World Baseball Classic

[Lux]

POOL A - VENUE: JAPAN
Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo Dome
China (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t790)
Chinese (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t791)Taipei (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t791)
Japan (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t843)
Korea (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t1171)
Games: March 3-5



POOL B
VENUE: ARIZONA
Phoenix, AZ - Chase Field and Scottsdale Stadium

Canada (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t784)
Mexico (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t867)
South Africa (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t918)
U.S.A. (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t940)
Games: March 7-10



POOL C - VENUE: PUERTO RICO
San Juan, Puerto Rico - Hiram Bithorn Stadium

Cuba (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t798)
Netherlands (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t878)
Panama (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t890)
Puerto Rico (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t897)
Games: March 7-10



POOL D - VENUE: ORLANDO
Orlando, FL - Disney's Wide World of Sports

Teams:
Australia (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t760)
Dominican Republic (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t805)
Italy (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t841)
Venezuela (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t944)
Games: March 7-10

[Lux]

1. Dominican Republic (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t805)
2. U.S.A. (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t940)
3. Venezuela (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t944)
4. Japan (http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/teams/index.jsp?sid=t843)

With or without Manny, there isn't a more awesome lineup than the Dominicans on this planet, but will they have enough pitching. No team will try harder to win, except maybe the Cubans.

USA has the pitching, but how much can you rely on pitching in March. These arms simply won't be ready, but the bats should be. Are they really as hungry as other teams?

Venezuela is very well rounded with top nothc pitching and all star hitting. They could easily steal the show.

Japan really isn't the fourth best team but because of the pairings, they should make it to the semis.

My darkhorse: Cuba - they are more game ready than any other team.

[Lux]

My darkhorse: Cuba - they are more game ready than any other team.



My darkhorse just made it to the finals:

Win puts Cuba on cusp of Classic title

SAN DIEGO -- The Cuban National team is accustomed to winning. After all, they're 22-2 in International play, dating back to 2001. But who they had to beat this month to reach the World Baseball Classic finals is nothing short of spectacular, regardless of the island nation's dominance in other tournaments. Cuba's 3-1 win over the Dominican Republic in the semifinals on Saturday capped a trifecta of courageous wins over clubs stocked with Major League All-Stars.

[BigE]

sure shows the US players are wayyyyyy over paid.. don't you think? Just like the NBA'ers losing in the Olympics.

[Fireman-Hott]

Actually Big E a chunk of US players were/are playing for thier nationality teams and not the USA where they are now living and residents.
The WBC was a flat out failure as far as I am concerned.