Predicting the World Baseball Classic: Semi-Finals

The top two teams from each of Round 2’s Pool 1 and Pool 2 play one game to determine who will go to the Finals. With single elimination, this round will be a nail-biter.

Pool 1: Japan vs. United States
The only advantage that Japan might have is that many of their pitchers have weird motions, and the US could stumble upon someone who dominates them on the mound. Many of the US players, including Derek Lee and Vernon Wells, have been to Japan in the quasi-annual MLB Japan All-Star Series. There will be some familiarity with some of their players. One of the added bonuses of the recent players like Ichiro and Matsui coming over from Japan, is that there are plenty of scouting reports floating around on the top Japanese players, many of whom should be participating in the WBC. The US pulls out a victory with a late inning rally.

Pool 2: Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic
This rematch will have been brewing for weeks, ever since the end of the Caribbean Series, a series that saw Venezuela rally in the ninth inning for a miraculous comeback against the Dominicans. But that Dominican team did not have the powerful punch that it is now carrying into the WBC. And while Venezuela will put up a good fight, it will not be enough to break the backs of the Dominican sluggers. The DR gets out to an early lead and holds off a late rally by Venezuela to win.

. . . Tomorrow, which team will I predict to take home the. . . cup? (what is the trophy called). . .