Group A Preview: Netherlands v Cuba opens World Baseball Classic, which starts in Taiwan on Wednesday
The fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic will open on Wednesday, 8 March, in Taichung, Taiwan with Group A action. World No. 7 Netherlands and No. 8 Cuba will take the field at 12 (local time) at the Intercontinental Stadium. World No. 2 Chinese Taipei and No. 12 Panama will follow at 19:00 (local time).
Group A also includes No.16 Italy. The top two finishers will advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for 15 and 16 March in Tokyo.
Analysts struggled to pick a Group A favourite.
Chinese Taipei's 41-year-old manager Yueh-Ping Lin, the all-time saves leader in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), will field a young team. Only three players - pitchers Shao Ching Chiang, Kuan-Yu Chen and Chia-Hao Sung - return from the 2017 World Baseball Classic roster.
Chiang, a former Triple-A starter, will lead a staff that lost to injury Yi Chang (Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball, NPB) and Jen-Ho Tseng, who also reached Triple-A in Minor League Baseball (MiLB). The bullpen includes some of the best CPBL relievers.
Slugging first baseman Yu Chang, who has 196 Major League Baseball (MLB) games to his name, leads a strong lineup with more MLB experience in middle infielder Tzu-Wei Lin and some power in Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Tsung-Che Cheng.
The Netherlands, who qualified for the semifinals in 2013 and 2017, boast MLB stars such as shortstop Xander Bogaerts, third baseman Jonathan Schoop, both helped the Netherlands win the 2011 Baseball World Cup, and catcher Chadwick Tromp on a roster that may be short on pitchers. Veterans Kenley Jansen and Jair Jurriens would be available if the Dutch qualify for the second round.
Cuba will count on MLB players for the first time. Luis Robert, Yoan Moncada (Chicago White Sox) and Andy Ibanez (Detroit Tigers) will add to a lineup that counts on the power of veteran Alfredo Despaigne, the all-time World Baseball Classic home run leader with seven, one more than Venezuela's Miguel Cabrera, and a WBSC Premier12 alum. Cuba's pitching staff is a big question mark, with left-hander Naykel Cruz as the player to watch.
Italy can also rely on a lineup with much MLB experience in Vinnie Pasquantino, Nicky Lopez (Kansas City Royals) and David Fletcher (Los Angeles Angels). Top prospect Sal Frelick (Milwaukee Brewers) is another hitter to watch. The Italian pitching staff may prove short at this level.
Panama relies on a solid pitching staff. Jaime Barria, a solid Triple-A starter for the Los Angeles Angels, looks like the ace. Alberto Baldonado, Javy Guerra and Justin Lawrence have MLB bullpen experience. Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect José Ramos is the man to watch in the lineup while middle infielder Jonathan Arauz and first baseman Christian Bethancourt add MLB experience.
The World Baseball Classic winner will earn the WBSC Baseball World Champion title. The top two finishers of each group will advance to the quarter-finals, scheduled on 15 and 16 March in Tokyo and on 17 and 18 March in Miami. The winners will compete in Miami's semifinals on March 19 and 20. The World Championship game is scheduled on 21 March in Miami.