO OUR COUNTRY!!!!

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The big omission right now is Mariano Rivera from the Panamanian team.

[jwpeer 0]

To add, there's simply no way a team can run away with this tournament. It is theoretically possible to go 2-1 in the first round and be eliminated. And in fact, the US and DR can not meet until the semifinals.

 

 

Finals.

 

DR and US can't meet till the finals. I almost feel it was intentionally set up that way.

 

 

The 2-1 thing is true, for example

 

Say Pool B (USA's pool)

 

USA goes 2-1 (losing to Mexico)

Canada goes 2-1 (losing to USA)

Mexico goes 2-1 (losing to canada)

and South Africa goes 0-3 (Losing to everyone)

 

That's what -could- happen, (and more likely in the USA's pool where a team like south africa can easily get swept)

 

I don't know how they have the tiebreakers set up.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Japan unveils its squad.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/arti...ontent=120905_a

 

From MLB: Akinora Otsuka, Tadahito Iguchi, Ichiro Suzuki

 

From Japan: Nobuhiko Matsunaga, Takahiro Arai, Shunsuke Watanabe, Toshiya Sugiuchi.

 

I wish they would've provided a full roster.

[LooseCannon25 0]

Puerto Rico doesn't look that bad, with Pudge, Delgado, and Beltran. Javi Vasquez should be on the team also, and maybe Roberto Hernandez. If only Roberto Alomar was still an active player.