FanGraphs Weekly Mailbag: March 7, 2026

Howdy from loanDepot Park in Miami, the place I’m masking Pool D of the World Baseball Traditional. Within the two video games right here Friday, Venezuela beat the Netherlands, 6-2, and the Dominican Republic defeated Nicaragua, 12-3. I’m writing about these two video games in a separate piece that may go dwell later immediately. You could find all of our WBC preview tales, in addition to our protection all through the match, on the weblog roll right here.

In fact, these have been simply two of the eight video games that occurred on Friday. (Nicely, Friday in the USA, anyway.) Elsewhere within the WBC, Crew Japan was each bit as dominant as anticipated within the first recreation of its title protection, blowing out Taiwan 13-0 in seven innings. Shohei Ohtani went 3-for-4, along with his grand slam getting Japan on the board and kicking off a 10-run second inning. Cuba opened the motion from Pool A in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a 3-1 win over Panama. Puerto Rico, regardless of being with out a lot of its greatest gamers due to insurance coverage points, shut out Colombia, 5-0, within the second recreation of that pool. Over in Houston for Pool B, Nice Britain stored issues tight with a superior Mexican staff for the primary seven innings earlier than Mexico exploded for 3 runs within the eighth and 4 extra within the ninth to win, 8-2. Then, within the second recreation at Daikin Park, Crew USA routed Brazil, 15-5, in one of many oddest-looking blowout field scores that I can recall. The leadoff batter for Brazil, Lucas Ramirez, son of Manny, hit extra residence runs (2) than your entire United States staff. The lone U.S. homer got here when Aaron Decide a two-run shot within the first inning. The important thing distinction within the recreation was the Individuals drew 17 walks whereas issuing just one. Later, again in Tokyo for the ultimate recreation of the evening, a matchup of 0-2 groups, Taiwan trounced Czechia, 14-0, in seven innings.

We’ll be speaking extra concerning the World Baseball Traditional in immediately’s mailbag, once we reply your questions concerning the future Corridor of Famers enjoying on this 12 months’s match, in addition to the Dominican Republic’s possibilities of contending for the title with Japan, the USA, and Pool D rival, Venezuela. Additionally in immediately’s mailbag, we’ll take a look at the perfect baseball birthdays and honor Invoice Mazeroski with the all-time Az staff. However first, I’d prefer to remind you that this mailbag is unique to FanGraphs Members. For those who aren’t but a Member and wish to maintain studying, you possibly can join a Membership right here. It’s one of the best ways to each expertise the location and help our employees, and it comes with a bunch of different nice advantages. Additionally, should you’d prefer to ask a query for an upcoming mailbag, ship me an e-mail at mailbag@fangraphs.com.