Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

World Baseball Classic pool play is officially in the books — and the drama delivered.

Team USA barely survived after a shocking loss to Italy, while Samurai Japan continued their dominant run and the Dominican Republic proved why they’re one of the tournament favorites.

In this episode, I break down what went wrong for Team USA, why Italy deserves way more credit than they’re getting, and which teams have been the most impressive so far in the WBC.

We also take a look at some of the great stories from pool play — including Canada advancing to the knockout stage for the first time ever and the incredible atmosphere created by fans around the world.

Plus, I re-rank the top teams left in the tournament and preview the upcoming quarterfinal matchups.

Quarterfinal matchups:


Korea vs Dominican Republic


USA vs Canada


Puerto Rico vs Italy


Venezuela vs Japan

The knockout stage is set — and the road to the World Baseball Classic championship is about to get even better.

0:00 Intro

1:29 Team USA disappointment

10:56 Team Italy dominates

13:50 Canada Advances

18:48 Latin America making WBC fun

25:55 Re-Ranking WBC team

31:00 QF matchups
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The World Baseball Classic is off the charts this year, and it’s not even halfway done! In this episode, we break down all the must-watch moments and biggest storylines so far:


Team Japan punches their ticket to Miami, dominating Pool C with a relentless lineup and unforgettable performances.


Team Korea pulls off an insane 3-way tiebreaker over Australia—7-2 in the 9th inning, ending in a celebration you have to hear to believe.


Team Dominican Republic is redefining fun in baseball, playing with energy, flair, and pure excitement. Forget the “old way”—this is baseball made for the fans!


Team USA sits 2-0 entering a massive clash against Team Mexico, fighting to break a 20-year losing streak in the WBC rivalry. Gunnar Henderson, Paul Skenes, and the squad bring intensity, emotion, and unforgettable highlights.

We also recap the other top teams, key players, and pool play drama, including Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, and more. Whether you’re a hardcore fan or just tuning in for thrilling baseball, this episode has everything: historic rivalries, clutch plays, and a behind-the-scenes look at the excitement you can’t see on TV.

Tune in, subscribe, and get ready for all the WBC highlights, analysis, and stories that make this tournament one of the greatest spectacles in sports.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome

01:49 WBC Updates

14:00 USA vs Mexico

20:15 Team Japan

31:30 Upcoming WBC

34:00 Outro
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🔥 The 2026 World Baseball Classic is here — and this might be the most loaded tournament we’ve ever seen.

20 teams. 4 pools. 2 weeks. 1 champion.

In this episode, we break down everything you need to know:

🇺🇸 Team USA – No More ExcusesThis is tournament number six. The U.S. has won once. With Aaron Judge wearing the captain’s “C,” a loaded lineup, and real pitching depth, it’s time to stop talking and start winning. We dive into their dominant 15–1 exhibition performance and why the pressure has never been higher.

🇯🇵 Japan – The JuggernautThree-time champions. Seven MLB players, including Shohei Ohtani, plus elite stars from NPB. Don’t sleep on the names you don’t recognize — Japan might still be the best team in the world.

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic – A SuperteamVladdy. Soto. Tatis. Machado. Julio. And that’s just the lineup. Managed by Albert Pujols, this team brings unmatched energy and star power. Is this the most talented roster ever assembled in WBC history?

We also cover:

⚾ Full pool predictions & knockout bracket⚾ Why WBC insurance rules are becoming a major issue⚾ The impact of Jurickson Profar’s suspension⚾ USA vs Japan finals prediction

First pitch from the Tokyo Dome is here — and the global baseball stage is set.

Who wins it all: USA, Japan, or the Dominican Republic?

Let’s break it down. 🎙️🔥

00:00 Welcome
00:45 WBC Preview
03:20 Team USA Preview
07:12 Team Japan Preview
10:35 Team Dominican Republic Preview
14:00 WBC Insurance Issues
23:38 Jurickson Profar Suspension
28:05 WBC Predictions
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Ben Verlander welcomes Los Angeles Dodgers' Kyle Tucker to the show. They discuss what made him choose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, first impressions of Shohei Ohtani & so much more!
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Ben Verlander welcomes Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to the show! They discuss Skubal's decision to play in the World Baseball Classic and how much USA Hockey fired him up to play in the WBC. He also discusses his offseason dealing with arbitration and the Tigers signing Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez & so much more!

CHAPTERS:00:00 INTRO01:50 TARIK SKUBAL JOINS03:00 SPRING TRAINING04:30 HOW'S JUSTIN VERLANDER AS A TEAMMATE?09:00 THE OFFSEASON10:50 ARBITRATION PROCESS15:35 DID YOU KNOW ABOUT FRAMBER?16:50 TIGERS ROTATION18:00 THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC20:00 USA HOCKEY FIRING UP MLB24:00 USA'S BASEBALL DREAM TEAM25:40 2026 TIGERS BASEBALL29:00 TIGERS' YOUNGSTERS30:00 ADVICE TO YOUNG BASEBALL PLAYERS33:00 OUTRO
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