World Baseball Classic predictions

There are 19 inches of snow on the ground. We had finally said goodbye to gross slush mountains, and then another massive storm dumped almost two feet of snow on the NYC area. On Monday office was closed and empty, except for our most dedicated employee who came in anyway.

Scroll for WBC predictions, softball stars each more likely than the last to embarrass Jimmy Knorp, and the long-awaited return of a JM show.

Drop a line and let us know how much snow you got.

— Team TSN

The World Baseball Classic, the international baseball championship that happens every three-ish years, is almost here, so let’s look at the title chances of the main contenders.

U-S-A, U-S-A: This is the best roster Team USA has ever assembled. If you built a team in a lab to win this thing, it would look like this. Which is exactly why the pressure is suffocating. Anything short of gold is a disappointment. You cannot have this bracket, this depth, this talent, and walk away empty (even with only one game from Skubal).

The DR can ball: The Dominican roster rivals anyone in star power and might surpass everyone in passion. The lineup is relentless and the pitching staff is deeper than people realize. There is pride baked into every at-bat. And after failing to get out of pool play in 2023, there is unfinished business hanging over this group.

The champs are here: Japan has owned this tournament with three titles. They do not treat it like an exhibition. They treat it like a mission. And now they bring back a core that already knows how to win in these moments, including Shohei Ohtani. If you are waiting for Japan to slip, history says you will be waiting a while.

The fourth power: Venezuela might be the most dangerous team that people are overlooking. Despite the fact that they embarrassed the Dominican Republic last tournament and proved they are not just a supporting character. They can hit with anyone. In a one-game quarterfinal, they might be the toughest draw in the field.

And don’t forget: Beyond the top clubs the WBC is also Brazil bringing a 17-year-old who throws 98 to face MVPs. It is amateur-heavy teams like Czech stepping in against household names. It is guys with unusual arm angles and funky stuff stealing a moment from someone who makes $300 million.

Apple pie and championships: Trev thinks the US will win, and Joez thinks the US has to win. The US just showed the world we’re the best in hockey. Is baseball next?

Over in the Warehouse, our resident Blitzball monster Jimmy Knorp tested his mettle against softball talent of all levels, from our own Ryan Cohen (slow-pitch beer league) to Swilly (junior college) to JM social media maven Jordyn (D1 at UMass) to Sharlize Palacios and Montana Fouts (both AUSL pro softball stars).

Knasty Knorp : In Knorp’s half of the innings he pitched a Blitzball, and we had some athletes fighting for their lives trying to get a bat (or the knob of the bat) on Knorp’s filth.

Feels like 100 MPH: When it was Knorp’s turn in the batter’s box against Montana Fouts (who once threw a perfect game in the Women’s College World Series), though, it was a different story. Fouts dialing up 70 MPH+ pitches from softball distance (the equivalent of a 100 MPH+ baseball pitch) had Jimmy on his heels.

It’s a Warehouse thing: This was up there with the most fun we’ve had filming a Warehouse Challenge, with professional athletes mixing it up with the JM crew (including Ryan Cohen doing whatever this is). Now that Challenges live right on the main Warehouse Games channel there is yet another reason to annihilate that sub button.