WBC Predictions!

[Cubano100%]

It is time to make predictions everyone!

This week we will receive the great news that Cuba would be allowed to send a team. Therefore, I like make predictions about the WBC.


Round 1


Pool A

Japan
Korea

Pool B

This pool is hard to predict, but I select Mexico over Canada. I think Mexico wants to prove that the performance of its professional players in the qualifying tournament in Arizona was an aberration.

USA
Mexico

Pool C

Cuba
Puerto Rico (nice to be a host)

Pool D

Yes, the first surprise would be Italy qualifying 2nd behind Venezuela. I am sorry Licey. I have to include a surprise and this group is the dead group like soccer fans call it. My reason is pitching and besides Martinez and Colon(?), I have some questions. Sosa had a good 2005 and Liriano is a future star. But I like pitching and Venezuela has the upper hand now. I know Italy is not as a strong as the Dominicans but sometimes the favorites not always win in a single game.

Venezuela
Italy

Best Game: Mexico vs Canada

Round 2

Top Bracket:

The below teams advance because they have strong pitching.

USA
Japan

Lower Bracket:

The below teams advance because strong pitching.

Venezuela
Cuba


SEMIS:

USA beats Cuba
In a most watch game, the USA beats Cuba. Both benches will be empty when somebody gets hit by a pitch.
Venezuela beats Japan because it has a very well balanced roster.


Final

Venezuela beats the USA.

Venezuela has a national party for 3 days!:crazy

[Ex-Expo fan]

There is no way the Dominican Republic can not advance. You have named the lack of starting pitching of the DR, but what about Italy's? I see the Dominican Republic advancing to win it all. Either them or Cuba, which I really hope will participate in the event. I'll try to make my predictions when i have more time.:D

[Licey Fan]

Hahaha!!! you're kidding me, right???

You want to suggest a surprise, and for you the surprise is DR out BECAUSE OF ITALY????? :laugh :laugh

No offense for the italians, but this AIN'T SOCCER... we lack of pitching, means, we lack of MLB level pitching to maybe hold the venezuelan, cuban or american lineups... BUT ITALY??? They don't have a AA pitcher in their roster... Come on, get real...

Hey! But that's your opinion... I just hope you don't bet on it...

I'd say group A, (Taiwan and Korea), and group B (Canada and Mexico)... those are the tight groups... Venezuela and DR just have to define who gets 1st place, and that'd be the winner of their first round game

[Cubano100%]

Hahaha!!! you're kidding me, right???

You want to suggest a surprise, and for you the surprise is DR out BECAUSE OF ITALY????? :laugh :laugh

No offense for the italians, but this AIN'T SOCCER... we lack of pitching, means, we lack of MLB level pitching to maybe hold the venezuelan, cuban or american lineups... BUT ITALY??? They don't have a AA pitcher in their roster... Come on, get real...

Hey! But that's your opinion... I just hope you don't bet on it...

I'd say group A, (Taiwan and Korea), and group B (Canada and Mexico)... those are the tight groups... Venezuela and DR just have to define who gets 1st place, and that'd be the winner of their first round game


Hey, if I go by the favorites on paper it won't be a prediction then. I know it would be chocking for the Italians to beat the Dominicans but many times in sports the favorites lose against weaker teams on paper.

[Mike_Piazza]

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.
Italy has a lot of italian-americans but only a star (Mike Piazza),most of the other guys are free agents that will try to impress scouts to make the team in some MLB teams.
It's not an italian-american dream team (lack Zito,Mussina,Pavano,Biggio,Giambi,Loretta....),i think Dominican Republic and Venezuela are clear favorites,they have scary lineups and good pitchers,sometimes they have lost vs Italy in IBAF tournaments but WBC level is too high for Italy.
The final should be USA-Japan or USA-Cuba,i hope to see great attendance,great interest and great TV audience,so WBC will become a real World championship played every 4 years and i hope to see next time an italian teams whose stars are italians raised in Italy.

[Cubano100%]

Come on guys! Lets make predictions for the fun like the College Basketball Tournament.

Select the teams that you think will advance per rounds and the Champ. I know the Dominicans are ten times better than the Italians in baseball. I am glad Cuba is not in that group for sure(Venezuela, Dominican R., Italy and Australia.)

[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.

[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.

[Licey Fan]

I believe Gagne declined his participation for Team Canada

[Agente Libre]

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

[Licey Fan]

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

Yeah, I saw that coming

[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]

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

[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.

[west coast orange and black]

round 1

a: japan + korea

b: canada + usa

c: cuba + puerto rico

d: australia + dominican republic

[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]

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]

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/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2294633

[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.

[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. :confused:

[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