World Baseball Classic Rosters Announced

[stocker323]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/rosters.jsp?content=country

 

A lot of Red Sox representatives here. A-Rod still hasn't made his decision regarding what country to play for. Manny is playing for the Dominican.

[ORS]

D.R. and Venezuela are in the same preliminary pool, pool D, which plays its games here in Orlando at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex. I'm going to get tickets to their Tuesday, March 7th game. This season starts with an early treat for me.

[26 to 6]

Being an Italian-American it is nice to see that Italia has put together a decent team of Italian-Americans, including Mike Piazza and David Dellucci.

 

I cant choose between the Dominicans, Cubans, Japanese, or Americans. but one of them will go home with the Gold.

[Soxfan1]

It's going to be the US of A and the Dominican.

[ORS]

Being an Italian-American it is nice to see that Italia has put together a decent team of Italian-Americans, including Mike Piazza and David Dellucci.

 

I cant choose between the Dominicans, Cubans, Japanese, or Americans. but one of them will go home with the Gold.

I'd add Venezuela to that list*. They have really good pitching, and some dangerous bats in their lineup.

 

*if Miguel Cabrera plays

[BoSox84]

Holy crap, just looking at the Dominican and US rosters, talk about staked. I thought you were supposed to play for the country you were born in. So why is Piazza playing for Italy? I know A-Rod took alot of heat for not being sure which country he would play for.

[jimmycarter05]

Domincian is loaded...ortiz pujols manny vlad and tejada in the same lineup with colon and pedro as your 1 and 2 starters?

[MC Hammer]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/rosters.jsp?content=country

 

A lot of Red Sox representatives here. A-Rod still hasn't made his decision regarding what country to play for. Manny is playing for the Dominican.

I don't think ARod has a choice. I believe he was told he would play for America or no one.

[Cityofchampions33]

America is pretty stacked pitching wise

 

Clemens, Zito, Stret, Lidge, Pettite, etc.

[elsrbueno]

That Dominican team is AMAZING. Other than the fact that Alberto Castillo is their only catcher (so far), they look flat out dominant:

 

C -- Alberto Castillo

1B -- Albert Pujols

2B -- Alfonso Soriano

3B -- Adrian Beltre

SS -- Miguel Tejada

LF -- Manny Ramirez

CF -- (Willy Mo Pena?)

RF -- Vladimir Guerrero

DH -- David Ortiz

 

SP -- Pedro Martinez

SP -- Bartolo Colon

SP -- Daniel Cabrera

CL -- Fransisco Cordero

 

They need a centerfielder and a leadoff hitter (both could be solved at once), but imagine a 2-6 of Tejada, Pujols, Ortiz, Ramirez, Guerrero (or however you want to set them up).

 

USA is also strong:

C -- Jason Varitek

1B -- Derrek Lee

2B -- Michael Young

3B -- Eric Chavez

SS -- Derek Jeter

LF -- Barry Bonds

CF -- Johnny Damon

RF -- Vernon Wells/Lance Berkman

DH -- Adam Dunn

 

Their pitching is what has me drooling: Smoltz, Clemens, Sheets, Pettite, Sabathia, Pettite, Willis, Zito all starters, with Wagner, Street, Lidge, and Guardado in the pen.....

 

The Japanese team will also be strong-- they have their own professional league as well... but if I had to predict a winner right now it'd be USA simply based on their dominant and DEEP pitching staff. However, the Dominican team will be damn good.

[stocker323]

That Dominican team is AMAZING. Other than the fact that Alberto Castillo is their only catcher (so far), they look flat out dominant:

 

C -- Alberto Castillo

1B -- Albert Pujols

2B -- Alfonso Soriano

3B -- Adrian Beltre

SS -- Miguel Tejada

LF -- Manny Ramirez

CF -- (Willy Mo Pena?)

RF -- Vladimir Guerrero

DH -- David Ortiz

 

SP -- Pedro Martinez

SP -- Bartolo Colon

SP -- Daniel Cabrera

CL -- Fransisco Cordero

 

They need a centerfielder and a leadoff hitter (both could be solved at once), but imagine a 2-6 of Tejada, Pujols, Ortiz, Ramirez, Guerrero (or however you want to set them up).

