by International Baseball Federation, www.ibaf.org
Japan moves to No. 3 in the IBAF World Rankings following WBC win
Cuba still No. 1; USA falls to fourth
Please follow the link below to view the International Baseball Federation’s updated World Rankings, through the 2009 World Baseball Classic (March 24).
With Japan’s World Baseball Classic victory, it moves to No. 3 in the world. Cuba holds on to the No. 1 position and Korea moves past the USA into second. The new top 10 is as follows:
1. Cuba
2. Korea
3. Japan
4. USA
5. Chinese Taipei
6. Netherlands
7. Mexico
8. Canada
9. Australia
10. Puerto Rico
The IBAF debuted its World Rankings earlier this year in January. Developed in conjunction with Scott Goode, a sports information director from Harding University (Arkansas, USA), the rankings are based on a point total which IBAF member federations (teams) earn from IBAF-sanctioned events in a four-year window, or a period of time that encompasses two IBAF Baseball World Cups.
Teams earn points based on their finish in an event. A tournament winner takes home 50 points, second place, 40; third place, 30; and fourth place, 15. From there, points are divided evenly among the remaining teams in the event to ensure balance between tournaments that feature different-sized fields.
Once points are rewarded based on a team’s finish, that amount is then multiplied by a number based on the strength of the event. Major world championships, such as an Olympic Games, IBAF Baseball World Cup or World Baseball Classic, all receive 4X multipliers. Minor world championship events (Junior, Youth or FISU University Worlds, or the Honkbol Tournament [ed. note: Haarlem Baseball Week], for example) have a 1X multiplier, and all other continental championships receive multipliers from 1X-.25X based on how many teams in the top-10 of the current IBAF World Rankings compete in the event.
For more information, please visit www.ibaf.org.