2017 World Baseball Classic Preview — Pool A
It’s time for the fourth ever World Baseball Classic. Baseball’s world tournament kicks off this week as sixteen teams compete to become the 2017 WBC Champions. Four years ago, the team from the Dominican Republic ran through the tournament going undefeated in eight games as they took the crown. Baseball fans enjoyed the changing of the guard, as Japan had won the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009. This year has the makings to be the best tournament yet. Let’s take a look at what’s in store.
Pool A
March 6–10, 2017 — Gocheok Sky Dome — Seoul, South Korea
South Korea
The Koreans are the favorite to win Pool A. After a 2nd place finish in 2009, South Korea failed to advance out of pool play after losing the run differential tiebreaker. With that sour taste still in their mouths, the Koreans look to avenge their result from four years ago. Led offensively by Dae-Ho Lee, the Koreans will look to the longball to help generate some offense. Some of you may know Lee after his exploits last season with the Seattle Mariners. And by exploits, I mean taking big hacks while looking like the Michelin Man.
Hyung-Woo Choi will also help pace the offense as he is one of the Korean League’s top hitters. On the bump, Korean ace Won Jun Chang will look to miss bats, while Seung-Hwan Oh, or “The Final Boss” as he’s known, looks to close the door at the end of games. With a balance of both pitching and hitting, most of which will be unknown to its opponents, South Korea looks to advance out of Pool A into the second round.
Israel
Israel will be making their first ever WBC appearance after qualifying in the fall. Will the qualifying momentum carry them to success? No. The only pitchers you’ve heard of on their roster are Jason Marquis and Craig Breslow. Not exactly the front line and back end arms trying to carry your team. Offensively, the Israelites are led by 1B/DH Ike Davis and major league backup catcher Ryan Lavarnway. Since my mom is Jewish, is it too late for me to tryout? If they’re looking for a shortstop, I’m their guy. Israel will look to compete this year and hope to build their budding baseball program for the future. Don’t look for the Israelites to advance.
Chinese Taipei
After winning their pool in 2013, Chinese Taipei will look to continue their success this year. Only this year, they’ll have to do it without their former aces Chien Ming Wang and Wei-Yin Chen. Even with these losses, the team is ranked 4th in the world by the International Baseball Federation. Could have fooled me with that ranking, but that’s for another article. Led by shortstop Chih-Sheng Lin, who rakes, Chinese Taipei looks to again advance out of pool play this year.
Netherlands
The Dutch look to build on a 2013 WBC Semifinal appearance this year. With the hitting and defense led by Didi Gregorious, Jonathan Schoop, Andrelton Simmons and Jurickson Profar, it will be tough to get anything past their infield. On the bump, they will be led by 7’1” Loek Van Mil and on the back-end by flame throwing, elite closer Kenley Jansen. Jansen is no stranger to the WBC as he has participated in the past two tournaments. Surprisingly, it wasn’t always as a pitcher. Before he became an elite closer, he was throwing out basestealers from his knees behind the plate. Yes, Kenley Jansen was once a catcher.
The Dutch look to continue building their baseball brand as they should be able to advance out of the Pool A and into the second round.
Predicted Pool A Winner — South Korea
Predicted Pool A Runner-up — Netherlands
