12-27-2023, 10:54 PM
Hello all, I'm Henry Yeong, and welcome to HSN's coverage of the long-awaited 2024 IDU Baseball Classic! We're here live in Munseong, Namhae to cover the draw, and we have finally received confirmation of the 16 team slate, and a start time for the second iteration of this tournament! The Ministry of Culture is about to unveil the groups for this tournament, and we have a sterling team here to provide instant analysis and breakdown all the interesting matchups here. We have Alexandra Yoo here, who specializes in the Haesan national team and international events.
AY: Happy to be here, Henry!
HY: Also joining us is Manuel Enriquez, a long time player, coach, and official within the Slokaisian organization.
ME: I'm excited to see what kind of chaos the draw will cause!
HY: Haha, very well then! Last but not least, we have the former Laeral Crane, Zhuang Zhisheng.
ZZ: Thanks for having me! And I know this might not be the most popular here, but go Striking Cranes! (Makes striking crane hand gesture)
Yoo gives a death stare from across the table
HY: Uhh... (awkward pause) It looks like they're about to reveal Group A! Let's see who will be joining Haesan for matches in Suyang and Hanyeong!
Group A - Suyang/Hanyeong
Haesan (H)
Mallacaland
Elalia
Lao Sansong
HY: To my eyes, this looks like a group that's settled before it begins, but I want to get your thoughts.
AY: So obviously Haesan and Mallacaland are the teams to beat here, but a lot will depend on the Ibrahim Kamza situation. If he's out, who knows?
ME: That's very much the case, and I really like Lao Sansong as a potential spoiler here if Kamza can't compete. There's a lot of venom on this team, and there's a lot to play for considering the current, um, situation between Haesan and Sansong.
ZZ: I wouldn't be so sure of that... I think this Mallacaland team is surprisingly deep. Kamza is definitely their heartbeat, but they're too talented and this group just isn't strong enough to pose a real threat of eliminating them at this stage.
HY: What matchup here are you looking forward to the most?
ME: Give me Haesan vs. Lao Sansong in Suyang! Final game of the group, absolute hatred, and a surely roiling environment. Even if Haesan ends up mercying the Warriors, the passion alone makes this one must watch.
ZZ: I'm more interested in the premiere: Mallacaland v. Haesan. This is by far the toughest test Haesan will get in the group stage, Kamza or no. We'll get to see how their new coach, and new philosophy, holds up against a top team in the IDU.
AY: I agree with Zhuang, for all the reasons he stated, and also just because of the atmosphere. Haesan will pulling out all the stops for the tournament opener.
HY: Alright, so what are your predictions for this group?
ME: Haesan, Lao Sansong, Mallacaland, Elalia. Kamza can't make it and the Lions fall apart.
ZZ: Whoa, that's bold! I'll keep it chalk. Haesan, Mallacaland, Elalia, Lao Sansong.
AY: I wouldn't discount Sansong that much, Elalia doesn't have a ton going for it. Haesan, Mallacaland, Lao Sansong, Elalia for me.
HY: It looks like we're getting Group B in now! Let's take a look:
Group B - Sinju/Hyangsan
Libertas Omnium Maximus
Laeral
Teyè
Thousand Branches
HY: Thoughts?
AY: This isn't quite a dream for Laeral, but they'll find a lot of comfort in Group B. They'll get two games in Sinju, and there's a large Ren and Minjian presence there. I expect those two, including a tantalizing fixture against LOM, will look a lot like home games for them.
ZZ: Indeed, but I honestly think this is close to a best case scenario for the Cranes. I'm quite pleased with this draw for them.
ME: I think this group rests on two questions: one, is Teyè dangerous? They're unproven, untested, didn't compete in Hanshui, and an absolute wildcard. That matchup could be a trap game for the loser of Laeral-LOM. The other question is: which version of LOM shows up? If the team that upset a lackluster Haesan in the Olympics arrives, they could make a really deep run. If they return to their usual mediocrity, or worse, as we saw in Trive, it's going to be a rough tournament to watch for fans of Madley's Mariners.
AY: I think that's a solid assessment.
