Tagged: Great Britain
Predicting the World Baseball Classic
Baseball has taken center stage. The World Baseball Classic is back after a two year postponement due to Covid. It has been six years since the last fight for world baseball supremacy. This is the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic. 16 teams competed for the championship in every tournament since the WBC began in 2006. The success of the previous four editions led to the expansion to 20 teams for the first time. Baseball is growing and the game is better than ever.
The United States looks to defend its title after defeating Puerto Rico in 2017, but it will not be easy. There are four pools with five teams each. The top two teams from each pool advance to the knockout rounds, which is a single elimination tournament. There is no tomorrow. The knockout round begins on March 15th. The finals are in Miami on March 21st. It is a quick tournament filled with great baseball.
The first game of the tournament began in Taichung, Taiwan on March 7th, as the Netherlands defeated Cuba. There are four cities hosting the World Baseball Classic: Pool A is in Taichung Taiwan, Pool B is in Tokyo Japan, Pool C is in Phoenix Arizona, and Pool D is in Miami Florida.
The 20 teams in the WBC are from across the globe. The 16 teams from the 2017 WBC received automatic bids, they are: Chinese Taipei, Japan, United States, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Australia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Italy, China, Canada, and Israel. Panama, Czech Republic, Great Britain, and Nicaragua successfully qualified for the WBC from a group 12 teams. This is the WBC debut for the Czech Republic, Great Britain, and Nicaragua. Panama played in 2006 and 2009. The growth of baseball is evident in the eight teams that failed to qualify: Germany, Spain, France, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Non-traditional baseball nations are attempting to qualify for the WBC, this is good for baseball.
All 20 WBC teams are in the top 30 of the World Baseball Softball Confederation Rankings, including the top 17 teams. The level of competition has improved with each WBC and the next WBC should have even more teams seeking to qualify.
World Baseball Softball Confederation Rankings
- Japan
- Chinese Taipei
- United States
- Korea
- Mexico
- Venezuela
- Netherlands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Australia
- Colombia
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Canada
- Czechia
- Italy
- Nicaragua
GermanySpain- Israel
France- Great Britain
BrazilBelgiumSouth AfricaAustriaRussiaArgentinaGuam- China
Here are the pools for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
Chinese Taipei | Japan | United States | Puerto Rico |
Netherlands | Korea | Mexico | Venezuela |
Cuba | Australia | Colombia | Dominican Republic |
Italy | China | Canada | Israel |
Panama | Czech Republic | Great Britain | Nicaragua |
Individually and collectively The Winning Run is terrible at predicting the results of baseball. We have failed repeatedly at predicting the MLB season, so let us try to predict the World Baseball Classic.
Pool A
Pool A | Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run |
Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei | Panama | Cuba | Cuba | Netherlands | Cuba |
Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands | Cuba | Netherlands |
Cuba | Cuba | Chinese Taipei | Panama | Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei |
Italy | Panama | Cuba | Chinese Taipei | Panama | Italy | Panama |
Panama | Italy | Italy | Italy | Italy | Panama | Italy |
Pool B
Pool B | Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run |
Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
Korea | Korea | Korea | Korea | Korea | Korea | Korea |
Australia | Australia | Australia | China | Australia | Australia | Australia |
China | China | Czech Republic | Czech Republic | Czech Republic | China | China |
Czech Republic | Czech Republic | China | Australia | China | Czech Republic | Czech Republic |
Pool C
Pool C | Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run |
United States | United States | United States | United States | United States | United States | United States |
Mexico | Colombia | Canada | Mexico | Mexico | Colombia | Mexico |
Colombia | Mexico | Mexico | Colombia | Colombia | Mexico | Colombia |
Canada | Canada | Colombia | Mexico | Canada | Canada | Canada |
Great Britain | Great Britain | Great Britain | Great Britain | Great Britain | Great Britain | Great Britain |
Pool D
Pool D | Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run |
Puerto Rico | Dominican Republic | Puerto Rico | Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic |
Venezuela | Puerto Rico | Dominican Republic | Puerto Rico | Venezuela | Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico |
Dominican Republic | Venezuela | Venezuela | Venezuela | Puerto Rico | Venezuela | Venezuela |
Israel | Nicaragua | Israel | Nicaragua | Israel | Israel | Israel |
Nicaragua | Israel | Nicaragua | Israel | Nicaragua | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
If our predictions in pool play are off then our success in the knockout rounds will be limited. It is single elimination. No team can have an off night. No pitcher will have a long leash if they do not have their best stuff. Here are our predictions for the knockout rounds, we are probably wrong.
