Team USA Roster Announced

[26 to 6]

Team USA

 

Starting Pitchers

Roger Clemens

Dontrelle Willis

C.C. Sabathia

Jake Peavy

 

Relief Pitchers

Chad Cordero

Brian Fuentes

Todd Jones

Brad Lidge

Joe Nathan

Scot Shields

Huston Street

Mike Timlin

Billy Wagner

Dan Wheeler.

 

Catchers

Jason Varitek

Brian Schneider

Michael Barrett

 

Infielders

Derek Jeter SS

Chipper Jones 3B

Derek Lee 1B

Alex Rodriguez 3B

Mark Teixeira 1B

Chase Utley 2B

Michael Young 2B

 

Outfielders

Johnny Damon

Jeff Francoeur

Ken Griffey Jr.

Matt Holliday

Vernon Wells

Randy Winn

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060214&content_id=1310980&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Question for anyone who knows: Will a DH be used in the WBC?

[The Monster is my Mom]

Glad to see Timlin made it. He deserved it.

[MC Hammer]

Question for anyone who knows: Will a DH be used in the WBC?

I think because Bonds was going to DH for the US

[26 to 6]

yes, for all teams

[26 to 6]

I imagine the DH will be Griffey, with Francour playing right, and Johnny and Vernon playing Left and center.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I imagine the DH will be Griffey, with Francour playing right, and Johnny and Vernon playing Left and center.

 

So Teixeira sits?:dunno:

[Moose]

Jason Giambi should play for Italia.

[ksushi]

Yeah, I thought there was DHing too but I thought Bonds backed out awhile ago.

 

Everything looks really solid except for the outfield unless Griffey is playing, I've heard he may not play very much. The Reds want to restrict how often he plays in the field due all his injuries etc.

[ksushi]

So Teixeira sits?:dunno:

 

Good point, I'd rather have Texiera's bat than Griffey's, Griffey seems like he might be the odd man out because I would definetly rather have an outfield of Francoeur, Vernon and Damon from right to left than any outfield substituting one of them out for Griffey. Boo.

 

 

I, Ksushi, apologise for the obnoxious double post. I realize how annoying it is, and I've done ot a lot lately. I promise to try harder to not be a tool.

 

Sorry.

 

I have way too much time on my hands

[26 to 6]

Jason Giambi should play for Italia.

That woulld be cool. Be great if Italia (I never call it Italy lol) came out and won

 

...it would be good for us Italian Americans around here! lol.

 

But of coarse, along with Italy im pulling for Team USA.

[yankeessuck013]

ESPN said Griffey is playing CF

 

LF: Damon

CF: Griffey

RF: Wells

[He Hate Me]

yuck thats a sad OF. The IF on the other hand, smoking...

[elsrbueno]

ESPN said Griffey is playing CF

 

LF: Damon

CF: Griffey

RF: Wells

 

With Wells and Griffey on the same team, Damon should definately be in left, but I'd put Wells incenter just because you really want your best fielder there-- and as much as I like Griffey, both Wells and Damon have better range RIGHT NOW.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Griffey gets most of his ABs as a DH given his injury history though -- despite the COMMENTS that winning is priority # 1, since a ton of big time players have backed out (Crawford, Bonds, Pettite, Hudson, Sheets, etc, etc, etc) priorty #1 is not pissing off the owners.

 

I'm surprised George let Jeter and A-Rod play to be honest..... He already suppressed Johnson, Mussina, Rivera, Cano, Matsui, Posada, and pretty much everyone else.

[ORS]

Believe it or not, that OF makes sense. With plus range for COF on either side of him, Griffey's decreased range can be hidden. If you stick him at a corner, he only gets help on one side. Plus, Vernon has the better arm for RF. This OF allows either Teixeira or Lee to DH, which maximizes the offensive potential of the team.

