WBC Classic Preview

The 2017 World Baseball Classic will be taking place in the month of March so here is a preview for this years event.

The World Baseball Classic was created in 2006, as sort of a World Cup event for baseball and it has happened every 3 or 4 years since. The 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic were won by Japan and the 2013 World Baseball Classic was won by the Dominican Republic. Historically the United States has not fared so well at the Classic due to the fact that its best players don't often participate as its best finish was a 4th place finish in 2009. Through looking at the preliminary rosters which are subject to change, its looking like the US will have a pretty solid team although it could definitely be better. Their pitching staff is lead by Chris Archer and Marcus Stroman, and they have players such as Buster Posey, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Andrew McCutchen on the offense. What is unfortunate is the US has actually lost some players who choose to play for other countries. While they were both born in the United States Dellin Betances and Manny Machado have chosen to play for the Dominican Republic team. The World Baseball Classic has always been an event in which future MLB players, current MLB players, and former MLB players all play against each other and this year is no different. Reds prospect Dilson Herrera is playing for the Colombian team who is actually making their debut in the event. Team Venezuela is stacked with MLB players such as Felix Hernandez, Jose Altuve, and Miguel Cabrera. Former Red Sox pitchers Ryan Dempster and Eric Gagne have decided to come out of retirement and play for Canada. One of the more interesting teams in this event is Team Israel who is making their debut in the World Baseball Classic. After losing in the final qualifying game in 2013, they were able to finally make it this year. What is interesting about Israel is that they have a law as a country that any Jewish person if they wanted to could get Israeli citizenship. Now, baseball is not a huge sport is Israel and they aren't filled with talent however there are a lot of American Jewish athletes who while they are solid players would not come close to making the American team, so they are playing for team Israel. Players such as former Mets first baseman Ike Davis,  former Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway, and Marlins all star third baseman Danny Valencia are on the team. Every World Baseball Classic has a breakout star, someone who bursts out on the scene and later has an impact in the Major Leagues. In 2006 it was Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan, in 2009 it was Yoenis Cespedes of Cuba, in 2013 it was Kenta Maeda of Japan, my prediction is that this year it will be Shohei Otani of Japan. Shohei Otani is a 22 year old pitcher in the Nippon Baseball League of Japan and this isn't a comparison to just throw around so I don't make it often, but he legitimately has a chance to be the next Babe Ruth. This season he went 10-4 with a 1.86 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 140 innings, and he had nearly 400 at bats and hit 22 homeruns and hit .322. That is absolutely insane, even in Japan which is supposedly not as good as the Major Leagues, so if anyone chooses to watch the event, watch out for Shohei Otani.