Pool A:

1. Japan

2. Korea

3. Chinese Taipei

4. China

 

Pool B:

1. USA

2. Canada

3. Mexico

4. South Africa

 

Pool C:

1. Puerto Rico

2. Netherlands

3. Cuba

4. Panama

 

Pool D:

1. Venezuela

2. Dominican

3. Italy

4. Austrailia

 

Pool 1:

1. USA

2. Canada

3. Japan

4. Korea

 

Pool 2:

1. Dominican Republic (they'll finish ahead of Venezuela this time around because they won't have to face Santana when they face them)

2. Venezuela

3. Puerto Rico

4. Netherlands

 

Semifinals (upsets):

Venezuela over USA (US doesn't have any pitchers to match Johan Santana)

Canada over Dominican Republic (at this point, Rich Harden is better than Pedro)

 

Finals:

Venezuela over Canada

Finals: USA over Cuba

i dont know how to put this but the USA wont win.

 

they simply dont have the passion that the other countries do for this sport. (i.e. venezula, dominican, others)

 

not only that but they might even come out flat, the USA doesnt play for the winter months like the other countries do with their winter leagues and such, and carribean series.

 

dont get me wrong im all for the USA taking it, i just dont see it happening.

 

also the "star" players dont see as much of the field until the middle/late march(example you dont see roger clemens start a SPT game till mid march) and yet the other countries have the leagues as before metioned.

 

my prediction is venezula takes it but i sure would like the USA to get into the finals with them.

i dont know how to put this but the USA wont win.

 

they simply dont have the passion that the other countries do for this sport. (i.e. venezula, dominican, others)

 

not only that but they might even come out flat, the USA doesnt play for the winter months like the other countries do with their winter leagues and such, and carribean series.

 

dont get me wrong im all for the USA taking it, i just dont see it happening.

 

also the "star" players dont see as much of the field until the middle/late march(example you dont see roger clemens start a SPT game till mid march) and yet the other countries have the leagues as before metioned.

 

my prediction is venezula takes it but i sure would like the USA to get into the finals with them.

 

I agree, but USA will at least get to the semi finals...in their first round they're in the same pool as Canada, Mexico, and South Africa, and I can't see them finishing lower than second against those teams...in the second round, they'll be in the same pool as either Mexico and Canada, and Japan and either Korea or Chinese Tapei (I think it's safe to say that SOuth Africa and China have no chance, while the US and Japan are locks in the second round)...again, I can't see them finishing lower than second

the semi finals is where it gets rough...they'll either have to face Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, or Cuba, four teams that like you said, will have a lot more passion and will look at this more seriously, and I see either Pedro Martinez or Johan Santana mowing down the US lineup

However, if the US gets to the finals, they will probably win