 

Francouer impressed in his debut, but his aggressiveness and lack of patience at the plate can be exploited by premiere pitchers, which is what he'll be getting all game long against the good teams in the competition. He'd be best utilized as a defensive replacement (Griffey out, Vernon to CF) when they have the lead late in games. And, despite his propensity to hack, the kid can hit, so he won't be an offensive blackhole of a replacement.

[elsrbueno]

Believe it or not, that OF makes sense. With plus range for COF on either side of him, Griffey's decreased range can be hidden. If you stick him at a corner, he only gets help on one side. Plus, Vernon has the better arm for RF. This OF allows either Teixeira or Lee to DH, which maximizes the offensive potential of the team.

 

Francouer impressed in his debut, but his aggressiveness and lack of patience at the plate can be exploited by premiere pitchers, which is what he'll be getting all game long against the good teams in the competition. He'd be best utilized as a defensive replacement (Griffey out, Vernon to CF) when they have the lead late in games. And, despite his propensity to hack, the kid can hit, so he won't be an offensive blackhole of a replacement.

 

Another possibility that may be used at times is Chipper Jones in left with some combination of Griffey/Wells/Damon in center and right. Of course this isn't the BEST combination, but since the first games are in early March (and not deep into spring training) I expect the early games to have more of an all-star format (starters for 2/3 of the game, reserves for the rest).

 

I agree that Francoeur should be used as a reserve however to start. Despite his hot start in Atlanta, he did hit something like .240 in September (I'm going from memory there but he DID cool off near the end) and he's not as prolific as a Griffey or Wells offensively.

[a700hitter]

This WBC is going to be a huuuuge bust.

[riverside sluggers]

haha Timlin taking a harmless shot at Jeter

 

The nine Sox players intending to take part in the World Baseball Classic modeled their new jerseys, though Mike Timlin's Team USA jersey was so small, he wondered aloud if they'd sent him Derek Jeter's by mistake.

[a700hitter]

The uniform was especially tight in the crotch.

[Boston Boxer]

that is a pretty good team all the way around. I hope no one gets hurt in the Classic though.

[jsinger121]

New York Mets closer Billy Wagner and Cleveland pitcher C.C. Sabathia withdrew Wednesday from the U.S. roster for the World Baseball Classic and were replaced by Washington right-hander Gary Majewski and Yankees left-hander Al Leiter.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2349899

[26 to 6]

New York Mets closer Billy Wagner and Cleveland pitcher C.C. Sabathia withdrew Wednesday from the U.S. roster for the World Baseball Classic and were replaced by Washington right-hander Gary Majewski and Yankees left-hander Al Leiter.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2349899

Good luck to Al. He's gonna NEED it, thats for sure.

 

I still cant believe we couldnt find a better starter to replace C.C.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Leiter must have been like plan triple Z.

[26 to 6]

Leiter must have been like plan triple Z.

lmao

[26 to 6]

lmao

I mean like, I wouldnt mind him if he were in the bullpen, but the Team USA rotation is definately not the place for Leiter.

[jsinger121]

he shouldn't even be on team USA in general. he is not even good anymore

[26 to 6]

Off topic from Team USA, but still having to do with the WBC.

 

ESPN has the exclusive rights, however I was watching a show on UPN9 (WWOR, NY) and they advertised WBC games on UPN. Tomorrow their going to air Korea vs Chinese Taipea (sp) LIVE. ESPN however isnt airing it until like midnight. Whats the deal here? Does anyone know if UPN is airing all of the games? Something that ESPN wont be doing (ESPN DePortes however, will be. But I dont get it). And is this just here in NY, or does UPN in Boston, or anywhere else airing the games as well?

 

Thanks

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeah, how do u figure they choose Leiter over otehr pitchers? Is tehre really that much lack of interest? On a different note I woulda sworn Vernon Wells pulled out.

[jsinger121]

i think he did withdraw and then came back

[a700hitter]

Leiter must have been like plan triple Z.

If Leiter is limited to a pitch count of 30-35 pitches, that will not let him get through one batter.