TEAM: Taiwan, Group A #2
WON: Italy, Japan, Panama, South Africa, Spain
LOST: Mexico, USA

LOWDOWN: Right-handers En-Yu Lin (1-0, 0.00) and Chien-Fu Yang (2-0, 0.75) have been impressive on the mound with ERA’s smaller than Switzerland. Tai-Shan Chang (11-for-28) leads the team in hitting with a .393 clip followed by Chia-Hsian Hsieh (.370, 3 HR), Chin-Feng Chen (.355, 2 HR), and Chen-Min Peng (.320).

OUTLOOK: The home-field advantage is a key intangible but solid pitching and timely hitting will determine how far this bunch will go. Team is hitting a respectable .285 with a 3.69 ERA but I just do not think Taiwan can beat the Dutch, USA, and Cuba to win the gold.

TEAM: Netherlands, Group B #3
WON: Cuba, Germany, Korea, Thailand, Venezuela
LOST: Australia, Canada

LOWDOWN: The European champions are batting .337 with seven players registering eight or more hits led by Dirk van’t Klooster .407 (11-for-27), Sharnol Adriana .357 (10-for-28), and Sidney de Jong .391 (9-for-23). David Bergman (1-0) rebounded in a big way against Cuba in a gutsy relief job while Kenny Berkenbosch (2-0, 0.00)) has been unhittable over 9.1 innings. Right-handers Leon Boyd (1-0, 2.25), Rob Cordemans (3.60), and Loek van Mil (0.00) are key members of the pitching staff.

OUTLOOK: The Dutch know they can compete for nine innings with any team in the tournament but will that be enough? Solid pitching to the tune of a 3.19 ERA and a skipper who has a European squad playing with a foreign mindset are more than enough reasons to believe the Dutch are “legit” title contenders.

PREDICTION: Forget that the Netherlands are from Europe. This group is swinging the sticks really well and a quick start out of the gate will lower the volume (and enthusiasm) of the fanatic Taiwanese supporters. Unless the hosts get a “special” outing from their starter, the Dutch will hit their way to the next round to face Team USA.

Tags: World Cup