The field of 16 has been picked for the second World Baseball Classic, which will be held next spring. The 16 participants will be the same as the ones who played in 2006: Japan, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Korea, USA, Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, China, Venezuela, Panama, Puerto Rico, Italy, Australia, Netherlands, and South Africa.
Venues will be announced next month. All four first-round games will be played outside of the United States this time. The Tokyo Dome and the Rogers Centre are two likely venues. Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico was also used in the last tournament. Presumably a stadium in the Dominican Republic would be used. I woudn't count on Caracas hosting any games. Or Havana.
The field is expected to increase to 24 nations for 2013.
If I'm not mistaken these are the same 16 teams that played the first time around, right?
Oh, and that's Chinese Taipei to you, Bob. MLB is trying to develop business relationships with China, so if China says a piece of land is called Tiddlywinksland, that's what MLB will call it.
Oh, and that's Chinese Taipei to you, Bob. MLB is trying to develop business relationships with China, so if China says a piece of land is called Tiddlywinksland, that's what MLB will call it.
The name of the country off of China is a political minefield.
Every time I see Hiram Bithorn Stadium, my mind first reads it as Hiram Bocachica Stadium. I'm sure I'm not alone in that.
I trust you've got your South Africa hat at the ready.
RSA! RSA! RSA! RSA! RSA!
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