Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball Italy Rolls Into the WBC Quarterfinals, Can They Win It All?
Mar 12, 2026
Stephen Nesbitt, baseball writer and analyst, offers game-by-game commentary and knockout previews. They break down Italy’s surprise run and why their depth matters. They preview matchups like Korea vs Dominican, USA vs Canada, Puerto Rico vs Italy, and Venezuela vs Japan. Final predictions for who could win the tournament are shared.
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Episode notes
Dominican Republic Offensive Thunder And Pitching Depth
- Dominican Republic's offense has been historically dominant in pool play with 41 runs and 13 homers, making them overwhelming favorites.
- Derek VanRiper highlights Christopher Sanchez as a Cy Young–caliber arm who gives them pitching depth and room to deploy bullpen levers later in games.
Using Swinging Strikes To Gauge WBC Bullpens
- DVR used Baseball Savant swinging-strike rates (innings 6–9) to approximate bullpen quality across teams after pool play.
- That query put the U.S., Japan, and Puerto Rico atop reliever effectiveness while Korea and some others sat midpack.
Balance Starter Roles And Rest To Preserve Depth
- Manage rest and role flexibility: use starters as long relievers and plan rotations around off days to preserve arms through knockout rounds.
- Eno notes Webb, Skeens, McClain sequencing and Joe Ryan as a potential wild card if healthy.