The 2009 World Baseball Classic opens this week when Japan hosts China in a Pool A game at the Tokyo Dome. Defending champion Japan is the favorite going in, with ’06 WBC MVP Daisuke Matsuzaka heading the pitching staff and Ichiro Suzuki anchoring a strong offense.
South Korea will likely join Japan in the second round after reaching the WBC semis in 2006 and winning last summer’s Beijing Olympics. Many Olympians are on the Korean roster, including Cleveland outfielder Choo Shin-soo.
Taiwan will be a darkhorse in Pool A, a team with plenty of talent despite not having Yankee pitcher Wang Chien-ming on board. They still have nine players affiliated with MLB clubs, and can be a spoiler.
China figures to bring up the rear, although they did shock Taiwan at the Olympic last year.
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