2009 Baseball World Cup
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

 tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno
Nettuno
Nettuno is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy, 60 kilometers south of Rome. It is named in honour of the Roman god Neptune...

, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country. Eight European countries hosted the tournament and 22 nations competed, including defending champions the United States
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...

.

The United States
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...

 successfully defended their title, achieving their fourth World Cup championship by defeating Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...

 in the final 10–5. Canada
Canada national baseball team
Canada has qualified for two Olympic games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.-1984 Summer Olympics:...

 defeated Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico national baseball team
The Puerto Rico National Baseball Team is a team that is selected by the Puerto Rican Baseball Federation to compete in major international events in representation of Puerto Rico...

 in the bronze medal game 6–2 for their first medal at a World Cup.

Format

Previous editions of the World Cup were held with no more than 18 teams. These teams were initially broken up into two pools, with the top teams from each pool qualifying for the final knockout stage. With 22 teams competing in the 2009 tournament, the format has been expanded into three phases. Teams that play from the first round and finish among the top eight teams of the tournament will now have played as many as 15 games, making it one of the longest campaigns for any international baseball tournament.

All of the teams, with the exception of Italy and Netherlands, will compete in the first round (as hosts for the second round games, Italy and Netherlands receive a bye through the first round). The teams will be broken into five pools of four teams each. Each pool will be held in a different country, with the hosts Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, Croatia and Germany assigned to the corresponding pools. (Previously, Russia had been set as the host nation for Pool D, however they were replaced by Croatia in an announcement from the IBAF.) Unlike the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...

, the pools will be conducted in single round-robin
Round-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...

 format. The top two teams from each pool will automatically qualify for the second round, while four of the five third place finishers will also qualify as wild cards
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...

. In some respects, the first round is like a final qualifying tournament, similar to the format used for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The second round operates similarly to the first, but on an expanded scale. The field of teams is split into two pools, one hosted in Italy, the other in the Netherlands. The fourteen qualifiers from the first round are assigned to the pools, and commence a single round-robin competition. The top four teams from each pool then qualify for the third and final round.

The third round is broken into two parts: a partial round-robin and then four classification games, including the final. Each team will play four games during the round-robin phase, against the teams they have not yet faced (in Round 2) who also qualified – i.e. the teams from the Italian pool will face the teams from the Netherlands pool, but not each other. The teams are then ranked on their results in this phase and in games of the 2nd round between qualified teams, but in two groups based on the pool they qualified from. Each team then plays a classification game against their counterpart from the opposite group to determine their final placings in the tournament – i.e. the fourth place Italian qualifier faces the fourth place Netherlands qualifier to determine seventh and eighth positions, the third place qualifiers compete for fifth and sixth positions, and so on. The winner of the final classification game will be declared the winner of the World Cup for 2009.

Tiebreaking procedures

The IBAF employs a standard tiebreaking
Tiebreaker
In games and sports, a tiebreaker or tiebreak is used to determine a winner from among players or teams that are tied at the end of a contest, or a set of contests.-In matches:In some situations, the tiebreaker may consist of another round of play...

 system across all tournaments it sanctions, though it will use a modified version for this World Cup. Ordinarily there are five criteria available to be used when two or more teams finish the tournament (or a section thereof) with the same winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...

; if the first method does not split the teams involved, the next one is used, continuing down the list of methods until a distinction is achieved. The criteria used to determine the higher placed finishing team, in order, are:
  1. the team with the better head-to-head record for the teams involved
  2. the team with the better ratio of runs
    Run (baseball)
    In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...

     allowed per fielding inning subtracted from the ratio of runs scored per batting inning, referred to as the "Team Quality Balance", from the games involving the tied teams
  3. the team with the better "Earned Run Team Quality Balance" – the same as No. 2 but using only earned run
    Earned run
    In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...

    s as opposed to all runs
  4. the team with the highest batting average from the head-to-head games
  5. a coin flip.

For this World Cup though, a simplified method of tiebreaking will be used:
  1. the team with the better head-to-head record for the teams involved
  2. the team with the least number of runs allowed
  3. the team with the lowest earned run average
    Earned run average
    In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...

  4. the team with the highest batting average.

In the case of determining the four wild card teams that will progress from the first to the second round, the first measure will automatically be skipped, as it will be impossible for the teams to have played against each other.

Teams

Twenty-two teams qualified for the tournament, either through finishing high enough in the 2007 World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...

, placing high enough in regional tournaments that doubled as qualifying tournaments for the event, or by automatic qualification by hosting some part of the tournament.
Round 1
Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D Pool E
6th, 2007 World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...

2007 World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...

Qualified, 2008 Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...

Replacing Russia
Russia national baseball team
The Russia national baseball team is the national baseball team of Russia. The team competes in the bi-annual European Baseball Championship.-Placings:Baseball World Cup : 16th : 13th : 14thIntercontinental Cup : 9th...

