關於規則合理性的討論，補充一下WBC規則的沿革:

2006 WBC前兩輪都是打循環賽，若戰績相同依以下規則決定晉級球隊:
In Round 1 and 2, ties shall be broken in the following order of priority:
1. The winner of head-to-head games between the tied teams;
2. The team allowing the fewest runs per nine innings (RA/9) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;
3. The team allowing the fewest earned runs per nine innings (ERA) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;
4. The team with the highest batting average (AVG) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;
5. Drawing of lots, conducted by WBCI.

這一屆美國在第二輪與日本，墨西哥戰績相同，比到上述規則第二項，
失分雖與日本相同因少守一局而慘遭淘汰。

2009 WBC修改規則，前兩輪改打雙敗淘汰賽。

2013 WBC又改成第一輪打循環賽，若戰績相同依以下規則決定晉級球隊:
In Round 1, ties shall be broken in the following order of priority:
1. The winner of head-to-head games between the tied teams;
2. The team with the highest Team's Quality Balance (TQB=(RS/IPO)–(RA/IPD)) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;
3. The team with the highest Earned Runs Team's Quality Balance (ER–TQB=(ERS/IPO)–(ERA/IPD)) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;
4. The team with the highest batting average (AVG) in head-to-head games between the tied teams;
5. Drawing of lots, conducted by WBCI.

上述規則與2006 WBC主要差異在於把得分也納入計算。第二輪仍沿用雙敗淘汰制。

規則事先宣佈當然要照章執行，但規則能否討論合理性供下一屆參考甚至修改?
以上述WBC規則改動的歷史記錄，答案是肯定的。