2013 World Baseball Classic

[ldswoosh33]

With the Olympics not including the sport of baseball and with the 2013 WBC approaching I thought it would be cool to see if there is any news out there about WBC news. Also if anyone knows anything about WBC hats having a release date.

[Dexter Morgan]

Only thing I've heard is Joe Torre is team U.S.A's head coach.

[Dexter Morgan]

Team USA options:

Catchers: Buster Posey, Joe Mauer, Matt Wieters Brian McCann.

First base: Prince Fielder, Mark Teixeira, Paul Konerko

Second base: Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler

Third base: David Wright, Evan Longoria

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, Derek Jeter

Outfield: Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen, Bryce Harper

Starting pitchers: Justin Verlander, CC Sabathia, Clayton Kershaw, Matt Cain, Stephen Strasburg, Chris Sale, Cole Hamels, Jered Weaver, Cliff Lee

Bullpen: Craig Kimbrel, Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan, Vinnie Pestano, Jim Johnson, Joel Hanrahan, David Robertson, Sean Marshall, Sean Burnett

[bosrs1]

The first stadiums for the new 2013 WBC qualifying round were announced a couple of days ago. Only one is in the US, Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL will be hosting Spain, France, Isreal and South Africa. The other stadiums for the qualifiers are in Taipei, Panama City, and Regensburg, Germany. The games start September 19.

No word on the stadiums for the actual tournament yet.

[TBGKon]

2013 will have a new format as there will be a 16-team double elimnation qualifying round in Fall 2012 hosted in 4 locations:

Four teams that did not win a game in 2009 (Canada, Chinese Taipei, Panama, and South Africa) will all play in the qualifying round. The 12 other teams in the qualifying round are Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Philippines, Spain, and Thailand.

For the qualification rounds, Group 1 will feature Canada, The Czech Republic, Germany, and Great Britain, and will be held in Regensburg, Germany. Group 2 features France, Israel, South Africa, and Spain, and will take place in Jupiter, Florida, USA. Group 3 consists of Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, The Philippines, and Thailand, and will take place in Taipei, Taiwan. Group 4 features Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua, and Panama, with the games being played in Panama City, Panama.

Under the WBC rules non-Israeli citizens of Jewish heritage will be eligible to play for Israel. A number of current and former MLB players may be eligible to play on the Israeli team: Ike Davis, Ian Kinsler, Kevin Youkilis, Danny Valencia, Ryan Braun, Sam Fuld, Ryan Kalish, Gabe Kapler, Jason Marquis, Scott Feldman, Craig Breslow, John Grabow, Brad Ausmus and Scott Schoeneweis. The New Zealand team may include infielder Scott Campbell and pitcher Scott Richmond.

The top 4 teams from the qualification round, along with the top 12 teams at the 2009 World Baseball Classic (Australia, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, the United States, and Venezuela), will qualify for the tournament.

[Funky Bunky]

They play baseball in the Czech Republic? 0.o

[sportstar1212]

They play baseball in the Czech Republic? 0.o

I believe the Cleveland Indians signed a 16 year-old catcher from the Czech Republic a few years back. Not sure where he is now.

[epper]

Really sucks that Canada has to play their way into the tournament, but I guess that's what they deserve after losing to Italy in 2009. It will be an even tougher road since their major league contingent of players are ineligible to participate in the play-in round.

IF they someone manage to make it through with their rag-tag group of minor league, college and indy-ball players, their WBC lineup could look like this:

CF- Michael Saunders

3B- Brett Lawrie

1B- Joey Votto

DH- Justin Morneau

LF- Jason Bay

C- Russell Martin

2B- Taylor Green

RF- Mark Teahen

SS- Pete Orr

Rotation

Ryan Dempster

Erik Bedard

Scott Diamond

Jeff Francis

Bullpen

CL- John Axford

SU- Jesse Crain

SU- Blake Hawksworth

MR- Chris Leroux

MR- Scott Richmond

MR- Phillipe Aumont

I love this tournament though. I really hope the US fields the roster their capable of, which would be beyond scary.

[4_tattoos]

I'm surprised Great Britain has a national baseball team. In my mind soccer, cricket, and rugby dominate the British sports scene. It just seems like "the American pastime" would get no love across the pond.

[njmeadowlanders]

Just like I'm sure they have high-level cricket and Rugby squads in the United States.

[Kevin W.]

I'm surprised Great Britain has a national baseball team. In my mind soccer, cricket, and rugby dominate the British sports scene. It just seems like "the American pastime" would get no love across the pond.

American football has fans in the UK, so it's not surprising that baseball, which is an even bigger sport worldwide, would too.

[pmoehrin]

If Jamaica can have a bobsled team, and Brazil can have an ice hockey league, the fact that the UK has a baseball team shouldn't be shocking in the least.

I'd be more surprised if they didn't have a baseball team.

As for the US team, this is what I would consider for a 25 man roster. Locks are in bold.