 

USA is also strong:

C -- Jason Varitek

1B -- Derrek Lee

2B -- Michael Young

3B -- Eric Chavez

SS -- Derek Jeter

LF -- Barry Bonds

CF -- Johnny Damon

RF -- Vernon Wells/Lance Berkman

DH -- Adam Dunn

 

Their pitching is what has me drooling: Smoltz, Clemens, Sheets, Pettite, Sabathia, Pettite, Willis, Zito all starters, with Wagner, Street, Lidge, and Guardado in the pen.....

 

The Japanese team will also be strong-- they have their own professional league as well... but if I had to predict a winner right now it'd be USA simply based on their dominant and DEEP pitching staff. However, the Dominican team will be damn good.

 

I was thinking more of Soriano in CF and then having Belliard at 2B for the Dominican. and I think Wells is stronger in CF than Johnny.

[RedSoxRooter]

These games are going to suck. They are going to be played as hard as the All Star games were a few years ago. Lots of hugs and stupid s***. It's just a dorky idea.

 

And what if, say, Japan wins? What will it mean? Nothing. Nobody is going to take it seriously. The only way I'd be half interested is if the final game came down to the USA vs Dominican Republic - and even then I'd be pulling for the Dominicans.

 

If you can play these 'games' in March then you don't need spring training to be 6 weeks long to begin with.

[26 to 6]

I was thinking more of Soriano in CF and then having Belliard at 2B for the Dominican. and I think Wells is stronger in CF than Johnny.

No way they do that. If Soriano is not willing to play CF during the regular season what makes u think he would do it in international play.

 

 

I thought you were supposed to play for the country you were born in. So why is Piazza playing for Italy?

There are very loose requirements for what team you want to play for. I think its something like a grandparent has to have been born/lived in the country or something like that

[Beckett95]

Nomars going to play for Mexico???

 

Associated Press

 

1/14/2006 1:45:04 PM

 

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra will play for Mexico at the World Baseball Classic in March.

 

The native of Whittier, Calif., qualifies because of his Mexican parents, Mexican baseball league president Alejandro Hute said in a newspaper interview published Saturday.

 

The 32-year-old Garciaparra played for the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs before signing with Los Angeles.

 

Mexico is in Group B of the world tournament, playing against the United States, Canada and South Africa. The Aztec team includes pitchers Oliver Perez of Pittsburgh, Rodrigo Lopez of Baltimore and Luis Ayala of Washington.

[riverside sluggers]

WEEI

 

Pedro won't pitch in the WBC, as is the case when he's selected to the All-Star games. His toe is still bothering him so he's more than likely going to opt out and prepare himself for the 06 season.

[Redguitar985]

Nomars going to play for Mexico???

 

I guess it's because he'd be just a backup on the American team with guys like Jeter at short and Teixera at first.

[26 to 6]

wow. Kind of surprising (regarding Nomar). I guess just because I had not heard the possibility of that scenario before.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

It's going to be the US of A and the Dominican.

 

 

Indeed it is.

[26 to 6]

I wouldnt count out Japan and Cuba (if they play).

[gosox613]

I wouldnt count out Japan and Cuba (if they play).

I think it is so lame that the US is opposed to Cuba entering the series. This is baseball, and the government should shut the hell up, dont they have a war to worry about rather than spend their time bitching about some players from cuba? Its not like these players are castro themselves either; they shouldnt be prevented from playing baseball just because their dictator is an *******. Plus, this is the WORLD baseball classic; since when is the us government the representative for the world...Us gov definetly needs to get over itself.

[ORS]

I think it is so lame that the US is opposed to Cuba entering the series. This is baseball, and the government should shut the hell up, dont they have a war to worry about rather than spend their time bitching about some players from cuba? Its not like these players are castro themselves either; they shouldnt be prevented from playing baseball just because their dictator is an *******. Plus, this is the WORLD baseball classic; since when is the us government the representative for the world...Us gov definetly needs to get over itself.

I agree that Cuba should be allowed to play. That said, the US gov't isn't full of itself by making this decision. We have had a trade embargo with Cuba since Castro overthrew the government in '59. This embargo prohibits Cuba from making any money on US soil, and they play some of their games here and stand to make some money. I don't know if you've ever worked in government or the military, but these organizations are completely inflexible when it comes to the letter of the law/regulation. The Treasury Dept. was just doing its job when it made this statement. Castro has come out and said he would donate all Cuba's profits from the WBC to the Hurrican Katrina Relief Fund, which I suspect will get this issue resolved. It it doesn't, then you are right, they need to lighten up.

