[ThePundit]

Okay - here's how it works:

Round 1: Everybody pick which 2 teams will advance in each pool(A has already been played - Korea and Japan have advanced).

Round 2: Who will go the finals: You must pick a winner from A or B to play winner of C or D

And finally, who will be the champ?
Sound confusing? It really isn't ( Just don't worry about tie breakers).
Here's how it works:

4 pools as follows: (1st round in Pool A has already been played - Korea and Japan advance)

Pool A
W L T
Korea 3 0 0
Japan 2 1 0
Ch.Tapei 1 2 0
China 0 3 0

*Korea and Japan advance to round 2

Pool B
Canada
Mexico
South Africa
United States

Pool C
Cuba
Netherlands
Panama
Puerto Rico

Pool D
Australia
Dominican Republic
Italy
Venezuela

In the first round, each team plays 3 games. The Top 2 teams in each pool advance to 2nd round as follow:.

Round 2:

Pool (A&B): Anaheim, California

Date Local Time ET Matchup (Away vs Home) Stadium Watch 350K Listen
12 Mar 1:00pm 4:00pm Japan vs Pool B Runner-up Angel Stadium
12 Mar 8:00pm 11:00pm Pool B Winner vs Korea Angel Stadium
13 Mar 7:00pm 10:00pm Pool B Runner-up vs Korea Angel Stadium
14 Mar 4:00pm 7:00pm Japan vs Pool B Winner Angel Stadium
15 Mar 7:00pm 10:00pm Korea vs Japan Angel Stadium
16 Mar 4:30pm 7:30pm Pool B Runner-up vs Pool B Winner Angel Stadium


Pool C&D: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Date Local Time ET Matchup (Away vs Home) Stadium Watch 350K Listen
12 Mar 2:00pm 1:00pm Pool C Runner-up vs Pool D Runner-up Hiram Bithorn Stadium
12 Mar 9:00pm 8:00pm Pool C Winner vs Pool D Winner Hiram Bithorn Stadium
13 Mar 2:00pm 1:00pm Pool D Winner vs Pool C Runner-up Hiram Bithorn Stadium
13 Mar 9:00pm 8:00pm Pool D Runner-up vs Pool C Winner Hiram Bithorn Stadium
14 Mar 8:00pm 7:00pm Pool D Runner-up vs Pool D Winner Hiram Bithorn Stadium
15 Mar 8:00pm 7:00pm Pool C Runner-up vs Pool C Winner Hiram Bithorn Stadium


Finals: San Diego, California

Date Local Time ET Matchup (Away vs Home) Stadium Watch 350K Listen
18 Mar 12:00pm 3:00pm Pool 2 Runner-up vs Pool 2 Winner PETCO Park
18 Mar 7:00pm 10:00pm Pool 1 Runner-up vs Pool 1 Winner PETCO Park
20 Mar 6:00pm 9:00pm SF 1 Winner vs SF 2 Winner PETCO Park

So counting Korea & Japan, pick 8 winners in the first round
2 winners in the 2nd round
and The CHamp for a total of 11 picks altogether
(If anyone gets Korea and Japan wrong, well......)

TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
(This stuff will make your head spin)
Teams will be ranked by winning percentage in Round 1, with the top two teams in each pool advancing to Round 2. Teams will be ranked by winning percentage in Round 2, without regard to the results of Round 1, with the top team in each pool advancing to the Semifinal round. In both rounds, ties shall be broken in the following order of priority:

The winner of head-to-head games between the tied teams;
The team allowing the fewest runs per nine innings (RA/9) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;
The team allowing the fewest earned runs per nine innings (ERA) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;
The team with the highest highest batting average (AVG) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Wow Pundit, that' a mouth full...

okay, here are my picks:

Group 1: Japan and Tapei
Group 2: USA and South Africa
Group 3: Cuba and Holland
Group 4: Australia and Venezuela

Gotta have some underdogs just because...got to jump on the Aussie band wagon...oh...and yeah USA of course...

[wedge]

Group A

S Korea
Japan

Group B

USA
Mexico

Group C

Cuba
Puerto Rico

Group D

Venezuela
D. Republic

Semifinals

Japan vs USA
Puerto Rico vs Venezuela

Finals

USA vs Venezuela

Winners: Upset special! Venezuela!!

[Lefty Noob]

Pool A - South Korea & Japan
Pool B - U.S. & Mexico
Pool C - Cuba & Puerto Rico
Pool D - Dominican Republic & Venezuela

Pool 1 (A&B) Semifinals - U.S. & Japan
Pool 2 (C&D) Semifinals - Cuba & Dominican Republic

Finals - U.S. vs. Dominican Republic

Winner - Dominican Republic*

* - But I really hope I'm wrong about this one. Go USA!

[ThePundit]

Gotham- you forgot to pick the 2nd 2 rounds.


Round 1: Korea, Japan, U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, Venezuela, Domincan Republic

Round 2: Mexico vs. Venezuela

Winner: Mexico

Anything can happen in a short series.

[pbald]

MY Predictions:

Round 1:
Pool A: Korea, Japan
Pool B: Canada, US
Pool C: PR, Cuba
Pool D: Dominican R, Venezuela

Round 2:
Pool 1: Canada, US
Pool 2: PR, Dominican R

Finals:
US, Dominican R.

Winner:
US.

[Lefty Noob]

Pete, glad you see you haven't lost the faith after yesterday. Go USA!