Hitters:

C-Joe Mauer

C-Mike Napoli

C-Buster Posey

1B-Prince Fielder

1B-Paul Konerko

1B-Joey Votto

2B-Dustin Pedroia

2B-Brandon Phillips

3B-Evan Longoria

3B-David Wright

3B-Ryan Zimmerman

SS-Derek Jeter

SS-Troy Tulowitzki (if healthy, otherwise replace with J.J. Hardy although Hardy would not be a lock)

OF-Michael Bourn

OF-Ryan Braun

OF-Curtis Granderson

OF-Josh Hamilton

OF-Bryce Harper

OF-Matt Kemp

OF-Martin Prado

OF-Giancarlo Stanton

OF-Mike Trout

Pitchers:

SP-Matt Cain

SP-RA Dickey

SP-Zack Greinke

SP-Cole Hamels

SP-Clayton Kershaw

SP-Jake Peavy

SP-David Price

SP-Justin Verlander

SP-Jered Weaver

RP-John Axford

RP-Jonathan Broxton

RP-Tyler Clippard

RP-Jim Johnson

RP-Joe Nathan

RP-Jonathan Papelbon

RP-David Robertson

RP-Matt Thornton (lefty specialist)

RP-Jonny Venters

[sportstar1212]

If Jamaica can have a bobsled team, and Brazil can have an ice hockey league, the fact that the UK has a baseball team shouldn't be shocking in the least.

I'd be more surprised if they didn't have a baseball team.

As for the US team, this is what I would consider for a 25 man roster. Locks are in bold.

Hitters:

C-Joe Mauer

C-Mike Napoli

C-Buster Posey

1B-Prince Fielder

1B-Paul Konerko

1B-Joey Votto

2B-Dustin Pedroia

2B-Brandon Phillips

3B-Evan Longoria

3B-David Wright

3B-Ryan Zimmerman

SS-Derek Jeter

SS-Troy Tulowitzki (if healthy, otherwise replace with J.J. Hardy although Hardy would not be a lock)

OF-Michael Bourn

OF-Ryan Braun

OF-Curtis Granderson

OF-Josh Hamilton

OF-Bryce Harper

OF-Matt Kemp

OF-Martin Prado

OF-Giancarlo Stanton

OF-Mike Trout

Pitchers:

SP-Matt Cain

SP-RA Dickey

SP-Zack Greinke

SP-Cole Hamels

SP-Clayton Kershaw

SP-Jake Peavy

SP-David Price

SP-Justin Verlander

SP-Jered Weaver

RP-John Axford

RP-Jonathan Broxton

RP-Tyler Clippard

RP-Jim Johnson

RP-Joe Nathan

RP-Jonathan Papelbon

RP-David Robertson

RP-Matt Thornton (lefty specialist)

RP-Jonny Venters

Joey Votto and John Axford are Canadian.

[pmoehrin]

Actually do remember hearing Votto was Canaidan now. Didn't know about Axford though.

Ok so in place of Votto we'll go with Andrew McCutchen, who I actually should have put over a few guys I have on outfield. I wouldn't lock him in though, or replace the lock of Votto with anybody.

And instead of Axford we'll go with Huston Street.

You could pick guys out of a hat from that 40 man roster and be in great shape.

[epper]

OF-Martin Prado

He's Venezuelan.

[pmoehrin]

OF-Martin Prado

He's Venezuelan.

Didn't know that either.

In that case invade Venezuela. About time for Chavez to go anyway.

[cmm]

That reminds me of the "Endy, si! Chavez, no!" chants from the last WBC whenever Endy Chavez was up.

[Bronxmet]

If Jamaica can have a bobsled team, and Brazil can have an ice hockey league, the fact that the UK has a baseball team shouldn't be shocking in the least.

I'd be more surprised if they didn't have a baseball team.

As for the US team, this is what I would consider for a 25 man roster. Locks are in bold.

Hitters:

C-Joe Mauer

C-Mike Napoli

C-Buster Posey

1B-Prince Fielder

1B-Paul Konerko

1B-Joey Votto

2B-Dustin Pedroia

2B-Brandon Phillips

3B-Evan Longoria

3B-David Wright

3B-Ryan Zimmerman

SS-Derek Jeter

SS-Troy Tulowitzki (if healthy, otherwise replace with J.J. Hardy although Hardy would not be a lock)

OF-Michael Bourn

OF-Ryan Braun

OF-Curtis Granderson

OF-Josh Hamilton

OF-Bryce Harper

OF-Matt Kemp

OF-Martin Prado

OF-Giancarlo Stanton

OF-Mike Trout

Pitchers:

SP-Matt Cain

SP-RA Dickey

SP-Zack Greinke

SP-Cole Hamels

SP-Clayton Kershaw

SP-Jake Peavy

SP-David Price

SP-Justin Verlander

SP-Jered Weaver

RP-John Axford

RP-Jonathan Broxton

RP-Tyler Clippard

RP-Jim Johnson

RP-Joe Nathan

RP-Jonathan Papelbon

RP-David Robertson

RP-Matt Thornton (lefty specialist)

RP-Jonny Venters

Ryan Braun could end up playing with Israel. Giancarlo Stanton might end up playing for Puerto Rico.

[The_Admiral]

I haven't really decided yet how I should feel about what's basically just The Jewish All-Star Team. I know the World Baseball Classic plays very fast and very loose with "nationality," but it gives off the idea that there's some one-drop rule for Israeli citizenship, which is a far, far cry from the truth. I'd love it if baseball made inroads in Israel, India, Great Britain, any country you can name, because that's how much I believe in the greatness of baseball, but rounding up American Jews to play as "Team Israel" doesn't really catalyze the sort of grassroots development necessary to have an actual Team Israel.

[GriffinM6]

So if players of Jewish heritage can play for Israel, does that mean any other player from any other country of heritage can play for that particular team? For example, could I play for either USA, Great Britain, France or Germany?