Quarterfinals
Quarterfinals | Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run |
Winner | Korea | Panama | Korea | Cuba | Netherlands | Korea |
Loser | Chinese Taipei | Korea | Cuba | Korea | Korea | Cuba |
Winner | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
Loser | Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands | Cuba | Netherlands |
Winner | Dominican Republic | Puerto Rico | Dominican Republic | Mexico | Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic |
Loser | Colombia | Canada | Mexico | Dominican Republic | Colombia | Mexico |
Winner | United States | United States | United States | United States | United States | United States |
Loser | Puerto Rico | Dominican Republic | Puerto Rico | Venezuela | Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico |
Semifinals
Semifinals | Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run |
Winner | Dominican Republic | Puerto Rico | Dominican Republic | Cuba | Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic |
Loser | Korea | United States | Korea | Mexico | Netherlands | Korea |
Winner | Japan | Japan | United States | Japan | Japan | Japan |
Loser | United States | Panama | Japan | United States | United States | United States |
Finals
Finals | Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run |
Champion | Japan | Puerto Rico | Dominican Republic | Japan | Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic |
Loser | Dominican Republic | Japan | United States | United States | Japan | Japan |
There it is, our individual and collect predictions for the World Baseball Classic. History tells us two things. First, the WBC will be full of outstanding plays and moments. Second, our predictions are probably wrong and should not be believed. Regardless how our predictions go, the next few weeks will have the best of baseball on full display. Enjoy.
DJ
United States of Baseball- New Hampshire
Live Free or Die. The official state motto of New Hampshire accurately describes the best players from the Granite State. The trials and tribulations players endure to play professional baseball are numerous but the reward is worth the struggle. New Hampshire has sent 54 players to the Major Leagues. The best pitcher born in the Granite State is Chris Carpenter. His 35.24 career WAR is the 41st highest among pitching state and territory leaders. The best position player from New Hampshire is Arlie Latham. His 30.51 career WAR is the 47th highest among position player leaders. Collectively, New Hampshire’s WAR is 65.75, ranking the state 45th in the United States of Baseball.
Chris Carpenter’s persistence enabled him to pitch in the Majors. He endured multiple surgeries to his elbow, shoulder, and the removal of a rib to continue pitching. The Right Hander was born in Exeter and highly touted coming out of high school. Carpenter signed with Creighton University before the Toronto Blue Jays selected him 15th overall pick in the 1993 MLB Draft. He was the first New Hampshirite drafted in the first round.
Despite numerous injuries, Carpenter pitched 15 seasons in the Majors with the Toronto Blues Jays (1997-2002) and St. Louis Cardinals (2004-2012). He struggled with Toronto, posting a 49-50 record and 4.83 ERA. He never became a critical part of the Blue Jays rotation like the team hoped. Eventually, Toronto sent Carpenter back to the Minors, but he refused and was given his release. The Cardinals quickly swooped in. Despite missing all of 2003 due to injury, St. Louis still believed in Carpenter. He went 95-44 with a 3.76 ERA with the Cardinals. Carpenter won the 2004 and 2009 Comeback Player of the Year awards. He was a three time All Star, won the 2009 National League ERA Title, and the 2005 National League Cy Young Award. Carpenter was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2016. In his career, Carpenter pitched in 350 Games, made 332 Starts, threw 33 Complete Games, including 15 Shutouts, in 2,219.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,205 Hits, 1,021 Runs, 927 Earned Runs, 220 Home Runs, 627 Walks, 1,697 Strikeouts, posted a 144-94 record, 3.76 ERA, 1.276 WHIP, and 116 ERA+. He appeared on the 2018 Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.5% of the vote.
The best season of Chris Carpenter’s career was with the 2005 Cardinals. He made 33 Starts, threw 7 Complete Games, including 4 Shutouts, in 241.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 204 Hits, 82 Runs, 76 Earned Runs, 18 Home Runs, 51 Walks, 213 Strikeouts, posted a 21-5 record, 2.83 ERA, 1.055 WHIP, and 150 ERA+. Carpenter went 16 consecutive starts without a loss, going 13-0 with a 1.36 ERA from June 14 to September 8. He led the National League in Complete Games, was a first time All Star, finished 8th for the MVP, and won the Cy Young award.