HY: Ok, time for your guide to viewers. If you only have time for one Group B match, what should it be?
AY: Laeral vs. LOM. You have two prestige teams in a high profile head-to-head clash for control of the division, and more importantly, likely facing Mallacaland in the quarterfinals instead of Haesan. Your chance of making the finals drastically increases if your team wins as opposed to getting second.
ZZ: Agreed. Teyè doesn't intrigue me nearly as much as our Slokaisian friend here.
ME: It's not that I'm fascinated by Teyè, it's just I don't know what to make of it. Laeral-LOM is the definitive match to watch here.
HY: Predictions?
ME: LOM, Laeral, Teyè, Thousand Branches. Chalk for me.
AY: Agreed. The Branchians can't really upset anyone I don't think, and I don't trust Teyè. LOM seems the more complete team, so chalk for me as well.
ZZ: Laeral, LOM, Teyè, Thousand Branches. The Sharks always perform worse in the group stage than in knockouts.
AY: Laeral winning? From Zhuang? Of course.
HY: I hear they're ready to release Group C now!
Group C - Anfa/Levesque
Wosteaque
Aredoa
Misumi
Pharitaya
HY: First impressions?
ZZ: Misumi was always going to be the wrench in the system, they're clearly the "best of the rest" so to speak. Is Aredoa disciplined enough to withstand their fearsome pitching? It's going to be close.
ME: Honestly, Misumi might be the team to beat there? I feel like Aredoa is deeper for sure, but the Egrets are just always so well coached and disciplined.
AY: What about Wosteaque? Are we ready to anoint them here? They've got Norene and Draven, but outside of their stars, they could easily end up being number 3 on paper. This is the tightest group, even Pharitaya might have had chances against a different set of competitors.
ZZ: Exactly. If you pick any two of the top three teams to advance you'll have a reasonable justification for it.
HY: Ok, so this one's going to be tense. What do you think will be the highlight?
AY: So I'm going to take the easy answer and say Misumi vs. Aredoa on the final day. It's going to be cold, really cold, in Levesque, and with the wind off the lake too it could be just horrendous. This is the closest matchup we've seen across all the groups, and the slight favorites might have both a weather and crowd disadvantage; there are a lot of Mizu up in the Northlands too. Likely a "must-win to qualify" game, and Aredoa are going to get tested big time.
ZZ: No arguments. An instant classic in the making.
ME: Ok, for the sake of diversity, I'm going to say Wosteaque versus Aredoa. It's the opening game of the group, we all think Wosteaque is a bit of a paper tiger, and a loss here means the loser has got a high pressure game against Misumi to qualify. That threat alone makes this an enticing matchup, it's two excellent teams and a tie that will set the tone for the rest of the group's play.
AY: Agreed, this group will definitely be fun to watch!
HY: Alright, we're a bit overtime, let's get some fast predictions before we analyze the final group.
ZZ: Wosteaque, Aredoa, Misumi, Pharitaya
AY: Wosteaque, Misumi, Aredoa, Pharitaya
ME: Aredoa, Misumi, Wosteaque, Pharitaya
HY: Ok, we don't have time to process what Manuel just said, and we already know the final group, but here it is formally:
Group D - Anmi/Jeonyu
Trive
Slokais Islands
Mansilla
Eiria
HY: More chalk here, or what are we thinking?
ME: We have no clue how good over half these teams are. Trive is very highly rated for a team that has been at rest for 5 years, and the last time they played, their results were mediocre at best. Mansilla is making their international debut, and Eiria is just... overshadowed by their Caxcanan counterparts, to put it nicely.
AY: On paper, Trive is one of the most top-to-bottom solid rosters, Slokais is a marginal contender, and Mansilla has major bullpen issues, but on grass, how much really separates these teams? A lot I'd wager, but I'm not 100% sure.
ZZ: Slokais is such a mystery. They could easily be the best team in this group, or honestly, possibly the worst.
AY: Hard to make heads or tails of this one.
HY: What game do you think will help provide clarity?
AY: Well, the opener, Slokais v. Trive will provide a lot of info. We'll see how shaky Slokais is, if Trive is ready for the bright lights again, and it'll generally help clarify who is on top of the group.
