World Baseball Classic rosters finalized

February 25, 11:16 AMColorado Rockies ExaminerTravis Lay

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New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, fourth right, run along teammates of the Dominican Republic baseball team during a practice session in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Rodriguez is joining the Dominican team, that began its training for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
 

Yesterday the rosters for the World Baseball Classic were announced.

Today the first Spring Training games are going to be played.

My brain is on overload.

About a month ago now I wrote one of my first entries on Examiner about the WBC. My feelings have not changed. I am really looking forward to the games and watching some of the worlds best baseballers play.

I say some of the best as opposed to the best because you could make a pretty darn good roster of the guys who decided not to play. Here would be the roster of those who are skipping the tournament.

Players who will skip the World Baseball Classic

Starting pitchers – CC Sabathia, Ervin Santana, Cliff Lee, Johan Santana and Hiroki Kuroda. That is a really good starting five.

Relief pitching – Brad Lidge, Fancisco Liriano, Fausto Carmona, Mariano Rivera, Grant Balfour and Oliver Perez would fill out any bullpen rather nicely.

Catcher – Joe Mauer would start and with Mike Napoli skipping the WBC this team would have a very good backup.

First base – Albert Pujols is more than enough, but if he needed a day off Ryan Howard would come off of the bench. Big Mark Teixeira is skipping too, maybe he could play third?

Second base – Chase Utley is taking a pass.

Shortstop – Two young shortstops are not going – Stephen Drew and Yunel Escobar. Both are very good and very talented.

Third base – Mike Lowell. He is taking a pass because of his off season hip surgery, but he is healthy and a capable third sacker.

Left field – I think Mark Teixeira can play left field, let’s put him out there.

Center field – Vernon Wells is trying to have a good 2009 so he is focusing on Jays camp.

Right field – Josh Hamilton is taking the tournament off.

This monster roster of non-WBC-playing would have a lineup that looks like this.

SS – Stephen Drew
2B – Chase Utley
1B – Albert Pujols
LF – Mark Teixeira
RF – Josh Hamilton
3B – Mike Lowell
CF – Vernon Wells
C – Joe Mauer

Wow!

Top teams in the World Baseball Classic

There are some power houses in the WBC and here are the top two.

The U.S. of A. has some real talent on their team.

They will throw arms at teams with Roy Oswalt and Jake Peavy taking the mound to start the games. They will not need too many innings from their starters because they have a ton of firemen with hoses waiting in the pen. Brian Fuentes, Jonathan Broxton, JJ Putz, Joe Nathan, BJ Ryan, Brad Ziegler and JP Howell can all fill an inning and throw heat and strikes.

When the USA is at the plate they will field a lineup with All Stars at every position.

In the infield the USA can use Brian McCann to call the games, Kevin Youkilis will take first, Dustin Pedroia at second, Derek Jeter at short and David Wright playing third. This leaves Chipper Jones, Mark DeRosa and Jimmy Rollins to come off of the bench.

In the outfield they will run out Ryan Braun, Grady Sizemore and Brad Hawpe left to right. On the bench to fill in will be Curtis Granderson.

Not an easy out in that lineup.

Even without Albert Pujols and Ervin Santana the Dominican Republic is loaded.

If facing Johnny Cueto, Ubaldo Jimenez, Pedro Martinez or Edinson Volquez isn’t a difficult enough task for opponents the DR can then use Jose Arredondo, Juan Cruz, Tony Pena and Damaso Marte to finish off the opposing team.

At the plate is where the DR will bring the thunder. They are a bit light at the catcher position and Miguel Olivo will get most of the starts. With Albert taking the tournament off the DR will probably start Miguel Tejada at first base. At second Robinson Cano will have the honor of turning double plays with either Hanley Ramirez or Jose Reyes. Third base will have the player of the month; Alex Rodriguez.

In the outfield the DR will use a combination of Moises Alou, Jose Bautista, Jose Guillen, Nelson Cruz and Willy Taveras.

On the bench they will have David Ortiz and Willy Aybar who can cover the infield if someone needs a break.

It isn’t quite as impressive as the USA roster but they will get on base and score runs.

Colorado Rockies in the World Baseball Classic

Adam Bright – Australia
Manny Corpas – Panama
Jason Grilli – Italy
Brad Hawpe – USA
Chris Iannetta – USA
Ubaldo Jimenez – USA

Out of the Rockies that are playing I will be keeping a close eye on Jimenez and Iannetta. I am curious to see if Jimenez can be dominant against the sort of rosters he will be pitching against. I am curious to see if Iannetta can hit anything like he did in the second half of 2008.

As if Spring Training isn’t enough with the pitchers running laps on the warning track during a game, we now get the WBC every other year to entertain us also.