World Baseball Classic 2026

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Didn't realise we were playing the Chechen rebels

 

[MatthewB]

perfect DP

 

[MatthewB]

nice insurance run

 

[MatthewB]

good back to back wins

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

We'll never see another Shohei. He's so ****ing good. I can't fathom it

 

[largebus]

A nice start to the WBC. The good thing about is it's very random so even we have a (small) chance of winning this

 

[satty]

Was just about to say can we dare to dream about beating Japan, and then I just saw what the Japanese are doing to China .

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

Feels like if Australia can score possibly 1 run, and limit Japan to under 10 runs would be some achievement.

I fully expect nothing less than a Japan v USA final.

And a question aside, baseball has really grown over me. In terms of the Australian psyche, how can we make it a more popular sport in Aus? If I am right in saying baseball would be number 1 in Japan, and probably number 3 in America?

Trying to put that in terms of a rank in Australia would this be fair in terms of sports more popular in Aus: Soccer, AFL, League, Rugby, Basketball, Cricket, Netball (women participation mainly), Tennis, American Football (Mainly due to the NFL game coming to Melbourne next year) are the sports that come first to mind. Is there a timeline that it can overtake those sports? It would maybe rank about 10th to be fair, is there a way it can improve up those rankings?

 

[FreoRicci]

Chinese Taipei beat Korea.
That’s massive.
Need to beat Korea and hope Czech do something against CT to progress

 

[FreoRicci]

Feels like if Australia can score possibly 1 run, and limit Japan to under 10 runs would be some achievement.

I fully expect nothing less than a Japan v USA final.

And a question aside, baseball has really grown over me. In terms of the Australian psyche, how can we make it a more popular sport in Aus? If I am right in saying baseball would be number 1 in Japan, and probably number 3 in America?

Trying to put that in terms of a rank in Australia would this be fair in terms of sports more popular in Aus: Soccer, AFL, League, Rugby, Basketball, Cricket, Netball (women participation mainly), Tennis, American Football (Mainly due to the NFL game coming to Melbourne next year) are the sports that come first to mind. Is there a timeline that it can overtake those sports? It would maybe rank about 10th to be fair, is there a way it can improve up those rankings?

Honestly? Money and politics.
Why you think NRL and AFL, despite being domestic competitions, are the top sports? Politics and money.

There’s no reason to promote your kids to play those two sports. Limited availability, lack of salary, lack of oversea opportunities. No worldwide exposure. But hey, AFL and NRL are leeches onto the federal government.

Baseball is a great sport to push kids into. There’s opportunity, just like Bazzana and Hendriks. Just have to have sacrifices and train everyday.

There’s no funding between the 3rd best and rest of sports. It’s very unfair tbh. Requires passionate outside funding.

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

But hey, AFL and NRL are leeches onto the federal government.

Baseball is a great sport to push kids into. There’s opportunity, just like Bazzana and Hendriks. Just have to have sacrifices and train everyday.

There’s no funding between the 3rd best and rest of sports. It’s very unfair tbh. Requires passionate outside funding.

Would be a bit of a dream of mine to watch an MLB game live. Ive attended an NBA and NFL game in the States before.

Feel that if baseball were to ever take off in this country, it would have to be foreign investment of some sort. Would be good to maybe one day, and im not sure how delusional I may be but for Australia to potentially host some of these World Baseball Classic games on our shores or even have some MLB games whether it be pre-season or whatever in Australia.


Im also a big soccer guy and understand that it can be quite an expensive exercise to get kids into that from an early age as it also doesn't have the same funding as an NRL/AFL.

 

[satty]

2026 Standings | World Baseball Classic | MLB.com

View standings for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

www.mlb.com

Can someone explain why the standings show that Japan have qualified for the quarterfinals.

Edit- just realized it is because they hold the tie breaker over Korea and China.

 

[brucetiki]

The equation for Australia to qualify is simply win 1 of their remaining 2 matches.

If we drop both, however, we end up tied with Chinese Taipei and Korea on 2-2. The tiebreaker is then fewest runs conceded. We lead this at the moment, but we also haven’t played Japan yet.

