Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

I certainly didn’t anticipate the US being mercyed by Puerto Rico, but then again I didn’t see Mexico having the same issue with Australia.

Today at 4 we have the Cuba Japan rematch of the previous final. This is likely going to be the best game of the series. Both my guts and my desire says Japan wins here.

After the 7:30 game either the US or the Dutch will be going home. Both have several disadvantages. The US will be facing a Dutch team with solid pitching while their pitching has been iffy, in addition they haven’t seen the dutch pitchers before and last year’s MVP Dustin Pedrioa is hurt.

The Dutch are facing a US team as strong as any other in the tourney on paper that is itching to prove that yesterday’s loss was a fluke.

I really can’t see the US blowing this one.

Korea Mexico at 11 p.m. I’m going to miss since I have a breakfast engagement tomorrow. My gut says Korea wins this one.

The 2nd Round of the WBC begins Saturday. Here is what we see.

Hugo’s boys play the Dutch at 1 p.m. They will be facing the Dutch A team. I don’t know they they are going to take the Dutch lightly or not. Bobby Abreu is likely going to walk every time at bat. Hugo’s boys have to be considered the favorites in this one. However with the relationship between Hugo & Fidel and the game being in Miami you’ve got to believe that the Dutch is going to have the crowd with them.

US vs Puerto Rico. This is going to be a pretty solid game. All these players know each other and have likely faced each other. In my opinion the significance of this game is it’s potential to setup a 3rd Dutch vs. PR game. It is very hard to beat a team 3 times in a row. Because of this I think this game is much more important for the Puerto Ricans to then the US. They would much rather face the Dutch again in a non-elimination situation.

You have to favor US and Venezuela in this round but I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see anything happen.

I find the seeding games boring because they don’t mean anything.

Japan and Korea was interesting since the two teams hate each other.

Cuba and Mexico first meeting of the tourney is today, that might have some interest because of that but I likely won’t watch it.

Dutch vs Pureto Rico. Puerto Rico won 5-0 It was the worst pitching performance of the tourney for the Dutch as they played their B pitchers and their B catcher. The PR team seems to have taken the Dutch much more seriously than the DR did. However I’d still be a bit worried. It is very hard to beat a team 3 times in a row. Remember the 62 Mets did win 40 games about 1 out of 4.

Hugo’s boys beat us 5-3 in a pretty good game. That earns them the Dutch and I’m hoping they have the same luck the Dominicans did.