World Baseball Classic begins in Florida, Taiwan, Japan, and Arizona. The 2021 World Baseball Classic was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it will be played this year.
The normal 4-year schedule will pick up again in 2 years for the regularly scheduled 2025 WBC.
World Baseball Classic Tournament Fun Facts
The tournament will feature 20 teams for the first time ever (up from 16 teams in previous tournaments) divided into 4 pools with locations in Taiwan, Japan, Arizona, and Florida spanning from March 8-15.
The top 2 from each pool will advance to, essentially, an 8-team, single-elimination bracket culminating in the Championship Game on in Miami on March 21.
The Pool Play is a round-robin, double-elimination tournament tournament with each team playing the others in the
pool once.
There will be no tiebreaker games during Pool Play. Instead, the team who holds the head-to-head game moves on.
Rules For This Tournament
MLB fans will find the rules for this tournament to be very similar to the big leagues. Pitchers will have a 3-batter minimum, there will be a universal DH, replay review, and automatic runner at 2nd in extra innings.
But some of the major new rules that will be instituted in the majors in 2023 – including a pitch clock, ban on shifts, and larger bases – will NOT be enforced in this tournament. There will also be no limits on mound visits.
Mercy Mercy Mercy
There is also a mercy rule during Pool Play, but none in place for the Quarterfinal or Championship Rounds. If a team leads by 10 or more after 7 innings, or 15 or more after 5 innings, the umpires can end the game.
Team USA
This year’s Team USA roster includes 20 former All-Starts who have appeared in 66 total All-Star games. The only other time Team USA entered a WBC where all players on their roster had combined for 50 All-Star games entering the tournament was 2006 (58).
Potential lineup:
1. Mookie Betts
2. Trea Turner
3. Mike Trout
4. Paul Goldschmidt
5. Kyle Schwarber (L)
6. Pete Alonso
7. Kyle Tucker (L)
8. Nolan Arenado
9. J.T. Realmuto
Please, Please Please, nobody get hurt in this exhibition tournament. More on this later today during Shemon and Sheppard 2-6pm.