ME: Hard to disagree with that.
ZZ: Honestly, I don't think the Blue Bombers have much of a chance against Trive. I think Slokais vs. Mansilla will resolve this one. Slokais has the deeper bullpen for sure, Mansilla will need to keep their starter on for a while, but I just don't trust their lineup. This one will be closer than many expect.
HY: OK, final predictions before we talk about knockout projections?
ME: Slokais, Trive, Mansilla, Eiria. I can't root against my team.
AY: Haha, at least you're honest about it unlike Zhuang over here. I've got chalk here: Trive, Slokais, Mansilla, Eiria.
ZZ: What's that supposed to mean? Anyways, I'm taking an upset by the Scudieri: Trive, Mansilla, Slokais, Eiria.
HY: Alright, before we go, I want to see who you're picking to win it all! So, given your group stage results, who do you think is going to advance? Alexandra, let's start with you.
AY: Ok, I'll take Haesan over Laeral, Mallacaland over LOM, Wosteaque over Slokais, and Trive over Misumi in the quarters. Let's say Haesan over Trive in the finals, a battle of the hosts.
ZZ: Haha, and you say I'm the partisan?
AY: Hey, the Comets are favored to win, after all! And they're at home!
HY: Zhisheng, what about your picks then?
ZZ: LOM v. Wosteaque, and Laeral v. Aredoa are my semis. I have Wosteaque over Laeral in the finals.
ME: Haha, so he's not a perfectly loyal fan after all! Well played Zhuang, well played.
ZZ: What can I say, I'm nothing but tactful!
HY: Alright, and Manuel, you can wrap this up with your picks!
ME: OK, so Haesan over Laeral, and LOM over Lao Sansong shouldn't be too controversial. I'll also say Slokais over Misumi and Aredoa over Trive. Haesan over Aredoa and LOM over Slokais seem pretty common sensical, and let's say the hosts get revenge for the Olympics in the final. Haesan over LOM.
HY: Alright, that concludes our coverage of the IDU Baseball Classic draw! We look forward to covering the action in February! In the meantime, feel free to check out our website for more in-depth information on when and where the games will be, as well as information about the host cities! This has been Henry Yeong, with Alexandra Yoo, Zhuang Zhisheng, and Manuel Enriquez, signing off.
AY: Happy to be here, Henry!
HY: Also joining us is Manuel Enriquez, a long time player, coach, and official within the Slokaisian organization.
ME: I'm excited to see what kind of chaos the draw will cause!
HY: Haha, very well then! Last but not least, we have the former Laeral Crane, Zhuang Zhisheng.
ZZ: Thanks for having me! And I know this might not be the most popular here, but go Striking Cranes! (Makes striking crane hand gesture)
Yoo gives a death stare from across the table
HY: Uhh... (awkward pause) It looks like they're about to reveal Group A! Let's see who will be joining Haesan for matches in Suyang and Hanyeong!
Group A - Suyang/Hanyeong
Haesan (H)
Mallacaland
Elalia
Lao Sansong
HY: To my eyes, this looks like a group that's settled before it begins, but I want to get your thoughts.
AY: So obviously Haesan and Mallacaland are the teams to beat here, but a lot will depend on the Ibrahim Kamza situation. If he's out, who knows?
ME: That's very much the case, and I really like Lao Sansong as a potential spoiler here if Kamza can't compete. There's a lot of venom on this team, and there's a lot to play for considering the current, um, situation between Haesan and Sansong.
ZZ: I wouldn't be so sure of that... I think this Mallacaland team is surprisingly deep. Kamza is definitely their heartbeat, but they're too talented and this group just isn't strong enough to pose a real threat of eliminating them at this stage.
HY: What matchup here are you looking forward to the most?
ME: Give me Haesan vs. Lao Sansong in Suyang! Final game of the group, absolute hatred, and a surely roiling environment. Even if Haesan ends up mercying the Warriors, the passion alone makes this one must watch.
ZZ: I'm more interested in the premiere: Mallacaland v. Haesan. This is by far the toughest test Haesan will get in the group stage, Kamza or no. We'll get to see how their new coach, and new philosophy, holds up against a top team in the IDU.
