Baseball World Cup

[Precious Roy 0]

(I would assume this is a yearly thing)

 

I'd guess every four years, I doubt it will be annual...

[Lightning Flik 0]

(I would assume this is a yearly thing)

 

I'd guess every four years, I doubt it will be annual...

for the basis of why i just did my own stuff.

[Guest Rrrsh]

How many MLBers will actually want to go play though and risk injury?

I would assume as much who play in the Olympics for Basketball.

 

So, almost all in the lesser know country's. Toss up for the Americans.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

In fairness, we have a tremendous contingent of players playing right now in exhibition play in Japan.

[Guest Rrrsh]

Those are not American's only tho. Those are just a MLB team.

[Shooting Star 0]

We(Dominicans) are going to beat everybody's ass....we always win the caribbean world series(Puerto Rico Mexico and Venezuela) the only team that's any threath to us is Puerto Rico and we beat them every year...

[Bored 0]

Hardball Times is going to be running a series of articles trying to prjoect the rosters for the likely countries to be involved in the World Cup. They start off with Venezuela and Canada. You can click the link to read the full article but I'll just C&P the selections. Venezuela is absolutely loaded.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/...ela-and-canada/

 

TEAM VENEZUELA

 

Manager : How about The Big Cat, Andres Galarraga?

 

No-brainers

 

SP Johan Santana, Twins

SP Carlos Zambrano, Cubs

SP Kelvim Escobar, Angels

RP Francisco Rodriguez, Angels

 

Solid selections

 

SP Freddy Garcia, White Sox

SP Carlos Silva, Twins

RP Jorge Julio, Orioles

RP Ugueth Urbina, Tigers

RP Juan Rincon, Twins

 

On the bubble

 

SP Tony Armas Jr., Nationals; SP Gustavo Chacin, Blue Jays; SP Victor Zambrano, Mets; SP Wilson Alvarez, Dodgers; RP Wil Ledezma, Tigers; RP Felix Hernandez, Mariners (AA); SP Angel Guzman, Cubs (AA)

 

Now for the hitters:

 

Projected Starters

 

C Victor Martinez, Indians

1B Edgardo Alfonzo, Giants

2B Omar Infante, Tigers

3B Melvin Mora, Orioles

SS Carlos Guillen, Tigers

LF Magglio Ordonez, White Sox

CF Richard Hidalgo, Mets

RF Bobby Abreu, Phillies

DH Miguel Cabrera, Marlins

 

In The Mix

 

OF Alex Ramirez, Yakult Swallows; C Dioner Navarro, Yankees (AAA); C Guillermo Quiroz, Blue Jays; C Yorvit Torrealba, Giants; INF Tomas Perez, Phillies; SS Cesar Izturis, Dodgers; SS Jose Lopez, Mariners; 2B Luis Rivas, Twins; OF Juan Rivera, Angels; OF Franklin Gutierrez, Indians (AAA); 3B Aarom Baldiris, Mets (AA); SS David Espinosa, Tigers (AA).

 

TEAM CANADA

 

Manager : Ernie Whitt has managed the Canadian National Team in the past, including in the Athens Olympics, and is extremely popular here.

 

No-brainers

 

SP Rich Harden, A's

SP Jeff Francis, Rockies

RP Eric Gagne, Dodgers

RP Paul Quantrill, Yankees

 

Solid selections

 

SP Erik Bedard, Orioles

RP Ryan Dempster, Cubs

 

On the bubble

 

SP Adam Loewen, Orioles (A); SP Shawn Hill, Expos (AA); RP Rheal Cormier, Phillies; RP Aaron Myette, Reds (AAA); RP Mike Meyers, Mets (AAA); RP Chris Begg, Tigers (AA); RP Phil Devey, Mariners (AA); RP Vince Perkins, Blue Jays (A); RP John Ogiltree, Blue Jays (AA); RP A.J. Wideman, Nationals (A); RP Robert Swindle, Red Sox (A); RP Ryan Braun, Royals (A).

 

Projected Starters

 

C Pete LaForest, Devil Rays (AAA)

1B Justin Morneau, Twins

2B Dave Detienne, Mets (AA)

3B Corey Koskie, Twins

SS Hyung Cho, Mariners (A)

LF Jason Bay, Pirates

CF Adam Stern, Braves (AA)

RF Larry Walker, Rockies

DH Matt Stairs, Royals

 

In the Mix

 

OF Aaron Guiel, Royals; C Cody McKay, Cardinals; 3B Pete Orr, Braves (AAA); INF Todd Betts, Yankees (AAA); INF Kevin Nicholson, Pirates (AA); C Maxim St-Pierre, Tigers (AA); 2B Stubby Clapp, Blue Jays (AAA); 3B Simon Pond, Blue Jays (AAA); 1B Joey Votto, Reds (A); C John Suomi, A's (A); SS Danny Klassen, Tigers (AAA); SS Lee Delfino (Independent).

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Venezuela would also benefit from the relief pitching of Rafael Betancourt, and I think Miguel Cairo would be in the infield mix. As for manager, Ozzie Guillen makes sense.

 

Canada looks about right. The infield needs work, but overall they have a better team than they could've fielded at any point in their history, save for the Ferguson Jenkins era.

[iggymcfly 0]

I think the odds of Barry Bonds playing in something like this are about the same as the odds of Italy winning it all.

[Bored 0]

Part II of Hardball Times World Cup roster projections. This week they do "European powerhouse" the Netherlands, most of the team being from Caribbean, and surprisngly enough they already do the United States. Click the link for the full article.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/...he-netherlands/

 

TEAM NETHERLANDS

Manager: While it would be great to get Bert Blyleven out of the broadcast booth and into the dugout, I would bet that a Dutch team would be skippered by their National Team coach, Robert Eenhorn. Davey Johnson had taken over at Athens for Eenhorn, after Eenhorn's 6-year-old son tragically died of cancer. But I would expect Eenhorn to be fully back in charge soon. (One of his assistants is the legendary Hensley "Bam-Bam" Meulens).

