The best big match of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March is, no matter what anyone says, a confrontation between the United States and Japan.
There can be no disagreement that the two teams have the power to compete for the best in the world. The Dominican Republic, a powerhouse in Central and South America, and Cuba, which is the strongest in Ambaseball and has become a major league player, will not be easy, but the overall composition of players cannot be compared to that of the United States and Japan.
What are the chances that the two teams, the USA and Japan, will face each other in the WBC? Looking at the draw, it is analyzed that the probability of a big match between the United States and Japan is very high. in the semifinals or finals.
Japan will play Korea, Australia, China and the Czech Republic in Group B, while the United States will play Mexico, Colombia, Canada and Great Britain in Group C each in Group C. In the quarterfinals, where the first and second place in each group advance, Japan will face Group A 1st or 2nd place, and the United States will meet Group D 1st or 2nd place.
If the US and Japan pass through the quarterfinals side by side, they can meet in the semifinals. Both teams advance to the quarterfinals as first place in their group and beat their opponent, or both teams advance to the quarterfinals as second in their group and defeat their opponents. The scenario in the finals is that the United States and Japan advance to the quarterfinals with one 1st place in the group and the other 2nd in the group, and then pass through the semifinals side by side.
For example, if the United States finishes the group round with 1st place in Group C and Japan 1st in Group B, the USA will finish 2nd in Group D, and Japan will face 2nd place in Group A and the quarterfinals, respectively. If they both pass the quarterfinals, they will meet in the semifinals. In other words, considering that the two teams are the strongest in each group, it is highly likely that a big match will take place in the semifinals. To meet in the final, the two teams’ group rankings would have to be split, which is relatively unlikely.
Also, the opponents to meet in the quarterfinals are expected to be the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico for the United States and Cuba or the Netherlands for Japan. Of course, there is a good chance that they will be eliminated in the quarterfinals between the US and Japan. A big deal between the US and Japan would not happen then. 헤라카지노
It is because of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani that the two teams are expected to face each other. The only chance for the two, who are eating together at the Los Angeles Angels, to compete head-to-head is the national competition.
MLB.com reported on Trout’s interview on the 22nd (Korean time), “Considering the expectations for the United States and Japan, it may not be unreasonable to imagine the two teams facing each other at some point in the tournament.”
In a video interview with local media that day, Trout said, “We enter this tournament to win. All the players on our team are great, play for each other and know each other better. The goal in our hearts is the same. All It’s about winning the game,” he said, revealing his will to win.
The U.S. national team includes top players in the major leagues, including Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, Pete Alonso, and Tim Anderson. The strength of the Japanese national team is no less than that of the United States. Including Ohtani, Yu Darvish and Seiya Suzuki decided to participate in this tournament. These include Munetaka Murakami, the home run champion in Japanese professional baseball, and Yushinobu Yamamoto, the four-time pitcher.
“I’ve talked to a lot of players on the phone, and representing the United States is a special experience,” Trout said. “When I talked to Ohtani about the Japanese national team, he emphasized very much that he’s not the best in Japan. It’s impossible to have a better player than Ohtani. But he knows the national team players well, and if he continues to advance to the higher rounds, he wants to meet them and play well.”
The WBC Organizing Committee also heightened the atmosphere by posting a message on Twitter, saying, “The match between Trout and Ohtani at this WBC is a must-see match.”