The 37th Baseball World Cup will be remembered for stellar pitching performances and the end to the Cubans monopoly at the IBAF tournament. But the international baseball gala also provided a glimpse of the state of the game in several countries.

USA (9-1), 1st Place
Finally – USA Baseball decided to show respect for the international game and send a team other than some overmatched rookie league players. While the US media only showed mild interest in the tournament, American baseball fans were flocking to The Talkin Texan website for World Cup news.  Still – select youth league teams have reduced the talent pool for American-born players with fewer minorities even playing the game.

Cuba (8-2), 2nd Place
Forget all the naysayers – the Cuban National Team is still a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps the Cubans dominance at international tournaments is the reason why a Silver medal has some misguided souls thinking Cuba is on a downward spiral. However, a string of 49 straight title game appearances in every tournament the team has entered in more than a decade begs to differ.

Japan (7-3), 3rd Place
It might seem odd calling a bronze medal a success for tradition-rich Japan. But considering that the Japanese kept their best players home preparing for the upcoming Asian Olympic Qualifer, the World Cup was a spectacular achievement for such a young cast. Baseball in Japan keeps getting better and better.

Netherlands (6-4), 4th Place
It’s no secret anymore to the rest of the world that the Dutch are not your typical European baseball team. Playing with a foreign mindset – and not feeling inferior on the diamond – the Netherlands were “serious” contenders for the Gold medals. Sadly, the Dutch rise to prominence on the international baseball stage is NOT a testament to the growth of baseball in Europe. The credit goes to skipper Robert Eenhoorn, the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation, and the players, period.

Korea (6-4), 5th Place
The Koreans featured one of the tournament better pitching rosters and were one of three Asian squads to finish in the top eight in the final standings. Although void of some top hitters, Korea was competitive every time they stepped onto the field.

Australia (7-3), 6th Place
The Aussies performed much better than their sixth place finish and were unlucky to face the best pitcher in the tournament in the quarter-finals. Rumor has it that funding for baseball in Australia might be reduced and if that happens…that’s BAD news for international baseball.

Mexico (5-5), 7th Place
The Mexicans opened the tournament with three straight losses before putting together a four-game winning streak to climb back into contention for a medal round berth. When Panama had to forfeit a few games – Mexico had done the unlikely and advanced to the quarter-finals.

Taiwan (5-5), 8th Place
The tournament hosts upset loss to Mexico during the round robin action exposed “severe” offensive deficiencies which would prove to haunt Taiwan (my Taiwanese buddy hates his team being called Chinese Tapei) in the medal round. A very, very disappointing tournament for a squad eyeing a Silver or Gold medal.

Tags: World Cup