 

No-brainer

 

SP Sidney Ponson, Orioles

 

Solid selections

 

SP Calvin Maduro, Mr. Cocker HCAW (Netherlands)

SP Diegomar Markwell, DOOR Neptunus (Netherlands)

SP Alexander Smit, Twins (A)

RP Rick van den Hurk, Marlins (A)

RP Ferenc Jongejan, Cubs (A)

 

On the bubble

 

RP Robert van Doornspeek, DOOR Neptunus (Netherlands); RP Kenny Berkenbosch, Marlins (A); RP Eelco Jansen, DOOR Neptunus (Netherlands); SP Patrick Beljaards, Kinheim (Netherlands); RP Patrick de Lange, Mr. Cocker HCAW (Netherlands); SP Jair Jurrjens, Tigers (Rookie).

 

Projected Starters

 

C Chairon Isenia, Devil Rays (AA)

1B Randall Simon, Devil Rays

2B Ivanon Coffie, Astros (AA)

3B Yurrendel de Caster, Pirates (AA)

SS Ralph Milliard, Mr. Cocker HCAW (Netherlands)

LF Wladimir Balentien, Mariners (A)

CF Andruw Jones, Braves

RF Gene Kingsale, Padres (AA)

DH Sharnol Adriana, Cordoba (Mexico)

 

In The Mix

 

OF Lorvin Louisa, Nationals (A); OF Archi Jansen, Braves (A); C Sidney de Jong, Mr. Cocker HCAW (Netherlands); OF Rikkert Faneyte, Amsterdam Pirates (Netherlands); OF Dirk van't Klooster, DOOR Neptunus (Netherlands); 1B Gregory Halman, Mariners (Rookie); 3B Vince Rooi, Nationals (A); OF Rogearvin Bernadina, Nationals (A).

TEAM U.S.A.

Manager: Well, this is an interesting question. The U.S. have the pick of most of the world's managerial talent, but the ideal candidate will have a successful track record, not be in an MLB job (since the tournament will take place during spring training) and will be someone used to handling veteran egos and a good manager of a pitching staff. Unless he is hired sometime between now and the spring of 2006, I can't think of a better choice than Cito Gaston.

 

No-brainers

 

SP Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks

SP Curt Schilling, Red Sox

SP Mark Prior, Cubs

 

Solid selections

 

SP Roger Clemens, Astros

SP Jason Schmidt, Giants

SP Tim Hudson, A's

SP Ben Sheets, Brewers

RP Brad Lidge, Astros

RP John Smoltz, Braves

RP B.J. Ryan, Orioles

RP Trevor Hoffman, Padres

RP Keith Foulke, Red Sox

 

On the bubble

 

SP Jake Peavy, Padres; SP Kerry Wood, Cubs; SP Roy Oswalt, Padres; SP Brad Radke, Twins; SP Carl Pavano, Marlins; SP Josh Beckett, Marlins; SP Mike Mussina, Yankees; SP Kevin Brown, Yankees; RP Jason Isringhausen, Cardinals; RP Joe Nathan, Twins; RP Latroy Hawkins, Cubs.

 

Projected Starters

 

C Joe Mauer, Twins

1B Todd Helton, Rockies

2B Marcus Giles, Braves

3B Scott Rolen, Cardinals

SS Derek Jeter, Yankees (oh, come on, you know it has to be Jetes, no matter what!)

LF Barry Bonds, Giants

CF Jim Edmonds, Cardinals

RF Lance Berkman, Astros

DH Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

 

In The Mix

 

I'm going to split up the "In The Mix" players by position, because again, the U.S. has incredible depth, and any one of a hundred or more players could step forward and claim a spot on this team.

 

C Jason Varitek, Red Sox; Paul Lo Duca, Marlins; Jason Kendall, Pirates; Johnny Estrada, Braves; Jason LaRue, Reds;

1B Jim Thome, Phillies; Mark Teixeira, Rangers; Phil Nevin, Padres; Sean Casey, Reds; Jason Giambi, Yankees; Richie Sexson, Diamondbacks.

2B Mark Loretta, Padres; Bret Boone, Mariners; Ray Durham, Giants; Jeff Kent, Astros; Orlando Hudson, Blue Jays; Mark Bellhorn, Red Sox.

3B Hank Blalock, Rangers; Eric Chavez, A's; Chipper Jones, Braves; David Wright, Mets.

SS Nomar Garciaparra, Cubs; Mike Young, Rangers; Khalil Greene, Padres; Bobby Crosby, A's; Jimmy Rollins, Phillies; B.J. Upton, Devil Rays.

LF Adam Dunn, Reds; Garret Anderson, Angels; Carl Crawford, Devil Rays; Manny Ramirez, Red Sox (now a U.S. citizen who may play for the Dominican Republic)

CF Johnny Damon, Red Sox; Vernon Wells, Blue Jays; Juan Pierre, Marlins; Torii Hunter, Twins; Mike Cameron, Mets.

RF Gary Sheffield, Yankees; J.D. Drew, Braves; Brian Giles, Padres.

DH Travis Hafner, Indians.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Dominican Republic can make the U.S. in front line talent, but our country has absolutely incredible depth.

[Brett Favre 0]

The U.S, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela are loaded.

[Precious Roy 0]

Randall Simon, Andruw Jones and Sidney Ponson are from the Netherlands?!?!

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Simon and Jones are from Curacao, a colony of the Netherlands. Ponson is from Aruba, another colony.