If you got up early to watch the World Baseball Classic game between China and Japan on Thursday morning, then you, my friend, are hardcore. The rest of us are probably going to catch a few WBC games when it’s convenient, and this weekend should give plenty of opportunities as the tournament begins in earnest. The U.S. will play its first game on Saturday at 2pm ET against Canada in Toronto on ESPN. Here’s the full schedule of WBC action on ESPN, ESPN2 and MLB Network:
2009 World Baseball Classic Schedule
All Times Eastern
ROUND 1
Pool A (Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan)
Teams: China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea
1 Thu, Mar 5 China vs. Japan 4:30am ESPN2
2. Fri, Mar 6 Chinese Taipei vs. Korea 4:30am ESPN2
3. Sat, Mar 7 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 10:30pm (Fri) ESPN2
4. Sat, Mar 7 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 5am ESPN2
5. Sun, Mar 8 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 5:30am ESPN2
6. Mon, Mar 9 Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 5:30am ESPN2
Pool B (Estadio Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico)
Teams: Australia, Cuba, Mexico, South Africa
1. Sun, Mar 8 South Africa vs. Cuba 2pm MLBN
2. Sun, Mar 8 Australia vs. Mexico 9pm MLBN
3. Mon, Mar 9 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 10pm MLBN
4. Tue, Mar 10 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 10pm MLBN
5. Wed, Mar 11 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 10pm MLBN
6. Thu, Mar 12 Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 9pm MLBN
Pool C (Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canada)
Teams: Canada, Italy, USA, Venezuela
1. Sat, Mar 7 United States vs. Canada 2pm ESPN
2. Sat, Mar 7 Italy vs. Venezuela 8pm MLBN
3. Sun, Mar 8 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 8pm ESPN
4. Mon, Mar 9 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 6:30pm MLBN
5. Tue, Mar 10 Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner 5pm ESPN2
6. Wed, Mar 11 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 6:30pm MLBN
Pool D (Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Teams: Domincan Republic, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico
1. Sat, Mar 7 Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic 11am ESPN2
2. Sat, Mar 7 Panama vs. Puerto Rico 5pm ESPN
3. Sun, Mar 8 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 4:30pm ESPN
4. Mon, Mar 9 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 6:30pm MLBN
5. Tue, Mar 10 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 6:30pm MLBN
6. Wed, Mar 11 Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 5pm ESPN2
ROUND 2
Pool 1 (Petco Park, San Diego)
Teams: Pool A Winner, Pool A Runner-Up, Pool B Winner, Pool B Runner-Up
1. Sun, Mar 15 Pool A Winner vs. Pool B Runner-up 4pm ESPN2
2. Sun, Mar 15 Pool A Runner-up vs. Pool B Winner 11pm ESPN2
3. Mon, Mar 16 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 11pm ESPN2
4. Tue, Mar 17 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 11pm MLBN
5. Wed, Mar 18 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 11pm ESPN2
6. Thu, Mar 19 Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 9pm ESPN
Pool 2 (Dolphin Stadium, Miami)
Teams: Pool C Winner, Pool C Runner-Up, Pool D Winner, Pool D Runner-Up
1. Sat, Mar 14 Pool C Winner vs. Pool D Runner-up 1pm MLBN
2. Sat, Mar 14 Pool C Runner-up vs. Pool D Winner 8pm MLBN
3. Sun, Mar 15 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 7.30pm ESPN2
4. Mon, Mar 16 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 8pm ESPN
5. Tue, Mar 17 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 7pm MLBN
6. Wed, Mar 18 Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 7pm MLBN
FINALS (Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles)
Teams: Pool 1 Winner, Pool 1 Runner-Up, Pool 2 Winner, Pool 2 Runner-Up
Sat, Mar 21 Pool 1 Runner-up vs. Pool 2 Winner 9pm ESPN
Sun, Mar 22 Pool 1 Winner vs. Pool 2 Runner-up 8pm ESPN
Mon, Mar 23 SF1 Winner vs. SF2 Winner 9.30pm ESPN