[26 to 6]

I think it is so lame that the US is opposed to Cuba entering the series. This is baseball, and the government should shut the hell up, dont they have a war to worry about rather than spend their time bitching about some players from cuba? Its not like these players are castro themselves either; they shouldnt be prevented from playing baseball just because their dictator is an *******. Plus, this is the WORLD baseball classic; since when is the us government the representative for the world...Us gov definetly needs to get over itself.

Like I understand the Government's stance on this and it all makes sense, ya know. But Cuba was allowed to come in here and play the Orioles back in, I think, 1999. And its not like Cuba would be making a profit from this (which is why there is conflict, no trading allowed between Cuba and the United States) because Castro has declared to donate the money.

 

...but also, one thing that would correct it all and that would be Cuba refusing to take any money at all. Of coarse Cuba accepting the money and donating it would be better, but there is always conflict.

 

...I just hope this is corrected, because I would feel as if the win would be cheap because Cuba wasnt involved.

[VAredsox]

That Dominican team is AMAZING. Other than the fact that Alberto Castillo is their only catcher (so far), they look flat out dominant:

 

C -- Alberto Castillo

1B -- Albert Pujols

2B -- Alfonso Soriano

3B -- Adrian Beltre

SS -- Miguel Tejada

LF -- Manny Ramirez

CF -- (Willy Mo Pena?)

RF -- Vladimir Guerrero

DH -- David Ortiz

 

SP -- Pedro Martinez

SP -- Bartolo Colon

SP -- Daniel Cabrera

CL -- Fransisco Cordero

 

They need a centerfielder and a leadoff hitter (both could be solved at once), but imagine a 2-6 of Tejada, Pujols, Ortiz, Ramirez, Guerrero (or however you want to set them up).

 

USA is also strong:

C -- Jason Varitek

1B -- Derrek Lee

2B -- Michael Young

3B -- Eric Chavez

SS -- Derek Jeter

LF -- Barry Bonds

CF -- Johnny Damon

RF -- Vernon Wells/Lance Berkman

DH -- Adam Dunn

 

Their pitching is what has me drooling: Smoltz, Clemens, Sheets, Pettite, Sabathia, Pettite, Willis, Zito all starters, with Wagner, Street, Lidge, and Guardado in the pen.....

 

The Japanese team will also be strong-- they have their own professional league as well... but if I had to predict a winner right now it'd be USA simply based on their dominant and DEEP pitching staff. However, the Dominican team will be damn good.

 

 

I thought Texiera was starting first base for the US. Maybe I'm wrong.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I thought Texiera was starting first base for the US. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

 

It's going to be a tough choice on whether to start Teixiera or Lee at first. Both are outstanding ballplayers.

[schillingouttheks]

Holy crap. What a stacked ball club the Dominicans have. I think they take the whole shebang. The US will be a close second though with all that ridiculous pitching.

[Ray10]

Wow Dominican and the U.S have some crazy rosters. I actually think that Canada's roster is half decent we have some good young players playing for us. But not having Walker, Dempster and possibly Harden and Gagne is really going to hurt the team alot.

[elsrbueno]

overall I think the US has the most talented team.

 

I don't think anyone can debate the top offensive team-- the Dominican just dominates there.

 

Pitching wise the Dominicans and Venezuelans are loaded at the top (Martinez and Colon for DR, Santana, Garcia, and Zambrano for Venezuela) but keep this in mind:

 

In round 1, pitchers will be on a pitch count of 60

In round 2, pitchers will be on a pitch count of 75

In round 3, pitchers will be on a pitch count of 95

 

That means until round 3 DEPTH is going to dictate who goes on. So teams who have a few dominant starters but no depth are going to suffer.

 

In a short series, with all players 100% ready, it'd be hard to bet against Venezuela based solely on the fact that they've got 3 amazing starters and an amazing closer (K-Rod)....

 

The U.S. is the deepest team-- they've got the best chance of any to reach the final round, and once they get there they're going to be hard to beat.

[Redguitar985]

At first I was annoyed that A-Rod decided to go to the Dominican team over the U.S, but then I realized a jackass like him would make it tougher for me to root for them.

[jimmycarter05]

All the Japanese people have the same last name.

[26 to 6]

All the Japanese people have the same last name.

pretty racial there buddy, dont ya think??

 

..lol. just playing with ya

 

...in other news today, after declaring to play for the Dominican in the summer, then being unsure at the beginning of the offseason, then deciding to play for the U.S., then deciding not to play at all, then deciding to play for the U.S., Alex Rodriguez has been named to the Dominican Republic's preliminary roster.