,
Host nation
Qualified, 2008 Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...

Qualified, 2008 Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...

2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
2008 Americas Baseball Cup
The 2008 America Baseball Cup is being held in the Venezuelan cities of Puerto Ordaz and El Tigre, from September 26 to October 7. The tournament acts as a qualifier for the 2009 World Cup....

4th, 2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
2008 Americas Baseball Cup
The 2008 America Baseball Cup is being held in the Venezuelan cities of Puerto Ordaz and El Tigre, from September 26 to October 7. The tournament acts as a qualifier for the 2009 World Cup....

2007 European
Championship
2007 European Baseball Championship
The 2007 European Baseball Championship was an international baseball tournament held from September 7 to 16, between national baseball teams of the Confederation of European Baseball. The tournament was held in Barcelona, Spain and served as the qualifying competition for the 2008 Summer Olympic...

4th, 2007 European
Championship
2007 European Baseball Championship
The 2007 European Baseball Championship was an international baseball tournament held from September 7 to 16, between national baseball teams of the Confederation of European Baseball. The tournament was held in Barcelona, Spain and served as the qualifying competition for the 2008 Summer Olympic...

Host nation African qualifier 5th, 2007 World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...

2007 World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...

2007 World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...

2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
2008 Americas Baseball Cup
The 2008 America Baseball Cup is being held in the Venezuelan cities of Puerto Ordaz and El Tigre, from September 26 to October 7. The tournament acts as a qualifier for the 2009 World Cup....

2007 European
Championship
2007 European Baseball Championship
The 2007 European Baseball Championship was an international baseball tournament held from September 7 to 16, between national baseball teams of the Confederation of European Baseball. The tournament was held in Barcelona, Spain and served as the qualifying competition for the 2008 Summer Olympic...

Host nation 2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
2008 Americas Baseball Cup
The 2008 America Baseball Cup is being held in the Venezuelan cities of Puerto Ordaz and El Tigre, from September 26 to October 7. The tournament acts as a qualifier for the 2009 World Cup....

5th, 2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
2008 Americas Baseball Cup
The 2008 America Baseball Cup is being held in the Venezuelan cities of Puerto Ordaz and El Tigre, from September 26 to October 7. The tournament acts as a qualifier for the 2009 World Cup....

Round 2
Pool F Pool G
2007 European Championship
2007 European Baseball Championship
The 2007 European Baseball Championship was an international baseball tournament held from September 7 to 16, between national baseball teams of the Confederation of European Baseball. The tournament was held in Barcelona, Spain and served as the qualifying competition for the 2008 Summer Olympic...

Host nation

Group A

Qualified for the 2nd round
Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team W L R RA PCT
3 0 27 9 1.000
2 1 33 19 .667
1 2 15 16 .333
0 3 5 36 .000

----

----
----

Group B

Qualified for the 2nd round
Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team W L R RA PCT
3 0 25 9 1.000
2 1 17 13 .667
1 2 22 10 .333
0 3 5 37 .000

----

----
----

Group C

Qualified for the 2nd round
Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team W L R RA PCT
3 0 43 2 1.000
2 1 19 28 .667
1 2 11 19 .333
0 3 10 34 .000

----

----
----

Group D

Qualified for the 2nd round
Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team W L R RA PCT
3 0 28 5 1.000
2 1 26 18 .667
1 2 11 20 .333
0 3 5 27 .000

----
----

Group E

Qualified for the 2nd round
Team W L R RA PCT
3 0 42 12 1.000
2 1 26 14 .667
1 2 16 22 .333
0 3 3 39 .000

----

----
----

Wild cards

Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team Pool W L R RA PCT
B 1 2 22 10 .333
A 1 2 15 16 .333
C 1 2 11 19 .333
D 1 2 11 20 .333
E 1 2 16 22 .333

Group F

Qualified for the 3rd round
Team W L R RA PCT 1st Tiebreaker
2nd Tiebreaker
3rd Tiebreaker
6 1 44 23 .857 1–1 7 1–0
6 1 46 16 .857 1–1 7 0–1
6 1 42 10 .857 1–1 8
3 4 26 37 .429 1–0
3 4 30 24 .429 0–1
2 5 24 48 .333 1–0
2 5 31 47 .286 0–1
0 7 12 50 .000


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----
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Group G

Qualified for the 3rd round
Team W L R RA PCT 1st Tiebreaker
2nd Tiebreaker
3rd Tiebreaker
7 0 60 15 1.000
5 2 47 27 .714 1–1 8 1–0
5 2 50 29 .714 1–1 8 0–1
5 2 32 29 .714 1–1 9
2 5 28 25 .286 1–1 9
2 5 32 54 .286 1–1 10
2 5 28 38 .286 1–1 12
0 7 27 87 .000