AY: I agree with Zhuang, for all the reasons he stated, and also just because of the atmosphere. Haesan will pulling out all the stops for the tournament opener.
HY: Alright, so what are your predictions for this group?
ME: Haesan, Lao Sansong, Mallacaland, Elalia. Kamza can't make it and the Lions fall apart.
ZZ: Whoa, that's bold! I'll keep it chalk. Haesan, Mallacaland, Elalia, Lao Sansong.
AY: I wouldn't discount Sansong that much, Elalia doesn't have a ton going for it. Haesan, Mallacaland, Lao Sansong, Elalia for me.
HY: It looks like we're getting Group B in now! Let's take a look:
Group B - Sinju/Hyangsan
Libertas Omnium Maximus
Laeral
Teyè
Thousand Branches
HY: Thoughts?
AY: This isn't quite a dream for Laeral, but they'll find a lot of comfort in Group B. They'll get two games in Sinju, and there's a large Ren and Minjian presence there. I expect those two, including a tantalizing fixture against LOM, will look a lot like home games for them.
ZZ: Indeed, but I honestly think this is close to a best case scenario for the Cranes. I'm quite pleased with this draw for them.
ME: I think this group rests on two questions: one, is Teyè dangerous? They're unproven, untested, didn't compete in Hanshui, and an absolute wildcard. That matchup could be a trap game for the loser of Laeral-LOM. The other question is: which version of LOM shows up? If the team that upset a lackluster Haesan in the Olympics arrives, they could make a really deep run. If they return to their usual mediocrity, or worse, as we saw in Trive, it's going to be a rough tournament to watch for fans of Madley's Mariners.
AY: I think that's a solid assessment.
HY: Ok, time for your guide to viewers. If you only have time for one Group B match, what should it be?
AY: Laeral vs. LOM. You have two prestige teams in a high profile head-to-head clash for control of the division, and more importantly, likely facing Mallacaland in the quarterfinals instead of Haesan. Your chance of making the finals drastically increases if your team wins as opposed to getting second.
ZZ: Agreed. Teyè doesn't intrigue me nearly as much as our Slokaisian friend here.
ME: It's not that I'm fascinated by Teyè, it's just I don't know what to make of it. Laeral-LOM is the definitive match to watch here.
HY: Predictions?
ME: LOM, Laeral, Teyè, Thousand Branches. Chalk for me.
AY: Agreed. The Branchians can't really upset anyone I don't think, and I don't trust Teyè. LOM seems the more complete team, so chalk for me as well.
ZZ: Laeral, LOM, Teyè, Thousand Branches. The Sharks always perform worse in the group stage than in knockouts.
AY: Laeral winning? From Zhuang? Of course.
HY: I hear they're ready to release Group C now!
Group C - Anfa/Levesque
Wosteaque
Aredoa
Misumi
Pharitaya
HY: First impressions?
ZZ: Misumi was always going to be the wrench in the system, they're clearly the "best of the rest" so to speak. Is Aredoa disciplined enough to withstand their fearsome pitching? It's going to be close.
ME: Honestly, Misumi might be the team to beat there? I feel like Aredoa is deeper for sure, but the Egrets are just always so well coached and disciplined.
AY: What about Wosteaque? Are we ready to anoint them here? They've got Norene and Draven, but outside of their stars, they could easily end up being number 3 on paper. This is the tightest group, even Pharitaya might have had chances against a different set of competitors.
ZZ: Exactly. If you pick any two of the top three teams to advance you'll have a reasonable justification for it.
HY: Ok, so this one's going to be tense. What do you think will be the highlight?
AY: So I'm going to take the easy answer and say Misumi vs. Aredoa on the final day. It's going to be cold, really cold, in Levesque, and with the wind off the lake too it could be just horrendous. This is the closest matchup we've seen across all the groups, and the slight favorites might have both a weather and crowd disadvantage; there are a lot of Mizu up in the Northlands too. Likely a "must-win to qualify" game, and Aredoa are going to get tested big time.
