International Baseball - World Baseball Classic in March Comes In

The tournament is an international baseball tournament is sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and showcases the world's best players representing their own countries and territories. It began in March 2006, when 486 players with 235 of them by the teams of Major League Baseball representing 16 teams from around the world joined the event. Fans from 48 states and 15 countries attended the stadiums to watch the match while millions more watched on television to ensure that the tournament was a success.

The Japanese team was the Japanese stars like Ichiro Suzuki desert and now stars MLB Seattle Mariners and Daisuke Matzusaka Red Sox have been crowned the first World Baseball Classic champions if they beat Cuba 10.6 during the opening session of staging the event in 2006. This year the tournament begins March 5 to 23 and play baseball again featured 16 nations around the world. The tournament is every four years later with plans for the number of teams participating in 2013 to settle. Four different cities to play host to the pool that are Tokyo, Mexico City, Toronto and San Juan.

Teams participating in the event are the same teams that were included in the first season. They are Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, South Africa, USA and Venezuela. Japan squad to defend their title and win the crown. And the team roster got a boost when his star outfielder Ichiro agreed to return to the side. He could have easily refused to return when he was included in the championship winning team, but he wanted to come back and win the Classic again. With one of its stars with such a mentality, the Japanese team is hopeful that other stars will follow.

The tournament has also been a springboard for a Japanese launch. Matzusaka was still an unknown name in the world of baseball outside his homeland. But when he was a performance worthy of a Most Valuable Player when he threw beat Cuba, it was immediately noticed by scouts. Nine months later, he signed one to six years contract with the Red Sox after the fierce competition between teams of MLB's top services. Since he posted a 33-15 record in two seasons he played for the Red Sox. It may be a new factor in the offer to return to Japan tag team titles back.

No official list items are completed, although several players from their desire to join the team to have expressed. Matzusaka for one, not a formal commitment has not yet confirmed, but the Japanese journalists repeatedly he wants to participate. A notable absentee in the line up is Team Japan Hideki Matsui, who is undergoing rehabilitation for his knee injury.