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----
----
----
----
----
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Semi finals

Group 1
Team W L R RA PCT
5 2 35 15 .714
4 3 24 20 .571
3 4 36 38 .429
2 5 28 46 .289


Group 2
Team W L R RA PCT
7 0 48 14 1.000
4 3 32 28 .571
2 5 24 29 .289
1 6 19 56 .143


----
----
----

7th place game

5th place game

Bronze medal game

Final

Final standings

Rk Team Tiebreakers
1 14 1
Lost in the Final
2 12 3
Failed to qualify for Final
3 12 3
4 10 5
Failed to qualify for Bronze medal game
5 9 6
6 7 5
Failed to qualify for 5th place game
7 9 6
8 6 9
Failed to qualify for Round 3
Rk Team
9 4 6 3–4
10 4 6 2–5 25 RA
11 5 5 2–5 38 RA
12 3 7 2–5 47 RA
13 5 5 2–5 48 RA
14 2 5 2–5 54 RA
15 1 9 0–7 50 RA
16 2 8 0–7 87 RA
Failed to qualify for Round 2
Rk Team
17 1 2
18 0 3 27 RA
19 0 3 34 RA
20 0 3 36 RA
21 0 3 37 RA
22 0 3 39 RA

Awards

The IBAF
International Baseball Federation
The International Baseball Federation is the worldwide governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee as overseeing, deciding and executing the policy of the bat-and-ball sport of baseball at the international level...

 announced the following awards at the completion of the tournament.

All Star Team
Position Player
Best Starting Pitcher   Norge Luis Vera
Norge Luis Vera
Norge Luis Vera Peralta is a right-handed baseball pitcher, who has been a frequent member of the Cuban national baseball team....

Best Relief Pitcher   Trystan Magnuson
Trystan Magnuson
Trystan Stuart Gwyn Magnuson is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....

Catcher   Sidney de Jong
Sidney de Jong
Sidney de Jong is a Dutch baseball player.De Jong represented the Netherlands at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where he and his team finished sixth. He also represented the Dutch at the 2009 World Baseball Classic in San Juan, Puerto Rico and in Miami, Florida.-External links:*...

First Base   Justin Smoak
Justin Smoak
Justin Kyle Smoak is an American Major League Baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners.-High school career:...

Second Base   Héctor Olivera
Héctor Olivera (baseball)
Héctor Olivera is a baseball player for Cuba. He was part of the Cuban team which won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He plays second base- References :...

Third Base   Shawn Bowman
Shawn Bowman
Shawn Douglas Bain Bowman is a Canadian professional baseball player. A third-baseman. He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life:...

Short Stop   Hainley Statia
Hainley Statia
Hainley Statia is a Dutch minor league baseball player in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He previously played for the independent Lancaster Barnstormers, with whom he signed on January 11, 2011. He is also a member of the Netherlands national baseball team.-External links:...

Outfield   Alfredo Despaigne
Alfredo Despaigne
Alfredo Despaigne Rodriguez is a Cuban Outfielder with Granma of the Cuban National Series. He is widely considered to be among the best players playing outside the United States...

  José Dariel Abreu
  Jon Weber
Designated Hitter   Terry Tiffee
Terry Tiffee
Terry Ronald Tiffee is an American professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent.-Career:Tiffee graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in and Pratt Community College in...


Tournament Awards
Award Player
MVP   Justin Smoak
Justin Smoak
Justin Kyle Smoak is an American Major League Baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners.-High school career:...

Leading Batter   Paco Figueroa
Best Earned Run Average (Pitcher)   Matt Kniginyzky
Best Won/Loss Average (Pitcher)   Todd Redmond
Todd Redmond
Todd Richard Redmond is a right-handed pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization.Redmond was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 39th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Prior to the 2008 season, he was traded to the Braves for Tyler Yates.Redmond threw a no-hitter against the Louisville Bats on...

Most Runs Batted In   René Reyes
Rene Reyes
René Reyes is a Major League Baseball outfielder and switch-hitter who currently plays for the Pericos de Puebla in the Mexican League...

Most Home Runs   Alfredo Despaigne
Alfredo Despaigne
Alfredo Despaigne Rodriguez is a Cuban Outfielder with Granma of the Cuban National Series. He is widely considered to be among the best players playing outside the United States...

Most Stolen Bases   Paco Figueroa
Most Runs Scored   Rene Tosoni
Rene Tosoni
Rene Michael Tosoni is an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins. He is six feet tall and weighs 194 lbs. He bats left-handed, yet plays his position right-handed.-Amateur career:...

Outstanding Defensive Player   Ángel Sánchez

External links

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