For the 12th time the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands opens its door on Thursday. The international tournament with the Dutch National Team, Cuba, Japan and Taiwan lasts from July 2nd to July 12th. Two games get the action started. Japan takes on Taiwan in the afternoon, while the Netherlands and Cuba will meet in the evening.
Cuba, which doesn’t have all of the first tier of star players aboard, has won the last three editions. Japan, which mostly has industrial leaguers and some college players on the roster, and Taiwan will use the WPT to prepare for the Asian Baseball Championship in Sapporo at the end of July/beginning of August. The Dutch National Team, which consists of Hoofdklasse players, kick off preparations for the Baseball World Cup with the eleven-day event.
Originally an All-Star-Team from the Great South League, a summer league for college players in Florida, was supposed to replace the collegiate Team USA, which stays in North America, practicing for the World Baseball Challenge later this month. However just a few hours before the start of the WPT and even after submitting a roster to the organizers, they decided to withdraw from the tournament. The four remaining teams now will play a triple-round-robin preliminary phase to determine the two finalists.
Schedule, Thursday July 2:
14:00 Japan – Taiwan
19:00 Netherlands – Cuba
Rosters:
Netherlands
Cuba
Japan
Taiwan
For more information, including play-by-play, go to the official website www.worldporttournament.nl
Comment by joe
July 1, 2009 | 7:39 pm
I think the USA squad has pulled out, reducing the field to four teams. It’s very disappointing as I’m travelling to Rotterdam from Britain to watch Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday’s games. I thought I would get to see 6 games, but now it’s only 4 as Monday and Tuesday have only an evening game on the adjusted schedule.
Still, it seems the organizers have done a good job in ensuring that there are a decent number of games on other days, by upping the number of games played by each team.
Comment by philipp
July 1, 2009 | 8:09 pm
I missed that, sorry.
The Great South League even released a press release about the World Port Tournament Roster just a few days ago.
http://www.greatsouthleague.com/article/161.php
Comment by Owen
July 1, 2009 | 9:17 pm
To be fair the USA Team was VERY POOR. Looking at that roster most of these guys will never be drafted.
Works out well for me as I go for the last few days and can now see Cuba on Thursday which was a rest day for them. Better chance of seeing Aroldis Chapman pitch.
Comment by Mischa
July 1, 2009 | 10:03 pm
A few comments:
1 – some of Cuba’s team does consist of top-tier players like Aroldis Chapman, Vladimir Garcia, Yadier Pedroso and Rolando Merino. Others are serious candidates for spots on the 2009 World Cup team (ex. Yoilan Cerce, Miguel Gonzalez).
2 – Japan’s team consists mostly of industrial league players. College players are a minority, not a majority.
Should be a good tournament. I’d pick Cuba or the Netherlands, but Japan might have a shot. Taiwan is unlikely and the USA could well be last.
Comment by philipp
July 1, 2009 | 10:08 pm
Thanks, didn’t mend to disrespect the Cuban roster, used the wrong phrase.
Comment by Owen
July 2, 2009 | 10:55 am
Aroldis Chapman from Cuba has gone missing. Did think it was odd they brought him over to this when Antonio Castro and the other enforcers were not coming. Says he walked out of the hotel. This would be spot on as in Rotterdam you often see the players out shopping.
Comment by philipp
July 2, 2009 | 10:59 am
Thanks for the tip. We saw the reports this morning and try to confirm this.
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