The Los Angeles Dodgers announced a 33-man roster for its trip to Taiwan set to kick off on March 10. A three-game exhibition schedule is on tap against Taiwanese All-Stars.
Although the list of names is subject to change, according to the team's press release, the inclusion of Manny is an interesting one to say the least. Full text of release posted below.
Only three other players from the team's 2009 season roster are included among the major league hopefuls and minor leaguers, none of them even close to Manny's stratosphere of stardom.
The Los Angeles Times has been reporting on Ramirez's intentions to travel to China for almost a week and it seems his answers change daily if not more often.
Today's news was that Manny's passport had been given to the club in order to get him a visa for Taiwan which the newspaper characterized as the best evidence to date that he was ready to go.
When asked point blank if he was going he said, "I still don't know". Hey, it's Manny being Manny, right?
Dodgers manager Joe Torre told media at the team's spring training camp in Arizona that he doesn't think he'll know for sure until Ramirez boards the airplane and the door is closed.
But Manny has been rock solid in other ways. Unlike last season's late contract signing, Manny's date of arrival at spring training wasn't a matter of speculation and wonder.
He arrived earlier than he had to in a fine mood that seems to have continued throughout all the work outs and hitting and fielding drills.
If Ramirez goes on this trip he'll get the star treatment from Taiwan baseball fans who love the game as much if not more than Americans. He'll love that. But who knows what he'll say during the incessant media opportunities.
No matter what he says, the Taiwanese will get their dose of Manny-speak, big smiles and maybe a few monstrously long homers that he will admire along with the fans at the game
FULL TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE: PHOENIX – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the expected roster for the upcoming three-game series in Taiwan. Additional players may be added or changed prior to the March 10 departure.
The Dodgers will bring 33 players, including 17 with Major League experience, in their first team trip to Taiwan since the 1993 Friendship Series. Manager Joe Torre, left fielder Manny Ramirez and first baseman James Loney will be joined by Taiwan natives Hong-Chih Kuo and Chin-lung Hu, Japan native Robert Boothe and South Korea native Hyang-Nam Choi.
Six players on the roster also made the Dodgers’ historic trip to Beijing, China in 2008 for the first-ever games in that country. They are Kuo, Hu, John Lindsey, Lucas May, Xavier Paul and Eric Stults as well as Torre and coaches Lorenzo Bundy and John Shoemaker.
Lindsey registered the first hit, a single to left field, during the two-game series against the Padres in China.
A complete roster is below, subject to change.
Pitchers (15): RHP Mario Alvarez, LHP Alberto Bastardo, RHP Robert Boothe, RHP Jesus Castillo, RHP Hyang-Nam Choi, RHP John Ely, RHP Francisco Felix, RHP Charlie Haeger, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP Hong-Chih Kuo, RHP Josh Lindblom, RHP Jon Link, LHP Juan Perez, LHP Eric Stults and RHP Josh Towers.
Catchers (4): J.D. Closser, Gabriel Gutierrez, Lucas May, Jesse Mier
Infielders (8): Ronnie Belliard, Angel Berroa, Jamey Carroll, Chin-lung Hu, John Lindsey, James Loney, Russ Mitchell and Ramon Nivar
Outfielders (6): Brian Barton, Xavier Paul, Manny Ramirez, Prentice Redman, Michael Restovich, Trayvon Robinson
Coaches: Manager Joe Torre, first base coach John Shoemaker, third base coach Lorenzo Bundy, pitching coach Jim Slaton, hitting coach/bench coach Tim Wallach and bullpen catcher Mike Borzello.
Comments