Technologies
World Baseball Classic 2023: Schedule, Format, How to Watch and Stream From Anywhere
The WBC tournament is in full swing, with a packed slate of games all day on Saturday.
Spring training games have begun, but many Major League baseball players have entered a two-week break from practices and practice games in Arizona and Florida to play for their countries in the World Baseball Classic.
With a roster of 30 MLB players, Team USA enters the tournament as the defending champion. The Dominican Republic (winner in 2013) and Japan (two-time champ, in 2009 and 2006) loom as the biggest obstacles to an American repeat. Team USA kicks off its title defense against Great Britain at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) on Fox.
The tournament started on March 7 and runs to March 21. Games are being shown on Fox, FS1, FS2 and Fox Deportes. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the WBC, with or without cable.
Mookie Betts is trading Dodger blue for red, white and blue while he suits up for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire/Getty ImagesWhat is the schedule and format of the WBC?
Twenty teams will play in this year’s tournament, up from 16 teams in past years. There are four different pools of five teams each. The top two teams in each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, at which point it becomes an eight-team, single-elimination tournament.
- Pool play: March 7 to 15
- Quarterfinals: March 15 to 18
- Semifinals: March 19 and 20
- Championship: March 21
Where are the WBC games being played?
The tournament will be held in four locations, two in the US and two in Asia:
- LoanDepot Park (home of the Miami Marlins) in Miami
- Chase Field (home of the Arizona Diamondbacks) in Phoenix
- Tokyo Dome in Tokyo
- Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan
Which countries are playing in the World Baseball Classic?
Here’s how the 20 teams are arranged in the four pools:
Pool A
- Cuba
- Netherlands
- Italy
- Chinese Taipei
- Panama
Pool A will play its games in Taiwan.
Pool B
- Japan
- South Korea
- Australia
- China
- Czech Republic
Pool B will play its games in Japan.
Pool C
- United States
- Mexico
- Canada
- Colombia
- Great Britain
Pool C will play its games in Phoenix.
Pool D
- Dominican Republic
- Venezuela
- Puerto Rico
- Israel
- Nicaragua
Pool D will play its games in Miami.
Pool A and B quarterfinals will be played in Japan. Pool C and D quarterfinals will be played in Miami. The semifinals and championship game will be played in Miami.
Who are the biggest MLB stars playing in the WBC?
USA: Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado
Dominican Republic: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Juan Soto, Wander Franco, Julio Rodríguez, Sandy Alcantara
Japan: Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish
Venezuela: Ronald Acuña Jr., Jose Altuve
Netherlands: Xander Bogaerts
Puerto Rico: Francisco Lindor
Canada: Freddie Freeman
You can see the full roster for each WBC team here.
When does Team USA play?
Here’s the schedule for the US team’s four games in Pool C:
- Game 1 vs. Great Britain: March 11 at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET) on Fox
- Game 2 vs. Mexico: March 12 at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) on FS1
- Game 3 vs. Canada: March 13 at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) on FS1
- Game 4 vs. Colombia: March 15 at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) on FS1
The tournament starts at 11 p.m. ET (8 p.m. PT) on March 7 with the first game between Cuba and the Netherlands. You can see the full WBC schedule here.
How can I watch the World Baseball Classic?
You can watch the WBC on Fox, FS1, FS2 and Fox Deportes with a live TV streaming service, but keep in mind that not every service carries every local network, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries Fox in your area. The key channel for the WBC is FS1, which will not only show three of Team USA’s first four games but will also show both semifinal games and the title game.
Games can also be streamed live online through FoxSports.com or the Fox Sports app, but you’ll need to authenticate with a cable, streaming or satellite login. You don’t need an account to watch the three games on the free, ad-supported Tubi streaming service.
Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
You can watch WBC games live at FoxSports.com or the Fox Sports app, but you need to authenticate with a cable, streaming or satellite login. Fox Sports has apps for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV and Xbox.
Sling/CNET
Sling’s $40-a-month Blue package includes Fox and FS1, but it carries Fox only in a handful of areas. It does not offer Fox Deportes. You can add FS2 for an extra $11 a month. Read our Sling TV review.
YouTube TV costs $65 a month and includes Fox, FS1 and FS2 but not Fox Deportes. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area. Read our YouTube TV review.
