The fourth edition of the loftily-named World Baseball Classic gets underway Monday in Seoul when South Korea hosts Israel in the first game of the 16-team tournament that will wrap up in Los Angeles on March 22.
Played in four countries–Japan, South Korea, Mexico and the United States–the tournament features several strong teams that include Japan, South Korea, the Dominican Republic and the U.S.
And we have the others, which, alas, include Canada, who–from all appearances–are a long shot to make it out of the group stage.
Still, the WBC gives Canadian baseball fans the opportunity to pass on tedious Spring Training games played–for the most part–by guys really only interested in rounding into shape for the upcoming Major League Baseball regular season.
So what we’ll see over the next two weeks is some very good ballplayers competing for their respective countries, bringing the level of play well above Spring Training exhibitions.
Canada plays its first game next Thursday in Miami when they face the defending champions, the Dominican Republic.
The Canadians’ four-team group-stage pool also includes Colombia and the U.S.
Moving to the play-down stage will not be easy, especially since Canada’s best hitter, Joey Votto, Canada’s best catcher, Russell Martin, and Canada’s best left fielder, Michael Saunders, are sitting out the tournament for varying reasons.
But, hey, it’s still baseball: an error here, an error there, a well-pitched game, a crucial double play turned at just the right time and, as they say in the clubhouses, “YOUNEVERKNOW!”
The Toronto Star’s baseball columnist, Richard Griffin, covered the first three WBCs and has been warming up for the WBC in press box bullpens for the past couple of weeks.
He joined me by phone from Dunedin, Florida, where he is covering the Toronto Blue Jays’ Spring Training.
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