2017 World Baseball Classic Preview — Pool B
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 a changing of the guard four years ago, 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 B
March 7–11, 2017 — Tokyo Dome — Tokyo, Japan
Japan
The inaugural back-to-back WBC Champs look to get back on top after a disappointing 3rd place finish in 2013. While some might think that this is the best team Japan can put out on the field, I’d have to disagree. I’m not talking about the lack of MLB players, I’m talking about the lack of THE player. Maybe you’ve heard of the Japanese Babe Ruth, maybe you haven’t. Regardless, you’ll be hearing about him in the next year or two. Shohei Otani is arguably the most talented Japanese baseball player in the world. At only 22 years old, he’s a starting pitcher who led the Japanese league in a variety of pitching categories can triple digits on radar gun. Oh yeah, and he also is a DH/OF where he hits mammoth home runs on days he doesn’t pitch. But due to an ankle injury, Otani will be sitting out this WBC. Left to pick up the slack for the team are 2015 Japanese League MVP Tetsuto Yamada and the Houston Astros’ Nori Aoki. Yamada led the Japanese league in both Home Runs and Stolen Bases, so look for him to be a hot commodity in the CMBL once he comes over to the big leagues. On the bump, the Japanese will be led by Takahiro Norimoto and Shintaro Fujinama. Even without previous WBC pitchers Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka, the Japanese look to easily advance into the second round.
China
The Chinese will be making their fourth appearance in the WBC. You would think that by having the most populated country on the globe, you would be able to help produce the best baseball team. Wrong. In their three total previous appearances, the Chinese have only mustered together 2 wins while scoring 17 runs and giving up 78. Having said that, the Chinese have increased their totals in each tournament, so there is some evidence of improvement. Led by major leaguer Bruce Chen on the mound, the Chinese looks to ride their ace throughout the tournament. Orioles 1B/OF prospect Gui Yuan Xu is a young player to watch as he can help get the offense going. Thirty-nine-year-old catcher Wei Wang is also back for another tournament. Some of you may know him as first player to hit a homerun in the inaugural World Baseball Classic back in 2006.
While they don’t have the most talent, the Chinese will be well disciplined and will be looking to build upon their previous WBC appearances. While their hopes will be there, don’t look for the Chinese to see it through to the second round.
Australia
The team from Down Under will also be looking build upon three previous WBC appearances. After losing all three games in ’06, the Aussies shocked the baseball world with a 17–7 win over Mexico in their first game of the ’09 tournament. The Aussies carried that momentum into their next game against Cuba where they tied it up late in the game, but eventually went on to lose that affair. Ever since, it’s been all downhill. After a winless ’13 tournament, the fighting kangaroos will be looking to move in the right direction. The Australians will be led on the mound by Peter Moylan, Warwick Saupold and Ryan Rowland-Smith. With not much major league experience at the plate, the Aussies’ lineup will be paced by infielder Stefan Welch and outfielder Mike Walker. They have a tough road ahead of them, but maybe the ‘roos can get a sneak out a win in one of their three games. Just don’t look for them to advance into the next round.
Cuba
The Cubans are the team of the unknowns. The entire national team, except for one player, plays at home in the Cuban league. The lone defector allowed to play for the national team is Alfredo Despaigne.
The 30-year-old outfielder plays in the Japanese league under a contract brokered by the Cuban government. This allows Despaigne to return back to Cuba after the Japanese season, which just so happens to be the start of the Cuban league season. He reminds me of Kirby Puckett with incredible power. He originally broke the Cuban season home run record with 32 bombs in 2010, but later lost it the next year to Jose Abreu and Yoenis Cespedes. The following season he recaptured the crown, and then took his talents across the Pacific. He is also currently tied for third all-time in WBC home runs. Another familiar name on the team is Yoelkis Cespedes, younger brother of Yoenis Cespedes. He is 19 years old and has already drawn comparisons to his older brother. Hopefully he, and the rest of his teammates, will be able to showcase their talents to the world. Hopefully we see the next Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig, or Aroldis Chapman, and those players can use this tournament as a showcase to the rest of the world. Look for the Cubans to be smoking some celebratory cigars as they advance to the second round.
Predicted Pool Winner — Japan
Predicted Pool Runner-up — Cuba