Fubo TV
FuboTV’s basic plan costs $75 a month and includes Fox, FS1 and FS2. To watch Spanish-language broadcasts on Fox Deportes, you will need to spring for FuboTV’s $86-a-month plan. Click here to see which local channels you get. Read our FuboTV review.
Hulu
Hulu with Live TV costs $70 a month and includes Fox. Click the «View channels in your area» link on its welcome page to see which local channels are offered in your ZIP code. Read our Hulu with Live TV review.
Directv stream
DirecTV Stream’s basic, $75-a-month package includes Fox and FS1. You need to spend $110 to also get FS2. Fox Deportes is not offered. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live. Read our DirecTV Stream review.
How to use a VPN to watch the WBC from anywhere
If you’re traveling outside your home country and want to watch the WBC, or just want an added layer of privacy for streaming, there is an option that doesn’t require searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a VPN, or virtual private network.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to WBC broadcasts, which comes in handy if you find yourself unable to view the games locally. A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds by encrypting your traffic. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
If you can’t find a convenient opportunity to watch the WBC where you live, using a VPN with a US-based server should provide access to some or all of the streaming options listed below. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, as long as you’ve got a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions. See our list of best VPNs for more and check out other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Sarah Tew/CNET
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 per month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Quick tips for streaming the WBC using a VPN
- With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — experience and success may vary.
- If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the «search for city or country» option.
- If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
- All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
- And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Technologies
The GameSir G8 Plus Is a Solid Mobile Controller, With One Big Caveat
If you don’t mind a bad app, the G8 Plus is a solid controller.
Pros
- Great hardware
- Fits phones and small tablets
- Extra back buttons
- Good battery life
Cons
- Buggy app
- No extra faceplates available
- No case included
If you don’t think gaming on your phone could be fun, you’ve likely never tried using it with a controller. Once you do, you’ll realize why mobile gaming is continuing to grow exponentially. It really is, pun very much intended, a game-changer.
There are a ton of mobile controllers out there. Most of them are bad but there are some great ones out there too. The G8 Plus from GameSir is one of the latter. It works with Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch. And it feels great to use, but the app leaves a lot to be desired.
Great hardware
There’s a lot to like about the G8 Plus, starting with the hardware. Arguably, the most important aspect of any controller is how it feels to hold and use, and luckily the G8 Plus does well there. It’s not my favorite hardware on a mobile controller — that’s currently a tie between the Razer Kishi Ultra and the Elo Vagabond — but it’s still solid.
It’s comfortable to hold, even for long periods of time. It feels like an Xbox controller that stretches in half to make room for your phone, which is a good thing. The textured grip on the back means it won’t slip out of your hands and it’s light enough not feel too heavy after an hour or so.
The buttons are nice and clicky with plenty of travel, and the D-Pad is decent too. D-Pads often gets overlooked on mobile controllers, but it’s solid here. There’s also a Home button on the front for launching the GameSir app, a capture button for recording in-game content, and an M button for switching connection modes.
I was impressed by the two programmable back buttons. They aren’t mushy like on the PowerA Fusion and they sit where my fingers naturally rest, so they’re easy to use. These buttons are always hit or miss on mobile controllers, but here, they’re great.
The Hall Effect joysticks and triggers are good as well. While there is no physical hair trigger setting, you can adjust the triggers digitally in the app. More on that later. GameSir also offers a couple different joystick tops so you can pick the one that suits your gameplay. They aren’t different heights, just differently shaped tops.
The best part of the G8 Plus is the range of compatible devices. The two halves stretch out far enough for probably every phone and it can even fit some small tablets like the iPad Mini or the fantastic Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3. Since it’s Bluetooth, there’s no need to mess with connecting to USB-C. Plus, it will automatically wake up and connect to your phone as soon as you pull it apart, and it will sleep as soon as you remove your phone.
Frustrating software
Sadly, the biggest frustration and reason I hesitate to recommend the G8 Plus is the same one that’s been plaguing GameSir controllers for years: the software. GameSir’s app is not only barebones, it’s barely functional and it has some annoying bugs.
The UI is just… basic. There’s nothing flashy or exciting about it, and it looks like the company just threw it together just to say it has an app. The games tab that’s supposed to highlight the latest games for you is instead full of things that don’t even exist anymore like Apex Legends: Mobile. Your own games are hidden behind a tab on the Device page.
