As a general rule, the stakes for any baseball game played in March are low. Pitchers get their work in, hitters refine their timing and fans soak in some sun. That’s about it.
Every three years, though, March baseball matters for a couple of weeks during the World Baseball Classic. This year’s WBC will feature 16 teams and some of baseball’s top players. Here’s a guide to the schedule, rules and rosters that’ll be in play in the coming weeks…
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When does it take place?
The tournament opens March 9 in four cities and wraps up March 22 in Los Angeles.
The first round takes place March 9-13, the second round runs from March 12-19 and the final round is slated for March 20-22.
Where are the games?
WBC organizers scattered first round games across four countries. Pool A will play in Seoul, South Korea; Pool B will play in Tokyo, Japan; Pool C will play in Miami, Florida; Pool D will play in Jalisco, Mexico.
The second round will take place in two locations. The Tokyo Dome will host the winners from Pools A and B, while San Diego’s Petco Park will host the winners from Pools C and D. The finalists will then move on to the championship round at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
How can I watch them?
Sportsnet will broadcast the games in Canada (full details here).
What new rules apply?
For the most part, WBC games will resemble MLB games. There are a few changes worth keeping in mind, though:
•Starting in the 11th inning, each half inning will begin with runners on first and second base.
•Teams have a taxi squad of 10 pitchers, called a designated pitcher pool, which creates roster flexibility from round to round.
•During rounds one and two, video review will be limited. MLB replay rules apply during the final round.
Who’s on Team Canada?
Freddie Freeman’s in, but Joey Votto, Russell Martin and Michael Saunders are out. The Canadian roster features nine players who played at the MLB level in 2016, and a couple more—Eric Gagne and Ryan Dempster—who are years removed from their last big-league action.
Here’s the complete Team Canada roster: pitchers Andrew Albers, John Axford, Kevin Chapman, Shane Dawson, Dempster, Gagne, Jim Henderson, Chris Leroux, Adam Loewen, Scott Mathieson, Dustin Molleken, Nick Pivetta, Scott Richmond and Rowan Wick; catchers Kellin Deglan and George Kottaras; infielders Freddie Freeman, Jonathan Malo, Justin Morneau, Josh Naylor, Pete Orr, Daniel Pinero, Jamie Romak and Eric Wood; and outfielders Michael Crouse, Tyler O’Neill, Dalton Pompey and Rene Tosoni.
I thought Russell Martin was going to play short?
He was, until insurance complications related to his minor off-season knee surgery got in the way, as reported by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. With Martin relegated to Blue Jays camp, a less familiar name now projects as Canada’s starting shortstop: Jonathan Malo.
How many Blue Jays are scheduled to take part in it?
Ten players from the Blue Jays organization are on WBC rosters, including a handful of prospects and some of Toronto’s most prominent players.
•Shane Dawson, LHP, Canada
•Dalton Pompey, OF, Canada
•Jose Bautista, OF, Dominican Republic
•Jake Fishman, LHP, Israel*
•Jordan Romano, RHP, Italy
•Marco Estrada, RHP, Mexico*
•Roberto Osuna, RHP, Mexico
•J.A. Happ, LHP, USA*
•Marcus Stroman, RHP, USA
•Leonel Campos, RHP, Venezuela*
*designated pitcher pool
What about the so-called Japanese Babe Ruth?
Baseball fans everywhere will miss out on watching one of the most talented players on the planet. Shohei Otani, whose 100 mph fastball and powerful left-handed swing have prompted Babe Ruth comparisons, will miss the WBC after injuring his right ankle.
Already a superstar in Japan, Otani has contemplated a move to MLB. If and when he crosses the Pacific, he wants to remain a two-way player.
“Hitting and pitching, it’s the only baseball I know,” Otani told Arden Zwelling for a recent Sportsnet feature. “Doing only one and not the other doesn’t feel natural to me.”
Which teams are the favourites?
Buster Posey, Giancarlo Stanton, Nolan Arenado, Matt Carpenter, Paul Goldschmidt and Andrew McCutchen are all playing for Team USA, and that’s not the only reason they’ll have a real shot at winning the WBC. Home field advantage should help, and the depth of the American talent means that their taxi squad includes legtimate talent such as J.A. Happ and Drew Smyly.
The Dominican team can match Team USA star for star, however. With a roster that includes the likes of Jose Bautista, Adrian Beltre, Robinson Cano, Manny Machado and Nelson Cruz, the Dominican team has enough offensive potential to push for a second WBC title.
The one country with two WBC championships doesn’t have nearly as many recognizable names this year. Only one of Japan’s players, Houston’s Nori Aoki, even has a spot on an MLB 40-man roster. The others all play professionally in the NPB, though, so don’t underestimate the potential of the Japanese team.
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