Also hearing there’s an 8 hour long queue just to get into the Team Japan merchandise shop at Tokyo Dome

And Shohei Ohtani is on pretty much anything they can put his face on in Japan

 

[Doggstats]

Honestly? Money and politics.
Why you think NRL and AFL, despite being domestic competitions, are the top sports? Politics and money.

There’s no reason to promote your kids to play those two sports. Limited availability, lack of salary, lack of oversea opportunities. No worldwide exposure. But hey, AFL and NRL are leeches onto the federal government.

Baseball is a great sport to push kids into. There’s opportunity, just like Bazzana and Hendriks. Just have to have sacrifices and train everyday.

There’s no funding between the 3rd best and rest of sports. It’s very unfair tbh. Requires passionate outside funding.

Money and politics aside the shortcut is to have a homegrown superstar. Look what Fernando mania did for Meixcan baseball. Or Nomo did for Japanese baseball, and now Ohtani. Yao Ming pretty much single handily made China the biggest NBA market in the world.

And guess what, for the first time ever we have a potential superstar candidate in Bazzana. Obviously it's way too early to predict anything but he has all the tools to be a star.

 

[Doggstats]

Is this the gamethread for Japan vs Australia?

Can't believe we're still in the game. Was expecting 7-0 with 2 Ohtani homeruns by now. Our batters have been making good contact all night too. Can't believe I'm saying this but other than a bullpen blowout we have a geniune shot here.

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

Is this the gamethread for Japan vs Australia?

Can't believe we're still in the game. Was expecting 7-0 with 2 Ohtani homeruns by now. Our batters have been making good contact all night too. Can't believe I'm saying this but other than a bullpen blowout we have a geniune shot here.

Im shocked its still 0-0 in the 5th innings to be honest. This is David v Goliath proportions.

 

[corbies]

That Perkins pickoff was epic.

 

[Doggstats]

That Perkins pickoff was epic.

What an absolute brain fade by Maki. Bases loaded and Shohei friggin Ohtani in the box in a 2-1 count and you get picked off?

He better hope Japan doesn't lose because he's going to get raked across the coals from every one and their mother tommorow if they do.

 

[Phone]

let's go!

 

[brucetiki]

STOP THE COUNT!

 

[MatthewB]

forgot this game was on, just seen we are up 1 nil, so i cant watch it now, dont want to jinx it

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

forgot this game was on, just seen we are up 1 nil, so i cant watch it now, dont want to jinx it

I just turned it on, knowing I will jinx it

 

[MatthewB]

I just turned it on, knowing I will jinx it

so we can blame you if we lose

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

so we can blame you if we lose

Sure can

 

[Phone]

Would be a bit of a dream of mine to watch an MLB game live. Ive attended an NBA and NFL game in the States before.

Feel that if baseball were to ever take off in this country, it would have to be foreign investment of some sort. Would be good to maybe one day, and im not sure how delusional I may be but for Australia to potentially host some of these World Baseball Classic games on our shores or even have some MLB games whether it be pre-season or whatever in Australia.


Im also a big soccer guy and understand that it can be quite an expensive exercise to get kids into that from an early age as it also doesn't have the same funding as an NRL/AFL.

they had a exhibition game at the SCG a few years ago. a couple of teams from the Korean league have just spent some of their 'spring' training in Melbourne and Sydney which is pretty cool

Feels like if Australia can score possibly 1 run, and limit Japan to under 10 runs would be some achievement.

I fully expect nothing less than a Japan v USA final.

And a question aside, baseball has really grown over me. In terms of the Australian psyche, how can we make it a more popular sport in Aus? If I am right in saying baseball would be number 1 in Japan, and probably number 3 in America?

Trying to put that in terms of a rank in Australia would this be fair in terms of sports more popular in Aus: Soccer, AFL, League, Rugby, Basketball, Cricket, Netball (women participation mainly), Tennis, American Football (Mainly due to the NFL game coming to Melbourne next year) are the sports that come first to mind. Is there a timeline that it can overtake those sports? It would maybe rank about 10th to be fair, is there a way it can improve up those rankings?

ohtani keeps on being ohtani for a few more years + Bazzana popping off