ZZ: No arguments. An instant classic in the making.
ME: Ok, for the sake of diversity, I'm going to say Wosteaque versus Aredoa. It's the opening game of the group, we all think Wosteaque is a bit of a paper tiger, and a loss here means the loser has got a high pressure game against Misumi to qualify. That threat alone makes this an enticing matchup, it's two excellent teams and a tie that will set the tone for the rest of the group's play.
AY: Agreed, this group will definitely be fun to watch!
HY: Alright, we're a bit overtime, let's get some fast predictions before we analyze the final group.
ZZ: Wosteaque, Aredoa, Misumi, Pharitaya
AY: Wosteaque, Misumi, Aredoa, Pharitaya
ME: Aredoa, Misumi, Wosteaque, Pharitaya
HY: Ok, we don't have time to process what Manuel just said, and we already know the final group, but here it is formally:
Group D - Anmi/Jeonyu
Trive
Slokais Islands
Mansilla
Eiria
HY: More chalk here, or what are we thinking?
ME: We have no clue how good over half these teams are. Trive is very highly rated for a team that has been at rest for 5 years, and the last time they played, their results were mediocre at best. Mansilla is making their international debut, and Eiria is just... overshadowed by their Caxcanan counterparts, to put it nicely.
AY: On paper, Trive is one of the most top-to-bottom solid rosters, Slokais is a marginal contender, and Mansilla has major bullpen issues, but on grass, how much really separates these teams? A lot I'd wager, but I'm not 100% sure.
ZZ: Slokais is such a mystery. They could easily be the best team in this group, or honestly, possibly the worst.
AY: Hard to make heads or tails of this one.
HY: What game do you think will help provide clarity?
AY: Well, the opener, Slokais v. Trive will provide a lot of info. We'll see how shaky Slokais is, if Trive is ready for the bright lights again, and it'll generally help clarify who is on top of the group.
ME: Hard to disagree with that.
ZZ: Honestly, I don't think the Blue Bombers have much of a chance against Trive. I think Slokais vs. Mansilla will resolve this one. Slokais has the deeper bullpen for sure, Mansilla will need to keep their starter on for a while, but I just don't trust their lineup. This one will be closer than many expect.
HY: OK, final predictions before we talk about knockout projections?
ME: Slokais, Trive, Mansilla, Eiria. I can't root against my team.
AY: Haha, at least you're honest about it unlike Zhuang over here. I've got chalk here: Trive, Slokais, Mansilla, Eiria.
ZZ: What's that supposed to mean? Anyways, I'm taking an upset by the Scudieri: Trive, Mansilla, Slokais, Eiria.
HY: Alright, before we go, I want to see who you're picking to win it all! So, given your group stage results, who do you think is going to advance? Alexandra, let's start with you.
AY: Ok, I'll take Haesan over Laeral, Mallacaland over LOM, Wosteaque over Slokais, and Trive over Misumi in the quarters. Let's say Haesan over Trive in the finals, a battle of the hosts.
ZZ: Haha, and you say I'm the partisan?
AY: Hey, the Comets are favored to win, after all! And they're at home!
HY: Zhisheng, what about your picks then?
ZZ: LOM v. Wosteaque, and Laeral v. Aredoa are my semis. I have Wosteaque over Laeral in the finals.
ME: Haha, so he's not a perfectly loyal fan after all! Well played Zhuang, well played.
ZZ: What can I say, I'm nothing but tactful!
HY: Alright, and Manuel, you can wrap this up with your picks!
ME: OK, so Haesan over Laeral, and LOM over Lao Sansong shouldn't be too controversial. I'll also say Slokais over Misumi and Aredoa over Trive. Haesan over Aredoa and LOM over Slokais seem pretty common sensical, and let's say the hosts get revenge for the Olympics in the final. Haesan over LOM.
HY: Alright, that concludes our coverage of the IDU Baseball Classic draw! We look forward to covering the action in February! In the meantime, feel free to check out our website for more in-depth information on when and where the games will be, as well as information about the host cities! This has been Henry Yeong, with Alexandra Yoo, Zhuang Zhisheng, and Manuel Enriquez, signing off.