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2012 National Team Rankings


After the 2012 Tier I Championships, the IBF has released this year’s yearly rankings. First, the results of the tournament:




Winner: Mexico
Runner-Up: Canada

The following are this year’s rankings:

1. Mexico (Last Year: 1)




2012 Ranking Points: 1177.40
2011 Ranking Points: 752.10
Difference: 425.30


2012 Tier I Championship: 1st
2011 Gold Cup Finish: 1st
2009 Gold Cup Finish: 3rd

2. Canada (Last Year: 3)



2012 Ranking Points: 616.20
2011 Ranking Points: 19.80
Difference: 596.40

2012 Tier I Championship: 2nd
2011 Gold Cup Finish: 3rd
2009 Gold Cup Finish: 2nd

3. United States (Last Year: 2)




2012 Ranking Points: 362.75
2011 Ranking Points: 454.00
Difference: -91.25

2012 Tier I Championship: 3rd
2011 Gold Cup Finish: 2nd
2009 Gold Cup Finish: 1st

2012 New Nation Registration

The following three nations have sent in accepted registrations for players to begin signing with IBF teams during the 2012 off-season:

Aruba



Continent: North America
Population: 102,911
GDP Rank: 173

Aruba, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, has dry, sunny weather, blond beaches and gentle surf. Constant trade winds bring cool breezes and cause the divi-divi trees to slope southwesterly. European influence shows in architecture that features Dutch gables painted in tropical pastels. It’s also evident in language, with English, Dutch and Spanish spoken alongside the local tongue, Papiamento.

Curaçao



Continent: North America
Population: 153,500
GDP Rank: 169

Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island, is known for its beaches tucked into coves and its expansive coral reefs rich with marine life. The capital, Willemstad, has pastel-colored colonial architecture, floating Queen Emma Bridge and the sand-floored, 17th-century Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue. It’s also a gateway to western beaches like Blue Bay, a popular diving site.

Nicaragua




Continent: North America
Population: 6,080,000
GDP Rank: 134

Nicaragua, set between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, is a Central American nation known for its dramatic terrain of lakes, volcanoes and beaches. Vast Lake Managua and the iconic stratovolcano Momotombo sit north of the capital Managua. To its south is Granada, noted for its Spanish colonial architecture and an archipelago of navigable islets rich in tropical bird life.

Player Trading

League owners across all 19 teams + incoming Toluca have agreed upon a new resolution that will be enacted as of August 1, 2012. Starting that date, all teams will be able to trade interleague to each other. The federation owners believe that allowing flexibility to move players between leagues will allow for a freer market for players to reach their full potential (both skills and monetarily) and play in leagues that suit their skill level.

The federation will report on all initial trades in the weekly report as they happen.

2013 Continental Championship



As previously announced, the 2013 Continental Championship will include the United States, Canada, and Mexico as usual. Additionally, Puerto Rico will be entering their first tournament as they have reached the minimum amount of active players. The double-elimination tournament seeding will be as follows:

1. Mexico
2. Canada
3. United States
4. Puerto Rico

Mexico Baseball League Rosters and July Players of the Month for Canada and the United States to come as we wrap up the monthly recap!