2017 WBC: Exciting games a real promotion

Yesterday's games were a real promotion for the World Baseball Classic. Exciting games in which the score went back and forth and the one of this morning with a perhaps unexpected outcome showed that this event is worth watching.  Venezuela  11 -  10  Italy Yesterday, team Italy showed again that you cannot rule out the …

Cuba beats Australia and advances to 2nd round, Italy stuns Mexico

In the decisive game between Cuba and Australia in group B, the Cubans stayed at the right side of the score. After trailing 4-1, the Aussies pushed and scored two runs but eventually, they fell short.  For four innings not much happened. Both teams had runners in scoring position a few times but neither team …

Ballparks Around the World: Estadio Charros de Jalisco

In Ballparks Around the World, the Dutch Baseball Hangout pays attention to one of the venues of the upcoming World Baseball Classic: Estadio Charros de Jalisco, home of the Charros de Jalisco from the Mexican Pacific League. Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco is located in Zapopan, near Guadelajara in Mexico. The stadium was created …

Kingdom of the Netherlands: What conclusions can be drawn from friendly matches vs Japan?

Last Saturday and Sunday, team Kingdom of the Netherlands played two exhibition games vs team Samurai Japan. The two games were part of  a four game series. Two were played between Mexico and Japan. For Japan it was a must to win all games, but one was lost to Mexico (7-3). The Dutch played two …

Mexico no match for Samurai Japan in second friendly

After yesterday's loss vs Mexico, team Samurai Japan had to settle a score. They did in a very convincing way as they beat Mexico 11-4 in quite a lopsided game. After the Japanese had taken a 2-0 lead, Mexico got on the board in the bottom of the second inning as the central Americans scored …

Mexico pulls off surprising win vs Samurai Japan

In a game with nothing at stake but bragging rights, Mexico walked away with a 7-3 win vs team Samurai Japan. In the Tokyo Dome the Mexicans fielded a team of mainly AAA players. For a long time the game was rather close as Japan stayed within a two run distance most of the game …

WBC Qualifier 2: Mexico routs Nicaragua for qualifier win

In another lopsided game between host nation Mexico and Nicaragua, Mexico flexed its muscles against the much smaller baseball country. Once again Nicaragua was outscored (12-1 this time), while they collected seven basehits themselves but failed to score more than one. Eventually Mexico needed only seven innings to clinch a birth in the main tournament.  …

WBC Qualifier 2: Mexico routs Nicaragua for spot in final

In the night cap of the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Mexicali, Mexico took on Nicaragua and proved to be way too strong for the small neighbour. The fact that Mexico scored the first nine runs on only three hits, shows the balance of power in this game.     Nicaragua   0   -   …

WBC Qualifier 2: preview

On March 17 the second qualifier of the World Baseball Classic will start. Mexico will host the Czech Republic, Germany and Nicaragua during this four day event. The stadium where the tournament will be played is generally known as Estadio Nido de los Aguilas but it goes by the name of its sponsor Estadio B-Air. …

Premier 12: Review

Now the Premier 12 tournament is over, it is time for a review. What was a success and what went wrong? In sporting terms, the tournament was a success, despite the lack of (current) MLB players. Especially the fact that Korea blocked the way to the final for Japan was a major surprise. And the …

Premier 12: USA joins Korea in final

In the second semi-final, the USA took on Mexico. It was a miracle itself that Mexico got this far. The Mexican baseball federation had a feud with the several Mexican winter leagues, who did not want to lend their players. For a long time it looked like that Panama would take the place of the …

Premier 12: fourth round

In the fourth round of the Premier 12 tournament, there was perhaps one surprise. The game between Cuba and Taiwan had an unexpected outcome. Group A   Italy  0  -  4  Canada   Unbeaten Canada took on Italy that was still without a win. Jared Mortesen (seven innings) and Jared Kyle (two innings) shut out Italy …

Premier 12, day 5: three close games and two blow outs

On day five of the Premier 12 there were no surprises. Group A:   Canada  9  -  8  Chinese Taipei   In a close game between Canada and Chinese Taipei, the Canucks stayed at the right side of the score, though it was barely. For a home crowd of only 10,245 Taiwan took a 2-0 lead …

Premier 12: Day four with more surprises

On day four, the first full day with a complete program, we could experience a few surprises again. Group A   Puerto Rico  0 - 2  Canada   Both teams had won their first game on the previous day. Canada vs Cuba and Puerto Rico vs Italy. In this game both would be each other's match …

Premier 12: Surprises at day 3

On the third day of the Premier 12 Canada and Mexico provided a couple of surprises. In group A, Canada took on Cuba and Italy faced Puerto Rico. In group B, Mexico faced Venezuela and USA took on the Dominican Republic. Group A   Canada  5  -  1  Cuba   In group A, the Canadians stayed …

WBSC announces groups for inaugural Premier 12 tournament

This morning the World Baseball and Softball Confederation has presented the pairings of the two groups for the first ever Premier 12 tournament that will be held later this year. One thing that catches my eye is that the USA has been paired to Japan and Korea. So obviously, the WBSC has struck a deal …

Cuba wins first Caribbean Series in fifty-five years

It was fifty-five years ago that the Cuban representative Elefantes de Cienfuegos won the last Caribbean Series in which the island participated. After Fidel Castro overthrew the regime of dictator Bautista, the island withdrew from the tournament, making it disappear for ten years. In 1970 the series were reborn and the Dominican Republic took Cuba's …

Cuba reaches Caribbean Series final after big turnaround.

After years without a Cuban representative the Caribbean Series added a Cuban team to the lineup of teams in 2014. Cuba lost all games but one and did not reach the semi-finals. This year the Cubans sent their national champion Pinar de Rio. But unlike last year, this year's Cuban team was heavily fortified with …