WBC matchups and predictions - 3/11/09

Wednesday's World Baseball Classic lines up three intriguing games:

The Netherlands vs. Puerto Rico - 5:30 pm, EST - San Juan, PR
***Does NED have one more upset left to win the Pool? Puerto Rico is playing at home.

Venezuela vs. USA - 6:30 pm, EST - Toronto, ON
***Initial head-to-head losers are 1-2 in rematches in the 2009 WBC. USA beat VEN, 15-6.

Mexico vs. Australia - 9 pm, EST - Mexico City
***Australia scored 13 unanswered runs to down Mexico, 17-7 in their first meeting.

Picks: Puerto Rico, USA and Mexico

Unfortunately, I see Australia heading home. Mexico and Cuba will vie for the Pool B title while the Americans and Puerto Ricans will avoid each other in Pool 2 with victories. If the USA gets The Netherlands in Pool 2, it will be ugly.

World Baseball Classic Predictions - Tuesday, 3/10/09

With Pool A completed, sending South Korea and Japan to Pool 1 in as the first- and second-place seeds, respecitively, the World Baseball Classic continues Tuesday with just three games in the remaining three first-round pools.

Pool C - Toronto, Ontario - 5 pm EST
Italy (1-1) vs. Venezuela (1-1)
*The loser goes home while the winner moves on to face the USA for seeding in Pool 2

Pool D - San Juan, Puerto Rico - 6:30 pm EST
Dominican Republic (1-1) vs. The Netherlands (1-1)
*Another elimination game as NED meets a DR team in search of revenge. Duck!

Pool B - Mexico City - 8 pm EST
Cuba (1-0) vs. Australia (1-0)
*The loser lives to fight another day, but the winner gets through in minimal games.

I'm picking Venezuela, The Dominican Republic and Cuba to all advance. I know, not very sexy picks, but these are some of the most obvious matchups so far in the tournament.