To be fair, you can do a lot within the app, including remap buttons, customize joystick and trigger dead zones, even adjust the vibration intensity. This is also where you setup the virtual touch mapping for games such as Call of Duty: Mobile that don’t natively support controllers.
The GameSir app will sometimes override the settings for other controllers. For example, after playing COD:M on the G8 Plus, I switched back to the Elo Vagabond to find it no longer worked; my phone didn’t recognize it at all. Not even a restart would solve this. I had to uninstall and reinstall the app, which also means redownloading the dozens of gigabytes necessary to play it. Very annoying. I realize most people don’t have more than one controller, but just be aware of that if you do switch controllers.
Worth it if you can get past the software
If you don’t care much about the lackluster app, then the G8 Plus really is a solid controller. It feels great, responds well, and has respectable battery life. But it’s also pricey at $100, especially with the poor app experience. If GameSir put some work into its app, the G8 Plus would be much easier to recommend. I also wish it came with a case, but there are some on Amazon that don’t look too bad. Still, it’s a great controller, even for $100.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, July 19
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 19.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s Mini Crossword is a delight. I was thrilled to spot a cute salamander with a funny name in the clue for 9-Across. Good thing I remembered how to spell it! Keep reading for help with today’s Mini Crossword. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: See-through
Answer: CLEAR
6A clue: «Anybody home?»
Answer: HELLO
7A clue: Winged horse of Greek myth
Answer: PEGASUS
9A clue: Salamander known for its regenerative abilities (and adorable appearance)
Answer: AXOLOTL
10A clue: Texting format, for short
Answer: SMS
11A clue: Birthplace of bossa nova
Answer: RIO
12A clue: Even score
Answer: TIE
13A clue: Insect seen in Dalí’s «The Persistence of Memory»
Answer: ANT
14A clue: Directory abbr.
Answer: EXT
15A clue: Metroid console, for short
Answer: NES
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Party snack made with cereal and pretzels
Answer: CHEXMIX
2D clue: Gift with many interlocking pieces
Answer: LEGOSET
3D clue: Airline whose name comes from the Book of Hosea
Answer: ELAL
4D clue: Election loser
Answer: ALSORAN
5D clue: Stand-up comic’s act
Answer: ROUTINE
7D clue: Command that uses the «V» key
Answer: PASTE
8D clue: Pulling their arms might win you money
Answer: SLOTS
Technologies
It’s the End of the Road for Microsoft Store Movies and TV Shows. What It Means for You
Microsoft has abruptly stopped offering rentals and sales of TV shows and movies on its media platforms.
Microsoft is exiting the market for selling and renting TV and movies across its platforms. There was no reason given for the abrupt change, with Microsoft simply posting the news on a support page on its Xbox website.
«Microsoft has stopped selling new movie and TV content. Existing customers can continue to access their previously purchased content on Windows and Xbox devices,» Microsoft said in the post.
The company said playback and download options will continue to be available for shows and movies people bought previously, but it’s the end of the road for new sales.
On the same page, Microsoft directed users to sign up for Movies Anywhere if they aren’t already members, which makes purchased content available across platforms, and to shop at other media stores including Amazon’s Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.
A representative for Microsoft didn’t offer additional comment, but pointed CNET to a similar support blog post on Microsoft’s website.
Microsoft has partnered with many companies over the years to distribute video content since the early 2000s. The move comes as the company has been experiencing mass layoffs and cost cutting across many divisions, including its gaming studios, resulting in the cancellation of multiple upcoming Xbox games.
What happens to content I’ve bought from Microsoft?
Although Microsoft says previously purchased content isn’t going to be unavailable, there are some things to be aware of. According to the support page, you can’t transfer your purchases to another service (although they can be accessed on other services if Movies Anywhere makes them available, but that doesn’t apply to TV shows).
Microsoft isn’t offering refunds for any purchased content, either.
Microsoft says that downloads of movies and TV shows will still work and will be available, «on Windows and in HD max resolution.» Movies and TV shows will still be playable on the Microsoft Movies & TV app.
The company says anyone who is having trouble accessing their purchases can reach out to Microsoft Support.
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