How do teams qualify for the world baseball classic

The rules pertaining to the visit of the manager or coach to the pitcher, as described in Official Baseball Rule 5. In addition,. Interpreters on Field. An interpreter may accompany any manager or coach on a trip to the mound, in a discussion with an umpire on the field or on a trip to the field to tend to an injured player.

Upon leaving the mound area foot circle with the manager or coach, should the interpreter return to the mound it will be considered a visit. Any such interpreter shall wear Federation Team apparel suitable for an appearance on-field, such as a shirt or jacket with a Federation Team or World Baseball Classic logo. Relief Pitcher. When a pitcher warming up in the bullpen has been designated to the umpire-in-chief as a relief pitcher, at the call of the umpire, the pitcher must take a position on the pitching plate promptly.

Any extra pitches thrown in the bullpen may be subtracted from the eight permissible from the mound. Use of Foreign Substance. An umpire may ask a player for any equipment the umpire wishes to inspect for a foreign substance.

If a player refuses to give the equipment to the umpire on request, the player should be warned that the player's refusal will subject the player to ejection from the game, and if the player continues to refuse, the umpire should eject the player. At no time should an umpire place hands on a player or use physical force to obtain the player's equipment. A pitcher may not attach anything to either hand, any finger or either wrist e.

The umpire shall determine if such attachment is indeed a foreign substance for the purpose of Official Baseball Rule 6. When notifying the umpire-in-chief of a substitution, pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 5. When two or more substitute players of the defensive Federation Team enter the game at the same time, the manager shall, immediately before they take their positions as fielders, designate to the umpire-in-chief such players' positions in the Federation Team's batting order, and the umpire-in-chief shall so notify the Official Scorer.

If this information is not immediately given to the umpire-in-chief, the umpire-in-chief shall have authority to designate the substitutes' places in the batting order. It is not permissible for the manager to go to the mound, call for a new pitcher, and then inform the umpire of multiple substitutions with the intention of interchanging the batting order.

The umpire-in-chief must be informed of the multiple substitutions before the manager calls for a new pitcher if the manager wishes to interchange the batting order. If a designated hitter is removed from a game, the substitute designated hitter need not be announced until it becomes such designated hitter's turn to bat. Ball Striking Helmet. If a helmet comes off unintentionally and a batted ball subsequently hits the helmet on or over fair territory, the ball shall be considered in play and ruled fair or foul according to its position when it is touched by a defensive player or comes to rest.

If a helmet comes off unintentionally and a batted ball subsequently hits the helmet in foul territory, the ball shall be a foul ball. The umpires may be guided by procedures and interpretations contained in the Major League Baseball Umpire Manual.

The Qualifying Round shall be conducted in a modified double-elimination format i. To determine the pool qualifier that will advance to the World Baseball Classic Tournament, WBCI shall set forth a schedule to include a format of two pools of six teams. The winning first and second place teams of each pool will advance to the Tournament. The four Federation Teams that finished in second place in the Qualifying Round will have a first round bye in the Qualifying Round. The eight Federation Teams that finished in third and fourth place in the Qualifying Round are seeded based on its result and current WBSC ranking as of December 31, The schedule for each of the two Qualifiers, will be as follows: The winning Federation Teams in Games 1 and 2 shall advance to the winner's bracket to play one of the two Federation teams with the first round bye, in Games 3 and 4, respectively.

The loser shall advance to the loser's bracket to play the loser of Games 3 and 4, in Games 5 and 6, respectively.

The winners of Games 3 and 4 will play in Game 7, to determine one of the two winners of the Qualifying Round to advance to the Tournament, the loser to advance to play in Game 9. The winners of Games 5 and 6 will advance to play in Game 8, the losers of Games 5 and 6 will be eliminated. The winner of Game 8 will advance to Game 9 and play the loser of Game 7, the loser of Game 8 will be eliminated. The winner of Game 9 will determine the second winner of the Qualifying Round to advance to the Tournament, the loser of Game 9 will be eliminated.