The Cardinals are usually in the hunt for the Postseason. Carpenter pitched in October five times for St. Louis. He pitched in 11 Postseason Series: 5 National League Divisional Series, 4 National League Championship Series, and 2 World Series. He made 18 Starts, threw 1 Complete Game Shutout, in 108 Innings Pitched, allowed 104 Hits, 43 Runs, 36 Earned Runs, 36 Walks, 68 Strikeouts, posted a 10-4 record, 3.00 ERA, and 1.296 WHIP. Carpenter helped the Cardinals win the 2006 and 2011 World Series. He started Game 7 of the 2011 World Series on three days rest, pitching 6 strong innings. Carpenter was successful with the Cardinals despite years of injuries. Imagine if his body had not rebelled.
Baseball attracts characters of all types. Few equaled Arlie Latham in the early days of baseball. The West Lebanon native was nicknamed The Freshest Man on Earth and one of the early Clown Princes of Baseball. Latham began his career as a catcher, but quickly transitioned to the hot corner after taking a beating behind the plate. He played 17 seasons with six teams: Buffalo Bisons (1880), St. Louis Browns (1883-1889, 1896), Chicago Pirates (Players League) (1890), Cincinnati Reds (1890-1895), Washington Senators (1899), and New York Giants (1909). Latham played in the Minors between stints in the Majors before becoming a coach. His return to the diamond in 1909 was more comedic relief than competition. However, he did steal a base, making him the oldest thief ever at 49 years old. In 1,629 career Games, Latham collected 1,836 Hits, 245 Doubles, 85 Triples, 27 Home Runs, 563 RBI, scored 1,481 Runs, 742 Stolen Bases, 589 Walks, 305 Strikeouts, .269 BA, .334 OBP, .341 SLG, .676 OPS, and 92 OPS+. Defensively, Latham was a slightly above average Third Baseman. His long career also enabled him to become the all time leader in Errors at Third Base. Latham’s 822 Errors are over 200 more than second place. He committed the 12th most Errors by any player in Major League history. When the Hall of Fame opened in 1936, Latham was on the Veterans Committee ballot. He received 1.3% of the vote.
The best season of Latham’s career was with the 1887 St. Louis Browns. He played in 136 Games, collected 198 Hits, 35 Doubles, 10 Triples, 2 Home Runs, 83 RBI, 163 Runs scored, 129 Stolen Bases, 45 Walks, 29 Strikeouts, .316 BA, .366 OBP, .413 SLG, .779 OPS, and 108 OPS+. He led the American Association in Plate Appearances, 677, and At Bats, 627. Latham led the Browns to the World Series, losing to the Detroit Wolverines 10 games to 5.
The Postseason during Latham’s career was an end of the season exhibition to put a few more dollars in the pockets of teams and players. Exhibition or not, Latham continued playing well, helping the Browns reach four consecutive World Series from 1885 to 1888. Latham collected 38 Hits, 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 8 RBI, 31 Runs scored, 28 Stolen Bases, 19 Walks, 12 Strikeouts, .266 BA, .352 OBP, .308 SLG, and .660 OPS. The Browns winning the 1886 World Series helped Latham financially through the offseason.
After retiring Latham continued working in baseball. He was one of the first permanent base coaches, working Third Base for the New York Giants. Along with coaching, Latham also tried to distract opposing pitchers. He yelled and ran down the baseline while the pitcher was in the middle of his wind up. His antics led to the coach’s box and a rule requiring coaches be in, or near, the box. Beyond coaching, Latham spread baseball to Great Britain. He lived in England for 17 years, teaching the game and serving as the Administrator (Commissioner) of Baseball. Arlie Latham lived one of the most unique lives in baseball.
New Hampshire has not sent many players to the Major Leagues, but the Granite State does have a native son in Cooperstown. Manager Frank Selee won five pennants (1891-1893, 1897-1898) with the Boston Beaneaters and more than 1,200 games with Boston and the Chicago Cubs. Next week the United States of Baseball sails down the coast to the Garden State. New Jersey is next.
DJ