OTTAWA- Canada booked a spot into the 2013 World Baseball Classic in September by rolling through the competition at the qualifier in Regensburg, Germany. This week, two more qualification tournaments are set to take place in New Taipei City, Taiwan and Panama City, Panama with the winner of each group advancing to the 16-team WBC in March.
All qualifier games will be available on-line at www.worldbaseballclassic.com for fans looking for a post World Series baseball fix.
Host Chinese Taipei faces a similar situation as Canada did being forced to qualify for the WBC after participating in the 2006 and 2009 events. Taipei was help winless at the 2009 WBC and now finds itself battling with New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand for a spot in the 2013 WBC.
Thailand has the most recognizable name on its roster as MLB veteran and former World Series champion Johnny Damon will suit-up for the country that his mother, Yome, comes from.
Action begins on Thursday morning (10:30pm ET Wednesday) when Damon and Thailand take-on the Philippines.
The other qualifier will be played at historic Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City, Panama where Colombia, Nicaragua and Brazil will join the host country in what promises to be a very competitive tournament.
Colombia will feature former World Series MVP Edgar Renteria, while Panama boasts New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada and Miami Marlins first baseman Carlos Lee on its roster.
Yan Gomes, who spent parts on 2012 with the Toronto Blue Jays and is now a member of the Cleveland Indians, will suit up for Brazil.
Panama and Brazil will open the tournament Thursday evening at 8pm ET in what promises to be a boisterous home crown at Rod Carew Stadium.
Each event is a modified double elimination format that will see the final game as a ‘winner take all’ game regardless of tournament record.
Stay up-to-date on both qualifiers by visiting www.worldbaseballclassic.com and following @wbcbaseball on Twitter.