WBCI shall determine the schedule and venue for any postponed or suspended game. In each Qualifier, home team designations, for purposes of the Official Baseball Rules, shall be as follows, without any regard to the sequence of games played:. The identity of the "home" Federation Team for purposes of the Official Baseball Rules shall not affect the designation of pre-game practice times or assignments of dugouts or clubhouses.

The GOTC shall determine whether a game shall be postponed, suspended with the exception of the maximum number of innings in a tie game , or terminated, in consultation with the umpire-in-chief after the game starts.

WBCI shall provide each umpire with a uniform, all parts of which the umpires shall wear while officiating as umpires. Each ballpark shall provide a separate dressing room for the umpires. No visitors except WBCI personnel or the immediate family of an umpire are permitted in the umpires' dressing room. Any immediate family not of the same sex as the umpire or umpires using the umpires' dressing room shall leave the room at the request of any umpire if any umpire is dressing or undressing.

All persons except official personnel shall vacate the dressing room 30 minutes prior to game time. At the completion of a game, the umpire crew chief may impose, in the discretion of the crew chief, a minute period during which no visitors except official WBCI personnel are to be allowed in the umpires' dressing room. All umpires shall adhere to any WBCI policies in regard to security. No umpire may, directly or indirectly, ask any player, manager, coach, locker room attendant or other Federation Team personnel for any autographs.

Similarly, Federation Team personnel, including any player, manager, coach or other field personnel including locker room attendants , are prohibited from providing umpires with autographs except as may be approved by WBCI. No umpire shall directly or indirectly, ask for, take, sell, market for sale or participate in or otherwise traffic in Federation Team or WBCI property, such as baseballs, bats, uniforms, lineup cards or the like.

No umpire may, directly or indirectly, validate or certify any baseball, bat, uniform or other object as genuine or as actually used in a game. Each Qualifier shall begin once the lineups are exchanged at home plate prior to game one. Federation Team Interest List On or before three months prior to the commencement of each respective Qualifier, each Federation Team shall submit an Interest List of no more than 50 players who will be given serious consideration for selection to a Federation Team's Provisional Roster.

Provisional Roster Each Federation Team shall submit a Provisional Roster of no more than 50 players on or before two months prior to the commencement of each respective Qualifier. Final Roster Each Federation Team shall submit a Final Roster of no more than 28 players on or before two weeks prior to the start date of each respective Qualifier.

All disputes relating to determination of eligibility shall be resolved exclusively by WBCI. A number of position players have seen their production at the plate dwindle after playing in the WBC. Braves catcher Brian McCann saw his average dip to.

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz managed a. Former Cubs catcher Geovany Soto boasted a. And former Mets shortstop Jose Reyes dealt with multiple leg injuries, limiting him to just 36 games in Another drawback from playing in the WBC is the early wear and tear on pitchers and catchers. The idea of having starting pitchers throw competitively before preparing themselves for the upcoming season is taxing and could prove problematic.

Cincinnati hurler Johnny Cueto tossed innings and struck out batters in 31 starts in However, in , Cueto pitched Dodgers hurler Ted Lilly worked more than innings and struck out batters in 34 starts in But the next season Lilly amassed just innings and strikeouts in only 27 starts.

Heralded Red Sox hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed more than innings and tallied strikeouts in 29 starts in The next season Matsuzaka worked Then, news spread that Matsuzaka suffered a leg injury during the WBC. Detroit ace Justin Verlander is arguably the best pitcher in the game. Verlander threw innings last season after working a inning season in The World Baseball Classic is expanding to 20 teams in , giving new nations greater opportunities to qualify to the worldwide tournament.

The 16 nations that participated in the WBC are all returning in The final four teams will be determined at a qualifier in Tucson, Ariz. Twelve teams are participating in the WBC Qualifier.

The top two finishers in each pool will advance to the WBC. Pool 1 games will be played March and Pool 2 games will be played March Outlook : With the most talented team in the pool, Brazil is the favorite to finish atop the standings and secure a spot in the WBC.

Notable Players : 2B Alen Hanson has spent parts of the last four seasons in the majors. Outlook : Nicaragua is a step behind the top contenders, but could find itself in contention for a WBC berth if a few breaks go its way.