The World Baseball Classic is a relatively new tournament, pitting baseball's best international talents against one another in games held everywhere from Korea to Mexico to Miami. This year's edition has proven to be tantalizingly exciting as every nation has selected their very best to try and capture the trophy that has turned baseball fans' eyes away from the typical Spring Training campaign to a much more meaningful and fun competition. Here are five reasons why you need to tune in this spring.
1. Every Team Is All-In
Star-studded rosters across the tournament will see more All-Stars compete against one another than we will watch all year during the MLB's season. Watch out especially for teams such as the Dominican Republic, whose roster includes Manny Machado, Nelson Cruz and Robinson Canó, the United States, who has Nolan Arenado and Giancarlo Stanton, Puerto Rico with Francisco Lindor, Yadier Molina and Carlos Correa, and Venezuela, with Jose Altuve and Miguel Cabrera.
2. Exciting Rule Changes
From the use of the California Rule for extra innings past the 11th to pitch limits to ensure rotation, the WBC has numerous rule changes that propose an innovative, new twist on baseball strategy to keep the tournament entertaining. Managers must carefully consider whether to keep a successful pitcher in the game due to the pitch count limit which also helps promote offense, another success of the format.
3. Great Uniforms
Although Majestic will lose the rights to MLB's uniforms to Under Armour in 2020, they have struck gold with this year's looks. Keep an eye out for Puerto Rico, who has the cleanest look in the entire tournament, and the bright red, yellow and blue of Venezuela's jerseys.
4. National Pride
Although the Latin American and Asian participants have taken this competition seriously for years, 2017 is the first WBC where American superstars have turned out to play, and with them has come the support and attendance of the fans. I take great pride in being American, and I plan to cheer for Team USA all the way to a potential championship, and this is a great opportunity to root for either your home or land of origin in a great international competition.
5. Team USA's Redemption
After showing out poorly in each of the last two tournaments, not advancing past the second round in either one, this is the USA's chance at redemption. The year 2017 features our best lineup ever, behind great crowds of full seats at Marlins Park in Miami, cheering our team on as they compete to win the first WBC for the country that started the game we love. Expect San Diego's second round games to be just as good, and, hopefully, Team USA can bring home our first title in my native home of Los Angeles, in the final at Dodger Stadium in what will inevitably be a great build-up to Major League Baseball's regular season, regardless of who comes out on top.
