It is once again time to slip on your [insert country] flag shirt, pants, and sunglasses to watch 16 nations fight for the title of actual World Champions in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Or, as it’s also known: a 16-day waking nightmare for every MLB front office.
Sixteen countries are divided evenly amongst four pools: A, B, C, and D. Countries play round-robin style within their pools in the first round, whereafter the top two teams advance to the second round. Third place earns automatic entry into the 2021 WBC, while the fourth place finisher has to enter the qualifying tournament in 2020.